I haven't dedicated a post to travel gear in a while, so I thought it would be good to share some of the things that helped me survive my recent trip to Costa Rica.
Some of these would be good for any trip -- but others were especially useful this time since I hurt my back right before the trip and the medicine the doctor gave me messed with my stomach big time.
Here's the list:
Cardigan or zip-up sweater or sweatshirt -- When you're going from winter to summer and back again, you need the ability to layer and unlayer. Plus, no matter the outside temp, the air on planes tends to go from chilly to stuffy pretty quickly. Bonus: Wad it up and it doubles as a lumbar rest between your lower back and the seat, or as a pillow if you need to rest your head on the tray table in front of you.
Pashmina -- Similar to the cardigan entry above, only less of a commitment. I used it on a bus-boat-van trip when it was warm enough for sleeveless tops most of the time, but the mist on the boat made me chilly and a bit wet. Easier to toss around you and toss back into a bag than a sweater.
Gum -- Especially of the mint variety. Not only does it help with pressure changes during take-off and landing, but the mint can soothe an upset stomach or cleanse your mouth of funky aftertastes from food you're not used to.
Heating pad -- This doesn't take up much space in the suitcase and can be a lifesaver for your achy muscles after a long day of travel on third-world roads or hikes up mountains and through rainforests. (Yes, I feel old)
Advil/ibuprofen and immodium -- Even if you aren't prone to traveler's diarrhea, immodium tablets are helpful for settling your stomach after you've gone beyond your culinary comfort zone. The ibuprofen? Well, see above entry about heating pads for achy muscles and note that I paid close to $1 per tablet in a Costa Rican pharmacy when I ran out of the stash I brought.
Magazines -- They're lighter and more disposable than books and it doesn't matter if they get dog-eared along the way (I'm more protective of my books). Besides, when else are you going to catch up on past issues that have been piling up? Side note: They can also be a starting point for striking up conversations with strangers looking to borrow or trade reading material.
Pretzel thins -- Yes, you might think you'll get plenty of these on planes since it's the only thing they'll give you for free anymore, but I didn't see a single pretzel during my trip. I munched through my stash of pretzels when the food they gave me didn't look appetizing. (Yes, on international flights you might still get a meal -- not much and not good, but still, something.)
Portable music player -- I didn't bring mine because it is too new and I worried about losing or breaking it or getting it stolen. My friend Stacy brought hers, though, and it came in handy during a long bus ride.
What's on your list of travel essentials? Post a comment and share.
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