Travel Hacks for Travellers

Hey, this is Vignesh. Any fellow traveler who can suggest or give me any advice about Travel Hacks. What are essential things need to pack before traveling long distance

[ Edit: Edited on 24 Sep 2021, 11:14 GMT by Vignesh Varma ]

Long term travel means carrying everything longer, so travel light. On a round the world trip a 35L pack is about ideal for me.

"......traveling long distance..."

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How long?

In my "old age" I like my creature comforts. For a couple days a small pack or smaller carry-on size wheelie for me. Longer trips of several weeks - 1 carry-on size smaller wheelie and one larger check-in wheelie. The wheelies have locks on them like suitcases. Years ago it was a smaller duffel bag for carry on and larger duffel bag for check-in. (Knees a little achy now days and try to keep weight off them.)

In the check in bag I can store my can opener, Swiss Army type knife, small multi-tool and knife, fork and spoon. (The camping type utensils that snap together.) In the check in bag I can have larger sizes of hand lotion, sunblock, aftershave and whatever stuff that might be useful but not pass through security checks. Scissors and needle and thread in check-in bag. For my longer trips I have a spare pair of cheap shoes for backup or when one pair is wet. I bring flip-flops because I do not like to walk on hotel floors in my bare feet.

In my check-in bags is where i have spare underwear, socks, extra trousers, extra shirt sometimes for entering government offices. Several "been there" t-shirts. Walking shorts.

In my carry-on bag I have my meds, spare pants (trousers) and shirt along with underwear. Book to read on plane. Wet-wipes with me on plane to clean tray table off. (Just about the dirtiest place on a plane; think babies being changed on that table!!) Carry on bag may include a light jacket when traveling during cold weather. Safety razor for shaving, maybe some snacks, cough drops and copy of info pages from my passport and pre-stamped visas if I have one.

• I have been on flights that were delayed for several days. Was glad to have spare underwear to change into. Also, on one flight I had a large lady waddle up the aisle and spill her coffee all over my shirt and pants. This was at the beginning of a flight from Taipei to California. Soggy pants, soggy underwear and shirt. I was glad to have extra clothes to change into.

I bring some cheap paperback novels bought from yard sales and thrift shops in my check in bag. I give the books away when finished. (Not into reading Kindles yet, but working up to it.) Also a smaller fold up carry bag for walking around cities and on tours. I bring a fold up mini umbrella for some destinations during rainy season.

The only time I have everything with me after the flight lands is from airport to taxi and from there to hotel. Around town I use the smaller carry bag for sunglasses, pad/pen, maybe a guide or map. Digital camera and sometimes my netbook computer. Maybe a novel to read on bus, van and train rides on tours.

I have a couple ball caps to wear. Wear one wash one. Whatever. (I bring some cord to use as a clothes line when in cheap places.) Razor and various toiletries.

Essential for me would be more than one debit card. More than one credit card. Essential for me for nowadays is my small laptop. Essential is a couple padlocks if in a cheap place. I do bring one of those cheap single cup electric coils that you can use to boil water for coffee or tea. Along with a plastic tumbler for holding the water and coil. I used one of these coil things for over 30 years. (Google search will give you photo of one and where to get it.) Of course, essential would be your passport for overseas travel. Do NOT get your passport wet or tear out page! If you do this you may most likely be denied entry into the country you paid big bucks to visit!

• I never found a reason to walk around town with a huge pack all the time. Had enough walking and running with a pack in the military. If you go with a single pack or bag - remember some items you cannot take through security! Such as larger quantities of liquids, dive knife, etc. Figure out how you can lock your pack for some minimum security if leaving it at a hotel/hostel.

• I tell my card providers when I am out of the country. This way they won't block an ATM withdrawal suspecting fraud. My bank accounts are set up to allow me to pay pending monthly bills using my computer. This is using Bill Pay.

Good luck.

What's a travel hack? Here's one definition (similar to others):

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2014/08/18/travel-hacking-discount-code/14223775/

I don't practice travel hacking, which often are promoted by digital marketing specialists.

As to what to pack for a trip: It depends on your needs in the places that you want to visit and what weather you're likely to encounter. Packing light is always sensible, allowing greater flexibility. Except for certain prescription-drug formulations, you're likely to be able to buy what you need and want as you travel around. So it's usually not necessary to pack for "what if ..." situations.

Quoting berner256

which often are promoted by digital marketing specialists.

Vignesh hasn't been back so he must be busy with his digital marketing elsewhere.

Seems to be happening a lot here. 1st time poster with a very open ill-specified question and the good natured regulars spend their time with detailed informative answers never to be read by the poster.

Of course for any individual question you can never know if it really is genuine and that lack of responses is because of all the other similar broad 1st time poster questions that just wasted time.

For me a "genuine question" would include e.g. travelling to where (e.g. mountains or deserts or tundra), independent or with a company, for 1 week or 2 years, looking to party/see nature/lie on the beach/go hiking, countries/region (e.g. plenty of shops in Europe to buy as you travel, maybe not so many taking trans-Siberian), staying in cheap hostels/4* hotels/camping, etc.

Ian

These are some things to follow while travelling.

Turn on “Private Browsing” for cheaper flights.
Pack smart to save space and carry an extra bag.
Always carry a portable charger.
Email yourself a scan of your passport.
Download Google Maps for offline use.

Hack or suggestion, either description works for me.

At home I have a check off list for things I take on my trips. (Sort of like pilots having a pre-flight checklist even they may have had hundreds of take-offs.)

I have this check off list saved on my computer where I can update it. I do have a paper copy to make sure I don't forget something when packing my bag/wheelie at home. I do make adjustments for leaving during summer and arriving at overseas locations that are warm or tropical. My home city is cold in the winter so sometimes I do have to include something to keep me warm when walking home from my train ride late at night. (Not necessarily an arctic parka but at least a thin zipper jacket and sweater. If really cold I would just put on a couple shirts under the sweater and maybe include some gloves.)

• * When I leave home during cold weather, and heading to a warm climate, I choose a hotel that allows free storage of my winter gear. Any tourist junk I purchase soon after arrival I can store at this same hotel. Why carry tourist junk and winter gear all over the place your entire holiday? This does mean that when I fly out I have to use the same hotel again to reclaim my gear.

[ Edit: Edited on 4 Nov 2021, 08:55 GMT by karazyal ]

Quoting Vignesh Varma

Hey, this is Vignesh. Any fellow traveler who can suggest or give me any advice about Travel Hacks. What are essential things need to pack before traveling long distance

Before travel you need to have a good backpack and comfortable shoes with you.