So you’re finally going on a long anticipated trip. You’ve planned out the itinerary, you’ve booked your flight tickets, and you’ve even picked out the clothes you’ll be wearing. A lot of preparation goes into planning a dream vacation, but sometimes there are things that we forget along the way. The last thing you want to happen is to wake up in a secluded paradise, only to find out that you forgot to bring a sunblock. This is why you need a checklist on the things you need to pack on every trip so you don’t end up forgetting anything. This guide will help make sure that nothing gets lost in the midst of your preparation:
1. Toiletries and Medication
What you don’t ever want to run out of are your toiletries of choice, as well as important medication that you need to take. With toiletries, make sure you place them in tiny travel containers beforehand, so that they don’t take up too much space. Bring the medication that you’re currently taking, but it wouldn’t hurt to also bring some vitamin supplements and a first aid kid. This includes a bug spray, allergy meds, bandages, painkillers, etc. Anything can happen during your vacation, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Medication is important for countries with less medical health locations (like Ecuador, Senegal or Dominican Republic).
2. Clothes
This may seem like a no-brainer, but a lot of people make a mistake or forget some of their essential clothes. When packing your clothes, you have to pick out the pieces that are really essential for the kind of trip that you’re going to. If you’re going on a beach getaway, make sure you have enough swimwear and sun protection. If you’re going some place cold, make sure you have adequate layers. When you pack clothes, you also have to count how many days you will be traveling. It’s also wise to pack layers, so you can mix and match without taking up too much space in your luggage. Make sure you also have enough clean underwear and socks.
3. Camera and Notepad
The things you need to pack on every trip will vary depending on where you’re going, but one thing you’ll probably need in your travels is a way to document your holiday experience. In this age of a gazillion smartphones and gadgets, you have to prioritize what to bring and make sure it serves its purpose well. When you pack a camera, make sure you also have your chargers and batteries. If everything fails, you can always jot down your memories in a notepad.
4. Travel Documents and Cash
You can’t go anywhere without your passport, IDs, photocopies of your passport and IDs, as well as printouts of your itineraries and bookings. This will make everything easier in case something bad happens such as when your wallet gets stolen. You also need adequate cash, or an ATM card or credit card that you can use abroad.
5. Food
You can buy food wherever you’re going, but you also need to make sure you have a granola bar or two in case you’re stuck somewhere with nothing to eat. Packing a small bag or two of food will certainly come in handy if your bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere or your flight gets delayed.