Packing List for Travel

Aah, the joys of traveling! Be it a weekend road trip, week-long Christmas vacation or a month long spring break, traveling is something that I always look forward to. Exploring a new place, getting a feel of its sights and sounds, studying its flora and fauna, feasting on the local cuisine, shopping at the flea markets...just thinking about it makes me want to forget everything else and set out on a new travel expedition this very minute!

Anyway, stepping aside from the joys of traveling momentarily, one thing that I wish to stress on at this moment is, the amount of preparation that one should do before any sort of travel. Lack of preparation can often land travelers in problematic situations which can severely dampen the spirits of the traveling party. Here is a basic vacation packing tip for all travelers. One of the first things that you should do in the preparatory stage is, make a travel packing checklist. On that note, let us look at what a packing list for travel should contain, and how to go about making one.

Making a Packing List for Travel:
Your travel packing checklist should ideally be split into the following categories:

• clothes
• toiletries
• travel documents
• finances
• first aid
• accessories and general items.

Clothes: You should always pack your clothes while taking into consideration the prevailing weather conditions at your destination and the duration of your stay. The following clothing items should ideally be on your vacation packing list:

• regular casual day wear i.e. shirts, t-shirts, trousers, dresses, jeans
• an extra pair of denims
• innerwear
• towels
• sweater or windbreaker
• raincoat or a rainy jacket
• two sets of formal clothing
• night suits/pajamas
• swimwear
• bermuda shorts
• socks
• shoes, sandals and slippers.

Toiletries: Make sure that you inspect your toiletry kit before you leave. Very often, we happen to forget small things like toothbrushes and combs which can later cause a little bit of inconvenience. Include the following toiletries in your travel packing checklist:

• toothbrush and toothpaste
• bathing soap
• deodorant
• talcum powder
• shaving kit
• sunscreen lotion
• skin creams
• mosquito repellent
• dental floss
• hair care products
• comb or brush
• hand mirror
• cotton swabs
• small pair of scissors
• glasses or contact lenses
• contraceptives
• maxi pads or tampons.

Travel Documents: Make sure that you remember to carry these, else you are most likely to land up in a soup. It is always advisable to carry multiple photocopies of all your travel documents for good measure. Make sure that you carry the following documents:

• passport
• visa
• alternate proof of identity
• travel tickets
• hotel reservation documents
• travel insurance and vaccination certificates.

Finances: Imagine this. You are having a great time shopping to your heart's content only to discover that you have left your credit card back home. How bad is that? To avoid such a predicament, be sure to carry the following:

• sufficient cash
• credit or debit cards
• traveler's checks
• enough local currency in case of foreign travel
• money belt for safety
• currency converter or calculator.

First Aid: It is advisable to carry a first aid kit along with certain basic medication. It can often come in handy when traveling. Ensure that you pack the following items:

• band aids
• gauze bandages
• iodine or any other liquid antiseptic
• common medicinal tablets for treating diarrhea, headache, flu, motion sickness, etc.
• vitamin and glucose tablets
• other personal medicines.

Accessories: I vouch for this based on a personal experience wherein I took my camera to an African wildlife safari, and left the roll of film back home! It can be terribly frustrating, I assure you. Double-check that you pack the following items:

• Camera (with enough rolls of film!!)
• batteries
• cellphone charger
• road maps/city maps
• sunglasses
• caps or hats
• books
• diary
• flashlight with batteries
• wristwatch
• old newspapers
• alarm clock
• I-pod or MP3 player.

These were some travel packing tips to ensure that you have a pleasant trip. And now that the temptation of a weekend getaway has become absolutely irresistible, I have begun with my own packing list for travel, and I suggest that you begin with yours. Bon voyage!