10 Packing Tips and Ideas for Your Next Big Adventure
So, the day you have been anticipating all along is finally here. You are thrilled about an African excursion or a trip to the Middle East. Your tickets are ready. Your travel documents are also ready. However, you still have trouble deciding what to pack for your next big adventure. We at Across Africa Tours and Travel are sharing some of the best packing rules and ideas. Here are the 10 packing strategies every traveler should know.
1. Decide on the type of bags you want.
Often, most of our clients ask what type of bag we recommend for their journey. Whether they should carry a bigger or a smaller bag?
The answer to this question usually comes down to convenience. You should decide on a bag that is convenient for you to carry. Imagine carrying a suitcase that makes moving around during your adventure impossible or incurs more storage costs.
However, the decision will depend on whether you want to carry a backpack or a suitcase. weigh the pros and cons of each and decide which one suits you more.
The advantage of having a backpack is that it is versatile, stress-free, and offers mobility. On the other hand, a suitcase offers efficiency, is sturdy, and offers more space.
2. Three Factors to Think About
Now that we have your bag out of the way, there are three factors to consider before you start packing.
The first consideration is the length of the stay. The length of your adventure will determine how much you should pack. For instance, when you are traveling for only three days, there is no need to pack many clothes. You can decide to pack casual outfits for your daily activities.
Also, throw in one or two official outfits if you must dress up. Second, the weather, season, and climate of the country you are visiting will influence what you
are packing. We at Across Africa Tours and Travel usually advise our clients to pack appropriately for the weather and climate. However, if your travel agency fails to notify you about the weather, you can research the weather to decide what to pack.
You don’t want to find yourself packed heavy for an area such as Marrakech city tour, with high temperatures across the year.
Finally, the type of activities you will be doing during your adventure will be crucial. Before you pack, make it a habit to review your itinerary, where we will advise you on what to wear and how to dress. For instance, a trip to go hiking in the Maasai Mara will have you wear hiking clothes for ease of navigation.
3. Choose Travel-Friendly Fabrics and Dual-Purpose Clothes
You should choose travel-friendly fabrics. These are the fabrics that, when you fold them, will not wrinkle.
Another strategy is to park multipurpose clothing. These are multipurpose clothes that come in handy during your travel. For instance, park a shirt that can e turned inside out
4. Make a Packing List.
How disappointed will you be when you get to the airport? Upon checking, you find that you have left your passport with you.
We recommend that if you forget things, write a list of all the important stuff you cannot leave at home. Check and double-check if everything is in order. For instance, in your list, you can include your travel adapter, wallet, passport, and a zip-top bag for toiletries.
Having a list makes you more organized.
5. Forget the Non-Basic
To get the most out of your excursion, you should leave behind the non-essentials. You don’t need the stress of worrying about how safe your valuables are when you are in the middle of an African safari game drive. Some things to remember not to pack include a bath towel, jewelry, and expensive clothing.
Besides, the exclusion of these items ensures that your luggage is lighter.
6. Instead of folding, roll.
When we park, we often have to include a month’s worth of cloth into a tiny bag. Yet, we get disappointed when everything cannot fit. We all agree that rolling is superior to folding when it comes to creating more space. Besides, rolling avoids the wrinkles synonymous with folding crises.
7. Understand your airline’s policy on baggage fees.
Most international flights allow their clients to check in at least one bag for a specified weight. After which they charge an extra amount. Before packing for your journey, you should know your baggage policy. Usually, it is better to do this before booking your flight. Take a peek at their website and read their baggage policy, especially if you consider carrying more luggage. In doing so, you will come up with budget-minded packing strategies.
8. Wash your clothes on the road.
Remember, you can wash your clothes at the laundromat, so you do not have to overpack.
Washing your clothes on the road is one of the biggest hacks. You can inquire beforehand if the hotel you will be staying in has laundry services and how much they charge. This information will help you pack some clothes you can wash and wear on the road.
9. Layer
In terms of how you dress and park, you can layer up. Layering helps to adapt to the various climates in style and comfort. Besides, travel security agents usually advise clients to pack in layers for clearance while screening their bags.
10. Never Check-In Your Valuable Items.
Some essential items you cannot leave behind include your money, credit cards, passports, electronics, and identification cards. Besides, if you cannot leave your valuable and essential items behind, we recommend never checking them in.
These valuable items should always be brought on the plane with you and be in your carry-on bag. Imagine the airplane losing your bag with all the valuable items inside it. Sometimes your valuables can be stolen by conniving security officers.
The Bottom-Line
Now that you have packed like a pro, you are ready to enjoy your excursion. These travel tips and ideas will make the start of your journey smooth and easier. You can explore several travel destinations in the Middle East and Africa with your well-packed bags. Contact us for more information on these destinations.