Packing Just the Essentials

Magellan's has written countless articles advising travelers to pack light. But what do we consider the bare essentials for traveling in a modicum of comfort, safety, and convenience? Let’s just start with the obvious. When traveling to another country you must have certain things in your possession – driver’s license/picture ID, passport/visa, GSM cell phone and recharger with plug adaptor, cash, credit/ATM cards, and a means to deal with the elements (umbrella or poncho, sunglasses, hat, jacket, comfortable shoes, etc.). One could argue the cell phone is not essential but it offers a lot of services besides telephone communication (see our article “Eight Nifty Telephone Tips”). Beyond this, we consider the following essential creature comforts that are cheap and easy to carry.

Food
Pack snacks in your bag or backpack to avoid going hypoglycemic en route because you can’t eat what the airlines offer or the local café is closed when you arrive. Dried fruit and nuts and energy bars travel well and supply better nourishment than candy and chips. It’s important to stay hydrated during flights and after arrival to minimize jet-lag, so be sure to bring water in your carry-on, purchased after clearing airport security screening of course.

First Aid
Basic pain relief, blister management, and wound protection is covered by ibuprofen or aspirin, antacid tablets, band-aids, and a topical antibiotic ointment like Neosporin. You’ll want sunscreen and bug repellant should your destination warrant it. And it’s always wise to bring an anti-diarrheal like Kaopectate. That’s it. Of course if you take doctor-prescribed medications you’ve got to bring them too.

Light
Sometimes you can’t even see the print on those foreign menus in dimly lit restaurants. A small flashlight takes up little space and can make life easier for aging eyes. For those of you multi-tool aficionados, the light from a cell phone or PDA may provide enough light to guide your way.

Navigation
Carry a local map so you don’t have to rely on the natives’ hand signals and your high school French to get back to your hotel.

Hygiene
Even if the place looks clean it doesn’t mean it is. Housekeepers have been known to use the same rags to clean the hotel glasses as they do to clean the rest of the bathroom. We think you should bring your own collapsible drinking cup, travel toilet tissues, anti-bacterial wipes, and silk bedding that keeps you off the hotel sheets. Bring a tiny pack of laundry detergent sheets to do your undies and socks in the sink if need be, and a stain eraser stick or pen is helpful to spot-clean.

Protection
If you’re traveling alone or as a couple outside of an organized tour you may want to bring along a small can of pepper spray. It brings peace of mind if you find yourself wandering around a marginal neighborhood, deserted beach, or park after dark. A four ounce or smaller canister may be packed in your checked baggage. Check http://www.tsa.gov for the latest regulations.