How to Pack for Your Next Travel?

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I am not the biggest expert in packing as well as anybody else, but during my travels I worked out several rules for myself and would like to share them with you. Start packing by doing a check-list.

Rule N 1.

There are no rules. Do what works for you and only for you in current situation. If you want to over pack, do it. Let’s say you plan to go to a theatre or a fancy restaurant or to go dancing, then take those shoes, your favourite dress and your evening going to be a success. Then you can hire a car and your baggage will travel in a car. It also depends on where you are going. You bought a ticket on cruise-lovely! To be honest there is not that much to do on a cruise except to go sightseeing, dancing, swimming in a pool and sitting in a restaurant. Then a lot of clothes will be very handy. Also etiquette requires you to be dressed for the evening in a proper dress, not sports wear or jeans. On a smaller ship you might have a chance to sit in a restaurant near the captain and THEN you need to impress.

Rule N2 .

After traveling for some time I discovered interesting law: the most convenient clothes you wear most of the time. Most convenient clothes are of course jeans. Jeans are versatile, you can go even to the theatre (not all the time though) or to a restaurant. Everyone has those favourite clothes and when you wear them you always hear compliments. After writing this I realised that I am mostly writing for women. Yes, of course, as they say, clothes "make woman a woman". Men usually don’t need to think about their wardrobe so much.

Yeah, what I was talking about… Favourite clothes can save the day. Once I discovered that during one of my travels I did not touch half of my suitcase. Why did I over packed?

And one more advice…Combination of clothes can look like you have a big wardrobe with you. Combine your jeans with different blouses, and every day you look differently. Take only what will be absolutely necessary. The rest you can (might?) buy. Do you like souvenirs? Make some space for those. Did you packed all what you wanted? Good!

Rule N3.

We are increasingly become more technically savvy. How much I regret now that during some of my past travels I did not make any photos. Now I go everywhere with my cellphone (or two, because cameras are usually heavier and cellphones more convenient) and a camera and sometimes take my computer with me. How on Earth I always forget the charger- still remains a mystery to me. Don’t forget your charger, have some money for the local Sim-card if you want to use your cellphone, otherwise your friends and relatives are not going to be able to envy you by looking on all these wonderful photos.

Rule N4.

Know where you are going. Certain places have specific dress code. When I was in Istanbul in Turkey, women are usually not allowed to go into mosque without a scarf on the head and the dress must be with long sleeves and mostly closed. Fortunately tourist’s agencies knew that not all travellers know it and gave us required clothes.

If you are in Rome surely you, probably, want to visit Vatican and St Peters Basilica and if you are not properly dressed (long sleeved dress and covered legs for women, you can wear t-shirt and jeans though, no flip-flops, please) you will remain outside of the church and miss the opportunity to see this beautiful place. If you plan to visit churches general rule is for women not to wear trousers or jeans, and a dress, which leaves too little to imagination and cover your head with a scarf. Western culture may be more permissive, however there are specific rules everywhere and it is very prudent to do some research on a dress code in a place where are you going to travel.

Eastern and African culture not everywhere is so forgiving. North Korea and Sudan prohibit women to wear trousers. In Sudan punishment for wearing trousers is fine or lashings, in North Korea-to attend labor camp. Dubai is the most liberal Muslim country, still the dress code should be modest and reasonable.

Generally speaking one shouldn’t lose one’s head and always dress appropriately. The other advice to try “to blend in”, otherwise the tourist will become a target for thieves and rascals. Respect yourself and have a big respect for the culture of a place you are visiting.

Rule N 5.

The last but not least…. Travel insurance, money, credit cards, tickets, passports, documents and other cards you might find useful during your travel. Usually you need to pack it well in advance (and safely) because last minutes have funny abilities: everything you need is vanishing and nowhere to be found. Toiletries- as little as possible, because they take too much space and could be heavy. Don’t take big tube tooth paste, it is sufficient to have small tube with you. After all you are not planning to stay in a place for years. When you are packing use space saving technique-roll clothes on. Trust me, it saves a lot of space. Don’t forget to take some spare plastic bags for your dirty clothes.

If you are staying in a hotel- you are going to have essentials. Medicines, sunscreen lotion, prevention from malaria (if you travel to malaria areas)- they are necessary, please. Tourist guides? May be? In some places there are tourist information centres, and they will provide maps for free. Take what you need, or might need. Check about immunisation in advance. Yellow fever vaccination is a requirement in some African Countries. Good idea to vaccinate yourself from meningococcal meningitis and flu (even if it is not a requirement)- if you are a frequent traveller.

Rule N6

Know what you can take with you on a flight, and what is prohibited. Check you suitcase for prohibited items because you are responsible, otherwise you are going to be in trouble with customs.

Did you packed all what you wanted? Good! Now start taking out what you put in “Just in case I need those items…”