5 TRAVEL MUST-HAVES: LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL
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Here are 5 items we can’t live without when travelling within the Philippines or abroad.
Most of my MUST-HAVES are items that serve more than one purpose and convenient to carry. My travel philosophy is: LESS is definitely MORE.. and that's coming from a former rat-packer who just got sick of lugging around unneeded stuff and paying for excess baggage!
LOCAL TRAVEL:
1. Atomizer Spray
In most of my domestic trips which involves a lot of beach, sun and heat, an atomizer spray is my instant refresher. Whenever I feel sticky from the heat or if I need a quick touch up from oily skin, a quick spray instantly relieves my skin and keeps my face in the pics fresh! This is a dupe for the more costly ones you buy in canister form which often, are super over-priced!
2. Ziploc Bags – biggest size
Ziploc Bags are the perfect space maximizer and multi-purpose pouch for wet clothes, electronic gadgets, used up clothes, knick knacks or souvenirs. What I usually do is: I roll up my clothes and arrange them in a big Ziploc. Then when all space is used up, I take out all the air by pressing it all out from the bag. Then seal it. During the trip, I always carry spare Ziploc to keep my stuff organized.
3. Black Tank Top
This top matches anything. When I don’t know what to wear during a trip, I just take this out and pair it with any bottom I have on hand. Call it my default get up whenever I feel lazy or stuck. The color also hides any dirt or bulges, so this is a must-have for me.
4. Malong
I usually use this for beach trips. This could be my towel, my wrap-around, my extra skirt, my blankie or my privacy curtain when I need to dress in unfamiliar places. This is my all-in-one magic blankie! In a number of times, this served as my lifesaver. And another good thing about it: it dries up fast!
5. Small bills
A lot of places around the Philippines, do not accept cards nor have ATMs. So better carry small bills so you can negotiate better. So before going on a trip, TIP: withdraw money!
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
1. Universal Adaptor
When I was younger, I never thought that countries had different power sockets. Until I was faced with the 3-pronged socket in Hong Kong in 1997. I was baffled! As I traveled further to places like Australia, Israel, Jordan and Egypt, I was again faced with the same dilemma. So before travelling internationally, buy a Universal Adaptor. You will save money and travel time from looking for adaptors in your destination.
2. Emergency Meds
An influence from my mom who would often carry around a small pill box containing all sorts of drugs (the medicinal kind) to cure all kinds of things that can happen while travelling. Not everyone speaks English and it's kind of hard to talk to a Pharmacist in a non-English speaking country the kind of drug you would have to use. In one of my recent trips, one of my friends had the hardest time explaining to a Pharmacist in Hong Kong her prescription drug. And we had to explain it to him via writing it down and consulting a MIMS book. Also, the drug rates are most definitely more expensive overseas and some of the meds are called differently abroad . So before I leave, I make sure i have Anti-motility, Anti-histamine, Mefenamic Acid, Analgesics, my bonamine (Anti-Motion sickness) and my other drugs. So unless you would want to play charades with the Pharmacist overseas, do bring them with you!
3. Ipod/MP3
Nothing beats killing time from waiting to be boarded, a delayed/long haul flight, cross-country transfers than with the best tunes. My trusty Itouch has seen me through so much airline flier miles, that I might just get it an application form. Or, if you just want everyone to mind their own business, or get some needed "Me" Time during a trip, the Ipod is the way to go. Wear it, and no one will bother you. (Thank You Tim Tayag for that advise) Just a tip, if you plan on bringing your ipod to somewhere wet and sunny, don't forget to waterproof it with Ziploc or Waterproof bags. You would want your iPod to stay with you longer.
4. Ziploc Bags – Biggest size
I reiterate from my previous post. It is the miracle pouch of saving space, organizing your stuff, and waterproofing some gadgets.
5. Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion in Sachets or Hotel Bathroom products or Product Samples
Who would want to lug around bottles and bottles of bath products during a trip? I don't. Buying sachets are convenient, cheap and disposable. I hate it when you bring a whole bottle with only a few MLs of product. Think of the space you waste for your shopping! What also works: instead of sachets, those little bath products they give you from hotels and product samples.
p.s all photos are taken by me and are items that I actually own :) - ysabs
Totally the opposite of WG Ysabs' travel lifestyle, I am an ultimate O.C. (obsessive compulsive) freak. Always apprehensive that I might forget something, I end up bringing everything that I will possibly need. Thus, I NEVER pack light. This probably was the product of my travel experiences and some i-wish-i-brought-it or oh-shoot-i-forgot moments that I wouldn't want to happen again.
Below are my travel essentials which I think are very basic necessities that I really cannot leave without. They are my BEST FRIENDS when I travel :)
Ready for take-off? Find time to check our list and hope you find them helpful in your next trip!
LOCAL TRAVEL:
1. Sunnies
In the Philippines, we only have two kinds of weather: sunny and rainy. For most parts of the year the sun is always up...and when it is, it's scorching-sweltering-hot!!! Perfect time to bring out those sunnies (the bigger the better!) and shield our eyes from sun streaks. A nice accessory to spice up any outfit, too! Just don't forget to remove them when you're actually swimming or doing water activities IN the beach.
Gone berserk when I almost lost mine during a trip in Batangas here in the Philippines that my boyfriend Keith arduously went thru every shallow part of the beach until he finally found it. Yippee!
2. Sanitizer and wet wipes
In every trip, expect to be dirtied from all the activities throughout the day. For hygienic purposes, I clean my hands before and after meals. It's also addictive too! I'm a sucker for scented sanitizers such as this Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial hand gel and its tiny size make it very portable to put even in the smallest purses! Wet wipes are good alternatives for plain tissues and make up removers. It's an instant clean up for the hands and face and a lifesaver for moms with hyperactive children.
3. Waterproof case for camera, mobile etc. and waterproof bag
Philippines is known as a haven for beach buddies and what better way to protect your most precious belongings than having a waterproof bag and case? I remember a trip in Coron, also in the Philippines, where our itinerary was island hopping for the entire four days! The beautiful corals and schools of fish were all captured in video, thanks to our waterproof camera case. We didn't worry about our gadgets, money and towels being wet as the waterproof bag can withstand every liquid even when submerged. Great, huh? :)
4. DLSR Camera
Want some all-day hardcore shopping? or just tour around the city? Make sure you bring along your trusty friends! My favorites and ever-dependable ones are Tory Burch flip flops (it's light weight and stylish too!), Tory Burch flats (I wear this all day for shopping and I can say it's the most comfortable closed shoes I've had), Tom's Red Canvas Women's Classic (it hugs your feet comfortably, you'd feel like you're wearing those fluffy bedroom slippers), and Sanuk (it's the most light weight of all! plus its the best beach sandal for snorkeling or just walking by the beach..it curls up and it's washable too!) I almost forgot, my newest find is this silky ballet shoes from Mathews by CMG. It is so comfortable that I had to get them in almost all hues available! It has a curled-up sole and gartered edges..hence, ultra comfort!
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
1. Coat, Blazer or Cardigan
I guess everybody who has traveled internationally would agree with me on this. Something that will keep you warm while waiting for an hour or two before boarding or during a delayed flight or even on board the plane. I am not a fan of cold temperature/weather so this one is on the top of my list. It doubles a a great fashion statement too! *wink*
2. BlackBerry phone
Thank God for the genius minds who created this powerful phone. As my friend Jean would say, "Once you go Black (Blackberry), you'll never go back". I definitely concur! This little gadget has saved my life for a lot of times that I was abroad. Need to send a file and your current location doesn't have a wifi? Want to send a picture to someone across the miles in a zap (this is what I do if I want to ask my sister Kelly in the US I purchased the right item that she wanted)? or just want to post a status in your Facebook account? all that plus a lot more! and oh, it's way cheaper to communicate through BBM (BlackBerry Messenger).
3. Scarves and foldable umbrella
Aside from being fashionable and trendy especially during the winter/fall season, scarves are the best way to cover areas like the neck and chest that your coat may not aptly reach. It can also serve as a handy-dandy blanky, emergency mat or even a great head accessory! A handy umbrella just like this one will protect you not only from harmful UV rays but is also helpful in unpredictable downpour. Who would want to get all soaked up?
4. Cellphone/Laptop/Camera charger
Never rely on the assumption that somebody else will bring the same charger as yours or that you have enough battery to last throughout your trip. I learned this the hard way during my trip in Taiwan. Having fully charged 2 batteries for my camera, I thought that would suffice. To my surprise and disappointment, we were only on our second day of our seven day trip when my first battery ran out. I was constrained to choose and limit my pictures after that so that my other battery may last until the end of our trip. boohoo!
5. Ipad and/or MacBook Pro
After my Ipod Touch got stolen, I got these as pasalubongs (gift from a trip) from my parents' trip in the United States with my sister Kelly. The Ipad practically has the same features as the Ipod touch except for the recent model which has video capability. Plus it's a good news for parents who don't know how to tame the kids while killing time (it works for my hyperactive nephewss' trip in the United States with my sister Kelly. The Ipad practically has the same features as the Ipod touch except for the recent model which has video capability. Plus it's a good news for parents who don't know how to tame the kids while killing time (it works for my hyperactive nephews Kyle and Bryan). I use the MacBook to check my Face Book account, communicate with my sister abroad and transfer files to free up my camera's memory. And of course, it's a must for all the bloggers out there ;)
I lie somewhere in between smart and savvy WG Ysabs and uber chic WG Tin. That is, I try to save space while still managing to bring half of my closet with me! I always have a checklist prepared prior to leaving for a trip (lest I forget 'cause I have the memory of an 80 year old). And this is what it usually contains:
LOCAL TRAVEL:
1. Waterproof Carryall
The Philippines is an archipelago. Chances are, a local trip will include a boat ride to a fabulous beach getaway or to a remote island paradise. I keep my valuables safe with a waterproof bag in case I drop it in the sea or, god forbid, the boat overturns due to bad weather (almost happened to me during a trip to Pearl Farm in Davao). Plus it can contain everything in my checklist! The one pictured is my favorite carryall bag that I picked up at a thrift store somewhere.
Fab and functional!
2. iPod and Travel-Friendly Headphones
The iPod is humanity's best invention! To me at least, with my serial music nut ways. Add to that a foldable headphones with a pouch with a pocket that could fit my iPod, and I'm in heaven. My Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headset with pouch (US$199) has been a space-saver while at the same time not sacrificing sound quality.
3. Shawl
Shawls are a beautiful thing!
While on trips, I've used them to keep me warm, as a headgear, an improvised umbrella, a swimsuit cover up, a blanket, a pillow when folded up, and as a towel (in an emergency).
Infinite possibilities!
On my head here is my favorite shawl.
4. Sony Ericsson C905 Cybershot Phone
An 8-megapixel camera and a mobile phone in a sweet little package. Need I say more?
5. A fat, juicy book
I'm a total nerd, no denying that fact. I always bring some light, fun reads with me (i.e. not something coma-inducing) for relaxation and to kill time while waiting for my flight. My travel favorites: Peter Mayle books and Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
1. Bottle of Water
This is my oxygen when I travel. Without water I am liable to get as weak as a vegetable and as cranky as a bear! This is the first thing I bring before leaving for a tour, lest I spend the rest of the time haggling with a foreign vendor for what would probably be an overpriced bottle of water.
2. Multipurpose Hoodie
A must in my travel wardrobe. I always bring a hoodie with zippers to fit my essentials that will look cute in daytime, but also in nighttime to throw over my party dress on one of my requisite night jaunts.I love checking out the nightlife in foreign lands!
On the left is my hoodie from French Connection.
3. iPhone 4
You'll never get lost or bored with this in your bag! It's gorgeous, compact, not to mention a powerful of tool with thousands of applications at your disposal. Plus, it's a phone and an iPod too. I love love mine.
My favorite apps:
Travel - TripAdvisor, Google Earth, MapQuest, Foursquare
Photo Manipulation - Hipstamatic, Pocketbooth, Panorama
Ebook Readers - Stanza, MyPDFs, iBooks
Entertainment - StumbleUpon, Facebook, Glow Hockey, Eventful, Smurfs' Village (I love this game, shhh! that's my village below)
YSABS
Most of my MUST-HAVES are items that serve more than one purpose and convenient to carry. My travel philosophy is: LESS is definitely MORE.. and that's coming from a former rat-packer who just got sick of lugging around unneeded stuff and paying for excess baggage!
LOCAL TRAVEL:
1. Atomizer Spray
In most of my domestic trips which involves a lot of beach, sun and heat, an atomizer spray is my instant refresher. Whenever I feel sticky from the heat or if I need a quick touch up from oily skin, a quick spray instantly relieves my skin and keeps my face in the pics fresh! This is a dupe for the more costly ones you buy in canister form which often, are super over-priced!
2. Ziploc Bags – biggest size
Ziploc Bags are the perfect space maximizer and multi-purpose pouch for wet clothes, electronic gadgets, used up clothes, knick knacks or souvenirs. What I usually do is: I roll up my clothes and arrange them in a big Ziploc. Then when all space is used up, I take out all the air by pressing it all out from the bag. Then seal it. During the trip, I always carry spare Ziploc to keep my stuff organized.
3. Black Tank Top
This top matches anything. When I don’t know what to wear during a trip, I just take this out and pair it with any bottom I have on hand. Call it my default get up whenever I feel lazy or stuck. The color also hides any dirt or bulges, so this is a must-have for me.4. Malong
I usually use this for beach trips. This could be my towel, my wrap-around, my extra skirt, my blankie or my privacy curtain when I need to dress in unfamiliar places. This is my all-in-one magic blankie! In a number of times, this served as my lifesaver. And another good thing about it: it dries up fast!
5. Small bills
A lot of places around the Philippines, do not accept cards nor have ATMs. So better carry small bills so you can negotiate better. So before going on a trip, TIP: withdraw money!
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
1. Universal Adaptor
When I was younger, I never thought that countries had different power sockets. Until I was faced with the 3-pronged socket in Hong Kong in 1997. I was baffled! As I traveled further to places like Australia, Israel, Jordan and Egypt, I was again faced with the same dilemma. So before travelling internationally, buy a Universal Adaptor. You will save money and travel time from looking for adaptors in your destination.
2. Emergency Meds
An influence from my mom who would often carry around a small pill box containing all sorts of drugs (the medicinal kind) to cure all kinds of things that can happen while travelling. Not everyone speaks English and it's kind of hard to talk to a Pharmacist in a non-English speaking country the kind of drug you would have to use. In one of my recent trips, one of my friends had the hardest time explaining to a Pharmacist in Hong Kong her prescription drug. And we had to explain it to him via writing it down and consulting a MIMS book. Also, the drug rates are most definitely more expensive overseas and some of the meds are called differently abroad . So before I leave, I make sure i have Anti-motility, Anti-histamine, Mefenamic Acid, Analgesics, my bonamine (Anti-Motion sickness) and my other drugs. So unless you would want to play charades with the Pharmacist overseas, do bring them with you!
3. Ipod/MP3Nothing beats killing time from waiting to be boarded, a delayed/long haul flight, cross-country transfers than with the best tunes. My trusty Itouch has seen me through so much airline flier miles, that I might just get it an application form. Or, if you just want everyone to mind their own business, or get some needed "Me" Time during a trip, the Ipod is the way to go. Wear it, and no one will bother you. (Thank You Tim Tayag for that advise) Just a tip, if you plan on bringing your ipod to somewhere wet and sunny, don't forget to waterproof it with Ziploc or Waterproof bags. You would want your iPod to stay with you longer.
4. Ziploc Bags – Biggest size
I reiterate from my previous post. It is the miracle pouch of saving space, organizing your stuff, and waterproofing some gadgets.
5. Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion in Sachets or Hotel Bathroom products or Product Samples
Who would want to lug around bottles and bottles of bath products during a trip? I don't. Buying sachets are convenient, cheap and disposable. I hate it when you bring a whole bottle with only a few MLs of product. Think of the space you waste for your shopping! What also works: instead of sachets, those little bath products they give you from hotels and product samples.p.s all photos are taken by me and are items that I actually own :) - ysabs
TIN
Totally the opposite of WG Ysabs' travel lifestyle, I am an ultimate O.C. (obsessive compulsive) freak. Always apprehensive that I might forget something, I end up bringing everything that I will possibly need. Thus, I NEVER pack light. This probably was the product of my travel experiences and some i-wish-i-brought-it or oh-shoot-i-forgot moments that I wouldn't want to happen again.
Below are my travel essentials which I think are very basic necessities that I really cannot leave without. They are my BEST FRIENDS when I travel :)
Ready for take-off? Find time to check our list and hope you find them helpful in your next trip!
LOCAL TRAVEL:
1. Sunnies
In the Philippines, we only have two kinds of weather: sunny and rainy. For most parts of the year the sun is always up...and when it is, it's scorching-sweltering-hot!!! Perfect time to bring out those sunnies (the bigger the better!) and shield our eyes from sun streaks. A nice accessory to spice up any outfit, too! Just don't forget to remove them when you're actually swimming or doing water activities IN the beach. Gone berserk when I almost lost mine during a trip in Batangas here in the Philippines that my boyfriend Keith arduously went thru every shallow part of the beach until he finally found it. Yippee!
2. Sanitizer and wet wipes
In every trip, expect to be dirtied from all the activities throughout the day. For hygienic purposes, I clean my hands before and after meals. It's also addictive too! I'm a sucker for scented sanitizers such as this Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial hand gel and its tiny size make it very portable to put even in the smallest purses! Wet wipes are good alternatives for plain tissues and make up removers. It's an instant clean up for the hands and face and a lifesaver for moms with hyperactive children.3. Waterproof case for camera, mobile etc. and waterproof bag
Philippines is known as a haven for beach buddies and what better way to protect your most precious belongings than having a waterproof bag and case? I remember a trip in Coron, also in the Philippines, where our itinerary was island hopping for the entire four days! The beautiful corals and schools of fish were all captured in video, thanks to our waterproof camera case. We didn't worry about our gadgets, money and towels being wet as the waterproof bag can withstand every liquid even when submerged. Great, huh? :)
4. DLSR CameraWhat is traveling without great travel pictures to remember it by? Although I'm not a professional photographer, I got really great results with this camera. You just have to read the manual and play with it a little. Experiment is the key :) you might also want to bring a point and shoot camera for a lightweight alternative.
5. Flip-flops, beach sandals or closed shoes
Want some all-day hardcore shopping? or just tour around the city? Make sure you bring along your trusty friends! My favorites and ever-dependable ones are Tory Burch flip flops (it's light weight and stylish too!), Tory Burch flats (I wear this all day for shopping and I can say it's the most comfortable closed shoes I've had), Tom's Red Canvas Women's Classic (it hugs your feet comfortably, you'd feel like you're wearing those fluffy bedroom slippers), and Sanuk (it's the most light weight of all! plus its the best beach sandal for snorkeling or just walking by the beach..it curls up and it's washable too!) I almost forgot, my newest find is this silky ballet shoes from Mathews by CMG. It is so comfortable that I had to get them in almost all hues available! It has a curled-up sole and gartered edges..hence, ultra comfort! 
I guess everybody who has traveled internationally would agree with me on this. Something that will keep you warm while waiting for an hour or two before boarding or during a delayed flight or even on board the plane. I am not a fan of cold temperature/weather so this one is on the top of my list. It doubles a a great fashion statement too! *wink*2. BlackBerry phone
3. Scarves and foldable umbrella
Aside from being fashionable and trendy especially during the winter/fall season, scarves are the best way to cover areas like the neck and chest that your coat may not aptly reach. It can also serve as a handy-dandy blanky, emergency mat or even a great head accessory! A handy umbrella just like this one will protect you not only from harmful UV rays but is also helpful in unpredictable downpour. Who would want to get all soaked up?
4. Cellphone/Laptop/Camera charger
5. Ipad and/or MacBook Pro
After my Ipod Touch got stolen, I got these as pasalubongs (gift from a trip) from my parents' trip in the United States with my sister Kelly. The Ipad practically has the same features as the Ipod touch except for the recent model which has video capability. Plus it's a good news for parents who don't know how to tame the kids while killing time (it works for my hyperactive nephewss' trip in the United States with my sister Kelly. The Ipad practically has the same features as the Ipod touch except for the recent model which has video capability. Plus it's a good news for parents who don't know how to tame the kids while killing time (it works for my hyperactive nephews Kyle and Bryan). I use the MacBook to check my Face Book account, communicate with my sister abroad and transfer files to free up my camera's memory. And of course, it's a must for all the bloggers out there ;)JOHANNA
I lie somewhere in between smart and savvy WG Ysabs and uber chic WG Tin. That is, I try to save space while still managing to bring half of my closet with me! I always have a checklist prepared prior to leaving for a trip (lest I forget 'cause I have the memory of an 80 year old). And this is what it usually contains:
LOCAL TRAVEL:
1. Waterproof Carryall
Fab and functional!
2. iPod and Travel-Friendly Headphones The iPod is humanity's best invention! To me at least, with my serial music nut ways. Add to that a foldable headphones with a pouch with a pocket that could fit my iPod, and I'm in heaven. My Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headset with pouch (US$199) has been a space-saver while at the same time not sacrificing sound quality.
3. ShawlShawls are a beautiful thing!
While on trips, I've used them to keep me warm, as a headgear, an improvised umbrella, a swimsuit cover up, a blanket, a pillow when folded up, and as a towel (in an emergency).
Infinite possibilities!
On my head here is my favorite shawl.
4. Sony Ericsson C905 Cybershot Phone
An 8-megapixel camera and a mobile phone in a sweet little package. Need I say more?
5. A fat, juicy book
I'm a total nerd, no denying that fact. I always bring some light, fun reads with me (i.e. not something coma-inducing) for relaxation and to kill time while waiting for my flight. My travel favorites: Peter Mayle books and Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
1. Bottle of Water
This is my oxygen when I travel. Without water I am liable to get as weak as a vegetable and as cranky as a bear! This is the first thing I bring before leaving for a tour, lest I spend the rest of the time haggling with a foreign vendor for what would probably be an overpriced bottle of water.
2. Multipurpose HoodieA must in my travel wardrobe. I always bring a hoodie with zippers to fit my essentials that will look cute in daytime, but also in nighttime to throw over my party dress on one of my requisite night jaunts.I love checking out the nightlife in foreign lands!
On the left is my hoodie from French Connection.
3. iPhone 4
You'll never get lost or bored with this in your bag! It's gorgeous, compact, not to mention a powerful of tool with thousands of applications at your disposal. Plus, it's a phone and an iPod too. I love love mine.My favorite apps:
Travel - TripAdvisor, Google Earth, MapQuest, Foursquare
Photo Manipulation - Hipstamatic, Pocketbooth, Panorama
Ebook Readers - Stanza, MyPDFs, iBooks
Entertainment - StumbleUpon, Facebook, Glow Hockey, Eventful, Smurfs' Village (I love this game, shhh! that's my village below)
4. Digital Camera
A given. My Canon Ixus has yet to fail me!
5. Micro USB Stick
5. Micro USB Stick
The tiny USB stick I stuff into my coin purse has saved my neck many times to count. A few times when my camera's and phone's memory card ran out of space. Once when my camera ran out of battery so I had to copy pictures from a stranger in my tour.
* * *
That wraps it up! Now that you know ours, what's yours? :)
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