Monday, June 27, 2011

Travel Challenge, Day 5 - What Do You Take With You When You Travel?



**Falling behind on the Travel Challenge! Ooops!**

Day 5 -What do you bring with you when you travel?

What I've taken on trip with me has changed over the years, so I thought I would give a very quick run down of what I took with me on my last major trip.


A small suitcase. I've never owned a backpack. I am the queen of the 20 inch rolling suitcase. I've fit anywhere from a weekend to two weeks' worth of clothes, shoes and souvenirs in this type of bag. I like traveling kinda light and with a bag this size, it keeps me honest. I can only take so much. A suitcase this size also ensures that it can serve as a carry-on, since it's small enough to fit those overhead luggage compartments. I also make sure to buy a soft suitcase instead of a hard one with no give. It makes a difference.


Not my suitcase but close enough

I don't carry a purse. I tend not to carry a traditional purse, but instead a bag that I call a "daypack". I love my latest little bag because it's got lots of compartments. On the trip to Turkey, it proved it can actually fit a camera, guidebook, Flip camera and even an umbrella. I also like that I can sling it over me instead of having to hold it like a traditional handbag/purse.

Not sexy or stylish, but I have enough time to think about that at home.

Since I have this blog, I've got to document things. :)

Camera. Here's my "point and shoot" Panasonic Lumix. I have a love-hate relationship (mostly love) with this camera. It's small enough to fit into my daypack with ease and has given me some pretty great shots. We'll see if I move on up to a DSLR. I know many people have opinions about whether the step up is worth it.


Video. To capture the videos from the Turkey trip, I used a Flip, which is discontinued now. I'm always slow on the uptake with technology, so it doesn't surprise me that they were discontinued about three months after I got one for Christmas.




Computer. I try to unplug somewhat when I'm away, but that's not happening with Husband J. He still needs the ability to check back in with work or even possibly do some work (BOOO!! No work has happened yet other than Blackberry checking), so this is for "emergencies". My husband, who swore he'd never use Apple products, has bought a Macbook Air, which he loves. Having a computer totally helped with checking our plans and other things while we were in Turkey. Wanna hear a secret? A Macbook Air can fit in a hotel safe. Of course, now that I've written that....


Psuedo Wedding Ring. I actually don't bring my engagement ring or wedding band when I travel. I've been known to lose a ton of things, and I would be heartbroken if I lost these rings. To be honest with you, I also don't want to attract any extra attention. Sometimes just being me causes a stir. Also I find that the international signal for "Hey, dude! I'm married!" is not my thin platinum band with a diamond here or there, but a simple gold one. I bought this ring for our trip to Bali and also wore it to Turkey. I remember this being a hot topic when I was a wedding blogger. Married people, care to weigh in?

That's it. Nothing else. I have big hands, don't I?


What are your travel must-haves?

Definitely check out other folks participating in the Travel Challenge!


3 comments:

Nellie said...

I didn't notice your "big" hand, but I did notice you have long fingers :) I've got stumpy fingers. I'm impressed at your ability to back a carry on bag for a 2 week trip! I'd love to hear your secrets. I'm the queen of indecision when I pack for travels.

The Duo Dishes said...

If you can pack light for a big trip, that's pretty awesome. It's not easy to do! A camera is a must-have for any trip. You never know when you'll need it. Sometimes, it's easier to take a picture of signs, names or words you won't remember as a way to document where you've been. When you go back and look at the pics, it's all there (and spelled correctly) for you. Helps with folks who have bad memories. :)

Micah and Catherine said...

I have a travel ring too. I love it!

 

Try Anything Once All rights reserved © 2010
I am a HowJoyful Design