Travel & Everything In Between

[Gunslinger]

Hi guys. I will be having a 5-day adventure soon. As of now, I still don't have a bag for long travels such as this one. I'm thinking of getting a stoller bag or a backpack like The North Face ones. I'm leaning towards the latter since I think it will be more versatile during travel. What would you guys recommend? A good bag is a good investment.

Also, do share your travel tips, tricks, and hacks on this thread. It may help anyone.
I'll start. I've noticed that rolling your clothes when you pack saves space and it's easier to locate what you need. Plus it lessens or prevents wrinkles!

[siore]

Business or pleasure?

I would get a standard flight luggage for business trips, where you need lots of outfit changes. And within that you could pack a small backpack you could take on your sidetrips while you leave the bulk of the items at the hotel.

If doing vacation, you could just have a large backpack, but it depends on your itinerary and you might require more things.

And for both situations, I typically carry a clutch bag or small pouch, for items you should keep close to you. Passport, wallets, gadgets, and other valuables. It also is a good way to lump all your mettalic items inside it to save you the hassle of fumbling for items to remove at airport security. Just avoid bringing large liquid containers, lighters, cigs, pocket knives, and other prohibited hand-carry items. Most of the time you'll just lose it at the checkpoints, save yourself the drama.

[Gunslinger]

More on vacation.

Most of the time when I travel, I normally use a backpack and bring a smaller sling bag for sidetrips. It's where I also put medicine where it is easier to find in case the need arises.

I heard that perfumes aren't allowed on planes so security confiscates them on checkpoints. That true?

[siore]

Yup basta liquid. Confiscate yan. Better put the perfume in your checked-in luggage.

[palmmuteboi]

When I usually travel, lalo na i take photos i tend to keep everything compact. I travel with one luggage for my clothes,meds,chargers,and a small sling bag (yes kasama sa loob ng luggage ko). Then I use a travel bag like a northface backpack to put my laptop/tablet, cameras and other small items like gum/candies/music player basta anything small na alam kong lagi kong gagamitin when im hovering the streets oh andun na din ung some meds ko also for my asthma hehe. I also travel with 2 wallets or basta dalawang lalagyan ng money, its better if you have one huge wallaet that can hold your passport then one for money lang talaga. Para when your out and having to pay for something di mo kelangan hugutin lahat ng money mo iba naka tabi sa may passport ung iba nandun sakabilang wallet mo, parang yung isa andun lahat ng pera ung isa andun ung sakto lang. its better to be safe when youre out lalo na sa foreign place.

pag dating sa hotel i unpack my stuff. then on my first day palnuhin ko mga dadalhin. If im gona go and shoot then shop a little i get my north face back pack, if im just gonna walk around and relax and all im gonna use my small sling bag and iwan sa hotel bulky stuff, atleast my option to go for big and small bag.



pag pauwi na pwede ka na mag palit palit. like you can use your back pack for your used clothes etc, then luggage for your pasalubong and electronics.

just some stuff I do when i travel, hope it helps. nd also ako kasi when i travel i dont bring too much clothes side A side B ang pants ok lang minsan side C and D pa i mean pwede naman mag travel with one jeans then shirts I prefer traveling kasi na mas bitbit camera ko atleast i can document my stay, well never know kelan tayo makaka travel ulit eh diba so yun.

again ito eh mga gawain ko lang sa mga trips ko, i sually go both for pleasure and business trips and same lang naman din yun procedures/rituals ko hehe.

good luck on your trip!

[Gunslinger]

Thanks for your input guys.

So I bought a 32-liter daypack. I think it will be more than enough for what I need this coming trip(s). Iniisip ko ngayon kung dadalin ko yung DSLR, a 50mm and a kit lens, or wag na. Sayang din kasi kung hindi ko dadalin. Wala rin akong smaller camera other than my phone. But I'm leaning towards bringing it.

Oh and check this out. I found this at Daiso Japan. There are different sizes, but I bought the biggest one. Could have various uses.

[randymarsh]

Thanks for your input guys.

So I bought a 32-liter daypack. I think it will be more than enough for what I need this coming trip(s). Iniisip ko ngayon kung dadalin ko yung DSLR, a 50mm and a kit lens, or wag na. Sayang din kasi kung hindi ko dadalin. Wala rin akong smaller camera other than my phone. But I'm leaning towards bringing it.

Iwan mo na yung DSLR. Dala ka ng compact camera and a bunch of batteries for it. Nagdala ako ng DSLR sa vacation namin pero ni minsan hindi ko nagamit kasi ang bigat dalhin lalo na kung maraming lakaran. I brought a Fujifilm X100s. Superb camera for travelling!

Dala ka ng good walking shoes For those long walks and short strolls.

Purchase a travel insurance Nagkasakit yung anak ko during our last trip. Kumain kami ng chicken joy  sa Jollibee San Diego at sumakit ang tiyan namin ng anak ko. We brought her to the hospital that evening and was surprised that we're going to be billed at least $700 for the check-up. Buti nalang may free travel insurance yung credit card ko.

Rent a Car Public transport sometimes is hell in other countries. Rented a Ford Mustang during our trip 

-----------

Itinerary of our family vacation trip last December 22 to Jan 10:

We flew to LA then went straight to Camarillo for shopping (and adjust to the jetlag)
Spent two days in LA, visited Hollywood and Venice / Santa Monica beach
Stayed in Anaheim for 5 days (3 days in Disneyland, one day in Universal Studios, one day in Legoland California)
Drove from Anaheim to San Francisco (whole day trip)
Stayed in SF for five days (visit relatives, tour SF, Monterey bay)
Flew from SF to Houston
Stayed in Houston for three days (visit relatives, NASA, etc...)
Drove from Houston to Dallas
Flew back to Sydney Australia

Never ever stay with relatives kung limited sa time. Makakatipid ka nga pero masisira ang schedule/plans mo. Mahirap magpagalaw ng maraming tao at mahirap mag-adjust sa schedule ng iba. Spending one day with them is enough.

[j.nikko3123]

Bump!

1. Pack Light

I go for my usual trip (1-3 months away from home)I can get away with just one 30L backpack and some Molle attached pouches(YMMV):
-2 T-shirts
-2 Cargo Pants(Convertible)
-1 pair of Sneakers
-1 pair of Slippers
- Airline accepted set of LAGS(75 ml each of Body Wash,Toothpaste,Small Perfume,A Small bottle of Jim Beam)
- A Power bank
- An E-reader
- Phone(My mighty Nokia)

Survival may vary as I am not the most hygienic person in this planet(I can go for two-three weeks of shower free life)

[marzi]

-nakakakita ako ng nagpupunta ng galera, boracay o kahit saang beach na naka rolling luggage at napapa lolz ako. back pack please, back pack.

-kung local travel lang(within the country), dont bring your passport and present it as your ID sa airport.

-yes sa point and shoot cams.

-wear the most comfy shoes. at magbaon ng tsinelas.

[sonicassault]

Thanks for your input guys.

So I bought a 32-liter daypack. I think it will be more than enough for what I need this coming trip(s). Iniisip ko ngayon kung dadalin ko yung DSLR, a 50mm and a kit lens, or wag na. Sayang din kasi kung hindi ko dadalin. Wala rin akong smaller camera other than my phone. But I'm leaning towards bringing it.

Oh and check this out. I found this at Daiso Japan. There are different sizes, but I bought the biggest one. Could have various uses.

kung may mahihiraman ka ng micro 4/3 yun na lang tapos i-collateral mo yung DSLR mo  seriously though, it's much lighter and takes great photos, lalo na kung ang lens ng dslr mo ay 50mm at kit lang. even better, if you can find a good set of those clip-on tele lenses for your phone, mas ok.

I dig those zip bags from daiso! I also buy the smaller ones for tiny items.

Isang tip ko, if you can afford it or have space for it, buy lots of tiny square bags, and stuff them with the small items, by category. it helps you compartmentalize your bag, and you know where to find specific small items. It can also help in quickly deciding which ones to throw in your small travel bag, instead of rummaging through your whole backpack and putting them back until some item is lost or unaccounted for.
I'm also a fan of microfiber towels (a full sized one packs like an extra shirt!), those garter woven gadget web case thingies, and inflatable neck pillows (wag na yung memory foam ang laki nun). If you have a tablet, bring it, to conserve your phone's battery for internet use and reading. and comfy shoes that aren't sneakers.

[fizz450_03]

For trips lasting beyond 3 days, I always bring my trust mountaineering bag. I don't normally keep it full. I just like the idea na I'm able to have a large bag to store things. Plus the thick foam pad and metal frame on my back assures me of not getting hurt too bad should I fall on my back.

If you're traveling across the sea, bring a large plastic bag - black garbage bags do fine. this way, you can wrap your bag in case things get wet. or if you need to bail from a boat or ship, you can take your very important things then bail.

Take note of landmarks. You never know when you'll get lost. Also, if you have an issue recognizing left from right, time to sharpen your sense of direction.

A DSLR is fine but if it's compact enough. I still hold on to my D40 and a 50mm. I do not bring a studio with me like many overly excited friends of mine who bring stands, strobes, filters etc.

Don't bring tons of cigs. Try the local fare! YMMV doe. (this also goes for food)

I make it a point to talk, and befriend people in the area. Makes me feel less of a stranger.

[sonicassault]

For trips lasting beyond 3 days, I always bring my trust mountaineering bag. I don't normally keep it full. I just like the idea na I'm able to have a large bag to store things. Plus the thick foam pad and metal frame on my back assures me of not getting hurt too bad should I fall on my back.

If you're traveling across the sea, bring a large plastic bag - black garbage bags do fine. this way, you can wrap your bag in case things get wet. or if you need to bail from a boat or ship, you can take your very important things then bail.

Take note of landmarks. You never know when you'll get lost. Also, if you have an issue recognizing left from right, time to sharpen your sense of direction.

A DSLR is fine but if it's compact enough. I still hold on to my D40 and a 50mm. I do not bring a studio with me like many overly excited friends of mine who bring stands, strobes, filters etc.

Don't bring tons of cigs. Try the local fare! YMMV doe. (this also goes for food)

I make it a point to talk, and befriend people in the area. Makes me feel less of a stranger.

garbage bags are great in general. if you can afford it, bring black and transparent ones depending on the use: black for actual garbage, and clear for miscellaneous stuff like waterproofing gadgets and paper stuff. I do prefer the black ones as an impromptu raincoat.

also, I cannot stress this enough:
bring condoms

choose the regular kind, and in the flavor you assume you'd like your drinking water flavored with. don't pick the ones with numbing stuff or spermicides. condoms are great for actually waterproofing stuff, as well as emergency ultra tough elastic tie/tourniquet. it can also work as an emergency water canteen/bladder in case you get into an apocalyptic kind of natural disaster. a human can fit in one, so it can fit most things. really handy when things get really wet. and we're not even talking about the actual emergency yet  lagi ako meron nyan invisible rain boots ko yan pag rainy season.

[j.nikko3123]

garbage bags are great in general. if you can afford it, bring black and transparent ones depending on the use: black for actual garbage, and clear for miscellaneous stuff like waterproofing gadgets and paper stuff. I do prefer the black ones as an impromptu raincoat.

also, I cannot stress this enough:
bring condoms

choose the regular kind, and in the flavor you assume you'd like your drinking water flavored with. don't pick the ones with numbing stuff or spermicides. condoms are great for actually waterproofing stuff, as well as emergency ultra tough elastic tie/tourniquet. it can also work as an emergency water canteen/bladder in case you get into an apocalyptic kind of natural disaster. a human can fit in one, so it can fit most things. really handy when things get really wet. and we're not even talking about the actual emergency yet  lagi ako meron nyan invisible rain boots ko yan pag rainy season.

If you're ging to brazil,f*** it you bloody need one(if not one MANY), damn when you buy pineapples you'll have a wife next day.

[gandydancer123]

for me, definitely the days of DSLRs are over...Pack Light is king! you get to cover more ground that way...same sa Gigs...haha

[j.nikko3123]

Compression vs Rolling

I prefer rolling my clothes and tying em up in bundles with those free torniquet bands from the med reps. I find it easier to compartamentalize my bag in this manner as I can fit em in a smaller sack,(490ml³) can fit 2 shirts and 2 pants.

Water Proofing Electronic devices

You can invest in dry boxes for your e-stuff or you can make one from ordinary containers just put plastic on the mouth then put the lid then seal with a tight rubber band,or as what sir sonic have said;condoms.

Meds

Bring a pack of your usual meds(e.g pain relievers,antihistamines,weeds,coke,molly...etc..kidding on the narcs) small amount of this stuff can benefit you in the most un-expected situation,keep a small first aid kit if you can

[gandydancer123]

Travelling with a kid?

Get one of those ultra light umbrella type strollers...you can cover more ground with your little one with it...and he or she can take naps, and double as a bag, shopping bag hanger, and stuff carrier..

[gandydancer123]

get one 21kg luggage...and share with your wife, gf, kid.. and each could have a personal sling bag or backpack..for personal stuff..

that way easy to transit with just one luggage..

[sonicassault]

for me, definitely the days of DSLRs are over...Pack Light is king! you get to cover more ground that way...same sa Gigs...haha

if you can buy a mirrorless, now is the time  i can't wait to get a new higher paying job just to get my hands on one. at par na yung autofocus ng mirrorless sa low end ng DSLR. smaller lenses, smaller body, lighter weight. I will miss the viewfinder though.

baon ng granola bar or trail mix sa eroplano! mahal pagkain sa eroplano eh