Monday, 05 January 2009
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My Top 5 Trip Essentials
Guest post submitted by the_prestigiator
Whether I'm returning to my university, traveling to Greece to visit relatives, or taking a random road trip to Montreal, I make sure to have the following five items with me at all times:
1. Passport - This one is a given for international journeys, but always always ALWAYS make sure you make a few copies in case you lose it. It's pretty much your most important ticket into any country.
2. IPod - Any sort of entertainment helps make long flights more tolerable, but my main love is my little music playing device. Plane rides and bus trips have become so much more endurable when you can access your Matt Nathanson and Mariah Carey playlists with one press of a button. I usually pop the headphones in and drift off into a pleasant trip.
3. Mouth gear (Lip balm, mints, and toothbrush) - Nothing says "I've been traveling for hours and lugging heavy bags around" like chapped lips and bad breath. Airplanes and buses especially can lead to dehydration due to poor air circulation which can lead to cracked lips and dry mouth. This will make you feel gross and turn your glow into an ill look. So pucker up and keep those smooches ultra smooth and those teeth plaque free. Pop in a mint for fresh measure. (Just make sure your chapstick or lip balm tube isn't enormous because airport officials will force you to chuck it.)
4. Itinerary - Before I travel anywhere, I conduct research ahead of time so that I have my schedule in place, and the addresses and phone numbers of all major transportation and emergency hubs near locations/hotels I'm visiting. I always purchase a calling card ahead of time too. Such preparation allows me to feel more secure and organized.
5. Allergy Medication - It's really weird. I endure bad allergies every four years or so. I don't understand this pattern but I take precautionary measures when traveling to another country. When I was in Italy four years ago, despite the fact I didn't have allergies all spring in my extremely green grassed college town, I developed a bad case of it. My face bloated and eyes reddened to the point someone asked me if I had done some drugs. I honestly suffered each day as I had to walk for long hours and sit through outdoor lectures with my university's extended study group. The worst part was, I couldn't get any allergy medicine without an Italian doctor's prescription and even when my mom tried to mail me some it didn't work out. Hence, I learned a valuable lesson and now carry allergy medication AND a doctor's note okaying the medication.
What are some travel accessories you carry with you on trips? What would you recommend people to put on their trip checklist? How have these items helped you out?
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Comments (22)
I agree with your items, and I would also add magazines or a good book to keep you entertained on long flights and such. A camera is also a must.Â
Since I'm a bodyguard, I alternate between travelling light or heavy, depending on the current situation. My top 5 essentials are :
(1) Multi-tool kit
(2) Medical kit
(3) Identification papers
(4) Credit cards
(5) Handgun
Those finger brush things are great for flights where they don't allow you to bring toothpaste.
Cameras are pretty much necessary.
I always bring a hoodie. It either helps with warmth, and if it's warm enough, it's usable as a pillow. Works great.
@Lizbeth8207@xanga - i didn't know about those finger brushes. those would definitely come in handy!
@anne - I'm not entirely sure they still make them or not.... I haven't gotten them in a while. They are not as satisfying as a good brushing, but definitely better and mintier than nothing :)
yeah, the lip blam, & my electric tooth brush
And hand moisturizer too, many air lines company stop giving them out long ago.
My top 5 trip essentials:
1. Passport & Ticket (plus itenary)
2. Purse (that has money, credit card and debit card)
3. Cell phone (there are some country that sells pre paid SIM cards that you can use to keep in touch with your love ones back home)
4. Camera
5. Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo + conditioner, tooth brush + tooth paste, body spray, perfume, and brush).
1) CAMERA.
2) batteries for camera.
3) extra memory cards for camera.
4) laptop for uploading pictures.
5) hoodie/jacket :)
1 Camera
2 toiletries (toothbrush, toothpate, mouthwash, soap and shampoo)
3 medical kit
4 phrase book
5 puzzle books
However I think money, passport and tickets are important as well.
camera
gum
meds
burts bees lip balm
books/magazines
and last but not least, patience :)
@choosingausernameishard@xanga - haha! patience is truly a top notch necessity, especially with all those long lines and ultra small airplane seats!
@its_me_katie@xanga - lol sounds like me
Camera + laptop = FUN TRIP
I agree with those but add a camera in there! :)
a good attitude
hahha sure
My top five is almost the same as yours:
1. Passport
2. iPod (music+movies)
3. Toiletries (Chapstick! and of cours a toothbrush etc.)
4. Phone (has a 5mp camera, which is good enough for me)
5. Itinerary
1. Clean pair of underwear -- when your checked bag gets lost, you do not want to be stuck without underwear. It's nice to have a backup pair so you don't have to wear the stanky old ones until you have time to buy more.
2. Cell phone
3. ID/passport, tickets, money/wallet, itinerary (putting these all together since they're sort of the most basic things)
4. Toiletries (fem. hygiene supplies, toothpaste/toothbrush, comb, soap, shampoo, chapstick, lotion)
5. Either a book or a notebook + writing utensils
Normally I bring my laptop just because I have to, but I wouldn't freak out about traveling without it. I know I listed more than 5 since I did multiple things in each number... lol.
I think the first four would definitely help, but the fifth one could change depending on the person. I, for one, have no allergies and have no symptoms telling me that I will. You never know, you just might develop one, but so far nothing like that has happened for me. Maybe the last could be a good wallet to carry your secured money in. :D
camera =]
Actually, your list kind of covers mine.
HOWEVER. However.
I would desperately love taking a travel pillow, also, if it worked. It's so necessary for the long flights.
Just landed tonight from what became a very long trip. I was grateful to have back up clothes in my carry on (almost needed them), snacks from home & headphones (yea for tv on Jet Blue!).Â
I always bring a good, long book and a hoodie or sweater that zips or buttons, so I don't have to pull it over my head. I also bring earplugs for sound sleeping on planes and in hotels.
my top 5 trip necessities:
(1.) Digital Camera (with case to hold accesories)
(2.) Wallet (to hold money, ID, Credit)
(3.) Laptop (wifi compatible, light weight if possible, all in one entertainment and to connect to xanga while you wait :P)
(4.) Cell Phone (GSMS compatible)
(5.) Iterenaries and Trip infos