Essentials we must Not Leave home without

Things we HAVE to carry
These are some basic items you just cannot leave home without. If you did, it might mean spending money over items unnecessarily. Packing sensibly will make your trip more comfortable. Also, saving the time and hassle of going looking for it while traveling. We are always in a hurry at the last minute, a lot of these things can be kept ready for your travel a few days before you leave.

 

 

Travel Insurance
This is an absolute must. You just cannot and, trust us, do not want to leave home without this. In fact for most countries this is now a mandatory visa prerequisite. This will cover all your medical and financial (any non refundable pre payment), and other losses incurred during the trip. This also includes loss and delay of baggage. You can go through your agent to arrange the appropriate cover for you or do it yourself online. We will cover this in detail in another post for you.

 

Music and Entertainment
While traveling, anything can happen. Traffic jams, delayed flights, canceled flights, delay in hotel check in. Why any delay, even just like that, to pass some time, carrying your iPod and dock makes a lot of sense. It is difficult to hold a child’s attention for too long. They need entertainment too. Carry their Game Boy, or Nintendo DS or PSP, whatever they are fond of playing with. It will pass their time and they will be grateful you did.

 

A Guide
Its always good to read up a bit on the country we are traveling too. To learn a bit about their culture from beforehand. You also get to know about the places to see, where to eat, what foods are their specialty, shopping, language tips etc. Carry a good guide like the Lonely Planet.

 

Camera
Click lots and lots of pictures. Make loads of memories. Carry a good small camera and go crazy clicking. The good thing about the Digital cameras is that you can always delete the ones you don’t like later. It doesn’t matter so much while you are traveling, its when you come back that you really enjoy looking at the pictures and memories come flooding, giving you the same joy you got, while you clicked that picture.

 

Medications
Make it a point to carry all your medication. You don’t not want to be stranded somewhere without your medicines and in agony. In the USA, you do not get any medication across the counter, you need prescriptions. Carry your prescriptions too, just in case. Apart from the prescribed medication, carry the common ones for headache, nausea, fever, stomach ache, eye, nose and ear drops,ointments for rashes or bites, balms, inhalers etc.

 

Chargers
Don’t charge off from home without your chargers or you will be stranded and this will get you in a foul mood too. This includes chargers for your phone, entertainment, camera, iPod, laptop etc.

 

Book
Always keep one good book. There is no need to buy a book at the airport. Its the best thing to do when there’s an unexpected time loss, specially if you happen to be traveling somewhere alone. The best time to read a book is also when you are in transit and are cooling heels between destinations.

 

Sun Protectors
This is an absolute must. Never leave your home without your sun-block, sunglasses and lip balm and if you are extra sensitive, a hat too. You need these whether you go to a beach or you go to snow capped mountains. UVA and UVB, the 2 types of rays that reach our skin can do more harm than we think. UVA rays tan the skin and UVB rays burn the skin, causing sunburns. It is very important to apply layers of sun-block when you go into the snow too because the sun’s rays get reflected by the snow to hit our skin. If you don’t carry these essentials, you will again, land up buying these at your destination.

Food
Carry some food with you. This is specially useful and necessary when you are traveling with small children. For some reason they always feel hungry throughout the day except meal times. Secondly, if you have restricted food habits, it would make sense to carry accordingly. Thirdly, if you are going to some remote place where you aren’t sure of what you will get, carry your own.

 

Vaccination Certificates
Take all the required shots before you leave. Plan this well in advance because these take time. This is for your safely. The details on vaccination, will be discussed in another post. remember to keep sufficient time to get this arranged and carry your certificate with you.

Personal Paraphernalia
Toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, shaving gear, contact lens kit etc. Carry all your personal hygiene items in your toilet kit.

Address and Phone Book
Always keep this handy. You never know when you might need this. Who you may need to call. God forbid, but what if you loose your mobile. You will be handicapped. Isn’t that the general feeling we get when we loose all our contacts? Also, carry all the contacts of airlines and hotel involved in your itinerary. 

 

The Action Plan

1. Keep a handy list taped to your cupboard or fridge at least a month before you leave. Use this or make your own.

2. Keep checking off whatever has been taken care of. Remember that before you leave, they must be all checked.

3. Go easy on yourself. Don’t get stressed. Make use of these simple tips to make life easier for yourself. Its your holiday too.

4. Nothing is inadequate or unimportant. Every little detail counts.

 

We have covered as many bases we could think of as regards to this issue. Use this or keep your own packing list handy so that you don’t forget important stuff. Individually, some things may seem quite unimportant. But each and everything matters when you are traveling. It may be business or vacation. You don’t need to become an expert overnight and experience teaches you a lot. Do it, for your own comfort and peace of mind.