Traveller Tips
Outpost has been writing about adventure travel for over 11 years and whenever we needed an inside scoop or some really obscure travelling advice we’ve always been able to pick up the phone and give one of our experts a call. But what about all of the travellers who do not have access to such expertise? So we are now asking YOU to help us out with that great tip you’ve been hoarding to yourself all these years.
Tips online must be between 100-300 words.
Whether it be travelling through Europe during the winter months with my wife or trekking Mount Kilimanjaro with my father, I have discovered a simple way to stay toasty for over six hours. A water bottle! Not just any water bottle, but like many travellers and hikers, we use Nalgene bottles. Before going to sleep, pour some boiled water into your bottle. The Nalgene doesn’t melt and holds the heat, staying warm for a long time. It’s especially useful to place inside your sleeping bag against your stomach or down by your feet. Not only that, but if you’re camping, you’ll have uncontaminated water ready to drink or cook with in the morning.
Every time I travel, I bring along a box of ‘hand me down treasures.’ This box includes a collection of small items that may not be worth much in monetary terms but have some sentimental value. Whenever I make new friends, especially children, I give them something from the box. Whether it’s a pin I kept from camp, stamps I collected as a kid, silly stickers too cute to be thrown away, comic books I’ve read too many times, old sports cards, or that odd piece of jewellery, it’s all about sharing a piece of myself with people. In many of the places I’ve travelled, the people I met have never seen a comic book before. To see the awestruck look on their faces and let them keep that memento is what life is all about.
Developing your vacation photos can be costly, and picking and choosing your favourite memories based on price can be an irritating experience. Depending on your travel destination, you can develop your photos before you return home at a fraction of the cost. On a recent trip to Buenos Aires we developed several rolls of film and purchased a unique photo album for assembly during the flight home. The photo quality was high and it was fun receiving the developed photos to show family and friends upon arrival.
So your hubby is picking you up after a long 15-hour flight home. It’s always good to have a nice clean mouth and fresh breath, but many airlines have banned liquids from carry-on luggage. To bypass purchasing toothpaste at the airport for a hefty price, bring little salt packets or pick a few up at the airport concession stands. Before getting off the plane or leaving the airport, just add water to the salt on your toothbrush and brush away. This kills the bacteria and frightens monster mouth away.
When travelling at home or abroad in a hostel or hotel, I always bring a large flat rubber sink plug. This has proved to be very handy when so many sink do not have a plug and require a different fit. I use it for holding the sink full of water for washing my clothes or for washing myself. It is great for holding the sink full of cold water, for chilling beverages or holding hot water for soaking or warming items.
Could someone please let me know whether my “traveller’s tip” for mossie repellant was published. Les Stroud used it when he filmed on our island. Did it win a prize? Could someone let me know? Regards, Sonja Raela
When many flights are needed for a destination, I always bring my mesh storage bag. However, my carry-on bag is already jam pack with all that lifesaver stuff for boring time spent between airports and flights (books, snacks, underwear, toothbrush, meds, value items, etc.). Once I’ve past the customs, all the essentials for the first flight are placed in the mesh bag. That way, I have much more space over the seas: important things are at hand reach and other stuff well packed in the carry-on bag which is put out of the way in the overhead bin. All what I need now is asking the carrying flight intendants to fill up my width-mouth water bottle with ice cold liquid, enjoy the trip with the maximized space you can find on a plane these days and head to another priceless around the world adventure.
No matter where I’m going, I always bring a package of cheap dental floss and a sewing needle with a large head. It becomes an increadably strong thread which is great for stitching up packs, repairing tents, sewing on buttons, and in a pinch, even flossing your teeth!
The old traveler’s adage: lay out what you want to bring, then take half that and twice as much money. Maximizing space in your backpack or luggage is something every traveler can relate to. An inexpensive way to make the most out of the space you have available is to roll up your clothes rather than fold them. Roll them up very tightly and keep them that way with the help of some elastic bands. This method will allow you to take everything you want and still have room for twice the money (less the 99 cents for the bag of elastic bands!).
I always take tea tree oil with me on vacation. It’s fantastic for dealing with zits, minor skin abrasions, insect bites and stings, in-grown hairs and heat and sweat rash. You can take a tiny bottle and dilute it with other oil if necessary. Fantastically useful and very cheap!