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What to take? What to leave behind? We’re here to help you with some advice and tips on what to take and what to leave behind.

The Essentials
Firstly, and quite possibly the best bit of advice we can give you; When you’ve packed your bag, take out half of it and leave it behind. You never need as much as you think you do, and you inevitably buy lots of items along the way, either out of necessity (and chances are the item you need will be cheaper abroad than it would be in the UK) or because you want a souvenir.

Below is a rough guide of what you should take:

Clothing

• A couple of t-shirts (you WILL end up buying lots more while you’re away!) A polo shirt is also a good semi-smart option.
• A long sleeved shirt. This is good if you need to go somewhere that requires semi-smart clothing, and it’s always useful if mosquitoes are a problem in your destination
• A fleece/hoodie or something similar. Flights are always cold and even if you are going to a warm destination, evenings do get cool.
• A couple of pairs of trousers. Try and avoid just taking two pairs of jeans – mix with combats or something not made out of denim. If you think you’ll be going to some smarter places, take some nicer trousers.
• Wrap around skirts or longer skirts are great for women if you are visiting more conservative countries. Also a small cotton cardigan or similar is good if you need to cover your shoulders
• Swimming stuff. Guys, boardies are a great option, as you can swim in them, and also give you another option for wearing around. Girls, two piece costumes are generally acceptable at all beach locations, but as a general rule of thumb, do as the locals do and you can’t go too far wrong!
• Socks. Take 4-5 pairs, ideally at least a pair or two that are thicker if you’re planning on doing any trekking.

Footwear

• Merrell-style sandals are a good mainstay. Great in warm weather, they are strong, light weight and quick drying.
• A good, comfortable trainer for walking around cities. You know what you like.
• If you’re planning on visiting anywhere a bit more upmarket (restaurants, bars clubs etc) you’ll need a decent pair of shoes’.
• Flip flops are always useful to have with you, but not vital to pack as you’ll always find them while your away, and usually for great prices.
• Hiking boots. This is really your call. They are generally huge, so unless you are going somewhere that specifically calls for them, we’d suggest thinking about whether you really need them.

Other Essentials

• Micro fibre towel. Space saving, quick to dry, these towels are great option for travelling.
• Umbrella. Just a small umbrella will save you most times there is rain, plus if you’re nice you can offer some shelter to the person you’re travelling with!
• Swiss Army Knife. Whether you’ll need this will depend on where you’re going and for how long, but having a bottle opener, cork screw and tweezers in one place is never a bad idea. Always make sure you pack any sharp items in your suitcase as if you leave it in your hand luggage, it WILL get confiscated.
• First aid kit. Chances are you’ll never use it, but it’s always good to have the basics covered. Get yourself a good basic kit, and then supplement it with some pain killers, plasters, antiseptic cream, laxative, diarrhoea tablets, condoms and something for an upset stomach. Always check what vaccinations you need for your trip.
• Wet-wipes. Wet wipes. A great alternative if you're somewhere without easy access to a shower. Great for when you’ve just got off a flight or when you’re stuck on a bus for 18 hours and you’re starting to smell a bit ripe!
• Sun tan lotion. As the Aussies say, Slip, Slop, Slap!
• Ear plugs and eye shades. After a sleepless night or three in a hostel bed, you’ll understand why!
• Sunglasses

Electricals

• Camera. Whether you are novice with a small camera or someone with years of experience and a fantastic digital SLR with a few different lenses, a camera is one of the most important things to take away with you.
• A torch of some description. Finding the toilet in the dark is hard enough when you are familiar with your surroundings!
• MP3 player. Your trip needs a soundtrack, and an MP3 player offers it! Most MP3 players let you store music and films, while also acting as a storage device for your photos.
• A mobile. You can keep in touch with everyone and your mum can make sure your safe! Before you go investigate the charges your operator will charge you for roaming. It may be worth getting a sim card local to your destination as this should save you money.

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