10 Essentials I Don't Travel Without

Sadly, I can't take her on my trips - no matter how hard she tries to sneak herself in!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

So you've established a budget, saved up money for your trip to avoid debt, mapped out where to stay and what to do, and now you're ready to pack that suitcase.  But short of packing the kitchen sink, you really have no clue where to begin!

The type of vacation and your destination will dictate what sort of items you'll need to bring.  For example, you wouldn't pack a formal evening gown for a back-pack trip across the Himalayas, but you would for a week-long Caribbean cruise.  You don't need your passport (or photocopies of it) for a weekend trip in San Francisco, but you would for a week in Amsterdam.  There are a few common denominators for every packing list, though.  Here are a few examples of what I carry with me no matter what type of travel or time of year:

10 Essentials I Don't Travel Without

Good camera, extra memory card(s) & battery charger

Outlet converter

Comfortable walking shoes/sandals

Moisturizer, hand sanitizer & chap-stick

Light jacket

Sunscreen

Water Bottle

"ICE" kit

Guidebook with a map

An Open Mind

Not pictured: band-aids, anti-biotic ointment, tweezers, nail scissors, or an "open mind"
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Some of these items are self-explanatory.  A camera with all its accoutrements and outlet converter are necessary for every-day life in the 21st century, not just for traveling.  More than likely you can replace these items if you're traveling in Europe or on a cruise ship, but they might be more difficult to obtain if elsewhere.  Comfortable shoes, jacket, moisturizer, et al, sunscreen, and water bottle are also no-brainer items; if you're fretting over your physical condition (hot, cold, thirsty, chapped skin) then you're not going to be fully enjoying your destination.  A small draw-string pack or a tote bag should be large enough to stow these items without adding a lot of weight and bulk.

My "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) kit is something I carry everywhere, at home and abroad.  In my world, if I don't prepare for bumps in the road, I'll hit every one of them, so I try to be as prepared as I reasonably can be!  Now before you think it's some sort of Survivor Jane type of kit, here's a list of what's in it: wallet (cash, card, identification); 3x5 card with an emergency contact list, my blood type and known allergies; band-aids and antibiotic ointment; tweezers; small nail scissors.  Simple, really!  Depending on my destination, I may add more to the kit, but those are the basics. 

Being caught red-handed as a
typical tourist in London
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

I've listed a guidebook among my essentials (I prefer Rick Steves' guidebooks for Europe), but sometimes I substitute a print-out of our itinerary and basic information about the sites (usually for when I'm traveling domestically).  A real, honest-to-goodness map, however, is non-negotiable.  As dependent as we have become on our smart-phones and their unlimited apps, there's still no substitute for a good map. 

And finally, it's very important to pack an Open Mind.  No matter where you're traveling -- even within the continental U.S. -- you will be experiencing cultures different than your own.  Rather than complaining that shops in small-town Germany are closed on Sunday, how about you stop and appreciate that the business considers a day of rest important for everyone, including their employees.  While traveling, you'll discover the good, bad, and the ugly in many things, but please leave your ethnocentric bias at home.  Whether your culture is "better" or worse than your destination's way of life is irrelevant; you're not in Kansas anymore and you need to respect the culture and laws of the country you're visiting!


What do you think?  What items are on your essential packing list?

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

3 Reasons Why Funding Your Travels with Debt is a Bad Idea

(c) TheGuardian.com

Swiping a credit card is the easiest thing in the world.  No fumbling with cash, no wondering if there's enough in your checking account to cover the purchase, no hunting down a pen to write a check (although I haven't seen an individual pay by check in ages!) - it's quick, effortless, and all too often, done without exerting any thought into the actual cost of the purchase.  After all, it feels like Mr. Visa is paying for it, not you!

I have a healthy apprehension and respect for credit cards, thanks to that time in college where I maxed out my credit card for the sake of a spring break trip and spent four years paying it down to a zero balance.  I think it's good to have credit cards on hand for emergencies, but paying for your travels with debt is never a good idea.  Here are three reasons why:

(c) blogs.dallasobserver.com

1.  You're hurting your future self.  The cost of your trip increases exponentially, thanks to interest.  Instead of that round-trip plane ticket to Europe costing only $1,000, it will cost you anywhere from $1658 to $2,329 - and it would take you 6 to 15 years to pay off!!!  (Calculated based on 16% APR with a monthly payment of $10 to $20.)  This jeopardizes your future financial security and your future travels.

2.  You're bringing stress along for the ride.  If you're like me, it can be hard to shut off your brain and just focus on the present joys - even under the best of circumstances!  Instead of relaxing on your trip, you will be thinking about how much you owe Mr. Visa for the plane tickets, hotel bills, train fare, etc.  Instead of your head being full of the sights and sounds of the day, it will be full of dollar signs and red-inked balances.  And when you return home, instead of being able to start saving up for your next trip, you'll be paying off your past trip.  Do yourself a favor - make sure all your big travel purchases are already paid for before you even leave home.

(c) aspanational.wordpress.com

3.  Debt is a slave master.  It snowballs out of control before you know it.  Like I said before, it's just too easy to swipe that card!  Just keep in mind, though, that even with money-saving tips and travel hacks, traveling is and always will be a luxury.  Putting yourself in debt for a luxury is foolish.

With that being said, I do think booking your travels with a credit card is a good deal... IF you pay it off immediately!  Many credit card companies offer special traveling perks, such as extra frequent flier miles, possible seat upgrades, etc.  Plus you have the added transaction security with a credit card versus a debit/bank card.  So long as you have the cash savings to back it up, go ahead and let Mr. Visa take the hit for a few minutes until you put the balance back to zero!

What do you think about debt?  Is it a good idea to go into debt for traveling?

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

National Beer Day!

April 7th is National Beer Day here in the United States.  The date commemorates the first day it was legal to buy beer in 1933 after prohibition laws had halted legal sales in the 1920s and '30s.  In honor of this unofficial holiday, I've been reminiscing on a few of my favorite brews and where I've enjoyed them.

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Ahhh, das Dinkelsbühler Kinderzechbier!  This beer is only served from May until August in honor of the Kinderzeche festival in Dinkelsbühl, Germany, in July.  If my taste buds remember correctly, this beer is fairly "light" in flavor, considering it's a wheat beer, with a somewhat fruity aftertaste.  I'll have to refresh my memory this July when we return for the Kinderzeche festival!   (Photo taken July 2010 on our honeymoon in Germany.)

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Yes, another wheat beer!  (Are you sensing a pattern yet?)  This Paulaner Weiβbier was enjoyed in Füssen, Germany, in 2010, paired with Nürnberger brats, sauerkraut, fried potatoes and schnitzel, pom fritz, and beets.  Yum!

Calah and I at the Coors Brewery in Golden, CO.
Photo courtesy of Calah D.

In this picture I am enjoying a Batch 19 American lager from Coors Brewing Company at their factory in Golden, Colorado, on my visit in November 2013.  It was a little too bitter for me to enjoy on a regular basis, but nothing can compare to how it tasted on my visit to the brewery!

And finally, it's not quite a beer, but I enjoyed it so much that I have to share it...

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime cider.  Heaven in a bottle.  I savored this Swedish cider while in London this past February and fell in love.  Unfortunately, it's only available in New York and Miami for the time being.  In my opinion it tastes more like a malt drink (Smirnoff Ice, etc) than a cider, but I'm no aficionado.  All I can say is that it was amazing, and I've been craving it ever since.

What are your favorite brews and where have you enjoyed them?

Happy National Beer Day!

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy