Gallagher's Travels: Travel Tips

Checklists

Travelers Checklists

By Mary Gallagher

A Variety of Travelers Checklists

Here is a compilation of items and tasks some “experts” and various other people think is necessary for travelers. You may take them all if you’re traveling via semi trailer or with your own porter. As I’ve mentioned with other “hints” that many of these items can be bought at your destination. It’s fun to remember that disastrous hotel while using your toothpaste from France safe and sound at home.

Possible First Choice Essentials

Travel Watch or Alarm. Time zones change all over the world
Pocket knife with multitude of features Knife, corkscrew, bottle opener and scissors are especially helpful
Sunglasses
Extra prescription glasses plus copy of prescription Inexpensive reading glasses are available almost everywhere
Flashlight with extra batteries Batteries are available everywhere but usually a little more costly
Electrical converter/adapter Make sure you know what you need for the specific countries your visiting. Eliminate as many electrical appliances as you can. Converters and adapters can add a lot of weight.
First Aid Kit Particularly an elastic bandage for sprains. I’ve had to buy them everywhere!
Passport/Money Carrier - hidden type
All airline, train, bus tickets and any vouchers
Zip close plastic bags
Binoculars - Mine are small fairly powerful “hands free” style that you wear like regular glasses
Camera, film and camera batteries - Again available but frequently expensive

Best Done Before You Leave

Passport**
Visa**
Health Documents
Transportation Tickets**
Frequent Flyer Account Numbers
Emergency Information
Insurance**
Tickets or Reservations for Special Events
Hotel Reservations - at least for the first night
Guide Books - buy used ones and rip them apart- take what you need
Maps
Personal Identification with Photo In train stations and some metros you can have photos taken in a booth inexpensively for your orange carte etc.
Credit Cards**
Currency
Travelers Checks**
Refill prescriptions**
Get a haircut
Upon arrival buy a phone card for local calls

**plus copies

Home Checklist

Arrange care for pets, plants and lawn. In the possibility of a delay returning, tell them to keep coming until you call.
Stop deliveries
Notify post office to hold mail
Leave itinerary and house key with neighbor
Lock doors and windows - after you shut off the coffee pot and unplug the iron
Pay any bills that may come due while you’re away
Set up timers for lights (including second floor) and radio
Notify police - ask if they do vacation home checks in your area
Have someone check the interior of your home in case a pipe breaks or the HVAC system dies. Leave a list of your preferred tradesmen i.e. plumber, electrician in the home

Useful Everyday Items

Duct or electrical tape
Sewing kit
Inexpensive plastic rain poncho
Crushable hat or sun visor
Sunscreen and bug lotion
Towelettes
Ear plugs
Tissue
Address labels/ book including e mail
Cassette or CD Player
Wash cloth
Laundry detergent - Put some in a large pill container
Motion sickness and/or other over the counter medications - although I feel many european products available in the pharmacies (and the service) are superior to those available in the states
Hot water heating coil and mug
Paper back books or magazines that can be left behind

Frequently recommended items, I’ve never used

Rubber sink stopper
Travel iron or steamer
Hair dryer or curling iron - I have very short straight hair
Eye shade
Neck pillow
Travel journal - As a writer I tape record everything
Language phrase books or electronic translator
Portable door lock
Firehood - protects for a few minutes in case of hotel or a plane fire

What I'd like to bring but can’t carry

My favorite feather pillow
Gallons of Gatoraid
My friend CGM

Clothing Fundamentals

By Elinor Garely

Wool? Cotton? Synthetic? One layer? Many layers? Short sleeves? Long sleeves? Long pants? Short pants? There are so many clothing considerations, and so little room to pack; however, making the right choice can make the difference between a comfortable hike or the trip from hell.

Layering is considered the most reasonable way to prepare for a climb. The idea is that as your body temperature changes, and as the weather changes, you should be adjusting the clothes on your body. Today?s fabrics wick away moisture, conserve body heat, provide a shield from the wind, dust and rain, keep a body both warm and cool, and in general, make the most extreme swings in temperature literally a ?walk in the park.?

Starting with underwear, direct your focus to synthetics and blends of different weights. Bicomponent knits, polyester/cotton blends provide wicking and insulation in one layer. Stretch fleece and microdenier pile work as base layers and insulated add-ons. The newest micro fibers wick away moisture and are also windproof.

The Clothing Scheme: First layer

Every adventurer seeks to create a clothing system that effectively combines elements of breathe-ability, wicking, rapid drying, insulation, durability, wind resistance and water repellency, while still being lightweight and allows for freedom of movement. Cotton is recommended only for keeping cool, not warm! Hiking in the desert? Select cotton for evaporative cooling.

The Second Layer

This clothing layer provides warmth by creating dead air pace, slowing the loss of body heat, and aids the dissipation of moisture begun by the base layer. The first two layers can be pullovers.

The Third Layer

The next layer should be a zip up, allowing for versatility and ventilation. The most comfortable and versatile garments will have roomy sleeves for pushing up and pulling down, depending on the weather or body heat. Zip t-shirts are also recommended for ventilation or additional warmth. Pockets are helpful as places to store a health bar, sunscreen or tissues.

The Fourth Layer

The final layer should be thin, wind and water-proof or water resistant and not porous. The shell jacket and pants ought to be large enough to accommodate the layers underneath: the roomier the cut, the better the ventilation. Jackets with hoods that can be stowed in the zip collar provide both comfort and versatility.

Recommended site: www.sierra-design.com. Sierra design clothing is wonderful for spring mountain climbing and winter skiing.

Gallagher's Travels