A Few Essential Extras for the Gap Year Traveller
When backpacking across the world, it’s important
to narrow what you take down to the basics, because anything
more than that is simply going to weight your bag down and
make travelling uncomfortable. Here are some items that
could well be considered luxurious when trekking around
the world, but they are rather crucial and here’s
why.
A musical playing device
Cheap and cheerful is the way forward with this; although
if you have good travel insurance you can be comfortable
taking whatever gadget s you like because you’ll be
sorted if it gets lost or stolen. Making a bunch of mix-tapes
or creating an iPod mix for your travels will help whittle
away the hours, help you sleep and keep you company on lonely
journeys.
Alarm Clock
This doesn’t seem like an obvious choice, but missing
a train or an internal flight in the middle of nowhere will
not be fun and could mess up your schedule. There will be
many times when you’re on a train, you’ve had
no proper sleep for days and you’re dying for a quick
nap but are worried that you’re quick nap may extend
to a full-on slumber and you’ll miss your stop. Set
an alarm, zip it in your bag and wake up with time to spare.
A Good Book
This is in the box of essentials as your IPod, being a source
of entertainment, solace and actually something you may
enjoy. Bring a book you know you can get into so that the
read will erase the achingly long journey you’re on.
Unfortunately you can’t be sentimental about books,
and better to be ruthless with your read when it’s
done and dumping it. If you carry around your bag will just
get heavier. Alternatively, you can swap and exchange your
book or book as with fellow travellers at hostels and extend
their shelf-life. Asda Entertainment now have a new department
for books,
so if you fancy grabbing a few choice titles, check them
out.
Bin Bags
Surprisingly, the humble bin bag can serve many purposes
from keeping you dry in unreliable weather, like monsoons
and freak storms. They can keep your clean laundry separate,
and make sure that your camera and other electrical devices
are waterproof. They can also be used as a clean dry floor
to sleep on and carry any extra bits and pieces along the
way.
Although not strictly an item, you should get adequate travel
insurance to cover you when you're away. Try AA Travel for
a list of different packages, including one tailor made
for the backpacker. An EHIC card won't cover you for anything outside of the EU, and it also doesn't cover you
for loss of items or theft.
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