Packing notes

We use the checklist to ensure we don't forget to pack something, but we also enter the number of each item we take so that we have a record of what we are carrying. The importance of this became apparent after friends tried to remember what was in their stolen bag. Unfortunately, many things were remembered only long after the claim was settled.

Also as insurance against lost luggage, I pack one change of clothes in my wife's bag and she packs one change in mine so that if one bag gets lost we still have one full change of clothing. (This is over and above the set of underwear and socks we carry in our carry-on bags.)

We use quite a bit of Tilley clothing. This is special clothing that is designed for travelers. It dries quickly, is wrinkle resistant, has safety pockets, etc. However, it is quite expensive, so we list it separately on our insurance inventory sheet.

The customs form Y38 is the identification of articles for temporary exportation. This enables you to take valuable articles out and bring them back into Canada without paying duty.

I use silk shirts wherever possible because they dry quickly after rinsing in the sink.
I carry a film canister of change for vending machines, etc.
Carry a face cloth because some hotels (even 5 star) do not provide them, especially in South America.
Carrying Imodium almost anywhere in the world is an excellent idea.
We carry polysporin and an non-prescription cortisone cream because prompt attention to minor scratches in many parts of the world will avoid infections.
The Consider List is designed as a reminder for all trips; obviously what one would take depends on the type of trip and destination. Our 12 volt Koolatron refrigerator is wonderful for a long car trip, but not very practical for a Caribbean cruise.
Try those special small, yet fairly powerful, binoculars that are handy on a cruise.
Small travel hairdryers and irons are available that operate on both 110 and 220 volts.
If you haven't traveled outside of North America, you may not realize the importance of carrying a small roll of toilet tissue. And even within North America some public facilities are lacking.
There are a surprisingly large number of uses for a few different sized zip-lock plastic bags - wet bathing suits, dirty laundry, organizing small items, etc.
A decoy wallet is an old wallet with a couple of dollars and a few expired cards that is carried in the back pocket as "bait" for muggers and pick-pockets.
A U-shaped pillow for the neck is helpful on long trips, especially if you have neck/back problems. My wife likes the "Bucky" (filled with buckwheat) which is comfy but I find it too bulky and prefer my inflatable
Not all airlines provide free head sets for watching the movie. Once you buy a set, you can use them on subsequent trips - or you can take your walkman set.
Wear a cheap watch to the beach and in areas where pick-pockets are prevalent.
A mini-cassette recorder is a good notebook if you are taking pictures or plan to keep a diary.
Transformers/voltage adapters are needed in most countries if you are carrying electrical equipment.
A 12 foot long piece of light braided nylon rope is handy as a clothes line in your hotel or cabin if you are going to rinse out a few things.
A coloured auxiliary strap around your suitcase will help identify it on the baggage carrousel and may help others to not mistake your bag for theirs. I also use red and white plastic baggage tags with a Canadian Flag on them and all handles and legs have red tape on them. (The baggage tags have the address inside so a casual observer cannot get the address and relay that our house is empty to an associate in our home city.)
I once had to try to describe my lost bag so now I carry a colour photo of my bags with their measurements.
A trekking pole is a light weight adjustable pole that can be used as a walking cane or as a hiking stick. There are some available that will collapse down to fit in you suitcase. Handy where there is rough trails or cobblestones. Mine has a shock absorber bottom and a knob on the end that comes off uncovering a camera mount screw that lets me use it as a unipod. ($50 Cdn at Mountain Equipment Coop)
There is a folding cloth shopping bag available that folds into its own zipper and is only about 3 inches square and 3/4 of an inch thick that can be very useful as a beach bag and on the souvenir buying trips.
The power bars referred to here are not for electrical extension cords. We have been caught on flights that did not have meals only to arrive at an airport without enough time to eat. We now carry a few "power bars" to eat in an emergency.
The eye glass strap is one that goes behind the head to hold glasses on in the wind or when looking over the side of a ship.
The security wire coil as available from luggage stores and lets you secure your hand baggage to yourself or your seat in an airport if you think you might fall asleep or if you are in an area where pick-pockets are prevalent.
Don't forget a phone connection cable if you are planning on hooking your laptop computer up to the Internet in the hotel.
A few plastic clothes pins are handy when rinsing out a few dainties.
A K-way type squall jacket may be appropriate and maybe a toque.
An alarm clock may be handy, although many places will give you a wake-up call.
A knife or one of those all-in-one utility tools that includes a knife, can be useful.
In case of a problem with my Visa card, such as an ATM eating it or the magnetic strip getting desensitized, I carry at least one other credit card. Also, in case an ATM is not compatible with Visa, it is handy to have a Master Card available. Note that Europeans ATMs only work with a 4 digit PIN
A small bottle of water in your carry on bag may be useful, especially outside of North America
A poncho takes up less room than an umbrella or a K-way and is available at the dollar store.
To avoid problems at customs, all prescription drugs should be in original labelled vials. My pharmacy has provided me with the correct size, labelled pill vials to hold enough prescription drug for the trip so that I do not have to carry large vials for those drugs that I get in one year supply lots.
Wrinkle Free is a spray on product available at luggage stores that removes wrinkles from clothing

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