Packing List

Specialty Items

Items on this page definitely fall into the "optional" category, the need for them being very much a function of personal interests and the nature of the trip. This part of the list could, of course, be arbitrarily long; I have restricted it to a few topics that are of extremely broad interest.

camera (lenses? flash? tripod? extra cards & batteries? charger? download adapter?)

I'd recommend a state-of-the-art "point and shoot" camera, unless you really want to lug that SLR around. Philip Greenspun offers an extended and helpful discussion of this topic.

Consider also the use of higher-capacity memory cards (as shown at right); a 4GB (or greater) card can capture thousands of high-resolution photos, reducing (even eliminating) the need for downloading during your trip. It's easy to lose track of how full your memory cards are, so make it a point to empty them before embarking on trips, especially lengthy ones. If you're carrying a laptop, of course, you can download photos to it — or transfer them to a flash drive (see below) — as you go.

Digital cameras tend to come with special software that purportedly simplifies the transfer of images between the camera and a computer. I have owned many different such cameras, and have never installed the accompanying software; it is unnecessary, and clogs up the computer. Simply plugging one of your camera's memory cards into an inexpensive USB adapter makes it look to your computer like a disk drive, allowing you to transfer, edit, and delete pictures as desired; you can even reformat the card. For the traveller, this has the added advantage that you can do it with any computer without the need to install software.

If you're still using a film camera, be aware that film can be quite expensive outside North America; if you travel from there, it's often best to carry what you think you'll need. This decision, however, must be weighed against the damage that will be done to that film by passing it through airport X-ray machines. I know, they tell you it won't damage your film, but it will. That damage is unlikely to be visible if you're using slower speed film (anything under ASA 400), and the film only suffers a single exposure. With higher speed films, though, and/or multiple X-ray exposures (radiation damage is cumulative), you're taking a chance. Ask for hand inspection of film, though this request wil not necessarily be granted (especially outside North America, where the X-ray dosage tends to be higher as well). Lead-lined bags are available to shield film, but they're heavy and space-consuming; there's no easy solution.

cellular telephone (charger?)

Much travel is best enjoyed in the absence of "instant telephony", but for many, cell phones are a business trip necessity; they can also provide a welcome measure of security (especially for those travelling in a rental car) and useful convenience for those renting accommodations as they travel. Before you depart, ensure that your phone's technology, calling plan, and battery charger are all compatible with the area(s) you intend to visit; even then, the per-minute charges can add up quickly.

An option is to simply buy a basic phone abroad; this also has the advantage of giving people you meet a local number at which to reach you. As you cross borders, you will likely need to change SIM cards (a tiny chip that costs $10–20, and adjusts the phone for local use), though this negates the advantage of a local phone number. SIM cards can be purchased at airports and train stations.

Alternatively, consider getting one of the highly popular Mobal World Phones (sample model pictured at left), an inexpensive "pay as you use it" option. This well-reviewed service is also free of "maintenance" fees, less expensive than renting, and usually cheaper than buying SIM cards for an existing phone.

Remember that many mobile phones include tools (alarm clock, calculator, address book, notebook, even a sort of "emergency flashlight" in the form of a bright display screen) that you might otherwise have to carry separately. Most cell phones these days incorporate a camera as well, and while their resolution may be insufficient for quality prints, they still make handy "visual notebooks", with a variety of uses as suggested above. SMS messages to oneself can be used for similar purposes (making note of flight schedules, pick-up times, etc.); Google Mobile provides a very full-featured SMS-based service for finding out everything from sports scores and maps to stock quotes and the closest pizza places.

If you normally carry a PDA, iPhone, or such, you can be the next in a long line of unhappy recipients of staggering bills for international data roaming charges (as, for example, your device "phones home" when checking e-mail). Fortunately, this default behaviour can be turned off (use Wi-Fi instead of the data network when far from home), but only if you're paying attention. If you intend to use one of these as a telephone, make sure that your provider activates international service, and that you are aware of the associated roaming and data transfer costs.

The least expensive way to make voice (and video, if you have a camera) calls worldwide is with a computer or other Internet-connected device, using a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service such as Skype. If both you and the person you're calling have network connections, this is completely free; even when the called party is using a regular telephone, though, the cost is quite low.

Finally, should you find yourself having joined the ranks of those who left their cellphone chargers behind (they're the most commonly-forgotten item), just ask any larger hotel (or rental car place) if they have one that you can use. Most have a huge box of mislaid chargers, and will happily give you one that fits, even if you didn't lose yours there.

Even the smallest and lightest laptops and netbooks occupy a great deal of space, and contribute a significant amount of weight. For business trips they may be a requirement, but for leisure travel can often be replaced by a judicious use of Internet cafés.

If you must bring a laptop, of course, don't forget its attendant extras: power supply (with cord and any necessary adapters), network cable(s), and any needed accessories. You can use sites such as WiFiFreeSpot.com and JiWire.com to locate nearby wireless connections if your hotel doesn't offer them (or charges too much).

(solar) calculator

Depending on how arithmetic-challenged you are, one of these might help you with currency conversion, and — if you're from Liberia, Myanmar, or the United States — with the international measurement (metric) system as well. Some are available with quite impressive foreign language dictionaries built in. A solar-powered design will reduce the need for batteries.

gifts

A final suggestion is to think about taking along some small items that you can present to people you encounter along the way, especially the children (there is no faster way to endear yourself to the families you meet). The colourful (economical, flat) press-on stickers you can generally buy near gift wrapping supplies are appropriate for many ages. Another good idea is to carry a supply of the balloons used to make animals, hats, and the like. You've almost certainly seen this done, and perhaps never realized how easy a skill it is to learn (at least for simple items). T. Myers Magic will provide the instruction — including how to blow up the balloons without popping your eyeballs — and the supplies.

For adults in less industrialized areas, inexpensive (but not cheap, throwaway) ballpoint pens are a good choice; they also make good bargaining chips at markets. High quality fish hooks will be very scarce in poor fishing communities, making them excellent gifts and trade goods (especially for fish!); make sure you get the flat variety. Bandannas, not widely available outside North America, are another good choice. Other adults may appreciate a souvenir (perhaps a small flag pin) of your home country; as a Canadian, I often carry some of our $1 gold-coloured "loonie" coins (so named for the loon pictured on its reverse side).