17 Aug Packing for an around the world trip

Now that I have traveled around the world I can confidently tell you how I packed for this trip, and hopefully help you pack for your next big adventure!

This is an extensive blog but I have broken it down on prepping, essentials, most used items, worthless items, suitcase, and medication.  You’ll also find links to the products I used and recommend.

Prepping

Here is everything I packed when I took off:

• Electronics
• Steri pen
• All meds
• 1 hoodie
• 18 pairs of underwear
• 1 microfiber towel
• 1 swimsuit
• 1 dress
• 1 pj set
• 2 pairs of leggings
• 4 long sleeves
• 5 pairs of socks
• 5 tanks
• 3 rompers

Notes and add-ons:

• I changed pjs a few times throughout my trip
•  In Peru I bought an alpaca sweater because it was freezing in Cusco and a lightweight Northface rain jacket.  Both ended up being used the rest of my trip extensively.  Although I don’t know if you can find an alpaca sweater, I would definitely recommend getting a rain jacket.
• Two pairs of shoes were totally enough for me, my running shoes were my go to and I used Haviannas for everything else in-between. 
• I brought plenty of underwear because I knew I could go weeks without washing my clothes, but not undies.
• As my trip went on I donated clothes, tossed them, and replaced them with cheap stuff from H&M
• I bought a scarf in Turkey that I used the rest of my trip as a hijab, to cover my shoulders, as a scarf, a blanket, etc. etc.  I highly recommend bringing one versatile scarf.Essentials
• 3M earplugs – these are the most comfortable of the several types I tried
• Eye Mask
• Chapstick brand chapstick
• Headphones
• Hoodie
• Nivea Hand lotion

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Most Used

• Steri Pen – at first I thought this was overkill but I ended up using it A LOT.  It was mildly annoying to carry around in places I didn’t need it, but the times I did need it – it was a lifesaver.  Best bonus, the beautiful apartment I rented in Malta didn’t have potable sink water so instead of lugging massive six packs of two liter water bottles up three flights of stairs (ok there was an elevator) I just used my pen every time I filled up my water bottle 
• Travel towel – omg I used this for everything….at every hostel, as a yoga mat, as a beach towel, as a blanket in the New Delhi airport.  It is basically like a large shammy, it is lightweight and dries very quickly and almost never smells. 
• Mini Travel Backpack – this thing was so great, it weighs about 2 oz and folds up and can easily be smushed into a suitcase.
• Grocery / Laundry bag – similar to the backpack, it folds up, is lightweight and can also be smushed. 
• Ziploc bags – quart and gallon size.  I put all of my toiletries in them, and they were great for wet clothing.
• Neck pillow – without a doubt the most annoying thing to carry around, but completely worth it over 50+ flights, trains, and busses.  I recommend the memory foam.
• Ebags packing cubes – Do not take a trip without these; life changing.

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Useless Items

• Selfie stick – I never got the hang of it, I rarely take selfies and it was kinda heavy, I gave it away.
• Bug Net –  I bought a bug net but didn’t bring it since it was too big.  I did not need it at any accommodation.  There was only one place in Africa that it would’ve been nice, but for that one night I survived without one.

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Suitcase

I packed in a Delsey international carry-on (pictured below)which I can HIGHLY recommend.  The only issue I had was that outside the US they weight – and mine was over the 8-10kg carry-on allowance, so I had to check it anyway.  In this case I upgraded one size to the 25″ Delsey carry-on (pictured above), it was still small enough to carry but I checked it due to weight. 

The Delsey line is expensive but both suitcases stood the tests of constant travel, dirt roads, being tossed around, sat on, and every possible travel situation.

Why did I use such a small suitcase?  I am one girl, alone.  I wanted to be able to carry my bag in any instance, or drag it with ease up steps like these:

Why didn’t I use a backpack?  First I am the sweatiest gal you’ve ever known, so that is gross.  Also, that’s too heavy for me.

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Medication

Medication was huge!  I looked a little overzealous carrying a gallon sized ziplock of meds with me, but it came in handy not only for me, but several people I met in hostels.  Here is what was in my med bag and what got used.

This is the one area that I would not skimp – I have said this before and I will say it again – wherever you are going, they likely will not have what you are looking for in a local pharmacy.  Different laws, different strengths of meds, etc.

• Cold meds – all used
• Bug bite stick – used multiple times
• Bug wipes – used all but 1 pack and didn’t get Zika
• Sunscreen – tore through that over and over and had to buy on the road.  I found that Neutrogena Wet Skin was the best brand
• Anti-diarrheal – helped lots of folks
• One prescription of antibiotics – Used
• Doxycycline for Malaria – Didn’t get malaria
• Advil – helped myself and others
• Sleeping pills – Used for long flights and jetlag
• Rehydration salts – I got pedialyte for kids, gave 2 packets away, never used it
• Bandaids – used them and gave away
• Sterile needles – I read on other travel site to pack these in case of a medical emergency requiring a vaccination in a developing country.  I never, ever used them, but I was really glad to have them when I thought I was going to get rabies from feral dogs in Nepal.

Good luck!