Thursday, January 10, 2013
travelers bring with them that less
What are common items that savvy travelers bring with them that less
I try to avoid checking luggage when I can, but unless I am going between two places I control and cache items, I usually check a bag.
Whenever I travel in the The United States of America, except to New York City, I put a firearm in my checked luggage. This means it NEVER http://www.cheapjewelryonsales.net
gets lost -- I have to declare it at checkin, then I physically carry the bag over to the Transportation Security Administration, where they are exceptionally friendly, inspect that the firearm is unloaded, and let me put my own lock on the bag. They put a card inside the bag, but there is no other indication on the outside of the bag that a weapon is inside. However, they are very careful when loading the bag -- there is a lot of TSA paperwork if the bag is missing.
I either use a Pelican case with a handgun inside it, inside a backpack or duffel bag, or in rare cases, a big pelican case (1650), http://cheapjewelryonsales.net
optionally hidden inside a duffel bag, or covered in hippie stickers, duct tape, etc. to look less valuable.
By doing this, I can comfortably travel with ~15k in camera equipment and ~15k in firearms and 15k in electronics in a checked piece of luggage. I have never had a weapon-checked bag go missing, be molested, or even be delayed. However, I don own a starter pistol, and this has the added benefit of having a firearm at my destination, and interesting conversations with the TSA employees (a really nice Sig 556 or 1911 is sort of a conversation piece).
1. Never check luggage.
It not just that it gets lost. Not checking means you can switch flights in a pinch, whether for a more direct connection, an upgrade, or to take a voucher for a later flight when they get full. 3 weeks on 1 bag is totally possible!Learn how to roll. Wet bag for toiletries, dry bag for meds/sundries, and business kit. Replenish after every trip, store together.
2. Plane - Pack a business kit for coach
earphonesplane socks - pressure socks for long hauls - DVT is no fun. Health ibuprofen/aspirinCiproBenadrylNeosporin30% DEET mosquito repellent - anti-malarials are miserable. buy only the kind with 3 OZ or 100mL stamped into the plastic. some airports will not accept unmarked bottles, even if properly sized, and printed writing wears off. Refill when necessary. Never worry again!
5. turn a shower into a clothes line. string is awesome. duct tapezipties or twisties4-5 ziploc baggiespocket knifebottle openeruniconvertermini flashlight, LED are best2 AA batteries, 2 AAA batteriestissues (the little plastic baggies)gum for when you can brush your teethgranola barsVisa - it true - it everywhere you want to be. MasterCard is often not.
1. Pack half as many clothes and twice as much cash as you think you need.
2. An ATM card. Forget about travelers checks and other such nonsense. 99.9% of the world is on the international banking system, and your ATM will, in most cases, offer the most competitive exchange rate. That being said. don count on a credit card, much of the world still operates on a cash based economy, and when traveling off the beaten path always be prepared with enough cash on-hand to get by (for example: Rwanda has no international ATMs in-country (ca. 2010), and many cities outside of capital/major cities in SE Asia may not accept your bank card.
3. Band Aids, Moleskin and a pain reliever
5. A corkscrew
6. A laptop. Leave the guidebooks at home, and carry tripadvisor with you via the internet. Wifi is available in the most unexpected/remote corners of the world (but, print out the essential info just in case you find yourself out of range of an internet cafe or wifi signal).
7. A journal and a digital camera to record the experience.
Black lightweight nylon travel raincoat with pouch. Rain or shine - hot or cold - the single most useful item. When in the pouch, it Cheap Tiffany Bracelets serves as a pillow. If you get cold on a flight, you can use it as a blanket. If you are in business attire, it will protect your outfit and break the wind. If you experience a flat tire, you can place it over your outfit as you replace the tire. If you are wearing an expensive leather garment, you can cover it during moist snow or rain showers. If you spill on or soil your outfit, you can cover up with it. If you rip out the seat of your pants, it will cover your posterior.
Note: Sadly, I have had to change tires on rental vehicles twice. The raincoat came in handy. To keep the oil, carbon and grime off my hands, I have used black socks as gloves.
A magnetic compass. Incredibly useful in any city for which you are using a map to get around. With string and duct tape, there nothing you can do. Do you really want to dip bleached, chemical-ridden disposable chopsticks into your soup?
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