What to look for when choosing your travel suitcase? What to pack? How to pack? Find your packing know-how here.
- Finding the perfect suitcase
- Pack like a pro
- Techie’s travel essentials
- First aid kit essentials
- Packing check list
Finding the perfect Suitcase
Finding the perfect suitcase is an art and a science. Keep these tips in mind before you shop for your ideal travel bag:
- Hard shell luggage costs more and adds about four to five kilogrammes in weight but it lasts longer and is pretty much tear proof. Soft bags are easier to lug around and weigh a lot less but are prone to damage.
- Always choose baggage, which features a handle rather than a strap or leash. Handles should pop up from the case and be long enough for comfortable towing.
- Designer suitcases get stolen more than any other kind so, think twice before you part with your cash.
- Good suitcases should last for 10 years or longer.
Pack Like A Pro
One of the hassles of travel is arriving at your destination with a bagful of wrinkled clothes. The secret to arriving with presentable outfi ts is in knowing how to pack your clothes.
The most important thing you need to know is that clothes of different fabrics, when piled on top of each other, will inevitably crease.
Follow this rule of thumb the next time you pack:
Soft fabrics, need to be folded on top of other soft clothes. Harder material, like denim, needs to be stacked separately. This doesn’t guarantee crumple free outfits although it will certainly help minimise unsightly creases.
Techie’s Travel Essentials
If some of your favourite travel companions are your trusty techie gadgets, consider yourself a travel trendsetter. Here’s a list of handy tech accessories no digital nomad should leave home without.
Retractable Ethernet Cable
An Ethernet cable connects your computer to wired Internet (as opposed to a wireless Internet). A practical retractable Ethernet cable will allow you to bypass the potential unreliability of many wireless networks at airports and hotels. Belkin offers some great options.
Laptop Lock
Safeguard your laptop and the precious data within using a portable lock. Shop around for one that fi ts your needs but Kensington is one of the most reliable brands around.
Lightweight Laptop
Purchase the lightest laptop for your travels – think MacBook Air, which was Steve Jobs – idea of the perfect travel companion. You don’t want to be held back by a heavy, unwieldy portable computer that slows you down.
Lightweight Laptop Bag
Use only easy-to-carry bags that allow you to transport your gadgets with minimum added weight. Heavy bags add to your overall luggage load and can be a drag to carry around.
First Aid Kit Essentials
Traveling without a personal First Aid Kit is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute.
The sudden change in climate, exotic food and unusual routine are bound to have an effect on your body and health. Travel experts believe the following essentials should be safely stashed in every travellers First Aid Kit:
- Pain medication like paracetamol
- Aloe Vera or other lotions to soothe sunburns
- Hand sanitiser
- Packs of tissues, which will come in handy in bathrooms without toilet paper
- Lozenges to soothe sore throats
- Sea and air sickness medication
- Adhesive bandages for unexpected cuts
- Medication such as carbon tablets to combat digestive problems.
Packing check list
Don’t zip your bags without our holiday checklist! You may not need all of these items, but bring what you think will be useful to you.
- Valid passport with relevant visas
- Passport copy
- Pen for filling out forms and cards
- Quick drying no-iron clothes to mix and match
- Flip-flops
- Swimwear and goggles
- Earplugs
- Face and body moisturisers
- Travel-sized toiletries
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm
- Tissue and moist towelettes
- Mosquito repellent
- Electrical adaptor and battery chargers for devices
- Camera and spare memory cards
- Fold-up bag and zip-lock bag
- Hat or cap
- Dry bag for island hopping
- Towels and beach mats
- Floats for kids
- Book, iPod, frisbee or playing cards
- Motion sickness pills
- Local currencies for snacks, jetty fees, etc
- Change of clothes
- Underwater camera casing
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