How to Pack for an Around the World Trip
What to Bring for Budget Travel in Developing Countries
Feb 28, 2009
Long-term budget travel is now more popular than ever. Because travelers often visit a variety of countries on one trip it can be difficult to know what to pack. Often these round-the-world travelers carry all their supplies in a backpack which makes minimal packing essential.
Luggage and Backpacks for a Round-the-World Trip
Having a good, sturdy backpack is essential. It is worth spending more money on one that can take a good beating on public transportation. One that opens from both the top and the bottom can make accessing belongings much easier.
To Bring a Sleeping Bag and Tent or Not on a Big Trip?
This is possibly one of the questions most philosophized about by backpackers. For most trips, it is simply not worth the hassle unless camping is a huge priority. If a budget traveler is going on a long trip and only plans on camping a few times, this equipment is usually easy to rent and saves weight and room in a backpack.
Camping can save money in some places, but unless one is going to South Africa, this is usually not the best option. In Europe, hostels where budget travelers can camp are rare and in South East Asia they are almost non-existent. They are few and far between in the rest of Africa and South America as well. In the United States as well as Europe, campgrounds seem to be outside main cities and not worth the trouble to get to them with public transportation.
A better option that is always useful and takes up far less room is a sleepsheet, a small, lightweight sleeping bag liner. One can be made at home by taking a normal bed sheet and sewing it in half.
What Clothing to Pack on a Long-Term Trip
This is going to depend on the climate the traveler is going to. Layering is always best because it can be more versatile. It is always a good idea to bring at least one decent shirt to look respectable at border crossings.
It is always important to bring quick-drying clothing and some sort of water-proof gear. Warm clothes are essential in plenty of places, but keep in mind that if it is cold in the country, warm clothing is easily purchased because locals will need it too and it will be cheaper than buying them in a western country.
Other Essential Items for a Backpacking Trip
- Ziplock plastic baggies
- Flashlight
- Small notebook and pen
- A book for long journeys
- Toiletry bag
- Quick dry towel
- First aid kit
- Photo copies of passport
- Extra credit card and/or money dispersed throughout backpack
- Flip flops for shared showers
- Sneakers or hiking boots
- Tevas or similar sandals
- Sanitary supplies for women
- A small alarm clock
- Nail clippers
- Laundry soap
- A clothes line to dry clothes
- Universal sink plug
- Padlock for lockers or backpack
- Backpack cover
- Pair of pants
- Pair of shorts
- One nice shirt or collared shirt
- 2 other shirts
- One long-sleeves shirt
- 5 pairs of underwear
- Poncho or rainproof jacket
- Any warm clothes, depending on the climate
- A safety pin and small sewing kit
- An extra pair of glasses and contact solution if needed
- Sunglasses
- Hat
A good rule-of-thumb is to lay out everything before putting it in the backpack. Then reduce it by half, and double the amount of money that was budgeted! It is good to be prepared, but remember, it is not fun to carry around a huge backpack, and anything needed most likely will be able to be purchased abroad.
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