Get Gear in Advance “Buy all the gear you need for your trip at the time of the year when the climate in your home country is closest to the one in your destination-country. And wear your gear for at least two days (even if it’s ridiculous). You don’t want to have any surprises once you are gone.” – Timo Luge Open Toed Shoes Can be a No-No Open-toed shoes will keep you out of more than swinging nightlife hotspots – it will also keep you away from some religious sites. Inquire ahead of time. Consider Disposable Contact Lenses If you wear permanent contacts, consider switching to disposable lenses. They’re less hassle and easy to replace. For the diehard permanent lenses-wearers, make sure you bring a spare set of permanent lenses, just in case. Top up Cell Phones In Europe, you can purchase mobile phone credit ‘top up’ cards regardless of the country the phone originated in. For example, a Vodaphone mobile phone purchased in the U.K. can be topped up with cards from Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and anywhere else Vodaphone credit is available. Cell Phones in the US In the United States, most mobile phone plans allow for free long distance and do not charge roaming fees for out-of-area code calls (i.e. a mobile phone bought in California can still be used in New York for the same price). Taking a Mobile Phone Only take a mobile phone if a) you have lots of money and don’t care about roaming charges or b) you plan on staying in one area long enough that purchasing one when you’re on the road is worthwhile. You can also look into jailbreaking your phone and buying sim cards in each country while on the road.
Things to Leave Behind When Traveling
Pick the Cards you Want to Carry
Contact Lenses Need Backup Glasses
Things to Bring on an International Flight
Europe and Australasia Cell Phones
Bring Converter for Tech Objects
Leave Your Favorite Pen At Home
Sarongs are Excellent Beach Towels
Add an Extra Duffel Bag to Your Pack
Looking Good in the Neighborhood
Attach Sleeping Bag Outside Your Pack