After 8 years of travel, we’ve learned a thing or two about traveling smartly and packing! We’re sharing 8 of those tips with you today in hopes that you can benefit from our learnings over the years.
Here they are:
1. Bring a laundry bag
There’s nothing worse than getting your dirty clothes mixed up with your clean clothes when you’re off the grid and far from a washing machine! We always suggest packing a bag (cloth or plastic) where you can put your dirty laundry and then easily transport it to the laundromat or wherever you’re doing laundry next.
2. Use packing cubes
Packing cubes were a game changer for us! They allow us to keep everything neat and tidy and organized in our bags, which makes it way easier to find the things we need. These can also be helpful if you’re traveling to different climates and want to keep your warm weather clothes separate from your cold weather clothes.
3. Download offline maps
Unless you know you’ll have access to wifi at the airport or bus station OR you have a SIM card that works wherever you are traveling, you should definitely download offline maps. Maps.me is our favorite app for this and you can get the maps for every city you’re traveling to before you even leave the comforts of your own home! This will make arriving in a foreign country feel way more comfortable.
4. Get Google Translate
Similarly, having Google Translate on your phone AND downloading the language you’ll need before you arrive in a place can really be a game changer for making sure that you feel comfortable arriving somewhere new, figuring out where you need to go, and getting a taxi or bus to where you need to go.
5. Always keep cash on you
We usually take out cash with the local currency when we arrive in a place, but it’s always smart to have some cash on you, especially USD. In most countries, if you don’t have the opportunity to stop at an ATM or exchange currencies, you’ll at the very least be able to use USD. It can also be beneficial to get some local currency before you leave home so that you don’t have to worry about having cash when you arrive in a place, especially somewhere that doesn’t accept credit or debit cards.
6. Always know the expiry date of your passport and your credit cards
Especially if you are heading out on a longer trip! Most countries have regulations around how close to the expiry date of your passport you can travel so it’s always good to make sure you are up to date and on top of this. As well, you don’t want to run into an issue where your credit card expires while you’re away and there is no way your bank can get it to you. Be proactive and check expiry dates before you leave home!
7. Pack smart
Less is always more when it comes to packing! You can always buy things wherever you are, so pack less, but do it smartly. We recommend versatile pieces that are quick dry and can handle the climate that you’re traveling to. We travel with Merino wool and lots of quick dry, breathable and anti-stink products, mostly from lululemon. We always travel with one jacket that’s waterproof, and a few versatile pairs of shoes. Remember – you don’t need every shirt and pair of jeans in your wardrobe. One is enough!
8. Be flexible
This is an important one, especially if you’re traveling to developing countries. It’s important to give yourself time and flexibility in your schedule for things like train, bus or plane delays or cancellations, weather, and the possibility of sickness. Your trip will be way more fun if you’re flexible!
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