Which Pack To Pack? Your guide to picking the perfect bag for your next trip

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Unless you want to end up with the wheels of your suitcase broken from rolling over uneven cobblestones, or a sweat stained t-shirt in the fancy lobby of your five-star hotel, you will have to put some thought into one of the most important decisions a traveller can make.

Which pack to pack? 

The type of bag you use while travelling is determined largely by the type of vacation or trip you are planning.

There are four main bags to consider:

1. The Large Suitcase   

This bag is usually a monster and best used for shorter trips where you will be staying in one place. A large suitcase limits your mobility, so choose this bag if you are stying in a hotel, using cars to get to and from the airport, and not required to roll it over uneven ground.

Cobblestones and unpaved roads will wreak havoc on the wheels of these weighty pieces of luggage, and you will be sweating bullets if you are pulling them on and off of trains or busses.

2. The Carry On Suitcase

These smaller suitcases are perfect for weekends, business trips, quick getaways, or longer trips if you are a light packer. Though they are more mobile than a large suitcase, I don’t recommend them for longer budget-style travel (like backpacking trips through Europe for example) because they are bulky and require the use of your hands to carry them. 

3. The Large Backpack

A typical first-time backpacker mistake (and one that I have made) is buying the biggest backpack you can find, thinking that the more space you have the more you can take with you. The problem is that all that stuff has weight, and that weight will be sitting directly on your body. Walking more than five minutes, through crowded streets, to get from your hostel to the train station will have you cursing the extra shoes and clothing on your back that you thought you couldn’t live without.

Larger packs do have their place however. I have used a large backpack to carry my things to a country that I was planning on living in for awhile, and then only filled it half to three quarters full when I did some quicker travelling after. 

4. The Carry On Sized or Medium Sized Backpack

This bag is perfect for weekend jaunts to places where you want maximum mobility and your hands free at all times. It is also perfect for travellers who are travelling longer term with a light wardrobe — budget travellers on hostel-style trips, I'm looking at you.

If you choose to use only carry on luggage, make sure to check the size of the liquids that you are allowed to carry on or be prepared to purchase things like contact solution and toothpaste in the country you are visiting. 

The key to buying a functional backpack, no matter what the size, is accessibility. Look for a bag that has side zippers or can unzip all the way, so that you can access the entire main pocket. You will inevitably have to pull EVERYTHING out in order to find what you need if you bag can only be accessed from the top.

In summary:

Large Suitcase: All inclusive/resort/hotel/single destination type vacations
Small Suitcase: Weekend getaways/business/shorter jaunts
Large Backpack: Long term stays (teaching abroad for example) with plans to travel after/hiking trips
Small Backpacks: Shorter, hands free travel/Longer travel if you are a light packer

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Travel Tips: Your Guide To Safely Drinking (Or Not Drinking) The Water When You Travel

According to water.org, 3.575 million people die each year from water related diseases. 

For those of us who are lucky enough to call countries that have fresh, clean drinking water home, it is important to remember that the majority of the places we will travel to are not so lucky.

It's easy to forget the brushing your teeth, having a shower, or needing to wet a dry throat in the middle of the night that the water might not be safe to drink. 

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Here are a few things to keep your tummy safe on your next trip:

• NEVER drink tap water unless you are 100% sure that it is safe (so basically never).

• Bottled water is usually ok, but make sure you check the seal carefully before you buy. I have heard of scams where shop owners will refill old bottles with tap water and then put them back on the shelves.

• Pack iodine tablets. They are lightweight, don’t take up much room and will be lifesavers if you ever find yourself with no access to clean water.

• If your trip is going to involve isolation (example: mountains in Tibet or the Gobi Desert), I recommend picking up an actual water filter and/or purifier. Many of them are now made to easily connect to a water bottle and come with small hand pumps.

• Boiling water is still the best way to purify it. You can purchase small electrical coils for this purpose at most outdoor/travel stores.

• When eating or drinking in restaurants, avoid ice or fresh juice unless you can confirm that both were made with filtered water. The same goes for tea and soup that may not have been brought to a boil.

• Be careful not to swallow any water when brushing your teeth (or just use bottled water) and showering.

When in doubt, end your day of touring with a shot of hard liquor or a beer, and hope that the alcohol will kill any parasite that you swallowed with your water! 

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Don't Touch The Pineapple! How To Get Arrested In Hawaii

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If you would like to spend your time in Hawaii with a view of prison bars rather than palm trees, or if you feel like shelling out a bunch of money to the police instead of buying souvenirs, all you have to do is wander into one of the thousands of acres of pineapple fields all over the Hawaiian islands and pick one of the spiky fruits off its plant.

Though each acre of pineapple field supports about 6,500 plants, it takes nearly TWO YEARS for a plant to reach the point where it can begin to bear fruit.

Each plant will only produce 2 pineapples in its lifetime, one in its second year and one in its third.

The fruit is not considered ready to pick until it weighs about 5lbs and is unique among fruits in that it does not continue to ripen after it is picked, so the timing must be perfect.

Because of the length of time they take to grow, and how important it is that they are on the plant until ripe (and the fact that it is one of the country’s largest exports), it is illegal to pick pineapples in Hawaii. 

If you are still desperate to have the experience of plucking the fruit from a field yourself, don’t risk wandering into one of the well-monitored fields on your own and ending up with Dog The Bounty Hunter on your tail.  Avoid getting arrested by going on a ‘picking’ tour at the Dole Plantation on the island of Oahu instead OR order a pina colada at your hotel bar and ‘pick’ a piece of fresh pineapple off the side of your glass. 

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Travel Tales: Exploring A Historic Beijing Hutong

For the entire 20 minutes I was in his cab, my driver used the little English he knew to try and convince me to let him take me to a "very good duck restaurant" or the "Forbidden Palace". I patiently responded "No, Shay Shay" (No, thank you) every time. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to get a higher fare out of me or if he was genuinely concerned to be taking me to a place not often visited by tourists.

I had read that the best way to explore the historical hutong’s (narrow alleys) of Beijing was to wander away from the tourist spots, near the city center, where the narrow alleyways crisscrossed east-west across the city.

The enchanting maze of one-story dilapidated dwellings and courtyards are home to a quarter of the city’s population, but that number is dropping as the government continues to knock these historical areas down, determined to cover the city in modern, high-rise buildings.

Reluctantly, my driver pulled to a stop at the end of a wide, pedestrian road, lined with antique stores. I handed him my fare and climbed out of the tiny car, leaving him shouting, "acrobat show?!" behind me in a desperate attempt to get me back in his cab.

I shook my head and smiled, but didn’t turn around, there was too much to look at in front of me.

I was on one of Beijing’s antique streets lined with shops full of old books, paintings, paper and brushes as well as Cultural Revolution kitsch like copies of Mao’s Little Red Book, pins with his face on them, and statues of the now deceased leader.

Though I was intrigued at first, it didn’t take long for me to get annoyed with the pushy salespeople trying to shove their products in my face. This was clearly not the place to window shop. I wasn’t there for shopping though — I was there to explore the hutong.

Ducking through a small archway, I found myself in a deserted, narrow alleyway. Laundry hung on hangers from the overhead power lines and on ropes strung between doorways. Too small for cars to fit down, the alley had bikes and scooters parked sporadically to it’s side. I was a bit surprised to see that nothing was locked up.

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Peeking through a doorway, I found myself looking straight into an outhouse. The blue wooden door sagged open and there was about half a roll of toilet paper hung on a nail just outside it (most hutong’s still don’t have plumbing).

Two men sat on stools in another doorway further down the alley, playing chess. They looked up at me surprised when I walked by, I can’t imagine that they get many foreigners walking alone through their neighborhood. I smiled at them, self-consciously slipping my camera into my pocket, and nodded before continuing on my way.

They were the only people that I saw, and after awhile, as the shadows started to get longer, the deserted alleys started to feel dilapidated and even a little eerie.

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Just as I was actually starting to get scared, wondering how I was going to get out of the maze with no phone and not knowing a word of Mandarin or Cantonese, I turned a corner and almost stumbled into a busy street.

Letting out the breath that I hadn’t even realized that I was holding, I threw my arm up in the air, and a cab — after careening across three lanes of chaotic traffic to get to me — screeched to a halt beside me.

I gave him the name of my hostel and sat back listening to him offer to take me to Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven instead as we pulled back onto the busy road, leaving the maze of the hutong behind us. 

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How To Survive a Trip To The City of Venice

“Dear old Venice has lost her complexion, her figure, her reputation, her self-respect; and yet, with it all, has so puzzlingly not lost a shred of her distinction”

— Henry James

To those that have never visited the canal city before, Venice seems to be the destination that dreams are made of. A mystical place that is full of amazing photo opportunities, people dressed in masks, and intrigue around every corner.

Though all of these elements do exist, there is no denying the fact the the buildings are in serious decay, the city itself in sinking, and only about 30,000 people currently live there, leaving many of the buildings vacant and uncared for.  

Don’t get me wrong, I love the place (I have been there three times) and there is nothing better than meandering down a sunny canal, with a warm cappuccino in hand. But if you aren’t prepared, your trip could end up filled with memories of wet feet, horrible smells, tourist traps, and bug bites.

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Let yourself get lost

Venice is made up of 117 small islands, 150 canals and 409 bridges, none of which run in any sort of traditional grid pattern. Uneven alleys lead to bridges that lead to nowhere, and what is called a via (street) in the rest of Italy could be labeled calle, fondamenta, ruga, salizzada, ramo, corte, riva, sotoportego — you get the picture. Unless you want to keep your nose firmly planted in a map rather than enjoying the sights, fight every instinct, put your map away, and just wander.

Have an umbrella and rubber boots on hand

During the winter (November to April) there is frequent rain and flooding during high tide (called Acque Alte) in the city. Sirens will announce the flooding giving you time to race back to your hotel and throw on your boots so that you can continue your touring. If you think you can hack having wet feet consider this: the canals are extremely polluted and the water that floods the streets is usually overflow from them or the sewer drains. 

Get off the tourist trail

Everyone who arrives in Venice heads straight to Piazza San Marco. A zig-zag path, marked by signs and passing by souvenir shops, takes about thirty minutes to navigate and will bring you "straight" to the famous square.

Though a must see, there are so many other areas of the city that, even in the busiest time of year, will be mostly deserted.

Venice contains over 200 churches full of famous works of art, the majority of which are located in the outlying areas like Dorsoduro and Castello.

Staying away from the cramped, people filled streets will also take you away from another huge problem in the city — pickpockets. 

Be prepared for bedbugs

No one likes to talk about it, but in the last few years, with more people travelling, the incidence of these microscopic bugs that feed off human blood has risen. Though they don’t transmit diseases, they are annoying and can cause rashes and allergic reactions. They love living in warm, damp environments with porous wood, which makes Venice the perfect location. If you find yourself waking up with little red bumps on your skin, the best way to get rid of them is to wash all of your clothing and your linens in hot water and find a new place to stay.

Avoid overpriced tours

I know that every tourist’s dream is riding a gondola through the canals with your hunny while a man in a striped shirt sings to you, but the cost of these rides will quickly shatter those dreams, especially if you are on a budget. A 45 minute ride can cost over $100 for 2 people-even more if you have a larger group. Taking a water taxi through the canals, can give you the view from the water that you are looking for (though admittedly is a lot less romantic) and save you a bundle. 

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Avoid the high season

Lastly, for a more authentic experience with fewer tourists to contend with, try to avoid visiting between July and August, Christmas and New Years, and during Easter.

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Travel Tips: The One Item Every Traveller Should Have In Their Bag

Whether you are going to a posh hotel or living out of a backpack, there is one must-pack item that will come in handy no matter what situation you find yourself in. 

This must have, can’t live without, multi-use item is a simple, inexpensive piece of fabric — a sarong.

Many of you might think that I’m crazy — sarongs are for girls to wrap around their waist at the beach right? Well yea, that is one of the uses for them, but if you bear with me, I bet I can convince you that, male or female, rich or poor, a sarong is a fantastic travel investment.

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Use it as a blanket, pillow or sheet

Have you ever been cold on a plane, train, bus or car trip?

A sarong makes a great blanket and can even be bunched up and used as a cushy barrier between your head and the cold, glass window.

Have you ever found yourself sleeping in a hostel or cheap hotel with questionable bedding?

Most sarongs are long enough to cover your body, which means that they will be the perfect buffer between you and the less-than-clean duvet cover you find yourself stuck with.

Use it as a towel

There is nothing more disgusting than a backpackers towel. It never gets a chance to dry completely and never gets washed much.

Quick dry towels made specifically to save space and for travellers are better, but they are never big enough to wrap completely around your body and they will often dye your skin the first few times you use them (trust me — I know from personal experience — that nothing makes you stand out more than a blue face).

A sarong is usually made of quick drying fabric and so makes a perfect, large towel to wrap around your body when stepping out of the shower or spending a day at the beach. 

Use it for modesty

If touring around churches, temples, or religious sights it is inevitable that there are parts of your body that will need to be covered at some point in time.

The problem is that most of these sights are located in countries that have sweat-inducing weather, and so wearing long sleeves and pants while exploring is not a realistic option.

Throwing a lightweight sarong in your purse or bag gives you an easy way to cover your shoulders, knees or hair when entering a sensitive area.

This is not just for the ladies either, there are attractions where men are required to have their heads and shoulders covered as well. 

Use it as a scarf or shawl

Need an extra layer on a chilly day? Want to up your travel fashion game?

Wrap your sarong around your neck and you have a perfect accessory that will keep you warm (and fashionable). 

Still not convinced? Here are a few more things to consider:

• A sarong can be folded or stuffed into the smallest corner of your bag, taking up almost no room, and weighs very little.

• Sarong’s are incredibly inexpensive and can be bought in almost any city in the world

• This item is not gender, age, or location specific — use it anywhere!

Got your own ‘must pack’ item? Let me know! 

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5 Unconventional Travel Tips You Won't Find In Your Guide Books

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These travel tips, which are not usually found in guide books, are guaranteed to help make your trip a lot more fun! 

1. Fill a zip-lock bag with balloons, bobby pins, and temporary tattoos representing your country.

Rather than giving out money, the balloons and bobby pins are great little gifts for young children that you will inevitably come across in the course of your travels.

The tattoos are great to give as gifts too, but can also come in handy in countries where people knowing where you are from (instead of making incorrect assumptions) will keep you safe. It’s a nice alternative to having a huge flag sewn onto your backpack.

2. Bring a pillowcase, not a pillow

A pillowcase can easily be stuffed with clothing to create a make-shift pillow in emergencies and also makes a perfect laundry bag. 

3. Even if you aren’t a journal writing kinda person, pack a small journal and a glue stick 

It is the perfect place to keep the names and contact info for people you meet and to jot down hotel/hostel names and prices of things to pass on to friends and family.

The glue stick will keep you from losing ticket stubs, postcards or other bits that make perfect souvenirs. 

4. BYOWB — Bring Your Own Water Bottle

Preferably a one liter Nalgene-style one with a wide opening. You could easily drop hundreds of dollars buying water while touring around all day, so having your own bottle will save you money.

And, when packing, it is the perfect place to put breakable items like perfumes, or delicate souvenirs, so they won’t get squished or break in your bag. 

5. Buy postcards, but don't send them

Everyone is trying to get that perfect, tourist-free postcard-style shot of the well-known tourist sight, but that is easier said than done.

Sometimes, the best thing to do is to just buy the gorgeous postcard as your souvenir, and focus on enjoying where you are rather than taking pictures. 

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