Planning and Packing Tips

Before You Go

Forward your mail or arrange to have it collected by family, friends or neighbors or ask the post office to hold it.
Put a hold on newspaper & magazine deliveries.
Pay telephone, service provider accounts and bills before you go, so they will not be disconnected while you are away.
Ensure arrangements for your pets are in place.
Call your credit card companies to advise dates and places you will be traveling.
If you are taking your mobile/cell phone on tour contact your provider to ensure international ROAM is on or purchase a phone card to call home.
Turn off any preset alarm clocks and all electrical appliances at the switch.
Alert the airline if you have any special food consideration – vegetarian etc.
Inform neighbors & neighborhood watch groups of your vacation dates.
Make sure your family & friends have copies of your overseas travel itinerary and hotels you will be staying at, in case they need to contact you.
Some airlines will allow you to check-in online and select your seats before you travel. You can also register online to receive an email or mobile/cell text message if your flight is going to be delayed.

Monitor the media for any changes to security or safety in the regions you plan to visit. Your foreign affairs department will be able to provide you with the latest travel advice for your destination(s). You can also sign up for a free e-mail subscription service that will notify you should the situation for your destination(s) change.
It is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover all overseas medical costs for the duration of your travel. Your travel insurance should also cover any activities, such as adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.
Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, travelers checks, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.
Consult your doctor regarding recommended vaccinations or other health precautions for your destination(s). Check that any medication you need to take is legal in the countries you plan to visit. It is a good idea to carry a prescription from your doctor for any medicines you take with you.

Packing Tips

There is nothing worse than realising on tour that you have left some crucial items at home, the following packing tips should help you to better prepare.

Start by writing a packing list, be sure to check the weather forecast of the destination you are visiting and take into consideration the activities and outings you will be going on. You can find the average temperatures of most Trafalgar destinations in the Community section of Trafalgar’s website, under Useful Information.
When packing an item think about how many times you are going to wear it. If you are not going to wear it more than three times, don't pack it!
Choose clothes that pack well and color coordinate. For example, choose a base color for trousers, skirts & shorts like beige or khaki and then match with a couple of highlight colors.
Be aware of local traditions and dress codes, especially if traveling to Muslim countries.
Accessorize, accessorize! Ladies scarves or wraps can give your limited wardrobe extra color. They can easily be used to dress up an outfit. Also, when visiting places of worship you will need to cover your shoulders so a wrap is perfect for this situation. Also, a few pairs of inexpensive earrings are fun to bring and can also change the look of your outfit.
Pack sunscreen and insect repellent.
Take a few plastic zip lock bags for carrying wet items or keeping things dry.
Check the electrical outlets and adapters of places visiting.
If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair or at least have a copy of your glasses prescription.
To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep medicines in their original labeled containers. If a medication is unusual, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take it.
If you plan to wash some items in your hotel bathroom, take a travel clothesline, sink stopper & soap. Remember micro fibers dry quicker than cotton.
If taking a digital camera clean out your photo card memory and get a back-up one and spare battery.
If you have any severe allergies write them out in English and translate to languages in countries you will be visiting. Write on business card size card and keep on your person. This is easy to do by using Google language tools - http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

Packing

Start by putting your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality.

Lock your luggage to prevent theft and tampering.

When packing, lay out the items you intend to take and re-evaluate your list to eliminate any unnecessary or single-use items.

Iron everything before placing it in your suitcase as you may not always have time to iron clothes when you are on tour. Button all buttons and zip all zippers to avoid items getting caught on them.

Pack chronologically, with items to be worn first on the top. This will make it easer to pull things out of your suitcase and save you time, handy for when you are on the go.

Pack items tightly so that clothes do not have too much space to move around and wrinkle.

Pack toiletries in plastic bags to avoid spillages. Individual containers with more than 100ml of liquids are not permitted to be taken in your carryon luggage in many airports. They must be placed in your checked in luggage. Check with your airline or airport for up-to-date security restrictions.

To save room pack items in shoes (i.e. rolled socks etc).

Always carry travel documents, medication, jewelry (only take the absolute minimum), money and travelers checks, and other valuables in your money belt.

Remember to pack your bag only two-thirds full to leave room for shopping and souvenirs.