Tips in packing for the trip of your dreams! 

1. Tips in packing for the trip of your dreams!  “These are real photos from our trips we’ve taken so far”

2. Absolutely • These are things that it is difficult to imagine not packing.

3. Toiletries • Toothpaste • Toothbrush • Contact lens equipment • And spare glasses • Makeup • Razors • Hair care equipment (brushes, comb, blow dryer) • Condoms (These might be unavailable or difficult to obtain where you are going, especially in Catholic countries) • Business/calling cards • If you are doing a low-budget trip, you should also bring cleansing products: (soap in a plastic bag, shampoo or you could shave your head and use a bar of soap, towel)

4. Clothing • A Rule of Thumb is to take enough underwear for one week, or for the length of the trip plus two days, whichever is shorter • If you are traveling on business, you can probably take two suits and rotate between them. Try to take different colors of shirts/blouses; mixing and matching… might fool people into thinking you brought more clothes than you really did. • If you are going on an extended trip, pick one color and stick with it. If you are part of Generation X, rejoice, because black travels very well. • Plan on inclement weather. It will happen, and everyone will say “Oh, it almost never rains, snows, hails, blow, or floods like this! In particular, be prepared for it being colder than you expected. A polypropylene shirt is a wonderful thing to take traveling with you: it is light, very warm (even when wet), and dries quickly. • (Californians and other desert denizens, take note: what will dry out overnight in California might take two days to dry out in wetter climates!) • I also recommend bringing a pair of flip-flops. Just incase your shoes get wet you’ll have something else that you can wear while they dry!

5. Miscellaneous and Important! • If you are doing any sight-seeing, you will want to take some type of fanny pack or small backpack. It will help you in carrying your phrase books, guidebooks, water bottles, sunglasses, etc… • Neck Wallet/Money Belt: This is especially important in the hostel circuit. Keep money hidden away underneath your clothes. Keep passport, airline tickets, and the bulk of your money in a money belt, about US$50-100 in a neck wallet, and about US $5-10 in your jeans pocket. • A tiny flashlight is optional, but it could be really handy! • Earplugs, water bottles (with water), chewing gum, food • Phone Numbers: Incase you need to call home and the usual people you could count on aren’t home or can’t get to the phone. Make sure you have other family and friend #’s close by. • Passport: Even if you are inside the country it is a good idea to have your passport with you. Passports can also act as identification if your wallet gets lost or stolen. • Watch with an alarm!

6. Outside Your Country • Phone Beeper: If you have an answering machine or voice mail to check while abroad, you will probably need a small electrical device to generate the appropriate phone tones for your country. (In the US, you can get these devices cheaply at Radio Shack.) • Electrical transformers/ plug adaptors: Most places in the world have different power supplies. If you want to use your computer/modem/electric razor/alarm clock abroad… you will need to get equipment to translate from “your power” to “their power.”

7. LEAVE IT BEHIND!! • Do not pack camp fuel or even and empty fuel container. In some countries, the airlines get upset and even the SMELL of fuel. • It is a good idea to avoid controlled substances. You probably do not want an extended vacation in another country’s jail system, even if room and board is free.

8. THE END I hope you found this guide very useful!!! Best of luck and enjoy your trip!! 