what to bring along, what to do if i plan to travel to other countries?

Question

this is my first time travelling

Answer 1

your blender for sure (just kidding)

here is a comprehensive pacing list fro you

PACKING LIST
CARRYON
I use a carryon with wheels similar to the ones the flight crews use. I find that a carryon is sufficient on most trips. As I don't check my luggage, I don't worry about losing a bag and don't have to wait around for the luggage to be unloaded.
Be aware airlines are enforcing the carryon regulations. So be sure your carryon is within 9 X 14 X 22 inches.


Address labels or business cards
Include Email address on cards and labels.
Baggies
2 sizes. For laundry that hasn't dried, damp face cloth, etc.
Belts, Accessories (jewelry)
Clock, alarm
Clothing
Carry half in carryon, half in partner's bag if traveling with someone. (And half his clothes in your bag.) If one of our bags is lost, we still have half our clothes. This should not happen if you have a carryon, but someone COULD take off with yours by mistake.
Cosmetics
You will have to compile your own list of cosmetics to take. This is quite personal. Don't forget purse-size hair spray.
Ear Plugs
Great for flying in small commuter planes - they are so noisy.
Electric plug adaptors
Different parts of the world use different plugs, so carry adaptors if you have any electric appliances with you.
Feminine Protection
Sometimes difficult to explain to someone in sign language exactly what it is you want. Also, these items may be different from what you are used to. So carry what you will need.
Flashlight.
I carry a small flashlight when I go to countries that might have erratic power or on safari. Also comes in handy during night if I have to get up and don't want to disturb traveling companion.
Flight Bag
This is a small, lightweight carryon that can be folded flat and takes practically no room when it is placed on the bottom of your bag. Tour groups often give them to their clients. Comes in very handy when you bring back more than you can place in your luggage.
Gifts
Quite often I take gifts to give to local people as well as to hosts if I am visiting someone. If going to a foreign country, take something that is typical of your own country.
Gloves
If necessary, cotton or heavy depending on destination.
Hair Dryer
With dual-voltage capability. Take only if there's doubt that one is available in the hotel. If you don't have one with dual-voltage, be sure you have a converter and the proper plugs for the countries you are visiting.
Hangers
A couple plastic hangers come in handy for drying clothing when no shower curtain rod, not enough hangers in hotel closet, etc.
Insect repellant
When going to an area that will be buggy.
Laundry bag
Carry a plastic laundry bag for soiled or worn clothing.
Laundry Clips
Have clips with hooks on end so can hang up hose to dry.
Misc. items
Needle, thread, safety pins, rubber bands, other related items.
Netting
Take a yard or two of nylon netting if going to a place that is mosquito infested. It takes practically no room, and will be invaluable if it is necessary. Be sure the holes are small. I have used nylon tulle lately. I also have made protection for my head with this material, which covers my face, neck and head.
Night clothes
Plus robe and slippers, if necessary. Can use plastic raincoat in place of robe. Can always slip on shoes in place of slippers.
Old clothes
Any old clothes that you can wear on the trip but can leave along the way, to make additional room for bringing things back. Some travelers take nothing but old clothes and leave them all.
Purse/Backpack
Small one for times when I will not want to wear a hip pack. Actually, I have decided not to take a purse in the future. But I do take a purse-type backpack which I use quite often now.
Raincoat
Plastic with hood. Better than umbrella, takes less space, and excellent as a windbreaker or robe.
Shower Items
Cap, shower sandals (flip-flops)
Shoes
Take an extra pair for walking
Silk spray/anti-static spray
In warm countries, I take nothing but silk clothing. It takes so little space, is more comfortable than man-made fabrics and dries quickly. And as silk clings, I need anti-static spray.
Soap
Carry a small hotel-size bar to some areas of the world where the soap may be quite harsh.
Steamer or Iron
I prefer a steamer with dual-voltage switch as it's lighter in weight than an iron and easier to use.
Sweater or light jacket
Comes in handy where air-conditioners are turned very low.
Tights
A simple solution for very cold areas. They take very little room but provide much warmth.
Toilet Tissue
Remove center core and press flat. Take very soft tissue and use in place of Kleenex.
ToothBrush Cap
A cap for over the brush takes much less room than conventional tooth brush holder.
Towel and Face Cloth
An extra towel is always handy. Use to squeeze moisture out of clothing after laundering. Clothes will dry faster. Some places give only provide one bath towel and you may need another for your hair. Take an old one that can be left at last stop. Most places don't supply face cloths.
Travel data
Don't forget maps, travel books. In place of carrying complete books, I tear out the pages I will need.
Underwear
Two sets plus what you are wearing should be enough. Insulated when necessary. If possible, carry nylon or silk. Dries overnight. Even make my husband wear silk underwear on trips for this reason.
Vitamins
Wash'n Dri
Moist disposable towelettes for cleaning hands before eating on plane. They come in handy other times, also.


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HIP PACK
I wear a hip pack in place of carrying a purse. Have found that with just the three items and no purse, I can manage very well without any help. But I wear the hip pack under clothing: under coat, jacket or blouse and in front of my body, not over hip in back or side. When worn this way, I do not feel I need a money belt. If you women feel you have to carry a handbag, try the neat backpack types. They are much easier to handle on your back rather than a purse. Also, you can still carry it by the handle in your hand. (If you elect to wear a small backpack on your back, be sure to place valuables either on your person or in camera case.)

Comb
Credit cards
Frequent Flyer cards
Lipstick and lip balm
Medication
Mirror, small
Money
Passport
Pen
Scissors/knife (collapsible)
Tickets
Travelers Checks
Vouchers
Wallet (small for travel)



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CAMERA CASE
The most important thing I carry on a trip is my camera. The additional items that I carry in my camera bag are so they will be handy when I need them, as I keep the camera bag at my feet, never in overhead bins.
Batteries
Book - paperback to read while flying
Camcorder
Charger and adaptor plugs
Ear plugs - for sleeping
Eye shades
Pillow - inflatable for long overnight flights
Tapes for camcorder


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Misc
Following are good items to have with you.
Clorox - plain clorox for purifying water (6 drops per quart is normally recommended)
First Aid Kit - contents depend on where you are traveling
Laundry soap - use shampoo instead if really pressed for space
Moleskin
Nail clippers
Sunscreen
Thermometer


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As I travel, I have to keep track of only three items: Carryon, Camera Bag, and Hip Pack. I wear or carry a coat or jacket and my watch.
Naturally, I do not take every item listed here. I have them in a database on my computer and then check those I need for a particular trip and print out that list.

Be sure you place your NAME and TELEPHONE NUMBER both INSIDE and OUTSIDE all your luggage. This is absolutely ESSENTIAL if you do not want to lose it forever.

Clothing

1. Coordinate your clothes around one or two basic colors. This cuts down on the number of shoes and accessories you have to bring.

2. Take as few clothes as possible. Plan on laundering. One person suggested one week's worth of clothes. I take fewer unless they are my washable silks.

3. Wear and carry washable silk clothing whenever possible. It is as warm as and as cool as cotton. It dries overnight and 10-15 pieces take no more room than two pair jeans. There are some other manmade fabrics that travel as well if not better, but they cost quite a bit more.

4. Plastic rain coat can double as a bathrobe or windbreaker.

5. Take older clothes that can be discarded along the way. Great for growing children. Many places, the local people are pleased to get these castoffs. There are travelers who take nothing but old clothes so they have that much more room for bringing souvenirs home.

6. Jeans - I never take them as they take so long to dry. If both the time and money for laundering are concerns, take lighter weight pants.

Flight

1. An item that's invaluable when making long, night flights is an inflatable neck cushion (pillow). It takes practically no room when collapsed, but makes it so much easier to sleep. I also carry an eye shade and ear plugs for sleeping.

2. When waiting in line or sitting in the airport (or anywhere else, for that matter), always have the strap(s) to your carryon luggage wrapped around an arm or a leg. Then they won't disappear without your knowledge. I carry this suggestion to the extreme if I am in a questionable area. I have even straddled my large bags when I felt it necessary. Or at least have them touching my leg so I would know if they were moved.

3. When you reach your seat on boarding a plane, MOVE OUT OF THE AISLE immediately. From there you can stow your bag in the overhead bin. If not, wait until the aisle clears.

Foreign Hotels

1. When leaving the hotel, always take matches or stationery with hotel name and address on it. When you don't speak the language, just show the cab driver either one and there won't be any mistake as to where you are staying.

2. Find out exactly what the surcharges are before making a telephone call from the hotel. They can sometimes be several times the actual cost of the call.

Health/Water

1. I always carry a small medicinal bottle with dropper containing either clorox (unscented) or iodine to put in water when it is questionable. Use the treated water for brushing teeth, and even for drinking when nothing else in available. About 5 drops per quart is sufficient. It needs to stand for half an hour to do its purifying.

2. Either carry a plastic bottle with you, or buy carbonated water in a plastic container and when it's empty, use for treating the water with your drops. I don't trust the bottled water for sale in some countries. If it is carbonated, it is probably safe.

3. If the water is not potable, then remember the ice probably isn't either, so do not drink anything containing ice. By the same token, reconstituted fruit juice should not be drunk.

4. For information on water, vaccinations, other health related items, select HomePage at bottom of this page and then select Travelers' Health link.

Information

1. For EMERGENCIES, contact the American Citizens Services, a State Dept. Agency which has offices in every U.S. embassy, consulate and parttime consulate throughout the world. See Department of State link on my home page. Select HomePage at bottom of this page.

2. Carry the appropriate country's Consular Information sheet which has important addresses and phone numbers. You can get it from Department of State link. Select HomePage at bottom of this page.

3. Leave a day-by-day itinerary, with hotels and phone numbers, with a relative or friends.

Jet Lag

After crossing several time zones, many travelers suffer from "jet lag." Although there is no way to completely avoid jet lag, there are a number of ways to help your body adjust to a new time zone.

1. Try to go to bed a little earlier a few days before you leave and get as much sleep as you can during your flight.

2. Many side-effects of jet lag are the result of dehydration, so avoid alcohol, coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages and drink plenty of water during your flight.

3. Eat lightly on your flight and forego rich or exotic foods on the first few days of your trip so that you can use your energy to adjust to your new surroundings rather than to digest your food.

4. Exercising on a long flight will help alleviate such common discomforts as backaches, swollen legs and feet and general fatigue. Stretch at regular intervals and walk up and down the aisles of the plane from time to time.

5. Finally, take it easy on the day you arrive so that you can take advantage of your trip at a leisurely pace and establish a routine in sync with the local time. I take a short nap when I arrive at my destination, then make myself stay active the rest of the day.

Luggage

1. I use a carryon WITH WHEELS similar to the ones the flight crews use. I find that a carryon is sufficient on most trips, and as I don't check my luggage, I don't worry about losing a bag and don't have to wait around for the luggage to be unloaded.
Be aware airlines are enforcing the carryon regulations. So be sure your carryon is within 9 X 14 X 22 inches.


2. If you are checking luggage, make sure that the city shown on the tag matches your final destination. There have been times when the wrong tag has been attached and the bags went to that destination. And remove all old tags.

3. Also, if you are checking luggage (which I do not recommend), tie a piece of bright-colored yarn or place something distinctive on your bag so it will be easy to identify as it goes round and round on the carousel.

4. An extra folded flight bag takes very little room. But it comes in handy on your way home when you have more to carry than you can place in your luggage.(Just pull it out, and there's another bag.) Fold it and place at bottom of your luggage for trip over.

5. Lock your luggage to avoid accidental openings due to rough handling or cabin pressure and carry the keys on your person.

Miscellaneous

1. Shampoo can be used for laundry. Don't have to carry both laundry soap and shampoo.

2. I have a collapsible pair of scissors that I always carry (they collapse to little more than two inches) and a tiny bottle opener.

Money

1. Take some cash with you, small rather than large denominations. If going to Russia, take only crisp, clean dollar bills. They do not trust old and dirty currency. In some countries, the rate of exchange is far better for cash than travelers checks.

2. I find that using a credit card is the best way in most countries. The rate of exchange is far better than you could get for either cash or travelers checks and the fees charged are considerably less.
If two of you traveling together, each one carry a different credit card. If one is stolen or lost, you'll still have a valid one. Also, if magnetic stripe goes bad, you still have the other one to use.


3. In other words, I carry some cash, some travelers' checks and a couple credit cards. And I use the credit cards as often as possible.

Packing

1. If you are traveling with someone, pack half your clothes in his bag, and carry half his in your luggage. Then if one bag gets lost, you at least have half your things.

2. Wear or carry your bulky clothes on the flight if possible, rather than packing them, to create extra space in your bag.

3. Make a list of items you are taking and check them off as each item is packed.

4. Insert your name and address inside your baggage.

5. Put liquids in plastic containers, not glass. They aren't as heavy and are not as likely to break. And then place those containers inside plastic zipper bags.

6. For fewest wrinkles, I have found it best to lay clothing out on bed in layers, one on top of the other, and fold to fit in bag. At the folds, place stockings, underwear, whatever, to prevent a crease at that point. I like to fold all blouses in one bundle and slip in a plastic bag. Then, fold all pants and slip them in another plastic bag. Do the same with any other items you want kept wrinkle-free. For some reason, the plastic bags keep my clothes more wrinkle-free than any other method I have tried.
Personally, I do not find rolling my clothes a satisfactory way of packing.


7. Put small things in the toes and heels of your shoes.

8. Place shoes at the bottom of the case where the hinges are. They will stay in place and not shift clothing around by their weight. In fact, all heavy items should be placed there.

9. Don't roll belts; place them just inside walls of your bags, running around the circumference. They will take less room this way.

10. Less room is used if cosmetics, medications, etc., are placed in a zipper plastic bag and then transferred to regular cosmetic bag (which you have folded and placed in the bag) after you arrive at your destination.

11. Shoes should be packed in shoe mittens or an old pair of socks to protect other clothes from being soiled.

Valuables

1. Always carry valuables on your person, not in a purse, not in a flight bag. Only other place is a safe deposit box at a hotel or ship.
By valuables, I mean passport, return tickets, travelers checks, money, credit cards, and medication.


2. Have a photo copy made of your passport ID page, airline tickets and credit cards before you embark on your trip. Keep them somewhere other than with the passport and tickets. If you lose any of the above mentioned, the photocopy will expedite getting replacements.

3. Always carry extra passport photos. Handy if you need visa in a hurry, or if you lose your passport.

4. Do NOT take valuable jewelry. You probably won't see any of the people you meet along the way again. And if your jewelry is necessary to impress them, they aren't worth your while anyway.

Last, but Not Least

1. Have a dry run before you go. I ALWAYS pack everything a day or two before leaving just to make sure it all fits. And I walk around the house pulling my carryon, and carrying camera bag, coat, whatever I will be carrying, to make sure I can handle it all with no help. Although I am a woman, I have never had to ask for assistance. In fact, will usually decline help when offered, especially if on tour, because I don't want the men to think they are going to be called on all the time for help.

2. I never carry a purse when traveling or touring. I wear a hip pack that I cover with my blouse. May not be voguish, but probably will not lose my valuables. I also tie the straps with a square knot as I do not trust those plastic clasps. I have a purse in my luggage that I use when we go out in the evening, or when I dress up a bit and am not going to be vulnerable to street folks.

Answer 2

It may be a good idea to bring only a carry-on. Sometimes luggage can get lost, but not always.

Regardless if you opt for the carry-on route or if you also check luggage, make sure you have the following on your person: passport, driver's license, money, ATM/Debit/Credit cards, plane tickets (all aforementioned items should be in your neck pouch/money belt), any and all medications you are taking, all valuables (jewelry, cameras, laptops, etc), film/memory cards. It's also a good idea to bring an extra set of clothes in your carry-on in the unfortunate case that your checked luggage decides to visit a different country than you.

Also bring snacks...the airline food isn't the best and the snacks are pretty non-existent. Cereal bars, trail mix, rice krispie treats, whatever you like to munch on. Before departure, take a sudafed to help your ears not get plugged up. Also, a piece of candy helps prevent painful ear popping. Bring a bottle of water...it combats dehydration.

Clothing-wise...it depends on what you plan on doing, what the weather plans on doing, etc. If you are not going to an Opera or any formal occasion, you won't need to bring anything too dressy. Most importantly, make sure your shoes are comfortable. If not, you'll be walking on blisters. What fun is that?

A moneybelt or a neck pouch is your key to peace of mind. Keep all your important stuff in there and if you are pickpocketed (hopefully not!), then your trip can still go on. Operate with a day's worth of spending money in your wallet and the rest in your security pouch.

Answer 3

Seems like everyone has covered the packing list pretty thoroughly, but if you're traveling for fun and plan on interacting with people in the country where you're traveling... consider bringing photos of your family to show, a postcard of your home town if there is one--things like that. And, if you're going off the beaten track where English is not the first language, you might consider an Oxford-English Picture Dictionary. They can be very handy--and funny. Amazon.com carries them--many bi-lingual--but the mono-lingual English one is good enough.

Answer 4

The MOST IMPORTANT things you need to take is knowledge. The first thing you need to do is some research on the countries you will visit so you know the weather, the sights you want to see, and what currency the countries use.

You should plan your trip so that you get the tours you want to see the sights. Take along clothing that allows you to layer it for the weather, so that if its hot you can take off and if its cool you can add.

You need to know how much your money will buy in the other countries. Some times the currency exchange results in you having 40 to 50% less buying power. For example in London one Pound will cost you more than $1.70 US. Take credit cards for big purchases, like hotel rooms and meals, and admissions tickets and tours. Some countries (France, Spain, Greece, Italy, Germany, etc) use Euros which are really convenient. You need to know where to get currency (in the airports when you land; and you can sell it back when you are ready to come back to the US). Many street vendors and markets will take the US dollar for small purchases; just ask if they do. SOme will have it posted.

In some countries you need to be acutely aware of pickpockets. So buy a pouch (you can get one for about $20. at Target) and put your money and credit cards in it and wear it under your clothes. Keep your passport with you at all times and do make a copy of it (page with the picture) and keep it in a place where you can get to it if you lose your passport. Don't walk around with valuable stuff in your backpack, like camera and CD/MP3 players. In London we were told to watch out for people trying to snatch cell phones. If you carry a purse, carry it under your arm and make sure it is sipped close.

Don't take a bunch of Stuff, like DVD players, CD players and laptop that you have to leave in your room while you are out; it may disappear. Leave your diamonds necklaces and other expensive jewelry at home.

Take the best walking shoes that you have. Don't worry about dressing up; casual is the style, unless you are gonna do a high dollar fancy restaurant. You can use your cell phone if you get the rates and regs for the countries you will visit. You may need a power converter if you need to charge your phone, charge your camera battery, use a hair dryer, etc.

Plan ahead and enjoy yourn trip.

Answer 5

Make sure you had all the vaccinations, espcially for the country you may be visiting. Secondly all your medicines you may need. Thirdly a book with interpertations for the country you may visit. Use your ATM card and do not carry cash. Maybe more but this is all I can think of now. OH when you get to a Foreign country register at the US Consulate, so the US can notify your family if something happens to you.

Answer 6

It all depends on the countries you are going to...

Research the weather, climate, traditions (if you are going to the Arab country, don't bring revealing clothes & so forth...) so that you don't insult people there!

Answer 7

voltage adaptors