TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your worries, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.” – Cesare Parese

In one of my provincial trips with doctors, while seated with a jet-setter, Dr. Rima Tan, we came across an article in a newspaper regarding Travel Tales in the Philippine Star. We took time to browse over the article and found it informative. I would like to share it with you. We took the liberty to update some of the items in the list.


Home Checklist:

• Arrange for pet and plant care.
• Stop routine deliveries.
• Make your home seem lived-in while away by putting lights and a radio on timers.
• Turn down thermostat. Not applicable in most houses in the Philippines
• Leave keys and itinerary with a friend.
• Lock windows, garage and doors.

Before you leave:

• Guide books and maps
• Passport and visa (s) – It should be valid 6 months from the day of travel.
• Foreign currency of your destination country
• Credit cards
• Travelers checks or ATM card
• Insurance: Trip Cancellation / Medical
• Personal Identification
• Photocopies of documentation – have somebody from the office or home. Keep these in case of emergency.
• Birth Certificate ( if necessary )
• Marriage License ( if necessary )
• Check weather and voltage from the internet.

* The documents you can scan and email to yourself ... print and open when needed.

Basic Essentials:

• Appropriate Luggage
• Luggage Locks & ID Tags - Do not lock checked baggage especially for baggage bound for the US. An option is locking it w/ a TSA luggage lock. With this, the baggage screeners can open, inspect and re-lock the baggage without destroying the pad lock.
• Appropriate Clothing. It is important also to place in your hand carry a set of clothes in cases of stop over delays, lost baggage, etc.
• Comfortable Footwear
• Rain Protection
• Camera and Film (Place film in carry-on baggage) - This is passé already because most of us use digital cameras. Have extra f batteries and battery chargers.
• Telephone plugs for modem - (If laptop is not wireless)
• Small flashlight – Maglites are recommended.
• Travel Alarm Clock – Most cell phones have this.
• Small Binoculars
• Brimmed Hat or Visor
• Reading Materials
• Playing Cards / Games
• Address Book
• Chargers for phones, cameras and batteries.
• Neck pillows for long travels and cotton scarf to be used as blanket if you don’t want to use the blanket provided by plane.

Maintenance Items

• Batteries for camera and flashlight.
• Mini Sewing Kit ( place in checked baggage )
• Travel Iron or Streamer Sink Stopper
• Folding Scissors ( place in checked baggage )
• Laundry Soap Packets. Most travelers recommend Ariel detergent powder.
• Laundry Bag. Most hotels have this
• Ziploc Plastic Bags. Lotions, moisturizers, shampoo and, conditioners should be placed inside these bags to prevent them from spilling on your things.
• International adaptor

Medication

• First Aid Kit
• Aspirin / Pain Reliever
• Cold / Sinus Medication
• Diarrhea Medicine
• Laxative
• Insect Repellent
• Contact Lens Preparations
• Antibiotic Ointment
• Alcohol Wipes
• Sunscreen
• Motion Sickness Medicine
• Personal Hygiene Items
• Personal Prescriptions
• Anti-allergy


Toiletries

• Comb / Brush
• Toothbrush / Paste
• Dental Floss
• Shampoo
• Blow Dryer
• Deodorant
• Lotions / Creams
• Cologne
• Lip balm / Petroleum Jelly
• Towelettes
• Shaving Cream
• Towel / Washcloth
• Earplugs

(Checklist from GoFox.com)

“ Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore . Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain