Packing List for Travel

Aah, the joys of traveling! Be it a weekend road trip, week-long Christmas vacation or a month long spring break, traveling is something that I always look forward to. Exploring a new place, getting a feel of its sights and sounds, studying its flora and fauna, feasting on the local cuisine, shopping at the flea markets…just thinking about it makes me want to forget everything else and set out on a new travel expedition this very minute!
Anyway, stepping aside from the joys of traveling momentarily, one thing that I wish to stress on at this moment is, the amount of preparation that one should do before any sort of travel. Lack of preparation can often land travelers in problematic situations which can severely dampen the spirits of the traveling party. Here is a basic vacation packing tip for all travelers. One of the first things that you should do in the preparatory stage is, make a travel packing checklist. On that note, let us look at what a packing list for travel should contain, and how to go about making one.

Making a Packing List for Travel:
Your travel packing checklist should ideally be split into the following categories: 
clothes 
toiletries 
travel documents 
finances 
first aid 
accessories and general items. 
Clothes: You should always pack your clothes while taking into consideration the prevailing weather conditions at your destination and the duration of your stay. The following clothing items should ideally be on your vacation packing list: 
regular casual day wear i.e. shirts, t-shirts, trousers, dresses, jeans 
an extra pair of denims 
innerwear 
towels 
sweater or windbreaker 
raincoat or a rainy jacket 
two sets of formal clothing 
night suits/pajamas 
swimwear 
bermuda shorts 
socks 
shoes, sandals and slippers. 
Toiletries: Make sure that you inspect your toiletry kit before you leave. Very often, we happen to forget small things like toothbrushes and combs which can later cause a little bit of inconvenience. Include the following toiletries in your travel packing checklist: 
toothbrush and toothpaste 
bathing soap 
deodorant 
talcum powder 
shaving kit 
sunscreen lotion 
skin creams 
mosquito repellent 
dental floss 
hair care products 
comb or brush 
hand mirror 
cotton swabs 
small pair of scissors 
glasses or contact lenses 
contraceptives 
maxi pads or tampons. 
Travel Documents: Make sure that you remember to carry these, else you are most likely to land up in a soup. It is always advisable to carry multiple photocopies of all your travel documents for good measure. Make sure that you carry the following documents: 
passport 
visa 
alternate proof of identity 
travel tickets 
hotel reservation documents 
travel insurance and vaccination certificates. 
Finances: Imagine this. You are having a great time shopping to your heart’s content only to discover that you have left your credit card back home. How bad is that? To avoid such a predicament, be sure to carry the following: 
sufficient cash 
credit or debit cards 
traveler’s checks 
enough local currency in case of foreign travel 
money belt for safety 
currency converter or calculator. 
First Aid: It is advisable to carry a first aid kit along with certain basic medication. It can often come in handy when traveling. Ensure that you pack the following items: 
band aids 
gauze bandages 
iodine or any other liquid antiseptic 
common medicinal tablets for treating diarrhea, headache, flu, motion sickness, etc. 
vitamin and glucose tablets 
other personal medicines. 
Accessories: I vouch for this based on a personal experience wherein I took my camera to an African wildlife safari, and left the roll of film back home! It can be terribly frustrating, I assure you. Double-check that you pack the following items: 
Camera (with enough rolls of film!!) 
batteries 
cellphone charger 
road maps/city maps 
sunglasses 
caps or hats 
books 
diary 
flashlight with batteries 
wristwatch 
old newspapers 
alarm clock 
I-pod or MP3 player. 
These were some travel packing tips to ensure that you have a pleasant trip. And now that the temptation of a weekend getaway has become absolutely irresistible, I have begun with my own packing list for travel, and I suggest that you begin with yours. Bon voyage! 
By Josh Paris