First I'll give you my money-is-no-option favorites for traveling...
Luggage:
You need one basic bag, I prefer a backpacking pack. The only question people are starting to ask is, with wheels or without?
Here's my current bag - the Osprey Meridian 22". I've used this one for a year now and think it was well-worth the investment. Since I travel as much as I do, it's been much less effort than having to strap all my belongings to my back every time I have to relocate. I like how this has a detachable backpack as well. The drawback would be if you're having to hike a ways with this on your back, it is heavier than most traditional packs.
Another great option - Ospray Farpoint 70... or any similar backpack.
If you are pretty adventurous and plan to some outdoor backpacking, then be sure to get one of these traditional packs. I used one of these for 4 trips around the planet and it was great. Of these I recommend one that's not top-loading and has access from the sides.
Carry-on bag:
A small backpack or messenger bag is good for this. I like the messenger bag as it's easy to access and in countries with higher security, I find it's easier to wear on the front than a backpack.
Within the carry-on, for longer flights (8-hours +) I have a little package in there with earplugs, inflatable neck pillow, eye blind, facewash, lotion, toothbrush/toothpaste, sleeping pills and lip balm. The trick to sleeping on long flights is to get ready for bed like you normally would and make yourself as comfortable as possible. You may want to even throw some deodorant in there as most human beings seem to come off 15-hour flights smelling like death warmed over. Oh, and don't forget the breath mints!
For packing clothes:Packing cubes are the way to go! I've tried other options, but this is my favorite. Roll your clothes and put them in the cube to save on space.
For clothing a good rule of thumb is to pack for 7 days regardless of how long you'll be gone (yes, that includes months!). I usually pack 3 pairs of pants, 2 skirts, 1 pair of shorts, 5-8 tops, a lightweight jacket and a bathing suit. I make sure to have an outfit that could be worn for dirty work as well as one for more formal settings. Since I live in community ( I pack for the season I'll spend the most time in. If I'll mainly be in warm weather, I might not even pack shoes! Too often I've carried around a pair of "just in case" footwear that I never wore.
It's generally good to pack solid colors of clothing as it gives more options to mix and match. For the ladies, you can always dress up an outfit with nice jewelery or a scarf. If you want to go for the "I'm a tourist!" look then be sure to bring your bright patterns.
Toiletry kit:
Bring small bottles of everything you need. You can always buy soap/shampoo in other countries! Keep it nice and organized in one location together.
For those that don't know what goes in the toiletry kit: toothbrush/toothpaste, floss, band-aids, nail file, lotion, mouthwash, tweezers, nail clippers, make-up (ladies!), soap/shampoo, deodorant, and facewash.
Other items:
I do bring a hair dryer, a quick-dry towel, a multiple-function pocket knife, an adapter or two (that's my favorite one), and a coffee sock.
A favorite item: a sarong. It functions as a beach towel, a skirt, a blanket, a bathrobe, a picnic blanket and so on!
An item I dream about having is a Baby Taylor guitar. It's the ultimate travel guitar!
Electronics:
Apple. Apple Apple Apple. Great computers great gagets. Go for it! I've traveled with a MacBook for years now, and it's still going pretty strong. The new iPad is super cool, but I don't have a lot of experience with it. Everyone I know who has one loves it. Recently, by the grace of God, I was gi
ven an iPhone. I thought it was totally over-rated and silly trendy until I started using it. This thing is helping me so much with organization. I have the Bible in there. It even works with Skype (which you certainly want to sign up on if you're traveling for more than a month). It doesn't yet make my coffee, but I'm sure the next version will.For a camera I've come to love Canon. Besides good quality shots, I've filmed lots of video on my little point & shoot camera. For almost SLR quality and control while also being a compact model, I recommend the Canon G12. I don't own it, but I sure think it's a great camera! (Remember this is my money-is-no-object list!) I do recommend purchasing an extra battery and memory card to have on hand. You don't want to be caught with a dead battery right in the middle of some memorable moment!
Don't worry about 'forgetting something'. You can almost always find a similar item to the one you miss in the new country! Sometimes I actually under-pack so that I will have opportunity to buy an inexpensive new item of clothing. It's part of the adventure! If you wanted life to remain predictable and controlled, you probably would have stayed at home in the first place.
More tips on packing from someone with much more experience than me. Sign up for his blog - it's great!
Here are some essentials to remember for stress free travel.
I must conclude with saying, you don't need as much as you think you do. (And generally speaking I'd like to re-emphasize this to the Americans out there!) Annually I learn this lesson as I've been a chronic over-packer. The year I learned the most about packing was when my backpack was stolen in Argentina. The full story is here. Truly, you can get by with packing up your dad's old backpack from college, putting your stuff into shopping bags (you can always find more!), and using internet cafes along the way. For 3 years I traveled around the world without a cell phone and I didn't miss it! More than likely you don't have to go out and buy new things for your big trip - ask around to friends and family and see what's available.
If you have any more specific questions, please message or email me! If you have any tips I need to know about - please pass them on. I've learned there is always more to know on this subject!
