It doesn't matter if you're going away for a year or a week, you usually need about the same amount of stuff. Here are some must haves and some luxuries that you should consider packing before departure...
So how to pack your bag. You're going on a trip Amsterdam for a week for sex drugs and hip hop(my preference), or moving to argentina for 6 months to learn Spanish. No matter what it is, you should always pack your bag similar and remember you don't need and won't want to carry around all the extra "just in case" items you want to bring.
QUALITY NOT QUANTITY
SOME NECESSITIES : IF SUMMER
1) CARRY ON BACK PACK 50L OR LESS. YOU DON'T WANT TO ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BAG AND RISK THE CHANCE OF IT GETTING LOST. EBAGS.COM CHEAPEST DEALS!
2) 3 PAIRS OF LIGHT UNDERWEAR
3) 3 PAIRS OF CRISPY SOCKS (BLACK)
4) 1 PAIR OF COMFORTABLE SNEAKERS NEUTRAL COLOR. THAT YOU WILL BE WEARING.
5) 1 BATHING SUIT
6) 1 SPORT TOWEL I LIKE SWIMMER TOWELS THAT ARE SYNTHETIC AND CAN BE ROLED INTO ALMOST NOTHING.
7) 1 PAIR SUNGLASSES
8) 1 TANK TOP 2 T SHIRTS
9) 1 PAIR OF SHORTS
10) 1 THIN PAIR OF JEANS AND THE PAIR YOU WILL WEAR ON THE PLANE.
WINTER:
1) 3 PAIRS OF SOCKS
2) 3 PAIRS UNDERWEAR
3) 1 PAIR OF THE BEST LONG JOHNS MONEY CAN BUY . AND ONE YOU WILL WEAR ON PLANE.YOU WILL WEAR ALMOST EVERYDAY. MAKE SURE THEY ARE DRY FAST MATERIAL SO YOU CAN WASH AND WEAR AGAIN THE NEXT DAY.
4) 1 HEAVY SWEATSHIRT
5) 1 SWEATER FOR GOING OUT CASUAL
6) 1 LONG SLEEVE DRESS SHIRT
7) 2 THIN LONG SLEEVE T SHIRTS (THIN MATERIAL)
6) 1 PAIR OF SNEAKERS WITH GOOD SUPPORT.
7) 1 SKI CAP OR BUY ONE THERE
8) 1 PAIR LIGHT GLOVES OR BUY THEM THERE
9) 2 PAIRS OF JEANS- AND THE ONES YOU WILL WEAR ON THE PLANE.
10) 1 JACKET YOU WILL WEAR ON THE PLANE
11) 1 BELT YOU WILL BE WEARING
ACCESSORIES:
1) I POD OR ANY MUSIC DEVICE AND CHARGER
2) ALL MEDICAL ,BANK AND VISA INFORMATION
3) 10 EXTRA PASSPORT PHOTOS JUST INCASE YOU LOSE YOUR PASSPORT-ALSO PHOTOCOPIES OF DRIVERS LICENSE AND 1ST PAGE OF PASSPORT
4) PASSPORT
5) 1 LANGUAGE PHRASE BOOK
6) A GOOD PAIR OF EAR PLUGS(THIS IS A MUST)
7) LEAVE YOUR LAPTOP HOME THERE ARE PLENTY OF INTERNET CAFES' EVERYWHERE.
8) 1 JOURNAL TO WRITE YOUR STORIES & IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
9) 1 GOOD POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA
10) 1 USB PEN TO BACK UP PHOTOS IN INTERNET CAFE.
11) CELL PHONE WITH REMOVABLE SIM CARD . YOU CAN PURCHASE ONE ABROAD AND USE IN EMERGENCIES.
12) 1 GOOD BOOK FOR OFF DAYS.
13) ALL TOILETRIES I BUY THERE
14) POWER ADAPTER FOR THE COUNTRY YOU WILL BE GOING TO..EBAY HAS GOOD DEALS ..AROUND $5
13) OF COURSE BRING AN OPEN MIND!
That's pretty much it. sounds like nothing , you may find yourself later on throwing stuff out because it's too heavy or you haven't used it. Consider where you're going and if the exchange rate is good, if so consider bringing even less and buying some stuff there. You will find yourself doing this anyway.
Wash your clothes in sinks in the summer and hang to dry. In the winter look hard for a laundromat. you don't want to be walking around in wet clothes.
I don't bring more then a $100 cash with me. I use debit and credit cards . They can be used at almost any shop in western side of the world.
BE SURE TO CALL HEALTH INSURANCE AND CREDIT COMPANIES AND TELL THEM YOU ARE LEAVING THE COUNTRY. A FREEZE ON YOUR ACOUNT BECAUSE THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS WILL PUT A REAL DAMPER ON YOUR TRIP.
AND DONT FORGET CHARGERS!
QUALITY NOT QUANTITY
SOME NECESSITIES : IF SUMMER
1) CARRY ON BACK PACK 50L OR LESS. YOU DON'T WANT TO ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BAG AND RISK THE CHANCE OF IT GETTING LOST. EBAGS.COM CHEAPEST DEALS!
2) 3 PAIRS OF LIGHT UNDERWEAR
3) 3 PAIRS OF CRISPY SOCKS (BLACK)
4) 1 PAIR OF COMFORTABLE SNEAKERS NEUTRAL COLOR. THAT YOU WILL BE WEARING.
5) 1 BATHING SUIT
6) 1 SPORT TOWEL I LIKE SWIMMER TOWELS THAT ARE SYNTHETIC AND CAN BE ROLED INTO ALMOST NOTHING.
7) 1 PAIR SUNGLASSES
8) 1 TANK TOP 2 T SHIRTS
9) 1 PAIR OF SHORTS
10) 1 THIN PAIR OF JEANS AND THE PAIR YOU WILL WEAR ON THE PLANE.
WINTER:
1) 3 PAIRS OF SOCKS
2) 3 PAIRS UNDERWEAR
3) 1 PAIR OF THE BEST LONG JOHNS MONEY CAN BUY . AND ONE YOU WILL WEAR ON PLANE.YOU WILL WEAR ALMOST EVERYDAY. MAKE SURE THEY ARE DRY FAST MATERIAL SO YOU CAN WASH AND WEAR AGAIN THE NEXT DAY.
4) 1 HEAVY SWEATSHIRT
5) 1 SWEATER FOR GOING OUT CASUAL
6) 1 LONG SLEEVE DRESS SHIRT
7) 2 THIN LONG SLEEVE T SHIRTS (THIN MATERIAL)
6) 1 PAIR OF SNEAKERS WITH GOOD SUPPORT.
7) 1 SKI CAP OR BUY ONE THERE
8) 1 PAIR LIGHT GLOVES OR BUY THEM THERE
9) 2 PAIRS OF JEANS- AND THE ONES YOU WILL WEAR ON THE PLANE.
10) 1 JACKET YOU WILL WEAR ON THE PLANE
11) 1 BELT YOU WILL BE WEARING
ACCESSORIES:
1) I POD OR ANY MUSIC DEVICE AND CHARGER
2) ALL MEDICAL ,BANK AND VISA INFORMATION
3) 10 EXTRA PASSPORT PHOTOS JUST INCASE YOU LOSE YOUR PASSPORT-ALSO PHOTOCOPIES OF DRIVERS LICENSE AND 1ST PAGE OF PASSPORT
4) PASSPORT
5) 1 LANGUAGE PHRASE BOOK
6) A GOOD PAIR OF EAR PLUGS(THIS IS A MUST)
7) LEAVE YOUR LAPTOP HOME THERE ARE PLENTY OF INTERNET CAFES' EVERYWHERE.
8) 1 JOURNAL TO WRITE YOUR STORIES & IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
9) 1 GOOD POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA
10) 1 USB PEN TO BACK UP PHOTOS IN INTERNET CAFE.
11) CELL PHONE WITH REMOVABLE SIM CARD . YOU CAN PURCHASE ONE ABROAD AND USE IN EMERGENCIES.
12) 1 GOOD BOOK FOR OFF DAYS.
13) ALL TOILETRIES I BUY THERE
14) POWER ADAPTER FOR THE COUNTRY YOU WILL BE GOING TO..EBAY HAS GOOD DEALS ..AROUND $5
13) OF COURSE BRING AN OPEN MIND!
That's pretty much it. sounds like nothing , you may find yourself later on throwing stuff out because it's too heavy or you haven't used it. Consider where you're going and if the exchange rate is good, if so consider bringing even less and buying some stuff there. You will find yourself doing this anyway.
Wash your clothes in sinks in the summer and hang to dry. In the winter look hard for a laundromat. you don't want to be walking around in wet clothes.
I don't bring more then a $100 cash with me. I use debit and credit cards . They can be used at almost any shop in western side of the world.
BE SURE TO CALL HEALTH INSURANCE AND CREDIT COMPANIES AND TELL THEM YOU ARE LEAVING THE COUNTRY. A FREEZE ON YOUR ACOUNT BECAUSE THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS WILL PUT A REAL DAMPER ON YOUR TRIP.
AND DONT FORGET CHARGERS!
