I’ve read about packing lists ad nauseam on the interwebs. They usually consist of various clothing options and toiletries, but lack the hindsight of someone who has been traveling around with her turtle shell — that would be, my 35L backpack — for the long haul.
I realize it’s not really that useful to know how many Megan Fox and in-the-tubing tank tops and hippie pants I roll around with, but after four months, you might appreciate knowing what has turned out to be completely essential, and what I ended up ditching during the past four months spent in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
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Bring from home:
Pacsafe Bag Protector
I’ve often found myself in dorms that did not have lockers. When you find yourself in $2 accommodation, sometimes the amenities, as it were, are lacking. In these cases, I find that I have more peace of mind when I can lock up my valuables.
Simply slip the rain jacket that came with your pack over the bag, then slide the Pacsafe over it and lock it.
Plenty of the dorms I’ve been in, as well as the meditation center, did not provide towels. If they did, they charged handsomely for them. My microfiber became very handy to me on many more than just one occasion. Extra points for the quick drying time.
Bank account that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and refunds ATM fees
I can use any ATM I want, regardless of the fee the it charges. I don’t have to worry about it, because my bank refunds all ATM fees at the end of the month – even foreign ones. What’s more, I am not charged foreign transaction fees. This amounts to a good $20, minimum, each month that I am saving. That’s a big chunk of change when you consider that $6 is the typical cost of a guest house room in Southeast Asia.
I use Charles Schwab, and have always found them to have great customer service. I’ve heard others say they like using PayPal. Do some searching before embarking on your trip and see what bank could work best for you.
Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Cube
This has been one of the best investments I’ve made (at pretty low cost, at that) in my peace of mind and organization. I don’t have to dig through a mess of clothing to get to anything else in my pack – I simply take the cube in and out as needed and keep dirty clothing on one side, and clean on the other. It also makes it possible for me to be able to fit everything a into a small pack.
tip: roll your clothing and stack side-by-side in the cube to conserve even more space.
Laptop and unlocked phone
If you plan on doing any work from the road, or desire to be connected, watch movies, or save files without relying on internet cafes (and their hours, dingy computers, and gross chairs), bring your own computer. I travel with a 13-inch Macbook Air which takes up very little space and weighs next to nothing. If you don’t have the budget for Apple products, a Netbook
More than that, my unlocked iPhone has been a God-send. In each country, I buy a cheap SIM card and I’m equipped with 3G, which often works better than wifi. I simply turn my phone into a hot spot, connect my laptop, and BOOM, I’m in business.
Frankly, I was still under contract when I left the states. I put my phone on a $10/month, “maintenance mode” in order to avoid the fee for canceling my two-year contract. If I had not been under contract, I could have easily unlocked my phone for free. Since I was, however, my carrier would not unlock the phone, so I had to use a third party website to the tune of £50 to unlock the darn thing (I’d rather not link them here but if you want the info, feel free to contact me). Still, it has been totally worth it to be connected without paying exorbitant roaming fees to my carrier back home.
Razors, Deodorant, and (ladies only) DivaCup
It is rather difficult to find Venus razors, Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant (if you’re a sweaty mess like me, which Southeast Asia tends to bring out in people), and the like. Things like soap, Pantene products, and face wash can all be found on the road, but specific items such as the previously mentioned are nearly impossible to find.
Lastly, a diva cup is a helpful investment. It’s a more environmentally friendly and less inconvenient way of dealing with the monthly visitor we ladies have all come to know and loathe.
Travel Insurance
Though healthcare services in Southeast Asia can be cheap for minor issues, if you have an issue SCUBA diving, break a limb while trekking, or come down with an illness like dengue fever (not uncommon in SE Asia and there is nothing you can take to prevent it) and need to be hospitalized, you’re looking at some hefty bills. Travel Insurance is not very expensive and can help you get home or to a country with better medical care if you need to. It can also pay for a loved one to come to you.
Buy it there:
Tiger Balm – I foolishly bought this amazing camphor and menthol cream at a specialty store in California for $12, only to find it in Cambodia for $1. It helps ease mosquito bites far better than cortisone cream, and soothes muscle aches.
Clothing – Don’t overdo it and bring too many clothes with you. They are cheap in Southeast Asia and can be found in every night market for just a few dollars. You’ll lose plenty of items to the laundry service (they’ll get lost in the shuffle and you simply won’t notice), holes, or deciding you simply would prefer the cool and different clothing you find on the road to the boring ones from home.
Buy hippie pants without having to agonize over ditching a pair of much more expensive pants from home. Just bring the minimum you need and leave room for cheap purchases on the road. You’ll fare better in the Southeast Asian climate.
Most Toiletries – No need to load up on shampoo and soap. They use these things in Southeast Asia, too.
Leave it at home:
Jeans – Just don’t bring them. They never dry, will make you entirely too hot, and are likely to chafe in the humidity. None of these are pleasant things.
Laundry line – I never use mine. It’s so cheap to have laundry done for you, and takes so much less time, there’s not much use in taking an hour here and there to hand-wash clothing in a shared dorm sink, find a place to hang them up, and wait around until it’s time to take them down.
Sleeping bag liner – I ditched mine three weeks in. It took up too much space and never presented a value. It won’t protect you against bed bugs. Only knowing how to check for signs of them can help you.
Mosquito net – They’re available where needed at hostels and dorms on the road.
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I totally disagree about the sleeping liner! I bought a silk one at home (and was bummed to see they were a fraction of the price in Vietnam) and it packs down really small (the size of a fat deck of cards). I love it for the temperatures here and it’s really roomy too. I didn’t use it at all in Korea or Japan but in SE Asia it’s a real comfort factor for me.
OK mine was about ten times that size. If it was smaller, I suppose I could have found a use for it. Good to know it’s cheaper in SE Asia, though!
Yeah, I’ve got to agree with Rachel – a sleeping bag liner is essential! Especially if you’re on a budget and not guaranteed to stay in a clean hostel every night. I used a Cocoon Travel Sheet, it was very breathable and packs down tiny.
All the sleeping bag liners I saw in Vietnam were not real silk, so you probably got your money’s worth buying at home first
Definitely agree about the jeans…I wear them now that I’ve lived here for a while, but before when I was traveling I NEVER wore them. Ever.
I don’t have them and I definitely don’t wish I did. I DO wish I had more room in my bag for hippie pants, though. It’s not everywhere that you can walk around in elephant print pants and it’s totally acceptable.
I thought the same thing. I fell in love with hippie pants in Thailand and wondered how it would go over back at my teaching gig in Korea. I still wear them all the time. This week alone, I’ve worn them 4 days. The weather gets so hot here, having a few has been a blessing!
I wore mine in San Diego and was complimented on them, so I’m not taking them off either!
Great tips. Only if I knew it before. Just came back from 6 month backpacking trip from in South-East Asia and forgot to pack some things you mention. My bad!
Awesome! Gotta love this part of the world
The jeans one is a really good tip. I take a pair everywhere and probably would have realized that was a mistake. Will have to pickup packing cubes too. Sometimes ziplocks and plastic bags don’t do the job.
haha yeah, zip locks tend to break!
I want to add to this list – a hoboroll. Google it (no I’m not paid to sponsor them!) – it’s a really great way to smash your clothes and soft objects down to a much smaller size, but it is divided so you can keep things separated and easy to find. BRILLZ.
I Googled it! Looks absolutely genius! Thanks for sharing!
Ok I’m just going to come right out and say it – I had no idea there was such a thing as a Diva Cup – some great tips there too!
I hadn’t discovered it until right before my trip but it’s sooo much better than the alternative.
The uk version is called a mooncup!
I wanted to add — as an alternative to the Diva Cup (which I just don’t love, sorry!) get Implanon birth control before leaving.
I googled that. Sounds kind of…scary? Then again, no issues with forgetting!
and often, no periods. 🙂
Ok, now you have my attention!
I have it, it lasts 3 years, and I have no periods at all, although this can change in the last year. I had it replaced early so I don’t need to worry about carrying tampons or moon cups or anything when I leave for Asia in April (for 5 months). So excited! Great blog by the way, am making lots of notes and am going to see if I can sew myself a compression pack from all the bits of camping baggage I have in my cellar!
How crafty!
Implanon doesn’t always stop periods, but it does mean that you don’t have to worry about remembering a pill when you’re on the go and it still works even if you are on antibiotics, or have sickness/diarrhea (which it’s easy to forget can stop the pill from working!)
I always seem to get stomach bugs while I’m travelling, so this is essential for me.
I couldn’t agree more about the deodorant. I have been able to find it here, but it always has weird skin whitening ingredients in it – I don’t really know what goes into whitening products, but it doesn’t seem like something I want to be slathering on my armpits on a daily basis.
Yeahhh… I’m not super into the whitening stuff. I’m not sure why I’d be concerned about white armpits anyways. They don’t exactly face the sun. Weirdness.
I never thought I’d say this, but this totally made me nostalgic for my packing cubes and being on the road.
Haha, the packing cubes are essential!
Great list! Tiger balm is must, especially after a long hike around town. I was trying to think about what else to add, but I think you got them all…. Maybe extra battery chargers? haha
Thanks! Yes, tiger balm is a complete necessity. A cell charger would be a great thing to have.
This list is really useful! It’s hard to know what are essential to bring on a trip. I leave in 5 days and I plan on bringing plenty of Deodorant! I am undecided what clothes to bring though! I don’t want to bring too much but I’m scared that I won’t like the style of clothes in SE Asia
In general, I find when I travel places, I want to fit in with what people are wearing locally. Clothes in SE Asia are super comfortable, and otherwise are just tank tops and t-shirts with funny or cool prints on them. When in Rome, know what I mean?
hmm, I’m thinking about investing in a lighter notebook to bring with me. Does the macbook air draw a lot of attention? Do you have an 11 inch or 13 inch?
It will draw attention, so make sure you’re careful with it. Mostly other travelers have eyed it, and sadly, they sometimes are the ones you need to watch out for. I have a 13-inch and love it.
Great post!!!
So much useful info for us to take away! Your making us reconsider our check in packs for just carry-ons!
A major thing we used in Costa Rica was a Pac-safe, Safe. Worked awesome for us, easy to roll up and store, and with a Kevlar coding and wire mesh sewn in, and great locking system it was a major must. Pelican also has a sick case built for your 13″ or 11″ notebook with double locking systems. you may find them cheaper over there. And the best part is they are water tight and almost indestructible.
Thankx again for the great tips.
Aroundtheworldforhappiness recently posted…Natures living night lights
Glad to hear it!
wow, what a great tips. hugs from Indonesia 😉
Great suggestions for SE Asia! I would add that the quick wick technology or lycra is good to have- lightweight clothes that you could hand wash and hang to dry, which dry quickly (and also absorb your inevitable sweat- so hot and humid there!) Love your blog! I’ve nominated you for a few blogging awards! You can read about and accept them here!
http://thetraveluster.com/2013/05/07/more-blogging-awards/
Very useful summary and glad to hear your ideas on technology as well! We’re busy refining down our list after a year of travelling so its interesting to read other peoples ideas!
Would love some feedback on ours!
http://www.worldlynomads.com/index.php/backpacking-packing-list/
Thanks and happy travelling!
Laura recently posted…Sweating within an inch of our lives in Nicaragua
Hey Laura,
I tried to respond on your post but it won’t let me comment 🙁
Here’s my take: You had asked me for some feedback on your list and I’m sorry I’m a little late getting back to you. I love the opener, what do you want on your back when you’re in a hot environment? I’d have to say, not a 60-litre bag! Cut the size down! I travel with a bag almost half that size and I’m so glad that I do. I can’t think of a time when I needed duct tape – plus, it’s heavy. That’s a lot of socks when you’ll mostly be wearing flip flops. You can buy sunscreen abroad. Bring one pair of trainers. Do not bring jeans – they never dry and they’re horrible in humidity. Just bring the jacket and leave out the long-sleeved shirts. There, I just cut your pack in half for you 😉
I’ll be traveling soon in a month, looking for that little house 🙂 My strategy was taking a small backpack and a carry-on suitcase. But you inspired me to ditch the suitcase, the less the better. I will bring supplements though, they are hard to find (or expensive) in SE-A (and I guess in Central America too) Good probiotics saved me from food poisoning twice, so that’s a must have. Those Packit-cubes are super!
There is only one thing i don’t agree on : JEANS!
I am so glad i brought them with me (also traveling trough south east asia)
They saved me big time for many occasions, and i wear them almost every day now! If i had to choose only ONE item to bring with me i’d had no doubt: Jeans 100% 🙂
kle recently posted…5 Reasons to Visit Sardinia in September-October
Wow really? I would look at people in jeans and could only think one thing: chafing. I love them at home but in 90 degrees with 90% humidity? Wow, we’re going to have to agree to disagree on that one!
Love the packing list – i’ll be heading out on my own SE asia trip in a few months and am soo looking forward to it!
One question I have is what shoes did you travel SE asia with, i’m thinking some type of sturdy walking/hiking shoe and then sandals. My go to is genearlly flip flops but those kind of suck for walking in, just curious what you went with?
I had a pair of running shoes and went through several pairs of cheap flip flops. I live in them in California so I don’t think they suck to walk in. You’d be surprised how many of my friends didn’t even use shoes!
I tried not bringing a lot of clothes but in SEAsia the size large doesn’t seem to exist. Any suggestion on this? I am size 10 not that is called XL.
I still see large sizes but you’re right, it’s not as easy to find. I remember shoes were almost impossible for me in Taiwan.
Trying to find a t-shirt for my 6’1″, broad shouldered husband in Taiwan after he had a spectacular nose bleed down his remaining t-shirt was one of the funniest travel experiences we have had. One shop keeper insisted that a shirt would fit him and made him go and try it on and he very nearly had to be cut out of it :p
Easy to buy clothes on the go for little 5’3″ me 🙂 We now carry a few extra for him though!
True if you are a bigger person it’s definitely a good idea to bring more clothing from home!
Hi Kristin!
Great pointers, especially regarding the microfibre towel – they’re good to take pretty much everywhere, fast drying, they’re lightweight and they can double up as a pillow if you’re fed up of sticking your face to the windows on an overnight bus!
I found your site through this article and I’ll be sure to subscribe and stay up to date, I love what you’re doing – I’m leaving the UK in a few weeks to do similar thing myself – and reading about your experiences has put my travel bug into turbo.
I hope this comment finds you warm and safe!
Take care, Dan
Dan recently posted…Jan 1, Why I quit my job to travel the world
Thanks so much. Good point about the towel doubling as a pillow! Could be a blanket too if it’s big enough but mine’s pretty small.
I bought the Scrubba Wash Bag and have saved a lot of effort and money by doing so. yes it is about $50 to start with, but if you’re on a long trip you waste so much time handwashing/ you waste so much money getting clothes washed for you (A few dollars here and there soon add up!). It also doubles as a way to keep dirty and clean clothes separate and a water bladder.
Just wondering about the pac safe bag protector… Does anyone else have experience using this and is it really worth bringing? I was wondering what I could do with my backpack/passport if theres no safe place to put them.
Not many options if you don’t have a protective way to lock your bag.
I’m going to SE Asia in a few weeks, and I’m one of those people with super pale skin who needs a TON of sunscreen. I read that sunscreen was really expensive and many brands had whiteners in them. I was wondering if you knew if this was the case? I don’t want to waste all my travel on liquids with sunscreen. I asked my sister who is living in the Philippines and all she said was “There’s sunscreen here.” But I don’t think she wears it so she didn’t really tell me about the price or anything.
It’s true that it’s really expensive and most of it has whitening in it. Unfortunately 🙁
Hi there! What did your bag end up weighing? And what did you do with your extra cash while swimming? Did you shove some in your swimsuit?
I love this blog, fyi.
Haha no I wouldn’t suggest putting it in your bathing suit. At least one person should always remain on the beach watching the bags, or if you’re solo, just don’t bring anything valuable to the beach with you. Leave it in the bungalow. Chances are it won’t be far away.
Haha no I wouldn’t suggest putting it in your bathing suit. At least one person should always remain on the beach watching the bags, or if you’re solo, just don’t bring anything valuable to the beach with you. Leave it in the bungalow. Chances are it won’t be far away.
I can’t recall what the bag weighed. When I checked into flights I kept it on my back and said I simply didn’t have any check in luggage. They never asked to weigh it. I’m sure it would have been over the limit, so don’t try that on a carrier like Ryan Air.
Hi Kristin, what type (and or brand) of shoes do you recommend for backpacking around SE Asia? I assume I will need a sturdy, durable but breathable pair for hiking/walking around Indonesia (and possibly Malaysia an Thailand) for several months this fall/winter. Your insight and advice is much appreciate. Happy Travels! Haley
I just had some running shoes and cheap rubber flip flops that I had to keep replacing on the road. I even did the Annapurna circuit hike in Nepal in running shoes, in the snow. I know that’s not advisable, though, and most people thought I was crazy. I’d suggest hiking shoes you’ve already broken in, but if you won’t be doing a ton of hiking, I think running shoes might be more useful and less bulky.
Awesome post – thank you so much!
I have a question about your health insurance. We have World Nomads insurance, but do you have a “back up” policy? We are worried that if something happens while we are abroad, and we have to c ome home and have surgery our an ACL, or something – that we wont be covered, and be in debt $50,000 or some other heinous amount of money. Do you have any experience/reseach/thoughts on something like that?
As always, thanks so much for any feedback!
You could have major medical insurance back home to cover things like that if you’re worried about it. They do cover you if you need to be flown out to a better place for surgery, and for you to have a family member with you.
Great Blog Kristin. I am planning on a three month trip next year through SE Asia…alone. I have never done any traveling like this… any books/websites/youtube channels you can recommend me reading/viewing? Thanks a lot!
That’s basically what my entire blog is about, but you’d probably also like Vagabonding by Rolf Potts (though I haven’t read it myself, I certainly intend to)
Okay great, I just read one blog but will now look at the others. Thanks.
Hi! I am planning a trip to SEA next year and I’m wondering if anyone packed a hydration back/camelback? Or would a water bottle suffice? Or would I even need one?
The trouble is you’ll need a steripen or iodine tablets to clean the water unless you just pour bottled water into your camelback, which kind of defeats the purpose for me.
Hi Kristin, I am a huge fan of your blog. You have so much useful advice. What backpack to you use? The link on this post doesn’t work and I didn’t see it listed anywhere else. Thx!
I removed the link since REI changed something about the way they advertise. It’s an REI Vagabond front load 35L (although the photos say it’s 40). I’d suggest going to an REI and trying backpacks on with weight in them. The staff are super helpful there, usually.
Thanks, Kristin. Great advice! I was wondering where to go for backpack shopping.
Hi there thanks for the great post. Just wondering, would the REI Vagabond front load 35L be allowed on akrasia planes without needing check-in? And if not then are there any backpacks you could recommend that would?
Thanks!
Sarah
That’s the one I always used on my AirAsia flights, and I took a lot! I’d wear it on my back at the check in counter so it was clear it’s a small carry on and was never forced to check it. it’s within size limits – just think about weight.
Hi!
Thanks for writing this, this is an awesome tips article! I’m leaving on my trip to south east asia and I am super interested in that SIM card idea. I am no longer on contract and so I can unlock my phone.. just wondering, how does it work with buying sim cards in other countries? Do you pay for the sim card and pay for a new plan? Or how are you able to get 3G on your phone? just by buying and inserting the SIM card? Sorry I am totally clueless about it.. but I’d like to be able to use my phone as a hotspot.
You visit a cell phone company’s store while in that country, or sometimes a convenience store like a 7-11. Sometimes there are extra steps for making 3G work and sometimes there aren’t, so ask first and make sure it’s working before you leave the store. Otherwise it’s a pay-per-month plan usually and you just pay upfront.
Thanks! I also just found your post specifically about SIM cards. You rock!
Glad to be helpful 🙂
Quick question (hopefully no one asked already, I only made a quick glance eek). Since you travel with the 13″ Mac, where is it when you’re ‘out and about’ for the day, say on a motorbike ride to the caves in Vietnam (think hostels/budget S.E. Asia). I need to work on my 11″ Mac Air once a week, but some of the areas I’ll be packing to are making it sounds like it’ll need to be inside a large pack/purse attached to me at all times. Any input would be great.
Love all the SE Asia write-ups, fabulous for travel planning:)
There are usually lockers if you’re staying in a hostel, or perhaps a safe if staying in nicer places. I lock it up with a PacSafe wire mesh bag protecter with everything else I don’t want to carry around with me.
Hi Kristin – love your blog! I’ve been reading since I returned from 4 weeks in Indonesia last year. I’ve been inspired to take a career break for 12 months to travel east – hopefully covering Mongolia, Nepal & SEA, and maybe NZ if I don’t run out of money! I just wanted to ask your advice about ruc sacs etc. I have a 60litre back pack (which I know you will say is too big but I plan not to fill it!) with a 20l day pack which I plan to use as carry on/day treks etc. I plan to do as much trekking as I can but I am torn between the safety of using your pac safe shoulder bag or just risking it with what I have…or do I bring both? I suppose I’m worried about travelling round cities etc with a day pac on my back where I can’t see it. Maybe I should bring both?? Advice please 🙂 Thanks in advance!
Well, I actually only travel with a 35L so it’s hard to picture a full 80 combined! Are you sure you need all that? You could probably also get a much, much smaller purse or sling bag for your normal daily outings that is just big enough for some cash and then hold onto what you already have and use the 20L for things like day hikes when thieves are not as much of a concern.
Just a quick msg to say I really enjoyed reading your post and you’ve given some really great tips that I could use for my next trip. For those who do find it hard to get plus size clothes or bigger shoes in SEA, you could try Bangkok’s Khrong Thong Plaza and Platinum Mall. Granted it’s not very cheap but they do carry a good range of clothes and shoes. I am an asian size 18 and I wear size 41 shoes here in Singapore. Hope it helps!
Thanks for the tip!
Hey, quick question; What would you bring, a tablet or a computer? I also have a macbook and I’m afraid I’ll destroy it, but a tablet I would be less sad if that broke. + Would you recommend buying a kindle though I already have a tablet? Would be super grateful for an response. I’ve been juggling with these questions all week and can’t seem to get a straight answer from my brain.
I have a computer because I have to work on the road. I also have a kindle since I don’t have a tablet. A kindle at least holds a charge much longer, so up to you, really, but I can’t type on a tablet happily given as much as I have to type as a travel writer.
I’m so glad I found this post! So much useful information for my upcoming trip. I also think this is handy information for anyone doing any sort of budget travel, not just for SE Asia. I think I’ll be using these tips when camping around Oz, as well 🙂
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Awesome! Glad to hear it.
I’m a size uk 14/16 for pants and like a M with tops. I was wondering whether I’ll find clothes these sizes in SE Asia, or if i’m better off buying more lightweight pants at home.
It’s definitely harder to find clothes in SE Asia the taller and more curvey you are. I was just in Singapore and was too tall for everything I tried on, so couldn’t make any purchases! You might want to just come prepared with clothing and if you find something that fits well, bonus! The hippie pants have an elastic waist and are very loose so generally you will be able to find ones that fit.
Thank you for the nice packing advices! I have a friend who moved to Asia and now I am going to visit her. I am excited and I have no idea what to bring with me. Thank you again for the helpful advices!
Hi Kristin,
Great and very helpful article! Thanks a mil! I’m in China at the moment and planning a 3-5 month trip through Asia (mostly SE). Naturally, I want to get a good bag that will last the trip and be useful for everything I need to bring. Can you make some recommendations on what to get and where to get it?
Hm, I don’t know about while IN China. Guys?
So my parents just bought me this mosquito jacket to bring to SE Asia. http://www.exofficio.com/products/details/mens-bugsaway-sandfly-jacket
Is this a ridiculous thing I’ll never use? Or nice for chilling at night when there’s lots of mosquitoes? Nice gesture from my parents but if it’ll just take up space and not get used don’t want to bring it!
I think you’d be really hot wearing it, that’s the only thing.
Hi Kristin,
I am wondering what time of the year you went to SE Asia? i am planing on going in September till probably March (depending on the money). I heard that time of the year in SE Asia is monsoon season and rainy weather, did that limit you in your travels? Are there any tips you can give me?
Thanks
It depends on where in Southeast Asia you go. I’ve been there all year round and I never felt like the rain limited me. You’ll have a lot of rain in May-July in Phuket but the weather is perfect at that time of year in Indonesia, for example.
I always love a good packing post! Have to agree; having a Schwab bank account is our number one piece of advice for any traveler!
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I love Schwab. Never thought I’d say that about a bank.
First of all, I love your blog! I am preparing to leave for my trip to Southeast Asia and am SO glad I stumbled upon this post. Such great advice especially about items I would have certainly left behind. Much appreciated!
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Thanks Jillian! So glad that you like it! Have a great time on your trip and let me know how it goes!
I also have an ebook that will be live starting tomorrow morning at this link that is geared towards first-time solo female travelers. If you need any additional help with prep and free travel, check it out 🙂 bit.ly/solofemale
Great post! One thing to note – in many countries getting a local SIM card is trivial and inexpensive, but not always. In India you need to provide a passport-sized photograph and a copy of your passport. Fortunately I was able to sort that out in a few hours, but if you’re planning on going to India it would be a good idea to bring the photo and an extra copy of your passport with you.
Loved this post, especially the “buy it there” and “leave it home” parts.
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I read this post a while ago but now I have embarked on my adventures I wanted to mention that your tips about the travel cubes and PacSafe have saved my life! I have some expensive kit with me, as a fellow (beginner) blogger I feel super secure, India is my next destination and I have complete faith in the security of the PacSafe. The travel cubes speak for themselves, woohoo. Thanks so much Kristin, keep doing what your doing, you’re amazing. Lots of love xo
That’s wonderful! Thanks so much for letting me know and they totally save me too. Being able to pack light and lock it all up easily gives me so much peace of mind.
HI!
Thanks for this awesome list!
Fantastic list! I always travel with my book reader. In addition for China I added to my phone Google maps app. It was really helpful. Thank you for sharing your article! Best regards!
Kristin – thanks for the great post! Much like many of the other readers I will be embarking on trip to SEA for two months, mainly Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos and was curious about a few things.
First, I plan on packing as light as possible, but also plan on buying some things to take back for myself and family and I’m afraid that the backpack you suggested will not be enough. One thing is, that I do have a bit of a higher budget and planned on getting a private room at all of my stops. DO you think bringing an additional carry-on will not pose too much hassle? even if doing most of my traveling by bus?
Second, for the SIM card option for your phone. Would you recommend purchasing a more inexpensive, maybe used, phone? This way if I lost it I wont be too upset by it.
Lastly, what did you do for picture taking?
You could get another backpack as a carry on that is small enough to wear in front and that would probably be ok. You could definitely get a cheap local phone for local SIM cards if your smart phone is unlocked. Otherwise, I bring mine I’m just smart about not leaving it charging when I’m not around or whipping it out in a place where someone might want to mug me if they see it. Here’s my photography info: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-improve-my-travel-photography/
Do you mind if I ask why the link to your bag protector (on Amazon) from Pacsafe is for the 85L version?
I find the 55L version on a 55L bag is a bit too small if you overstuff it so I used a 55L for my 35L bag and like to use the bigger one for my 55 and 65L bags.
Hi, What backpack did you use?
REI Vagabond 35L
very informative
hey girl! im going to thailand in a couple months. so the venus razor thing!…are you able to bring razors on an airplane?
Yes
One question about the cup! How do you do to sanitize it before using it? (Talking about South East Asia) Did you buy bottled water and boiled it with it? Did you use normal alcohol to clean it every 7 hours in between taking out the contents? Or you also rinsed it with a bottled water?
I’ve just started to use it (2 months ago) and it really is such an amazing change!
I washed it out with soap in the shower – same water I use to wash the rest of my body!
Another alternative to the Diva Cup is the Mirena. This IUD was a pain to get inserted and the first two months were a bit rough – but I no longer get my time of month. Ecstatic about this for my upcoming 6 months of backpacking.
Hello! I’m leaving for SE in less than a week and plan on also using my Charles Schwab account. Did you use the debit card for hostel purchases or did you have a credit card you brought with you hostel and/or hotel purchases
You’ll have to do cash with those.
Hey Kristin, great info! I’ll be backpacking in SE Asia for 4-6 months, and say I’ll be packing almost the same items as you with a 40L backpack, How heavy do you reckon I’d need to pack?
Thanks
Heavy? I guess my bag is 10-15 kilos
I’ve got to say Tiger Balm is amazing. It really helped my sore muscles when I was training Muay Thai in Thailand. Also as you said it’s a great for moquito bites!
Warm regards,
Dan
Hi Kristen,
Thanks so much for your advice, its really helping me to get ready for our 6 months in SE Asia!!
I see there are a few different size options for the pack it cube… I am wondering what dimensions your pack-it cube is?
Thanks,
Natalie
I travel with the largest of the three that I have linked there. Four years later it’s still totally intact despite so much use!
Hi Kristin 🙂
Great post and so helpful!
I’m leaving to South Africa at the end of september. I will stay two month in Cape Town for an english course and after that I will travel trough the country for one month. I planned on using a backpack for the whole trip, since I won’t plan the last month of traveling and I think a backpack would be the most suitable for all kind of travels.
Do you recommend to pack almost the same as you did for your SE Asia trip or are there other things I should bring to South Africa?
I’m most concerned about the first two month. I’ll be in school and I’m staying with a host family. Will the backpack be enough? Which size do you recommend?
Thanks for your help.
Hey Jasmin, I packed carry on only in Southern Africa as well for 4 months. I brought along a few different things like boots (I wore them in transit) and a jacket, denim shorts, and hiking stuff. It’s basically the same stuff I wore back home. South Africa isn’t hot and humid the way that Southeast Asia is so just bring stuff you’d wear in the fall and summer in Switzerland with you. Have fun!
Thanks!
Is a 50L backpack enough?
Yes for me it would be.
Hey Kristin!
I’m leaving for 2 months of SEA (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) soon and am having trouble on deciding which shoes to bring. Of course the obligatory flip flops for hostel showers, but what about sandals/lighter shoes that endure humidity and muddy puddles along the way? There is a quantity of outdoor sandals but they’re just incredibly ugly and I feel 150% tourist in them…
What did you bring, any suggestions?
Thanks ! 🙂
I only wear flip flops because style-wise I can’t stand strappy sandals! I honestly didn’t wear flip flops in the showers either and have never had a problem. In SEA the whole bathroom is usually the shower and you’ll leave your flip flops outside when you enter the guesthouse, you’ll see 🙂
Bring flip flops and replace them with the fake Havaianas on sale everywhere when they break or you lose them
Love your blog, Kristen! Found it by happen stance! Thanks.
Hey Kristen!
Saw that you mentioned something about San Diego being home base?..what uppppp! haha
Im leaving in a few weeks for a 4 month thailand, cambodia, vietnam, hong kong loop. Something that hasnt been touched on is money/document storage.
-How much cash would you typically keep on you? How would you hide/carry it? (countries currency + USD)
-Do you separate your cash/cards between your 2 bags incase one gets stolen?
-I will have a computer on me as well, as i need to work most days. Did you typically keep that on your back where ever you went? or take the chance of leaving it in your room most days?
-using your phone as a hotspot.. is that safer against cyber attacks, opposed to using wifi at a hotel/coffee shop? (I run an ecommerce business and deal with sensitive info all day, so security is a top priority).
Thanks in advance!
I’m from closer to LA but yeah from Southern California 🙂
– I pull out money from ATMs when I need it. I use Charles Schwab so that the fees get refunded
– yes
– I lock it up with the pacsafe wire mesh bag protector linked in this post in my room
– no idea!
So I am planning my own solo trip to Southeast Asia. I am planning on going carry-on only, my fear is that most of the pages like yours say don’t worry just buy new. I am not a little girl. I am a size 16. I am honestly a little worried that there won’t be an option to replace my clothes for cheap in the region. I mean I have bought stuff from wish, and it was shocking what they thought an XXL was. Did you see anything that might actually fit a non skinny/average person?
You can still do carry on only. I guess it all depends on how long you plan on going for but my clothes have lasted for years and I didn’t really need to replace them on the road, I just wanted to! You never know what you might find, but yes sizes tend to be more for asian sizes.
Great tips here and totally agree about the ‘leave at home’ ones. Only worn jeans in much cooler climates but as you say they take up too much room and don’t wash/dry as quickly so best to leave at home, espeically for South East Asia. Toiletry wise I found the Lush shampoo bar very handy since it doesn’t take up much room at all and lasts for ages! 🙂
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I have a question about packing electronics. I was thinking that I wouldn’t want to be flaunting around an iPhone due the risk of it getting snatched or suggesting I have lots of expensive things on me. When I was in Tanzania I was told not to have an iPhone out, but I’m not sure how the levels of petty theft in SE Asia compare. Did you ever find yourself concerned about having a nice phone/camera out? I was thinking I might bring my iPhone but just use it with wifi at the hostel, bring a compact camera, and buy a cheapy phone and sim in country; however this requires me purchasing a camera while I’m perfectly happy with the quality of iPhone photos. What would you suggest?
In the big cities, especially in Vietnam and Cambodia, be very careful. Otherwise I was fine.
Hi! I got really curious: how do you higienize your diva cup in hostels!? I was thinking about not taking mine because I was afraid I wouldn’t have anything to boil it in… and one other thing… were you able to buy anticoncepcional on the road? Didn’t you need to have a medical prescription with you to buy them? Do you know if they got NuvaRing there? Thanx!
I washed it with soap and water, and as for contraceptives, they do have them but maybe not NuvaRing. It’s probably available in Bangkok and other major cities but I can’t say for certain.