Hey friends!
Yeah, I know, it's been a long time since my last blog post. That seems to be the norm these days, so instead of going on and on and apologizing, I'm just going to be open and honest with you that you should expect nothing less than sporadic, unpredictable posting...until I'm retired. Or win the lottery.
We're coming up on our one year wedding anniversary (read my last post - we got hitched in Thailand last year!) and decided we needed to go somewhere fun to celebrate. I'm not gonna lie - everything in my being was pulling me back to Thailand. THAT trip is going to be hard to beat. However, we decided to go an easier route this year and head to a country I really haven't explored much yet: Mexico. I know, hard to believe isn't it? Most U.S. folks have traveled to Mexico more times than they can count, but for some reason I decided to explore the craziest, farther reaches of our planet first and have saved Mexico for my older, lazier years. I think I made a good call, since the flight to Puerto Vallarta is a flat 4 hours direct! Piece of cake.
We leave in two weeks and so this is the moment in trip planning where I start to make a checklist for packing in my head:
1. Don't forget the snorkel
2. Do I still have any sunscreen leftover in the house from last summer, the last time this Oregonian saw the sun?
And throughout my travel experiences - especially going to remote places where you can lug around very little - I've figured out some small little travel hacks that are currently rolling around in my brain space that I think could help others. So, whether your next trip is to Palm Springs or the Pyramids of Giza, here are a few helpful packing tips to guide you along the way:
1. PACK THINGS YOU WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND: That's right - I intentionally pack items with me that I think are on the last leg of their life or that I don't want anymore. This one helps you in two ways: 1. It helps you clean out your closet and get rid of things you've been holding onto for FAR too long and 2. It makes more room in your bag on the way home for any nicknacks you may have accumulated during your travels. Also, if you're traveling to a developing country, some things that are no longer of use to you may be very valuable to someone there and they may appreciate you leaving it as a gift. (For example, during my time in Africa I gave an old camera I had to a family I had come to know and respect. They were FASCINATED by it. It's something I don't think they ever would have been able to afford on their own and they really appreciated the gesture.)
3. PACK AN EXTRA BAG. We have a coiled up, frisbee like looking bag that we throw in the bottom of one of our main bags. That way if we accumulate too much stuff during our travels we have an extra bag we can use and check. This came in REALLY handy when we got married in Thailand. After our wedding day was done and gone I simply threw my dress in our extra bag instead of lugging it around with me on a hanger. If you're attending a formal event abroad, this may come in extra handy for you too...
4. BRING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE. This is especially helpful if you're traveling to a country where you cannot drink the tap water. You can refill your bottle at restaurants or hostels and it will save you at ton of money on bottled water. Also helpful to have on hikes.
5. SNACK-IT-UP. I always like to pack too much food, as opposed to not enough. That's kind of a general rule in my every day life, but it applies to traveling abroad just as much or more. Sometimes unpredictable things pop up...like....your hosts don't get you lunch until 5 hours later than they had told you they would. OR what someone's serving for dinner one night (or what's available) is NOT something you want to eat, but you feel rude so you try a little. All of these circumstances are good reasons to bring snacks with you. You can also share your country's snacks with locals, which is a kick in the pants if they've never seen a hazelnut or tried a fruit roll up before. Once all of your snacks are consumed you once again have extra space in your bag you weren't planning on for your trip home. Win-win.
6. WEAR YOUR HEAVY STUFF ON THE PLANE. OK, these guys may have taken it a little TOO far, but overweight luggage fees are a drag. If you're flying to or from somewhere cold, wear your heavy stuff to avoid extra charges. Bring your down jacket on the plane with you (it can double as your pillow) and wear your hiking shoes. If you're worried about being too warm when you arrive at your destination, throw some flip flops and a t-shirt in your carry-on JUST in case.
7. MAKE A CHECKLIST & MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WHEN YOU RETURN HOME. Did you pack 6 sweatshirts but only used 2? Could have used a few extra pairs of underwear? Having a checklist specifically made for YOU is super beneficial, especially if you edit it when you return from your trip. If you analyze what you used and what you could have used more of, you will have more successful trip planning for your next adventure. There are some great lists online to help you get started. Check out this cool website/small "quiz" that helps you figure out what to pack (and even what to prepare before you leave) after you answer a few quick questions about location, duration, weather, etc.: https://www.travelschecklist.com/
Getting ready for a trip and packing in and of itself can be stressful. The biggest thing to remember throughout it all is that unless you're going to a completely remote, far reaching corner of the world, you'll most likely be able to find whatever you forgot (if you forget anything) at a convenience store nearby. And that even if you can't find that ONE thing you forgot, you will survive. Another traveler probably packed an extra one themselves or you can simply do without. That's one of the great things about traveling - learning things about yourself, and learning that we really can manage to live with a lot less than we think we can. It also makes you super grateful for what you have at home.
Bon Voyage!
Yeah, I know, it's been a long time since my last blog post. That seems to be the norm these days, so instead of going on and on and apologizing, I'm just going to be open and honest with you that you should expect nothing less than sporadic, unpredictable posting...until I'm retired. Or win the lottery.
We're coming up on our one year wedding anniversary (read my last post - we got hitched in Thailand last year!) and decided we needed to go somewhere fun to celebrate. I'm not gonna lie - everything in my being was pulling me back to Thailand. THAT trip is going to be hard to beat. However, we decided to go an easier route this year and head to a country I really haven't explored much yet: Mexico. I know, hard to believe isn't it? Most U.S. folks have traveled to Mexico more times than they can count, but for some reason I decided to explore the craziest, farther reaches of our planet first and have saved Mexico for my older, lazier years. I think I made a good call, since the flight to Puerto Vallarta is a flat 4 hours direct! Piece of cake.
We leave in two weeks and so this is the moment in trip planning where I start to make a checklist for packing in my head:
1. Don't forget the snorkel
2. Do I still have any sunscreen leftover in the house from last summer, the last time this Oregonian saw the sun?
3. Where did my sunglasses go?
1. PACK THINGS YOU WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND: That's right - I intentionally pack items with me that I think are on the last leg of their life or that I don't want anymore. This one helps you in two ways: 1. It helps you clean out your closet and get rid of things you've been holding onto for FAR too long and 2. It makes more room in your bag on the way home for any nicknacks you may have accumulated during your travels. Also, if you're traveling to a developing country, some things that are no longer of use to you may be very valuable to someone there and they may appreciate you leaving it as a gift. (For example, during my time in Africa I gave an old camera I had to a family I had come to know and respect. They were FASCINATED by it. It's something I don't think they ever would have been able to afford on their own and they really appreciated the gesture.)
2. BUY YOUR SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER THERE. Those containers are heavy. And unless you're staying in hotels the whole time or only staying for 5 days, you're going to need a lot to get you through your trip. Buying your shampoo, conditioner...maybe even face wash & soap THERE not only helps your luggage weight, but it often ends up saving you money too. These items are often less expensive abroad. This also goes for pharmaceuticals. For instance, when I knew I was going to Tanzania and it was recommended I take Methloquin (an anti-malarial) I bought it in India on my way to Tanzania because the price was SO much cheaper than what I could buy it for in the U.S. Just do your research before you hatch this plan - you don't want to end up in a country without necessary medication, assuming they'll have it when they sometimes don't.
5. SNACK-IT-UP. I always like to pack too much food, as opposed to not enough. That's kind of a general rule in my every day life, but it applies to traveling abroad just as much or more. Sometimes unpredictable things pop up...like....your hosts don't get you lunch until 5 hours later than they had told you they would. OR what someone's serving for dinner one night (or what's available) is NOT something you want to eat, but you feel rude so you try a little. All of these circumstances are good reasons to bring snacks with you. You can also share your country's snacks with locals, which is a kick in the pants if they've never seen a hazelnut or tried a fruit roll up before. Once all of your snacks are consumed you once again have extra space in your bag you weren't planning on for your trip home. Win-win.
7. MAKE A CHECKLIST & MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WHEN YOU RETURN HOME. Did you pack 6 sweatshirts but only used 2? Could have used a few extra pairs of underwear? Having a checklist specifically made for YOU is super beneficial, especially if you edit it when you return from your trip. If you analyze what you used and what you could have used more of, you will have more successful trip planning for your next adventure. There are some great lists online to help you get started. Check out this cool website/small "quiz" that helps you figure out what to pack (and even what to prepare before you leave) after you answer a few quick questions about location, duration, weather, etc.: https://www.travelschecklist.com/
Getting ready for a trip and packing in and of itself can be stressful. The biggest thing to remember throughout it all is that unless you're going to a completely remote, far reaching corner of the world, you'll most likely be able to find whatever you forgot (if you forget anything) at a convenience store nearby. And that even if you can't find that ONE thing you forgot, you will survive. Another traveler probably packed an extra one themselves or you can simply do without. That's one of the great things about traveling - learning things about yourself, and learning that we really can manage to live with a lot less than we think we can. It also makes you super grateful for what you have at home.
Bon Voyage!
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