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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 27, 2007

SAVVY TRAVELER
You can't take it all with you, so choose carefully

By Irene Croft Jr.

Let's take a look at more items to add to a master checklist of packing essentials and options for travel abroad. As recommended in my previous column, a traveler should pick and choose from the list only those articles that are appropriate for a particular trip. A two-week luxury cruise will certainly require a different "to take" list than an extended budget-level journey on land.

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES

  • Shirts or blouses — casual (long-sleeved, short-sleeved) and dress

  • Colored tee or polo shirts

  • Casual and formal dresses

  • Skirts

  • Sarong/pareo for beachwear

  • Pants/jeans/slacks

  • Bermuda-length shorts

  • Leggings, or silk or thermal underwear for cold weather

  • Underwear

  • Pajamas or nightgown

  • Robe to double as beach cover-up

  • Socks — sport and dress socks

  • Nylons/hosiery

  • Jacket, coat, or windbreaker with hood

  • Sweaters

  • Sweatshirt/pullover/jogging suit

  • Safari vest with pockets

  • All-purpose navy blazer

  • Suit

  • Tuxedo and accessories — cummerbund, studs and cuff links

  • Regular and bow ties

  • Belts and scarves

  • Wool or leather gloves

  • Daytime and evening bag

  • Jewelry

  • Light shawl/evening wrap

  • Handkerchiefs

  • Wool cap, muffler and earmuffs for cold weather

  • Crushable hat to avoid rain and sun

  • Loafers, sandals, sneakers or other casual shoes

  • Sturdy, very comfortable rubber-soled deck-type or athletic shoes

  • Dress shoes

  • Bedroom and shower slippers

  • Rubber boots or overshoes

  • Hiking boots

  • Spare shoelaces, shoehorn and shoe bags

  • Raincoat with zip-out lining or nylon poncho

  • Swimsuit

    MISCELLANEOUS

  • Guidebooks and brochures

  • Field guides for marine, plant and wildlife

  • Abbreviated foreign language phrase books or Quickpoint

  • Maps and pocket atlas

  • Gadgets: compass, GPS (global positioning system) unit, altimeter and pedometer

  • Cell phone with overseas broadband capability

  • Laptop computer or Palm Pilot

  • CD or cassette player with CDs or tapes

  • Travel or shortwave radio

  • Tape recorder/blank tapes

  • Operating booklets for electronics

  • Batteries for camera, clock, watch, flashlight, etc., and recharging units

  • Reading material, cards, puzzles and board games

  • Ballpoint and highlighter pens

  • Post-it Notes

  • Small notebook or journal

  • Gummed labels for postcards

  • Small, practical American made gifts for hosts

  • Gift and shopping list with a conversion guide for foreign sizes

  • String or canvas shopping bag

  • Zip-closure plastic bags

  • Stretch nylon laundry-drying rope

  • Fasteners — safety pins, twist-ties, rubber bands and paper clips

  • Cellophane and duct tape

  • Super glue and glue stick

  • Small tape measure

  • Collapsible plastic cup, bottle stopper and corkscrew

  • Portable eating utensil set

  • Flat rubber sink stopper

  • Candle and waterproof matches for electricity blackouts

  • Beach bag and towel or roll mat

  • Wash cloth and soap

  • Sunglasses

  • Extra pair of prescription glasses

  • Small eyeglass repair kit

    PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT

  • Digital camera

  • Memory cards or sticks

  • Batteries

  • Camera tote bag

  • Still film camera

  • Video camera

  • Lenses and filters

  • Strobe (flash) attachment

  • Tripod and spare parts

  • Disposable camera

  • Lots of film

  • Lead-lined FilmShield bags

    SUSTENANCE

    Food and drink from home can be a comfort and even a lifesaver when traveling through distant lands.

  • Mints

  • Granola, power or protein bars

  • Trail mix or snack crackers in zip-closure bags

  • Sweets like hard candies, caramels, M&Ms and chocolate bars

  • Peanut butter (now sold in packable tubes)

  • Instant hot chocolate packets

  • Crystal Light "Good-to-go" drink powder packets

    To print out a packing list customized for your next journey, go to http://upl.codeq.info/index.jsp or www.seetheglobe.com.

    Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.