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What couldn't you live without on your travels?

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What things did you use the most on your trip that you didn't thik you would? Let's play a game and help future travelers (like myself) learn something while we're at it.
14 years ago, September 17th 2009 No: 1 Msg: #86587  
What one thing- any 'thing'- could you not live without on your Central/South American trip?

What did you think you wouldn't get any use out of and are SO THANKFUL you didn't leave at home?

What did you see other travelers (in Central/South America) have that you thought, man- i wish i'd thought of that- it would have made my life so much simpler!

What did you bring that was still at the bottom of your bag, untouched, when you got home?


If anyone thinks of other questions like these, please post! I'd love to hear lots of people's thoughts on what was and wasn't essential on their travels. Reply to this

14 years ago, September 18th 2009 No: 2 Msg: #86637  
Hello Lauren 😊

What I dont think I could do without are suncream and books to read in English. I also like to have some effective mosquito repellant that I bought in a country with disease transmitting mosquitos. It works a lot better than the stuff available here in Genrmany. I think I could do without everything else or buy it along the way.

Other desirable things are: knife for peeling things and opening packets, coffee, filters and coffee cone coffee cream.

In some places it is good to have a sheet or light blanket, in case it is not as warm at night as I would like it to be. This item is what most frequenly remains at the bottom of the bag unused during the trip.

Mel Reply to this

14 years ago, September 18th 2009 No: 3 Msg: #86656  
Thanks, Mel! Reply to this

14 years ago, September 18th 2009 No: 4 Msg: #86663  
Well, first and most important thing i always carry during my travel is my I pod, i cannot resist without it.

Somehow i feel, travel is incomplete without music.

Others important things like - towel, trekking shoes, and a blanket.


Sam

Reply to this

14 years ago, September 18th 2009 No: 5 Msg: #86667  
Thanks Sam... I've wondered about bringing my ipod. have you had problems finding places to charge it? I'm planning to be in some remote areas without electricity, so i've wondered about how to charge things like my camera, ipod, etc. Have you traveled to places where there are always outlets? Are there ways to charge without outlets? Reply to this

14 years ago, September 18th 2009 No: 6 Msg: #86685  
My Spanish-English dictionary and my adrenaline gland. Reply to this

14 years ago, September 19th 2009 No: 7 Msg: #86697  
Head torch comes in real handy.

Diarrhea pills. It will happen!! Reply to this

14 years ago, September 19th 2009 No: 8 Msg: #86704  
Hi Lauren,

Well i hardly went to places where there is no electricity.........


But yes i have options for that, i have another I pod and Camera that runs with Battery cells, so when i had plans for some rural places then i carry these stuffs...because its really hard to charge things at places without electricity, because you have many things to do rather than searching for alternative to charge your camera and i pod.


Sam Reply to this

14 years ago, September 21st 2009 No: 9 Msg: #86853  

14 years ago, December 21st 2009 No: 10 Msg: #97036  
A sealable stuff-sack to put your dirty clothes in. Nothing worse than having your sweaty shorts and your clean shirts packed together for hours in your backpack. A mesh bag is nice to have as well, I put wet towels, shirts etc in it and strap it on the outside of my pack so it can dry in transit. Reply to this

14 years ago, December 29th 2009 No: 11 Msg: #97827  
Our big regret over the last 6 months was NOT taking a small Netbook/laptop! The amount of time we spent queuing up to use rubbish hostel computers or sat in crappy internet cafes was painful. I wished so many times I could turn the clock back and buy one before we left - that sort of thing seems to be much cheaper in the UK. Keeping our blog going became a real chore because of this.

I'd also advise people to make sure they take plenty of SD memory cards for the camera with them, as these also seem to be more expensive in SA, whereas they are dirt cheap in places like Tesco and Sainsburys here!

MP3 player (I had a terrific Creative Zen with SD memory slot and was able to download podcasts to listen to on buses, even though we didn't have a laptop!).



Reply to this

14 years ago, December 29th 2009 No: 12 Msg: #97832  
One other thing - jeans! I think in South America these are a must! I didn't take any with me, to lighten the backpack, but then bought a pair in Lima as I was sick of wearing combat style hiking trousers all the time! They make you stand out all the time and aren't that great to wear on a night out! In places like BA you can blend right in with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, which was nice after standing out all the time in Peru and Bolivia! Reply to this

14 years ago, January 12th 2010 No: 13 Msg: #99308  
ben and clare, you can't always take a notebook around, i guess it depends on the type of travel, but i reduce electronics to a maximum of just ipod and camera, if i hitch hiked with a laptop i would break it for sure, if you travel with suit cases its probably easier, but backpacking i can see it breaking or getting wet too easily. i bought one the other day, but i wont be taking it when i continue hitching south to tierra del fuego. Reply to this

14 years ago, January 12th 2010 No: 14 Msg: #99326  
You can of course take one. We backpacked with one in South Amaerica and never had a problem. Hitch Hiking maybe be a different problem but other than that all it needs is a little extra attention and care. Get a good day pack with extra padding and slash proof and you'll be fine. Reply to this

14 years ago, January 12th 2010 No: 15 Msg: #99414  
Yeah, we met loads of people travelling with them and these days they are pretty resilient - people were using them on the boat we took over the Ilha Grande, for example! You can buy really good, light, tough cases to keep them safe, as well, and most people with them were using backpacks rather than suitcases.

Of course, they aren't for everyone and some people prefer not to carry items like that, but we really wish we had taken one.

have fun in Tierra del Fuego - amazing place!
Reply to this

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