#travel tips
Just kidding! Don’t bring lemon juice (unless you pack it in your checked luggage. That little lemon juice would not adhere to TSA’s 3-1-1 rule.)
When thinking about packing toiletries, you need to sort out what you want to pack in your checked luggage and what you want in your carry on. In your checked bag, you can put have any size liquid. Want to take that huge bottle of shampoo with you to Italy? You can if you want. In your carry on, you have to follow the 3-1-1 rule: Each passenger is allowed in their carry on 1 clear, 1 quart bag for any liquids, jells, or pastes, as long as it is in a container 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less.
I’m going to show you how I packed enough toiletries for a week in my 30L pack I used for a carry on. Then I’ll create a list of tips and resources below to help you pack.
Two notes before I go on. The first is that I packed what I needed. Everyone’s needs are different so if you need to bring something specific, as the kids would say: you do you. The second note is that I’m preparing to pack for a pilgrimage. While for work I may need to take an hour to get ready and create a 10 step make up routine, for a pilgrimage, my mindset is different. I’m going for simple, not extravagant. OK… here we go.
Here’s the bags/loose items I took with me on my last trip:
Let’s go with the non-liquids bag first.
I got this makeup bag a few years ago from H&M. It’s about 7 inches by 5 inches and has two compartments (one main and one on the side. Inside looked like this:
I had with me:
-eye lash curler
-travel toothbrush
-bobby pins
-small comb
-makeup brushes (one fluffy, one eyeliner)
-clear lip liner
-travel size eyeliner
-simple, neutral eye pallet (Naked Basics from Urban Decay, but I could have gone with a smaller thing of eye shadow)
-travel hairbrush that folds up and has a mirror in it
-travel kabuki brush (that silver tube. Guys, it’s for your foundation makeup)
-lots of hair ties
-tinted chapstick
This is my usual travel makeup bag, and I didn’t take anything out of it when I packed for Washington. I did add the toothbrush and travel hair brush. After looking at this picture I realized that there were a few things I didn’t use and probably will not take on the next trip. I did not use the travel kabuki brush (I just used my fingers for my foundation), the clear lip liner (I’m a lip stick lover, but I didn’t even bring one on the trip so why I would need a lip liner is beyond me), and the travel eyeliner (I did use the black eye shadow in the pallet for eyeliner, so eyeliner was redundant).
My quart size liquid bag looked like this:
I ordered this bag from Flight 001, a travel accessory store. It’s 5x7x2, and is structured. More like a box. That’s why I liked it, but a quart size bag would work as well. Whatever floats your boat.
Inside, the bag held all of this:
In this bag, I had with me (I’ll try to go by rows, left to right):
-a contact lens case holding my BB cream (tinted moisture)
-eye drops
-hair care product (I get frizzy hair, and found that the Redken satinwear product helps)
-travel toothpaste
-travel mascara (yes, mascara is considered a liquid)
-all purpose soap (I took with me Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap. It’s supposed to be good for all things).
-contact solution
-spray toner (spray bottle with white cap, it’s a little luxury from home. Smells good, refreshes skin, and can combat dry air).
-sunscreen
-conditioner
-sea salt hair spray (spray bottle with blue cap, since I didn’t take a hair dryer, I sprayed my hair with the sea salt spray at night after my shower, twisted my hair and pinned it up before I went to bed, and awoke with wavy-ish hair. My bangs were a different story).
-face moisturizers (small plastic containers, one for the day with SPF, and one for night)
-Concealer (not pictured, I had unpacked my concealer from this bag, but I also brought it with me)
Besides the eye drops, I used everything in this bag. The best thing you can do when traveling is take either travel size products (under 3.4 oz) or decanting your products into smaller containers. Instead of taking the large bottle of sea spray, I put it into a smaller spray bottle. The bottles I used for the moisturizers, conditioner, and one of the spray bottles came in a set from Target, and I had the other spray bottle from something else. I picked up another set from a church rummage sale with lots of little containers and smaller spray bottles, but you can also find them in most travel sections of Target, Walmart, Walgreens, or Amazon.
Contact lens cases also work wonders. I used mine for my BB cream and it worked wonders. They are also thin, which makes them great for playing Tetris with your toiletries.
The only other things in my pack were some loose items:
-Full size solid deodorant (if I had brought gel, spray, or roll-on, it would have had to follow the 3-1-1 rule. Solid deodorants are ok in full size.)
-an eye mask (in case I had a roommate who liked to read at night)
-ear plugs (in case I had a roommate who snored; they are in a blue, travel case)
-eye glass case (in which I also stored some cotton balls for just in case emergencies)
-eye glasses
-travel alarm clock (I got this one from Flight 001, too. I wanted something small and ran on batteries in case my phone died).
-EMPTY contact lens case (I am probably going to take an extra pair of contacts, which means I would have to put them in my clear quart bag).
-shampoo bar & tin (to save space in my quart bag, and because I’m obsessed with travel blogs, I invested in a shampoo bar from Lush Cosmetics. Shampoo bars are just what they say: shampoo in bar form. They are supposed to last up to 80 washes. I was skeptical, but was presently surprised. It worked well on my hair. This particular one I have is supposed to condition your hair too, but I didn’t trust that with my hair. The only downside is that I had to let it air dry completely before putting it back in the tin, otherwise it would stick to the bottom of the tin and be impossible to get out.)
-Face wipes (not pictured, I did bring a travel set of face wipes/makeup remover wipes. I used them up so I threw away the package before I left. If you use them, but don’t want to buy travel size, you can put them in a plastic bag. You can also do this with baby wipes)
Other Travel Tips, Resources, Bits of Wisdom
-Less is More: Packing less means you have less to worry about, less to stress about, and more room to pack what you really will need (and gifts and treasures to bring home). Only bring what you can justify bringing. I’m not going to bring a blush because I know I wouldn’t use it much. I’m not bringing an umbrella because I don’t know how much I would use one. I can always buy what I need overseas.
-You can always buy what you need overseas. Who knows? You might find something you really like in a little shop in Poland. While browsing travel tips videos, one traveler said that it’s her family’s tradition to not pack soap, and then buy it when they get to their destination. I love this because you are already setting yourself up for an adventure. (Yes, buying soap can be an adventure!)
-Multipurpose items are awesome. One of the reasons I wanted to try the Dr. Bronner’s soap is that you should be able to be used in so many ways (see link). Ladies, bring makeup (if you want) that pulls double duty (BB Cream usually has SPF in it, so use it like sunscreen, mascara applied very close to the eyelid can look like eye liner, tinted chap-stick can also, if you are daring, be used as a cream blush).
-Rethink how you use things. Shower caps are great shoe protectors. Contact lens cases can be used to store moisturizers. If you see a plastic bottle and like the shape, but hate the product inside, you can always empty it out and fill it with what you want. You can cut or break items to make them smaller. Don’t want to take a whole roll of duct tape? Repack it.
-Practice packing. A few days before your trip, pack. See how heavy your suitcase gets. Pull it around the house or town. See how easy it is to maneuver over stairs. Do you have room for extra items? Last time I packed to go overseas, I intentionally packed a shoe box when I first packed. That way, I knew I was saving room for extra items.
-Use your technology wisely/Apps can be your best friend. In my obsession with traveling, I’ve found some great apps that have helped me while I was packing.
-My TSA (Apple and Android): Run by the TSA, this app helps you do two things. The first is lets you know the latest security checkpoint wait times. For the second, it will answer your question, “Can I bring…?” Enter anything you can think of and it will tell you if you can bring it in your checked luggage, carry on, or if it is prohibited. Sunscreen? Has to follow the 3-1-1 rule for your carry on. Applesauce? It’s a liquid, so it also has to follow the 3-1-1 rule. Throwing stars (for the well traveled ninja)? In your checked baggage only.
-SmartTraveler: Run by the US Department of State. This is the app that goes along with Smart Traveler Enrollment Program that everyone should register with.
-PackPoint Packing: Sponsored by Sheraton. Plug in your destination, activities, and length of stay, and it will generate an example packing list. Very useful as a jumping off point if you don’t know what exactly you might need.
-XE Currency: I first started using XE Currency’s website when I was in high school and just geeking out over currency (how many India Rupees make up one US dollar? About 67.5.) I like the app because you have quick access to the current currencies you are interested in and it’s clean looking.
-My bank: I bank with Centier and the app is wonderful. Very useful to make sure you have enough money. (Use your own bank, of course. Most banks now have their own apps.)
And last, because I’m obsessed with travel videos…
Tortuga’s guide to minimal packing, part II.
And their video on how to pack a quart size bag.
And because I love Rick Steves, here’s his TED talk about the value of travel. Check out his awesome podcasts (both audio and visual). You will want to quite your job and become a professional traveler.
Let me know if you have any questions or need to work through packing problems. I would love to help you find a solution.
Happy Travels!
(one more video. Pilgrims, we will be here!)
*I’m not sure if I need to put this, but I haven’t been paid to recommend any of these products or services I mentioned in this post. I just really, really, really like them.
I’ll be sharing some packing tips in this post: packing cubes, being smart with what you pack, helpful light travel websites, and YouTube videos to help teach smart packing tips. Links can be found at the bottom of the post or on my Pinterest page.
On Saturday, the pilgrims from the Diocese of Gary had their last informational meeting before departing for our trip. Everyone was excited and nervous and anxious and joyful. We talked about currency, electronics, hair dryers (YOU DON’T NEED ONE), and even Bishop Emeritus Dale Melzcek was there to give us tips about Italy. It was wonderful.
At one point, Kevin, our Diocesan Director, made each one of us promise that we wouldn’t judge other pilgrims by the state of their laundry. That prompted folks at my table to start talking about packing and laundry. Most people said that they could wear their shorts or pants multiple times, but needed a new shirt every day. From there, we started talking about laundry in the sink and how to pack light (at one point, we are going to take Ryanair, a European budget airline that is notorious for being very stingy on luggage). I suggested that someone could pack for an entire week in a backpack and I was left with gaping mouths. It can be done. Come, young grasshoppers: I shall show you the ways of packing light.
My insights come from a lot of places including personal experiences, Rick Steves, and various internet places. At the beginning of the month I traveled to Washington DC with only a 30L backpack and a sling purse. I wanted to pack super light and didn’t want to check a bag on the flight. I packed a whole week’s worth of outfits in my backpack, along with pj’s, socks and underthings, 2 pairs of shoes, toiletries, accessories, and even some electronics. It was a struggle, but I did it! I’m feeling more confident in packing for WYD because I already experience packing light and survived. Knowing that I will be purchasing things, I will be checking a bag. But, having these tips helps me feel more confident in light packing.
I also have creditably because Rick Steves liked a tweet of mine.
Tip 1: PACKING CUBES
The best thing I can say is use packing cubes. Think of packing cubes as drawers for your luggage. They help you sort your clothing, find items easier, and keep your belongings looking tidy. Packing cubes are made from different materials, but usually some kind of breathable fabric that’s sturdy enough to give it some structure but flexible so it can be flattened, like polyester or parachute material. Both of the packing cubes below are about 10" x 7" x 3" (the one the left is a compression packing cube, meaning it can be fully expanded to be about 4 inches tall, but then can be compressed by zipping it up).
It’s up to you what you put inside of them. Some people use small ones for socks and underwear, electronics, or nick knacks. I’ve used the packing cubes in the picture for t-shirts and shorts. When I went to DC, I fit all of my clothes (three dresses, three shirts, pj’s, and a tank top) into a cube 14" x 10" x 3" and my socks and underwear into one 8" x 4" x 3". Don’t believe me? I packed one of the packing cubes I took a picture of to show you how much you can fit into a packing cube.
I then packed the other packing cube. This time, I could fit more clothes (though, in fairness, both were packed to the brim so looked kind of lumpy and is not what the manufacturer recommends). Please ignore my unmade bed and bad photo quality.
On the left, you can see the uncompressed packing cube. On the right, a compressed packing cube.
Tip 2: Be smart with what you bring.
When I packed to show how to use the packing cubes, I didn’t put any thinking into what I chose. When I pack for WYD, I’m going to be more conscious with what I take. Even if you can fit everything you want into perfect packing cubes, it still may be overweight for the flight. Our trip limit for our checked luggage is 44 lbs, so being aware of how much everything weighs is important.
I’m a huge fan of Rick Steves, the guidebook author and host of “Rick Steves’ Europe.” He’s known for helping those on his tours become temporary locals of wherever they travel to and is a champion for traveling light. He and his tour guides only take one carry on size piece of luggage and a personal item when they travel. Often, their tour season lasts for 2 months at a time, so everything in their packs have to last 2 months. One of his guides, Sarah Murdoch, shared some of her travel secrets in an hour long presentation. She only takes a 20 lbs of luggage with her when she gives tours.
It’s sooo helpful! Here are some tips I picked up while watching it:
-When she is deciding between two pieces of clothing she will weigh them and will take the lighter of the two. Even when going to the store to buy something, she will bring a scare to compare weight.
-Just because the item says it’s travel friendly doesn’t mean it is light weight.
-Take neutral colored clothing that goes with everything else. Wear a fun colored scarf to add to your wardrobe options (and use to keep you warm on the plane or to cover your shoulders in churches).
-If you don’t want to stick out as a tourist, stay away from khaki. And never wear flipflops out (they are considered shower shoes. I’m probably going to take a pair but as shoes for the hotel).
-Don’t freak out if you have to buy something. You may find that you like the European option more than the American one. Also, it’s a fun way to meet the locals. Remember, part of a pilgrimage is the people you meet along the way!
-Laundry can be as easy as taking a shower: Sarah said she washed her underwear and socks each time she took a shower. She got in, let the clothes get soaked by the shower water as she bathed herself, and then rubbed them together using her hands while using detergent. She let them rinse in the shower water and rung them out to remove the excess water. She also mentioned ringing them with a microfiber travel towel. That helped shortened drying time.
Now, I’m not saying that you should pack only a carry on, but be smart about what you bring. Ask yourself, am I really going to use this item enough to bring it with me or can I buy it when I get there? I like Rick’s philosophy of planning for the best of what could happen instead of the worst. Assume it won’t rain so don’t pack an umbrella, buy it if you need to, when you get there. And yes, you can pack light. Thousands of people do this each time they travel. Don’t believe me? Go on YouTube and search packing light.
I’m going to include some links for videos about traveling light below and on my Pinterest page. Again, most are for traveling with only a carry on, but they can serve as guides for packing light.
My next post will be about how to pack all of your toiletries into one, one quart bag and one small bag. Also, I’ll share with your my tips for consolidating your toiletries. If you have any tips, please feel free to share!
Websites
-Her Packing List: A travel website by women, for women. I stumbled upon this website while researching day bags and am so thankful for the helpful articles. They have reviews of travel gear, give you packing lists from people who’ve been to the locations, have travel tips, and tips specifically for female travelers. Guys, you can find this site helpful too, but be aware that there’s a lot of talk about bras and periods.
-Rick Steves: Besides his videos, you can find soooo many helpful articles on his website, including packing lists for light travel.-The Everygirl: This is a website that is for, well, the “every girl.” The link I’m recommending gives you three simple tips for organizing your carry on. Again, Gary Pilgrims, remember, we can only take a 20 lbs carry on, so being smart with what you pack will be helpful.
Videos: Besides Rick Steves’ videos, the best videos I’ve found for teaching you how to pack light are done by a company called Tortuga Backpacks. They are a carry on back pack company, so their videos do feature their products, but their tips are universal.
-Rick’s talk about packing light
-Tortuga’sHow to Pack a Carry On. The guy in the video is pretty relaxed about his packing, but I wanted to show you that you canpack super light for a long trip.
-Tortuga’s first video for stepping down to a carry on bag. This is the first of what will be a series of how to go from taking a huge suitcase to a carry on. Again, useful tips for being a smart packer.
-Tortuga’s video on how to do laundry when you travel.
Packing Cubes: I’m listing the places I’ve seen or bought packing cubes from. You can also probably find them on Amazon. Sites like Rick Steves or Tortuga also sell packing cubes that are made to fit for their own backpacks, but can also be used on their own.
-The Container Store: They favor the Eagle Creek systems, and so far, I really enjoy mine. As of writing this, they are having a sale on some travel items. If you want to see them in person, there are some stores in Chicagoland. Prices vary, but can range from $8-$13 a bag depending on the size. They also sell in sets which can go up to $40, depending on the set. They are costly, but are worth it! Eagle Creek is a well known travel brand and lots of travelers swear by them. They also come in different sizes
-Ikea: Ikea sells some travel products, including packing cubes and toiletry bags. Their packing cube set ($10, but they go down to $8 if you are an Ikea Family member, which is free so become one if you go), includes 4 cubes, one of which is double zipped, so one side can be for clean clothes, and one for dirty.
-Target: Target currently sells 2 sets of packing cubes. One is for clothes (I don’t have a personal recommendation for this one), and one is for smaller items (I use it for electronics and for scarves). The large set is $25, the smaller is $10.
*I’m not sure if I need to put this, but I haven’t been paid to recommend any of these products or services. I just really, really, really like them.
Know someone who’s planning a trip? Maybe just dreaming about it and needs a little kick in the pants? With the holidays right around the corner, I thought I’d share some ideas for gifts that might be of interest to anyone from the wanderlusty travel slacker to the seasoned frequent flyer. From books that’ll inspire you to leave home to products I’ve used on my trips (and now don’t leave for the airport without), this is my personal list of the best loot for the travel-minded.
Best of all, most of these are under $20!In no particular order:
1. Gift Subscription to Afar Magazine. Hands down the best, most beautiful magazine I’ve seen for those who prefer independent, off the beaten path experiences when they travel. Published 7 times a year, this publication features very well curated recommendations, a behind-the-scenes look at destinations, and great advice on traveling like a local, all packaged within gorgeous, stunning photography and editorial design. $20 for 1 year (7 issues).
2. Travelon Bag Bungee. I’m a big fan of small rolling suitcases (and fitting 2 weeks’ worth of clothing inside). For long trips, it can get pretty tiring hauling a duffel or one of those huge monstrosities you see backpackers wear (though I’m sure they’re great, I never enjoy looking like a tourist when I’m in a foreign country, and guess what those instantly accomplish?). However, you’re bound to have more than just the suitcase. Any kind of extra bag - laptop bag, “personal item”, purse, sack, or even shopping bag is going to be difficult to manage at the same time as your jacket, boarding pass, passport, bottle of water, sanity, etc. So, what do you do? You bungee it! I can’t believe I did my big 17-day trip to the Middle East and Spain last year without this thing. It’s great. It will literally hold anything on top of your suitcase that won’t fall between the 2 bars of your handle. At one point in Croatia we were balancing a nerdy man-purse on this thing with open side pockets containing a 1-liter bottle of wine on one side and some red party cups in the other (that were inexplicably tiny - I have no idea how Croatians would play beer pong). So, yeah. I recommend it. $11.20 on Amazon.
3. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. This is a great book for someone who knows they want to travel but isn’t sure where they should go. This is also a great reference for someone who’s already well-traveled – there’s sure to be an idea in here to inspire their next trip. From $15.36 (paperback).
4. Inflatable Neck Pillow. Long flights, economy seats (well, that’s how I fly anyway - when you’re flying for free you’re pretty happy with coach!). Comfort level - not high. But have you ever seen someone with one of these neck pillows attached to the outside of their luggage, or (cringe) worse - around their necks as they walk through the airport. Yeah, don’t be that guy. Be the guy with the neck pillow that stays hidden and takes up zero space until you get on the plane. I give you, the inflatable neck pillow. (This particular brand has a huge valve – not your typical balloon valve – that allows you to inflate and deflate quickly, with minimal effort.) Available on Amazon for $12.30.
5. The New York Times, 36 Hours: 125 Weekends in Europe. This gorgeous hardcover book compiles the best of the New York Time's 36 Hours series, with this book focusing on Europe. I myself have taken amazing trips to locations that were otherwise not on my radar (like Cartagena, Colombia), inspired solely by these 36 Hour articles - check them out even if you don’t get this book. $34.04 (hardcover).
6.Luckies of London Scratch Map. Getting back from a trip and reconciling your amazing adventure with your regular life can be tough. You want to keep the memory alive while staying motivated to plan your next trip. Hang up this unique scratch map in your living room, scratch off the areas you’ve been, and await both the envy of your friends and the nagging voice of your inner travel addict urging you to scratch off more places… Available for $20.55.
7.Pilot & Capt. Civic Pride Shirts. Let’s face it, most souvenir t-shirts suck. They scream “I’m a tourist” even when you’re back on domestic soil. Alternatively, maybe you found a nice-looking one but hesitated to buy during your trip because you had limited luggage space. Instead, pick up one of these shirts when you get back (or to help celebrate someone else’s big trip!) to express your love for the city you left your heart in. (Available in a limited number of city versions for now, but let’s hope that changes.) $32.00 from pilotandcaptain.com.
8. Travel Power Strip. Imagine you (or your lucky traveling gift receiving friend!) has just returned from a tiring, exciting day of exploring a new city. They arrive back at their hostel or hotel and realize their camera or phone (or both!) is low on battery. Oh, and their travel partner’s phone is too! But there’s only one adapter. Or, they have multiple adapters but there is only one working outlet that is so dodgy it has to be un-plugged a tiny bit at just the right angle to actually let electricity flow (I’m looking at you, Rome Airbnb apartment). Voila! Buy 1 adapter, and then this thing, which (as power strips tend to do) allows you to plug in multiple devices at once. And it’s slim and compact, so it won’t take up much room in your luggage. Trust me, this is a must if you’re traveling with someone. No more battling over who gets to charge their iPhone first so they can finally upload the day’s 2,046 photos to Instagram now that they’re within wifi range again (never book a room that doesn’t have free wifi). Available on Amazon for $9.49.
9. Goal-Zero Solar Recharging Kit. Speaking of power issues. What if there isn’t an outlet at all? Because you’re… outside? Or on the go so much there isn’t a chance to sit down and recharge? Pick up this recharging kit (which can be powered by either the sun in 5 hours or a USB cord) and never worry about having enough juice again. Probably not a necessity for most everyday travel, but a must for adventurous, outdoorsy hiking and camping trips. $82.39 on Amazon.
10. Delaying the Real World: A Twentysomething’s Guide to Seeking Adventure. This is the perfect guide for young people who are inspired to travel but not sure how to make it happen. Speaking from personal experience, it’s already tough navigating that stage of life without also trying to figure out how to deviate from the standard post-college track. This is the ultimate handbook for young aspiring travelers. From $7.74 (paperback).
11. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel. A better guide for longer-term travel (6 weeks or longer), this is a great resource for planning a longer break from your regular life to travel the world. From $11.07 (paperback).
12. Moleskine City Notebooks. The first city guide you write yourself, these notebooks are a cross between a guidebook and a travel journal. Each highly personalizable notebook features a city map (including zoomed-in versions and a metro map), 12 zone maps with street indexes, several blank pages within a 96-page tabbed archive ready for you to record all of your impressions, favorite places, and memories, and much more. From $16.16. (Moleskine also makes more generic Travel Journals.)
13. Journeys Of A Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips [National Geographic]. A highly visual guide, this beautiful hardcover book specializes in the sort of adventure travel you’d expect to see from National Geographic. Not the best resource for exploring city life in other countries, but a great inspiration for everything else (and looks nice on your coffee table, too). Available on Amazon for $28.72 (hardcover).
14. Kindle. I have to say, I wasn’t sold on Kindles at first. I really like the tactile experience of holding a book while reading it. However, for travel, this thing really is necessary. Travel involves two things: limited space/weight capacity in your luggage, and lots of waiting time. Even if you’re not packing as light as I do, you still probably don’t want to waste precious luggage space on a big thick book (or two or three!), especially if some of them are guidebooks – but you still want to be able to read your favorite books to pass the time in airports, trains, etc. The Kindle Paperwhite is your best option if you think you’ll be reading in dark circumstances or in bright light (beaches come to mind). $119 for a Kindle Paperwhite, or standard Kindles run from $69.
15. The Best American Travel Writing 2013. Guest-edited by Elizabeth Gilbert (New York Times bestselling author of Eat Pray Love fame), this collection of the year’s best travel writing will definitely be making it onto my wish list this year. $11.55, (paperback).
16. Dream Essentials Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs. Equally necessary for both countries with pre-sunrise Islamic calls to prayer broadcast over loudspeakers from the nearest mosque AND loud European city streets below windows that must stay open due to a lack of air conditioning. Put on this stylish (ha) mask, pop in the accompanying ear plugs, and you’re dead to the world. Also great for airplanes. $9.95 on Amazon.
17. Point It: Traveler’s Language Kit - The Original Picture Dictionary. This dictionary features no words, just pictures of most things you’d need to refer to when abroad. Next time you’re in a country without any knowledge of the language (not recommended, but sometimes unavoidable, particularly for more obscure locales), simply flip open the book, point at the item in question, and let your awkward hand gesturing take care of the rest. Available used on Amazon from $5.98 or for $9.95 new at the MOMA store.
18.REI Clothesline.If you’re packing more than a week’s worth of clothing at a time, you’re going to need to worry about laundry at some point. When you’re traveling on a budget and you’re in a foreign country, sometimes the easiest, least-hassle option is just to hand-wash in the sink of your hotel room (and if you’re doing any kind of camping, it’s your only option!). This clothesline will allow you to hang up your undies to dry no matter where you are. $7 at REI.
19. Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales from Great Fiction Writers. If this Lonely Planet compilation of short memoirs by some of the world’s best novelists doesn’t inspire you to start your own adventure, I’m not sure anything will. $12.26 (paperback).
So there you have it - my list of top gift ideas for travel addicts and aspiring travelers alike. Did I miss something? Let me know!
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Deep in the heart of North Albania, nestled in the foothills of the Albanian Alps, lies a curious little town named Pukë (pronounced Puka).
An intriguing blend of old stone houses and Alpine-inspired architecture with a tall, white mosque tower rising proudly out of the centre, the town of Pukë is one of the highest in the country. Surrounded on all sides by sprawling pine forest, with the snow-lined peaks of the Accursed Mountains looming imposingly in the distance, it was the perfect place for us to spend a week getting a taste of rural Albanian life.
As we walked in search of our morning coffee and byrek the streets were alive with activity; women walking around with armfuls of fresh bread, crowds of men chatting and smoking in the local billiard halls, children crowding at the school gates to buy snacks from a vendor and people stocking up their cars with supplies from the mini market, to take to some faraway village no doubt.
Over the course of the next few days we would begin to recognise the same faces; likewise the bakers and shopkeepers we visited had begun to recognise us. The same police car patrolled slowly up and down the main street, its two officers smoking cigarettes and stopping to chat or move on the occasional badly parked car.
It had a wonderfully small town feel to it that reminded us so much of Cornwall and made us feel instantly safe and welcome. This was only day one of our time here and already we had so much to look forward to…
If you’re ever in the North of Albania make sure you hit up our friends at @discover_puka for a truly authentic experience of Albanian life and a tour of this beautiful area of the world.
