The Trip

This time it’s a long weekend city break for two (four nights), to Prague in the Czech Republic.

Flying with British Airways, we have the option of taking one checked hold suitcase each – however I’m keen to try our new bag out as carry-on luggage, and by avoiding the wait at the luggage carousel we’ll have more time to enjoy the destination.

BA allow a piece of hand luggage measuring no more than 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm – slightly more generous than the budget airlines with which our backpack is guaranteed to comply (fully packed it’s 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm). We can also take a second piece of smaller carry-on luggage each, such as a handbag or laptop.

I plan to pack all our clothes, shoes and toiletries in the CabinMax bag, take a regular rucksack for books/snacks/gadgets etc, and a handbag – for easy access to tickets and documents.

The Bag

I’m still impressed by the versatility of this bag. It’s got plenty of room and a multitude of pockets so you can pack everything neatly and know where it all is. This trip should test out the capacity, and I would envisage using it primarily as a trolley bag on this occasion. As such the rucksack straps are packed neatly away, but it’s easy enough to switch and they may come in handy getting from Prague airport to the hotel via bus and tram.

The springtime weather forecast looks variable, with a high chance of rain but some warm sunny days too.

The Packing

We will each travel in:

• Cargo-style trousers (lightweight and shower-proof)
• A long sleeved top
• A fleece
• A gilet
• A pashmina (for me)
• Comfortable walking shoes/trainers

In the CabinMax rucksack I have packed:

For me:

• 4 x underwear and socks (socks stuffed inside shoes)
• 1 pair of flat smarter shoes (definitely not heels for Prague’s cobbled streets!)
• 1 vest
• 1 pair pyjamas
• 1 short sleeved t-shirt
• 1 long sleeved t-shirt
• 2 smarter evening tops
• 1 pair smarter trousers
• 1 clear envelope with make-up and toiletries, decanted into small bottles
• 1 pouch of non-liquid toiletries e.g. hair brushes, razor, microfibre flannel (can be used to remove make-up), first aid supplies
• 1 set of jewellery

For him:

• 4 x underwear and socks (socks stuffed inside shoes)
• 1 pair of flat smarter shoes
• 2 short sleeved t-shirts
• 1 long sleeved rugby shirt
• 2 smarter evening shirts
• 1 pair smart jeans

Everything fits in with ease – I start with shoes at the bottom (in plastic bags and stuffed with socks), then pack in clothes around them using the ‘rolling’ method; lay each item flat (or a pile of two or three similar items), fold in half, then roll up into sausages or parcels. Fit these in the gaps, starting with smaller/less delicate items and finishing with your best clothes on top. Pop toiletries in a front pocket so you can access them easily through security.

Then in the smaller rucksack I have packed:

• 1 clear plastic envelope with further toiletries (each person can carry one, measuring around 20cm square)
• 2 x fold-up waterproof jackets
• Books/puzzles/games
• Phones, gadgets and solar powered charger
• Foldable water bottle (empty)
• Snacks
• 1 Cabin Max Pack Away Day Sack (for day trips, without having to unpack this rucksack)

This bag is around half-full, which gives some flexibility for souvenirs or adding in discarded clothing layers if we get too warm.

My handbag contains a travel wallet with tickets/passports etc, and could easily fit inside the rucksack if we were limited to just one piece of cabin baggage each.

The Journey

Arriving at the airport it was quite strange not having to queue at the check-in desk (we’d printed boarding passes at home) and force of habit saw us actually looking for the desks, instead of heading straight to security! But a quick check in a luggage guage confirmed that the rucksack would indeed fit through as carry-on baggage and we were through security with no problems – our toiletries and gadgets were easy to access and re-pack in the front bag pockets, although you do need to be a little more organised with having more items to put through.

On the plane the backpack fit easily into the overhead lockers, and it was nice to know there was no risk of it going AWOL! Landing in Prague we picked it up and headed straight out to the bus stops for the city centre – no waiting by the baggage carousel. We were on a bus within 30 minutes of touchdown, and at our hotel within another hour – a nice start to the holiday! Carrying everything between airport, bus and tram was easily managed, and even over the cobbles by the hotel the backpack wheeled easily – we didn’t opt to carry it at all in the end.

We wore/used pretty much everything we took, except the waterproof jackets as it turned out – there were a few showers but luckily only when we were inside. The weather was variable as expected, starting cool but the final day was very hot and sunny. Evenings were chilly but comfortable with a light jumper or pashmina. There was nothing we felt we’d omitted to pack.

Prague is beautiful and definitely a city for walking around – as well as the cobbled streets there are lots of steps too, so you really do need comfy shoes. It’s also full of tourists and school parties who wear all sorts, so really ‘anything goes’ and you won’t be excluded from anywhere, but there are opportunities to dress up if you like – the numerous music concerts held every night would be an option although again it’s not essential to be smart.

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Posted by Emma – WhatToWearOnHoliday.com

Downloading the What To Wear On Holiday packing guide for Spain, we knew we could pack for two of us for six days using just hand luggage, without any trouble at all. This would save on baggage fees as we were flying with EasyJet. We were also hoping it would mean we could get through Spanish customs and onto our bus within half an hour of the plane landing. Ambitious, yes – but we did manage it.

The Bag

This bag has plenty of pockets ( I love that) which made it easy to get our iPad and toiletries out at security, unlike the other bag that has only one square internal space – making it less flexible.

The Trip

Our journey involved a 1.5 hour drive to the airport, 2.5 hour flight and a 2.5 hour bus journey from Malaga to Granada – and to make that bus on time we had to be very quick. This is when the rucksack option really came into its own; it’s easy to slip on, comfortable and even packed full it was light enough for me to carry comfortably. Sadly our other cabin bag didn’t have this option so had to be carried by hand – again not as easy nor as comfortable. Once off the bus we could use the wheels and pull along until we reached the old town cobbled streets, and then it was back to the backpack for an easy walk to the hotel. I felt rather smug watching other people rattle across the cobbles with their wheeled cases!

The Packing

For March in Granada, the key to dressing for the changeable weather (where it can be warm during the day but cool at night, and where it could rain at anytime) is layering.

To travel in I wore:

• Jeans with a belt
• Cashmere t-shirt
• Fleece
• Wedge heels (which could cope with the cobbles)
• Warm hooded parka-style coat
• Gloves and ear muffs

And I packed:

• 2 pairs of dark jeans
• Our Classic Long Sleeved Dress with opaque tights
• 5 tops – a mix of long and short sleeved
• Our Wrap and Turn Cardigan in orange
• 1 pair of comfy flat shoes
• Swimwear (as we planned to try out the Moorish Baths)
• Underwear
• Pyjamas
• A travel wallet (which could double as an evening bag)
• Pashmina (my absolute must-pack item)
• Sunglasses
• Umbrella
• Toiletries (decanted into travel sized bottles)
• iPad, phone and charger

My OH, Steve, travelled in:

• Jeans with a belt
• Casual shirt
• Fleece
• Warm waterproof jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hat

And packed:

• 2 pairs of trousers
• 5 casual shirts
• 1 sweater
• Underwear
• 1 pair of smarter shoes for evenings
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries
• Our Fold Away Day Sack for our day trip needs; containing camera, map, guide book, water bottle etc.

And we still had plenty of space for souvenirs.

Enjoying a glass of wine one evening, watching the sun set over Alhambra and people watching (one of my favourite things to do) we saw a young woman struggle up the steep cobbled streets with the biggest case you’ve ever seen; maybe we should have told her about What to Wear on Holiday!

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Posted by Helen – WhatToWearOnHoliday.com

Pashmina shawls require great care during washing or ironing to maintain quality. But they can last for years with proper care. The following tips will help you take care of your pashmina.

• We recommend professional dry cleaning, however it can be carefully hand washed. Never place your pashmina shawl in a washing machine or dryer as it will ruin the fabric.
• To hand wash – use cold water and a mild detergent or a low pH shampoo. Place the wet shawl on a towel and wrap up together to squeeze out excess water. Dry the shawl on a flat surface and lightly stretch to its original shape. Allow it to dry completely.
• To let the creases fall out, either hang the shawl for a few hours or use a steam iron on a low heat. Do not iron the shawl directly but cover with a clean damp cloth.
• To store your pashmina for any length of time, pack it in tissue paper or a plastic bag; we would recommend you clean the pashmina before storing.

We hope you enjoy your pashmina for years to come.

Turning to our travel health expert Adrienne Willcox she gave us this advice, which really helped us make a decision.

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Having a rabies vaccine is always a difficult decision for people. It largely depends on your risk perception. And people decide on different factors – cost, time etc.

Factually:

• Not too many Brits die from rabies – one every few years. But loads of people come back to the UK needing treatment having been bitten abroad.
• It’s in the animals in Burma [and other countries]: even if you don’t plan to work with them or approach animals in the street to feed or pet, a rabid one can still bite or lick you, especially if you’re walking fast or jogging, and then you are at some risk.
• Rabies is always fatal.

It’s advised that if you’re away for a month or more you are more at risk than on a short holiday – but if you travel abroad to a rabies-risk country most years, or more than once a year, then the risk is cumulative – i.e. that month abroad is achieved in a couple of years.

If you have the course of vaccines (x3 – on day 0, day 7 and day 28)  you are protected and would only need a booster vaccine if 1) you are bitten or 2) after 10 years.

If you do this it will cost you in the region of £150 (UK) but lasts a long time if you’re not bitten, and if you are bitten you will have more time to source a place with safe vaccine for a booster.

There are (as always) side-effects with the vaccine although these are rare and it is usually very well tolerated. So compare this scenario with the alternative one:

If you don’t have the vaccines before you go but you get bitten/scratched/licked abroad then you are at risk of rabies. It is a medical emergency and you must take immediate action by washing the wound and getting to medical help straight away. The required treatment is to:

1. Inject rabies immunoglobulin all around the bites to try to stop the virus getting into a nerve pathway, then
2. Start a course of rabies vaccines x5

There are issues: rabies immunoglobulin is almost non-existent in much of the world – highly unlikely you’ll find it in Burma. If you did, it’s made from blood donations which may not be screened for HIV, Hepatitis B etc. so you could gain an infection, albeit with a lesser chance of death than rabies. Vaccines are also in short supply so you may not get these either.

If you can’t be safely treated then your best hope is to stop your holiday immediately, fly back to the UK and receive safe immunoglobulin and vaccines. These should ideally be started within 24 hours of the bite but we do give later because rabies is always fatal so it’s worth trying. You will have to pay for your flights; it’s unlikely that travel insurance would cover it.

So for me: I’m risk-averse + I know about rabies + I’m confident with vaccines + I can afford them + I travel whenever I can = I’m fully vaccinated!

But for some friends who travelled to India recently: It won’t happen to us + it’s very expensive = declined vaccination.

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Well, following Adrienne’s advice we did get the vaccines – it’s just not worth the risk. And subsequently we’ve heard that the risk from rabid bats in Cape Verde (which we visit frequently) has just been upgraded, so we’re very glad of our decision.

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Dr Adrienne Willcox works in travel healthcare, and has recently won awards for her work educating travellers about malaria.

I was brought up with the expectation that as a guest you always bring a hostess gift, whether you are invited for a meal, a weekend or a longer stay, to express appreciation for the hospitality you receive. Making this part of a holiday experience seems like a natural extension of my mother’s teachings.

On the Pack for a Purpose website, you will find over 300 options in 47 countries where you can easily express your gratitude for the hospitality you receive at your destination.

Just like the helpful packing lists available on WhatToWearOnHoliday.com, each lodging and tour company’s page on Pack for a Purpose has a specific list of requested needs for the community based project supported by that lodging or tour company. When you bring supplies from this list, you can be assured that your gift of gratitude will be useful and meaningful to the recipients.

Start your packing for your holiday by visiting www.packforapurpose.org and following the Five Easy Steps on our home page:

1. Select your destination.
2. Find a lodging and a project it supports.
3. Choose the supplies you wish to bring from the specific items requested.
4. Drop off the supplies at the lodging.
5. They will be delivered for you, it’s that easy!

All participants on our website are delighted to receive supplies, even if you are not staying with them.

“Packing for a purpose” adds meaning and joy to every holiday. Brides, families and even businesses have all participated with great delight. Their stories can be found on our Blog.

As I mentioned earlier, giving back to the community has always been an important component of the ethos of my family. On our second trip to Africa, realizing that we had available much more luggage than we could possibly use, my husband and I started “packing for a purpose.”  With the help of Wilderness Safaris, we were able to identify the needs of a school near the last lodging of our trip. Bringing rulers, writing supplies, flash cards, protractors, soccer balls and other requested items to Botswana and then delivering them to the school was our first “pack for a purpose” trip.

That first experience confirmed how meaningful it can be to express gratitude by bringing needed and requested supplies, for both the traveler and the recipients. On all of our subsequent trips, we continued to bring supplies to community projects our safari company supported.

After a conversation with our travel agent, I came to realize that not everybody was brought up by my mother. At that point, I made a commitment to create an easy and trustworthy website for other travelers interested in expressing gratitude in a meaningful way on their holidays.

While that was a lovely idea, I had absolutely no computer skills at the time. Luckily, I make amazing cookies, and both my husband and I are good cooks. I was able to put together a small team of extremely talented and dedicated individuals who were willing to volunteer their time for food. They believed in my idea and were able to make it a reality. The Pack for a Purpose nonprofit website went live in December of 2009.

Over the last three years, both my computer skills and the website have grown substantially. It has been my great joy to hear from many delighted PfaP travelers who have made big impacts in the communities they visited. Since its inception, PfaP travelers have delivered over 9000 kilos of supplies to community-based projects around the globe. Whether a traveler was able to bring four kilos or 50 kilos, each donation of supplies was greatly appreciated.

“A stethoscope weighs less than 1 kilo and can touch 10,000 hearts.”

Whatever gratitude you are able to pack on your next holiday will enrich your travel experience and the community you choose to visit.

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Guest post written by Rebecca Rothney, founder of Pack for a Purpose.

The best luggage is versatile enough to suit trips of various lengths and modes of transport. It needs to be lightweight, but also tough and durable – and fit within those all important airline luggage dimensions.

We’ve been looking for a while for something that meets all our own criteria, and finally we think we’ve found it… introducing our Cabin Max Wheeled Backpack. Taking an early opportunity to test it ‘on the road’, how did it fare?

The Bag

At first glance it’s really impressive – the manufacturers seem to have thought of everything. Lightweight for a trolley bag, it has the option of using a handle and wheels, or rucksack straps – all of which pack neatly away or are covered when not in use. It has a multitude of pockets and compartments (and I have to say I get very excited by storage pockets ).

It looks too big to take as hand luggage, but the allowance is bigger than you think and the bag is guaranteed to fit even budget airline restrictions (measuring 55 x 40 x 20 cm / 22 x 16 x 8 inches when fully packed, and weighing 1.8kg when empty).

The Trip

And so for it’s first outing. A bigger test of capacity will come next month with a weekend break for two, but for now I’m off solo on a girly weekend for 2 days and 2 nights (in February, and it’s definitely winter-wear!). The journey involves a 4 hour train trip, with 3 connections including one stage across the London Underground. Wheeled cases are really not practical on The Tube – the densely packed and fast-walking crowds mean people will just fall over you and your case if you pull it behind you (and you will not be popular!). Having a bag big enough for my essentials but easy to carry will be very welcome.

The Packing

Fitting everything in for this trip was a breeze, in fact it’s probably a bit too big. But my regular rucksack is a bit too small, and I like having the option of wheels when the situation allows. There are side straps to compress the bag in when it’s not full, to keep everything neat and compact.

I really like that the rucksack flap opens right out, so you can pack it flat like a suitcase rather than downwards like a bag. It also makes it easy when you open it up to see your stuff and just take out what you need, rather than rummaging around for something which is inevitably at the bottom. Like most cases, even when you think it’s full there is plenty more space in the lid. The bag is well under half-full (depth-wise), after packing:

• 2 x underwear and socks
• Pyjamas
• 1 pair of slipper socks
• 1 pair of flat smarter shoes
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 long-sleeved top
• 1 smarter evening top
• 1 padded gilet (may not be needed, but there is room so I added it)
• Toiletries decanted into small bottles, make-up
• Magazines to read en-route
• iPad and charger

And I will travel in:

• ‘Cargo’ style trousers (with handy pockets!)
• Long-sleeved top
• Hooded fleece
• Trainers
• Coat
• Hat, Wonderboa scarf, gloves

The Journey

Walking from home to the station with the bag on wheels, I immediately appreciated the lack of weight on my back. It coped well over an uneven path and didn’t tip or fall like some cases can do. The handle was a comfortable height to pull (though admittedly I’m not tall).

Whilst changing trains and negotiating station platforms the backpack option was definitely easier – I saw several people with wheeled cases who found them awkward to lift and carry up flights of steps. A late arrival into London meant I only had minutes to make my connection – including a long walk across Kings Cross. With the backpack on I was able to walk quickly and even break into a jog(!), catching my next train with seconds to spare.

The bag is quite weighty when full, and personally I wouldn’t want to carry it too far at once. But I’m not particularly fit or strong, and I’m unlikely to take it on the kind of holidays where I would need to. If you choose a  trekking type holiday then presumably carrying your stuff is part of the deal! It was fine to carry for short bursts and using the wheeled option in between gives your back a rest. I found you can zip one of the rucksack straps inside the protective flap, but keep the other one out so you can quickly convert between wheels or backpack as required.

The extra space inside was very welcome after an impromptu shopping trip – I was able to indulge in some bulky purchases, knowing I could fit them in for the return journey. The front pockets also came in handy, giving easy access to my magazine and iPad without disturbing my clothes – especially when the bag was full.

So overall, really pleased with how the bag performed. I look forward to testing it further on its next trip!

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Posted by Emma – WhatToWearOnHoliday.com

My family and I were on a home swap to Slovenia, we were cooking in the kitchen and noticed the huge variety of spices in their cupboards. “Wouldn’t it be great to share a meal with this family” announced my daughter Corrie; a quick search on the computer to see if we could find anyone in Slovenia to cook for us in their home proved negative.

We will make our own website connecting people through food, we decided, and immediately started to think of a suitable name for the venture. Four hours later we came up with www.eatwithalocal.com.

When we returned home I was designated chief ‘get-it-off-the-ground’ person. You should bear in mind at this point I was only just able to send emails and was unable to attach photographs or find my way around the web. My son ‘knocked up’ a rudimentary page helped by my daughter’s partner and left me to work out how we would bring EatWithALocal to the attention of the general public.

Full of enthusiasm (I can’t believe I did this now) I telephoned the local radio station and they invited me onto a programme to discuss EatWithaLocal. I blush with embarrassment when I remember answering the presenter’s question on how many members we had on the site. “Two hundred” I said proudly; I thought he looked amazed but now I realize he was looking incredulous! Of course, the members consisted of family members and friends who had joined to show support – we hardly had any strangers.

After the programme I sat excitedly at my computer waiting to see if anyone listening had really liked the idea; not one person joined. Was I dispirited? Absolutely NOT. I knew that there must be thousands of people out there travelling who would love the opportunity to eat with a local person, it just made me more determined to go on.

Since then my little kitchen in Wales has been host to a lovely family from New Zealand, a student from the USA studying in Oxford, and a couple of business people from London. I had great joy sharing with them the beauty of the Welsh countryside.

One of my favourite meals away was with host ‘Marsha’ in London; her carrot cake was absolutely delicious. In Boston, USA, ‘Sneakier Biscuit’ cooked me an age-old family recipe, and I was delighted to be offered a second helping of the tasty egg bake.

The absolute highlight for me of running the site was our recent appearance on the UK BBC2 television show Dragons’ Den. That show gained us thousands of new members who loved and understood the idea behind EatWithALocal. Since that time we have gone from strength to strength, investors have shown interest and we have taken up an offer for one of them to redesign the site.

It goes to prove that if you want to have an insight into the culture of a country the best way of doing so is by eating and meeting with the locals – they are obviously very keen to show visitors hospitality.

Just today I welcomed a host from Montevideo, Uruguay. It never fails to amaze me that a little website that began in a rural part of Wales can attract attention from a complete stranger in a place far, far away – ready to welcome travellers from around the world into their kitchens.

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Guest post written by Vicki Edmunds, founder of www.eatwithalocal.com. If you would like to share a meal with a traveller in your home, or visit a local abroad, just visit the website and you can sign up.

Plan ahead

The essential kit for a hiking holiday can be broken down into eight main categories. Spending a bit of time preparing for your holiday ahead of time, as opposed to a rushed pack the night before you leave can make a huge difference to the quality of your hiking experience.

Before you set off on holiday make sure you have travel insurance in place, and leave an itinerary with someone back at home so if anything does go wrong, someone knows roughly where you are.

What to pack…

For the purpose of this article we have only covered packing for a holiday of day hikes, so we don’t cover items such as tents and cooking materials.

1. Food and drink

Food and drink isn’t something you often think of packing for a holiday, but for hiking it is worth it. You will use a lot of energy while hiking, on average 300 calories an hour. However, this can be much more when trekking uphill or over difficult terrain. So, no matter how much you eat before you set off you will soon be hungry again. Pack some food which is easily accessible and doesn’t involve any preparation time; snack bars are handy to have. Also avoid perishable foods, especially if hiking in warm weather.

A good source of a quick boost are carbohydrate based energy drinks. If you feel your energy levels dropping take a quick drink and you’ll soon be back on track. As you are unlikely to know what provision will be available to you to buy at the start point of your hiking holiday it is advisable to pack them at home.

As well as food and an energy drink, you will need plenty of water throughout the day. It is advisable to carry your water in numerous containers so you can evenly distribute them in your pack, so bringing a few containers of the right size from home can save you valuable holiday time shopping around when you arrive.

Also carry a few chlorine dioxide tablets to purify water in case of an emergency, or consider a safe water drinking bottle which has filters inside.

2. Navigation

Whenever you head out into the wilderness it’s always wise to carry a form of communication such as a fully charged mobile phone with you (although bear in mind that in the wilderness phone signal can be patchy at best!). Ensure you have an up-to-date map of the area, preferably a waterproof one, a compass, a watch, and a GPS is a good idea if you have one.

3. Sun protection

While hiking you will be exposed to the elements for potentially long periods of time. Even if it doesn’t look sunny you can get burnt through the clouds. A small tub of sun lotion, lip salve, sunglasses and a packable sun hat are all a good idea.

4. First Aid

No matter how careful you are accidents can happen so make sure you pack a first aid pack so you’re ready. Hiking injuries can range from the minor such as blisters, insect bites and mild sunburn, to more extreme problems such as broken bones. A good first aid kit will help you deal with all situations, even if it is just until further help arrives.

5. Illumination

Whether you intend to be out in the wilderness after the sun sets or not, make sure you have a torch, ideally a head torch and a spare set of batteries per person. You never know when you might need a guiding light!

6. Layers, layers, layers

While hiking you can experience a huge range in temperatures whether it be due to changes in weather conditions, altitude or your individual body temperature due to exertion. The best way to deal with this is to pack lots of layers that you can add or remove throughout the day.

Also ensure you pack waterproof layers. Once you get wet while hiking it is very difficult to dry off, and can lead to you getting cold.

Remember to bring something comfortable to wear in the evenings. You will want to relax in comfort after a hard day’s hiking!

7. Footwear

The key thing to remember in this section is that before you pack your footwear make sure you have worn them in! The most common problem experienced on hiking holidays is blisters. It is also a good idea to pack spare shoelaces as although it sounds a minor problem a snapped shoelace can cause big problems when hiking.

When choosing which socks to pack avoid cotton as it absorbs moisture. If your feet do sweat you don’t want them getting wet and then cold, as well as rubbing on your skin.

8. Day pack

Depending on the length of your planned hikes, and whether you will be stopping in a hotel each night or sleeping in the wilderness, your day pack may contain just a few items for a light hike, or everything you need to survive for an extended period of time in the wild. This will affect the size of your bag, but regardless of size your bag needs to be comfortable. When buying your bag choose a shop with knowledgeable salespeople. Explain what type of hiking you will be doing as well as your budget.

Make sure you try the bag on in the shop and walk around with it on your back. Some brands offer different shapes for women and men due to the different body shapes. It is also advisable to choose a bag with a waterproof covering.

In addition to a waterproof cover, bring a large waterproof bag, such as a bin bag to put everything inside your bag in, just in case your bag becomes immersed in water. This should prevent all of your belongings getting wet.

Ready to go

With your carefully planned bag packed full of all the essentials you will need for a problem-free trek, all that is left for you to do now is enjoy yourself and make the most of what a hiking holiday has to offer!

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Guest post written by Evelyn, a freelance travel writer who works closely with a number of awesome travel services. She’s lived on both side of the Atlantic and remains a perpetual globetrotter, having visited over forty countries in the last twelve years (some of them more luxurious than others!)

Here’s our tips that every solo woman traveller should know before they travel…

Before You Travel

• Subscribe to cheap fare alerts to get the best flight prices.
• Sign up for self defence lessons.
• When planning your itinerary visit the most expensive countries first then you’ll have enough money left for the cheaper ones.
• You only need enough clothes for a week, then you can wash them.
• Mini toiletries are great – n.b. a small hotel size shampoo will last for about 3 washes.
• Book your first night’s accommodation and transfer from the airport before you go.
• Roll everything up as tightly as you can to make extra packing space.
• Always pack some earplugs!!

Being Practical

• When crossing the roads, cross when the locals do.
• If there are lots of locals eating in a restaurant then it’s going to be good.
• Carry breakfast bars for when you get peckish.
• Take vitamins and supplements with you as fruit may not be easy to come across.
• Remember to build rest days into your itinerary. You may think you can do 3 overnight train journeys in a row but your body may think otherwise. You’ll be thankful of a day to recover.
• Some hotels may keep your luggage if you are going away on a small trip – you can always book back into the hotel afterwards. Make sure you lock your bags and get a baggage receipt. Some train stations also have a luggage facility (especially in Europe).
• Only take what you really need – if travelling in a hot climate you don’t need a hair dryer.
• Take old clothes or hand wash your nice ones – you can’t guarantee that they will come back in the same state you handed them in in. You can then throw them away along the way and make room for souvenirs.
• Take a carrier bag or shoe bag to keep your dirty washing separate.
• Jogging bottoms are great to wear in bed as pyjamas in cold weather.
• Use your clothes inside a sleeping bag cover as an extra pillow.
• Need to communicate but can’t speak the local language? Make sure your phone has a translation app like Google Translate, so you can say what you really want to say (great for tricky situations in a bank).

Those Girly Things

• Hair needs washing or going camping? Just use a bandana.
• A sarong has many uses: as a sheet for sleeping, a towel to dry yourself with, a cover up for the beach and a mat to sit on.
• Use leave-in conditioner when you’re away and come back with luscious locks.
• Dye your hair darker so it will cover any roots if away for a long time.
• Can’t survive without your mascara but don’t want to go without? Dying your eyelashes before you go can last up to six weeks.

Staying Safe

• Never say you are on your own or give out your address to anyone.
• Wear a fake engagement ring and say that your fiancé is meeting you the other end if travelling by bus or train.
• Walk the opposite way to the traffic (so that a car can’t pull up alongside you).
• Carry a mobile and get a sim card for the country you’re in. Put in emergency numbers.
• Be careful when drunk. You still need your wits about you when meeting people and travelling home.
• Never take out more money than you need.

For Those Moments of Doubt

• Plan your next day and make the most of every minute because you will never experience this day again.
• Keep a diary of how you feeling – if you hate today, write it down including everything you don’t like. Once your feelings have an outlet, they will disperse and you will feel happier.
• Write down everything you achieved today.
• Ask a friend to be your solo buddy and whenever you feel down you can contact them for them to remind you why you are on this trip.
• Have ‘feel good’ remedies like a favourite song, a souvenir from home, a photograph or lose yourself in an inspiring book.

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These travel tips were kindly provided by Girl about the Globe.  For more solo tips and to keep up with her travels visit the blog, find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @GirlAboutGlobe.

When it comes to planning a skiing holiday you’ll already have a lot to think about. Which country, which resort, perhaps even taking lessons before you go. With all of that going on you may find that packing for your break takes a back seat. But forgetting a vital piece of equipment or clothing can be not only frustrating, but also cause inconvenience that may spoil your holiday. If you’re a first time skier then knowing what to take can also be tricky, so we’ve compiled a checklist of important things to pack for your skiing break and a few handy tips to help you hit the slopes with as little stress as possible.

Ski clothing

Needless to say you need to prepare well for a long day amongst the snow. Nothing is worse than having to retire early because you’re cold, wet and miserable. A base layer of thermal underwear, followed by a middle layer of a long sleeved jumper/turtleneck and an insulating layer such as a fleece or jacket will all need to go under your ski parka and waterproof pants. Consider how long your break is and then decide how many items of ski clothing to take – you can definitely get away with wearing a few of the inner garments a couple of times.

Tip: Yes you’ll be cold to begin with but once you start skiing, walking and climbing you will soon warm up. Then you’ll cool down again as you get into the ski lift. Therefore it’s better to wear lots of thin layers that you can shed off and put back on again as your body temperature fluctuates.

Footwear

Good footwear is imperative when skiing and will directly impact your comfort, safety and ability to ski. PlanetSKI advise that you bring your own boots if you have them or consider buying your own if you plan to ski regularly. Hiring boots can often be hit or miss as sizes and quality can vary. Don’t forget to bring extra pairs of ski socks either – some people are dubious about these expensive socks and think that regular socks will work just as well. Ski socks are usually made from wool or synthetic fibres that keep your feet warm and are padded for extra comfort. They are also designed for a snug fit to give you extra control on your skis.

Tip: If you’re still not convinced about ski socks and choose to take your own then do not wear cotton socks on the slopes. Cotton absorbs moisture and when your feet sweat (which they will despite the cold temperature) you will be left with damp, chilly feet.

Social clothing

Remember that you won’t be skiing all of the time. Most ski resorts come alive at night and offer a variety of fancy bars, restaurants and diners so pack a range of smart/casual clothing too. Even if your resort has nothing but a quaint little ski lodge, you’ll still want something comfortable and ‘normal’ to slip into after a day on the slopes. The same applies for toiletries and any other bits and pieces that you would usually take on holiday.

Tip: If you’re not careful then this is where you could end up taking a lot of unnecessary things. Research your resort to see what kind of establishments are on offer and try and plan your days in advance so that you pack only what you’ll need. For example, one day you may want to take a day off skiing so a good pair of walking shoes/boots might be essential.

Accessories

It’s amazing how much one small piece of equipment can make or break your day on the slopes. Make a checklist and tick them off one by one: hat/helmet, gloves, goggles, sunglasses, neck gaiter and sunscreen. You will need them all.

Tip: If you’re struggling for space in your case then smaller items such as your accessories can go alongside your skis in your ski bag. Or roll them up and put them inside your boots.

Ski equipment

You won’t get very far on the slopes without your skis and poles. A ski bag is an ideal way to transport these safely on a flight. Many resorts offer the option of hiring your equipment which will avoid the hassle of transporting your own equipment and often give you the opportunity to test out the latest models for a relatively small price. Consider this if you want to minimise fuss.

Tip: If you do choose to take your own skis and poles then check with your airline before travelling – some need prior notice of large items to be stowed.

The essential documents

It may seem obvious but with so much on your mind it can be easy to forget the things that can really end your holiday before it’s started. You won’t even make it out of the airport unless you remember your tickets and passport. You should also remember to buy a good holiday insurance policy. Winter sports cover is important, mandatory in some resorts, due to the high risk nature of skiing. However it can also cover you for practical issues such as resort closure due to excessive snowfall and loss/damage of ski equipment. Prepare yourself for every eventuality and it will take a lot to spoil your trip.

Tip: Invest in a bag or a travel wallet to keep all of your essential documents together. Keep this in your hand luggage rather than in your case – that way you can have your passport on hand and take care of your money and valuables.