Planning your trip Archives - Anna S. E. Lundberg

Packing list for a week on the Mississippi: What to bring on your canoeing trip

20 October, 2015 By Anna S E Lundberg Leave a Comment

Ah yes, one of the most popular topics on my website, the classic packing list post. Who knew that so many people would be interested in how many pairs of socks I bring on my travels…? But then, I have realised myself how helpful it is to get any additional insight at all when you’re planning for a big trip and desperately trying to work out what to jettison so that you can actually close your bag.

Fully laden canoe — The canoes were pretty full with all our gear… Is there space for us in there?!

I find these types of adventures particularly difficult to plan for, as you just don’t know what to expect. We were told to “pack very light” and to “pack for winter and for summer”. Hmm. I should say, though, that we were only responsible for bringing our own personal gear. That meant that Quapaw Canoe Company had everything else like cooking equipment and tents, emergency and first aid kit, life jackets….

So here’s what I brought, and used, for this weeklong trip on the Mississippi River (plus a couple of days in town at either end):

Bags:
1 x waterproof duffel bag from Aquapac (70l)
1 x waterproof backpack from Aquapac (25l)
2 x sets of pack dividers from Aquapac (to keep everything organised and doubly protected inside the dry bag)
(Yes, now that I’ve purchased the proper kit I’m going to have to go on a lot more wet adventures in the future!)
1 x small, old, cross-body handbag for town

Shoes:
1 x pair of flip-flops
(And in fact I went barefoot all week in the sand! But at other times of the year when the water level is higher, you may have to camp further up and it may also get cold, in which case some old trainers or wetsuit booties are not a bad idea.)

Shorts and trousers:
2 x pairs of shorts (1 x pair denim, 1 x pair board shorts)
1 x pair of capri gym/yoga pants
1 x pair of jeans
1 x pair of sort-of-waterproof trousers
(I actually wish I had brought another pair of more comfortable trousers for the evenings, sitting around the campfire, and saved the jeans for when I was in town.)

Tops:
7 x vest tops
1 x long-sleeved shirt

Underwear and swimwear:
underwear for every day
2 x strapless bras (1 x nude, 1 x black)
1 x sports bra
2 x bikinis
2 x pairs of socks (never worn – might be useful, though, when it gets cold at night and if you’re wearing trainers)

Jumpers and cardigans:
1 x black cardigan
1 x fleece

Outerwear:
1 x light windbreaker
1 x light down jacket
1 x waterproof jacket (never worn, but you never know!)
(Some people also had a hat and gloves for the particularly cold evenings.)

For sleeping:
1 x vest top
1 x pair of shorts
1 x thermal top and bottoms (never used)
1 x sleeping bag
1 x sleeping bag liner
1 x sleeping mat
1 x camping pillow (I finally invested in a new one. Lush!)
1 x eye mask and earplugs (crucial for early sunrises and snoring/sleep-talking tent mates)

Accessories:
2 x pairs of sunglasses (you might lose a pair on the water!)
1 x cowboy hat (oh yeah)
1 x pair of earrings
2 x simple bracelets

Toiletries:
Biodegradable body wash (Kiss My Face peace soap lavender & mandarin)
Biodegradable shampoo & conditioner (Trek & Travel, from a camping shop)
Tangle Teezer brush
Biodegradable face wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor (one of those with a built-in soap bar is pretty practical)
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip gloss with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream, for face and body
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, tinted moisturiser, blusher, lip gloss (not used on the river!)
Hair elastics
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Mosquito repellant and treatment
Tampons
Tissues
Toilet paper

Medication:
Migraine sprays
Anti-histamine tablets

Electronics:
iPhone + charger + waterproof case from Aquapac
DSLR (Nikon D5100) with 18-200mm lens + charger and extra battery
Solar charger
Adapter for the US
LED Head Torch with red light option

Admin:
Passport
American Express, Visa debit card
Dollars in cash
Small wallet

Other bits and bobs:
1 x fast-drying towel
1 x refillable water bottle (Quapaw gave us each a second one, to ensure that we had enough water during the day)
Notebook and paper

Tada! And it only required a little bit of squeezing and sitting on the bag to get it all in…

Packing list for a 10-day road trip in the US: what to bring and what not to bring

28 July, 2015 By Anna S E Lundberg Leave a Comment

In the grand tradition of packing lists, I thought I’d finish my tales of travelling across California, Arizona and Nevada with more detail than you could ever have wanted as to what I brought along for the trip.

I’m especially proud of my packing on this trip, as I brought a ridiculous amount of clothes and shoes and yet somehow managed to fit it all into a teeny tiny suitcase and bag. Now this wasn’t just a case of self-induced masochism but rather a necessity: I had specifically pushed for renting a Volkswagen Beetle cabriolet and I had checked online and found that it had a teeny tiny luggage space in the back. My aunt and I therefore agreed to pack the absolute bare minimum and to bring a maximum of one small suitcase plus a small bag. Somehow I managed to achieve this feat – only to arrive at the airport in LA to find, of course, that my cheeky aunt had completely disregarded this agreement and brought her entire wardrobe. Luckily I am The Packing Master and I therefore managed to stow it all into the teeny tiny car boot in true Mary Poppins style. Yay me.

So here goes…

Bags:
1 x small suitcase (hand luggage size)
1 x bag (I found a good-sized one at Accessorize)
1 x large handbag (with room for everything including laptop and SLR camera)
1 x small handbag for evenings

Shoes:
1 x pair of ballerinas
1 x pair of sandals
1 x pair of Toms
1 x pair of wedges for evenings

Trousers:
2 x pairs of skinny jeans
1 x pair of comfy trousers

Tops:
3 x short-sleeved tops
4 x vest tops

Dresses and skirts:
2 x long dresses (1 x beachy, 1 x evening – one of these would have been enough but, hey, you can never have too many dresses)
1 x short dress
1 x “nice” evening dress
1 x denim skirt
1 x short skirt (bought at the airport at the start of the trip and I wore it almost every day!)

Underwear and swimwear:
14 x pairs of underwear (YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH UNDERWEAR!)
3 x bras (1 x white, 1 x black, 1 x nude strapless)
1 x pair of socks, for the plane only
1 x swimsuit, never used (but could have been useful in hotel pools or if we had gone kayaking as planned)

Jumpers and cardigans:
3 x cardigans (2 x short colourful ones, 1 x long black)

Outerwear:
1 x denim jacket

Sportswear:
1 x workout top
1 x sports bra
1 x pair of workout bottoms
1 x pair of trainers
(Actually used. Several times!)

For sleeping:
1 x pyjama top and bottoms
1 x eye mask and ear plugs

Accessories:
1 x pair of sunglasses
1 x scarf (useful mainly for the plane rides as well as crazy air conditioned restaurants)
1 x hat (bought in Santa Monica – very useful for avoiding sunstroke with the top down in the convertible! And would have been useful in the Grand Canyon)
1 x pack of gold tattoos, an absolute necessity
2 x flower hairbands, also an absolute necessity
1 x simple bracelet
5 x pairs of earrings

Toiletries:
Small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, face cream, body lotion
Tangle Teezer brush (this is the only brush I use these days! So useful for long hair like mine)
Cleansing wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor
Nail travel kit including scissors, nail file and tweezers
Nail polish
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip salve with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream, for face and body
Hand cream
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, tinted moisturiser, blusher, lip gloss
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Mosquito repellant and treatment
Tampons
Tissues
Hairbrush, hair grips and elastics
Wash bag*
*I like Cath Kidston’s Cosmetic Roll Cases – they come in a larger size (it’s huge!) and a smaller one, which I use for this type of trip. The detachable pockets and the hook for hanging it make it super practical.

Medication:
Migraine sprays
Anti-histamine tablets
Melatonin tablets – whether it’s a placebo effect or real, I find these help me avoid jet lag completely these days

Electronics:
Macbook Air (11 inch) plus charger (I’ve sold my iPad on eBay now so only travel with my laptop these days)
iPhone 6 plus, plus charger
Earphones
Adapter
Nikon D5100 with 18-200mm Lens plus charger
GoPro HERO3+ plus charger and monopod
USB sticks, memory card, memory card reader

Admin:
Passport
American Express, Visa debit card
Small wallet

Other bits and bobs:
Notepad and paper
Two books (yes, physical paperback books!)

For more “look how much Anna can fit into a small bag!” magic, take a look at my South America and Asia packing lists.

How to Keep Your Gadgets Safe while on the Road: Travel insurance for the digital nomad

24 February, 2015 By Anna S E Lundberg Leave a Comment

When I went off on my first backpacking trip to Asia during my gap year after school … *ahem* 14 years ago … I barely had a phone that worked abroad. I would use it to send some text messages now and then but other than that we would have go to an internet café to send emails and read our Lonely Planet or travel brochures to get information about the availability of hotels, bus timetables, and how to get to various tourist sights. I had a compact camera… and that was it.

Now look at me: do do do do do, Inspector Gadget! My packing list for the digital nomad is long and full of expensive items, notably my Macbook Air, my iPhone, and my D-SLR. And almost everywhere you go, travellers are following suit: they’re using iPads to take pictures of Machu Picchu, holding out their selfie stick over the Iguazú Falls. We’re so addicted that we can’t live without these gadgets even on a holiday that’s supposed to be taking us away from it all; but that doesn’t mean we’re not worried about losing them, or, worse, having them stolen from us. So how can you keep your gadgets safe while on the road?

Preventing theft in the first place is your priority, of course. Padlocks on your hostel locker are crucial if you’re backpacking, and potentially also on the backpack or suitcase itself. Lock things up in the safe if there is one. Make copies of your important documents like your passport and put them in a different place to the original. And stay aware at all times, especially at night and in remote – or super-crowded – areas. Make sure you also read up online about recent scams in the area you’re visiting; if I had been aware of the ploy of putting leaflets down on your table and then sweeping up your phone (or whatever else was on there) with the rest, maybe I would have been more vigilant and acted faster when this happened to me in Mendoza, Argentina.

Travel Insurance

Most travel bloggers will recommend World Nomads. But currently they don’t offer multi-trip insurance, only single trip, and this becomes very expensive very quickly when you’re travelling to a lot of different countries. So, if you want annual coverage for all your different travel plans, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

The year before, I had bought the Deluxe Annual Multi-Trip insurance from Preferential travel insurance, a company that operates in partnership with British Airways. This gave me worldwide coverage at £99 for the year, not bad. The maximum duration of an individual trip, however, was 31 days; and my first trip of the year was 32! Unfortunately I hadn’t thought about that when I booked the flights…

I finally settled on the Virgin Annual Gold cover. At £83.51, this gave me worldwide coverage (it’s a little cheaper if you exclude US, the Caribbean and Canada) with the additional options of ‘baggage and money’ and ‘winter sports’. The winter sports coverage was for my skiing holiday, but it turns out that it also covers self-drive of my dog sledge for my trip to the Arctic Circle next month (otherwise it would cost an additional £27 with JS Insurance, for example). The Gold cover also means that I can be away for as long as 90 days on a single trip (on the cheaper Silver plan it’s still 45 days).

Gadget Insurance

Now I couldn’t find any travel insurance policy that covers single items that are more than a few hundred pounds (e.g. there’s a £300 limit on my Virgin Gold policy), so it’s pretty useless when it comes to your iPhone, your laptop, your flashy camera… For this, you may want to consider specific gadget insurance.

Having researched the options, I decided on Protectyourbubble.com. (If you travel with a lot of photographic equipment then Photoguard might also be an option.) This is quite expensive, especially when you add up the individual monthly cost for lots of different gadgets, but it was the best I could find and I got as far as the final step of entering my details before discovering that it only covered items bought in the UK… Unfortunately, my Macbook Air was bought in Sweden (so that I could get it with the Swedish keyboard). Then I tried an offer that came with my Amex – but they are apparently still in the Dark Ages as the sign-up process of receiving the application in the post and then submitting it and waiting for the final confirmation would have taken six weeks. Not very helpful since I was doing all this just a fortnight before heading off to New Zealand…

I was finally able to confirm with my house insurance that these items were all covered while travelling, whether on the train to work in London or on a bus in Malaysia. Hurrah! No extra cost for travelling. The one ‘watch-out’ here is that if you have to make a claim on lost gadgets while travelling, this may affect your overall insurance. And, of course, if you’re a true digital nomad you may not actually have a house, let alone house insurance…

Backing Things Up

Of course, losing your gadgets is not just a question of money, it’s also about the data you have on there – the photos on your camera, your contacts and notes on your phone, EVERYTHING on your computer. Be sure to back everything up before you leave (I use Apple Time Machine) and bring USB sticks or an external hard drive to copy documents and photos while on the road.

Finally, there’s the question of the integrity of your data and the possibility of identity theft or access to important information. With Mac Yosemite now you can activate FileVault to encrypt your hard drive so that it’s much harder to hack into; on your iPhone, make sure that you have a pass code and touch ID, as well as activating Find your phone so that you can locate, and ideally shut down, your phone once it’s in someone else’s hands.

So with all that, I now have peace of mind when travelling, knowing that my gadgets – we’re living in a material world, after all – are covered. Of course, if you really can’t live with the thought of losing something, whether for practical or sentimental reasons, the answer is simple: don’t bring it!

Did I miss anything? Do you have questions? Tips on additional protection or insurance providers? Get in touch via the comments section below!

Packing list for a week of skiing: what to bring and what not to bring

10 February, 2015 By Anna S E Lundberg 1 Comment

Continuing in the grand tradition of packing lists for different trips, here goes for a week of skiing! In this case, a week in Verbier, in the Swiss alps. I’ve only been on a ski trip once before as an adult and I have no idea what I brought last time, so I was a little unsure this time round.

By and large I had everything I needed, although I misjudged some things, in particular bringing far too many warm jumpers and too few tops. The reason for this is that although it’s freezing outside it gets incredibly hot in the bars and clubs! I had imagined going straight to après ski from the slopes but my friend and I ended up first going home to shower and change. This means more nice tops are required for evenings out and double clean underwear for day and night! I ended up wearing the same thing every day…

*Update February 2016: I learned from my lesson last year and brought a LOT of little vest tops this time round, and a lot of underwear. Plus we were able to do laundry as we were in an airbnb this time. Perfect!*

In terms of kit, of course there’s a huge amount of extra stuff you need for the skiing itself. You can rent at the resort, and even buy clothes there, although it’s likely to be more expensive than if you’ve sorted out your outfit and accessories before you go…

Bags:
1 x black ski bag (I originally thought mine was too big but it was great as I could stuff it with not only my skis but all my ski clothes!)
1 x suitcase/bag with wheels for clothes
1 x small rucksack for water, tissues, sun block etc. on the slopes
1 x small handbag for the evening (I forgot this, so I put money and lip gloss in my jeans pockets but it meant that I couldn’t bring my phone – I don’t know how men manage without a handbag!)

Ski gear:
1 x set of skis, poles and ski boots (it might be cheaper to rent than bringing them on the plane, as most airlines charge extra)
1 x pair of boots for walking to and from the ski lockers/slopes
2-3 x pairs of ski socks
1 x pair of thermal underwear bottoms
2-3 x thermal underwear tops (long-sleeved plus short-sleeved in case it’s a bit warmer)
1 x ski jacket plus 1-2 fleeces/down jackets to wear underneath (I bought a great set from North Face with a turquoise Gore-Tex shell jacket with a removable hood (big enough to cover the helmet) and a blue “Doudoune” Jacket, incredibly thin but incredibly warm)
1 x pair of ski trousers
1 x pair of ski gloves (my mittens with inner finger gloves worked really well – ideally the inner gloves would be tactile i.e. work with your touch screen so that you can take photos with your iPhone without your fingers falling off!)
1 x neck warmer (good extra protection for your neck under your jacket)
1 x headband (again, good extra protection for your ears under your helmet)
1 x helmet
1 x pair of goggles plus cloth for cleaning (apparently I ruined my old ones by cleaning them with my sleeve!)
14 x instant hand warmers to put inside your gloves (These are little sachets that you shake until they heat up. I bought some really cheap ones that didn’t heat up at all! But assuming they work they are great for when even your mittens can’t keep your fingers from getting cold…)
+ snacks (bars, nuts to keep you going on the slopes)

Evening/non-skiing days:
1 x jacket
1 x scarf
1 x pair of gloves
1 x hat/ear muffs
1 x pair of boots for the evenings (I wore my Uggs, and most people were in big chunky boots or trainers. I saw one woman in tight leather trousers and stiletto heels but I don’t recommend it!)
Lots of tops (as I said, it gets hot in the bars and clubs, so layering is the way to go)
Lots of cardigans/jumpers (LAYERING!)
2 x pairs of jeans (at least! Mine got really dirty from mud and beer in the après-ski bar)
1 x pair of sunglasses (in case you skip skiing one day, or else for sunning yourself on the lunch terrace!)

Underwear and swimwear:
14 x pairs of knickers (you need double what you’d usually bring, for daytime and nighttime i.e. for skiing and going out)
2-3 x bras
1 x sports bra for skiing? (I just wear a normal bra)
1 x bikini for spa/hammam

For sleeping:
1 x pyjama vest top and trousers
1 x eye mask and earplugs (crucial when you’re sharing a room with someone!)

Toiletries (the usual):
Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, face wash, face cream, body lotion
Face wipes
Deodorant, perfume
Razor
Nail travel kit including scissors/clippers (important for keeping your toe nails short when skiing!), nail file and tweezers
Nail polish
Cotton buds
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Lip salve with SPF, Vaseline
Sun cream for face (high factor for your nose! Mine tends to go red…)
Hand cream
Make-up – mascara, eyeliner, concealer, powder, blusher, lip gloss
Anti-bacterial hand gel
Wet wipes
Tampons
Small packs of tissues
Hairbrush, hair grips and elastics (I eventually found the ideal hair do to keep my hair back and still look nice when I took my helmet off, a kind of Heidi look with a bun at the back)
Wash bag*
*I like Cath Kidston’s Cosmetic Roll Cases – they come in a larger size (which I use for this sort of trip when I can bring full-sized bottles) and a smaller one (for backpacking/hand luggage). The detachable pockets and the hook for hanging it make it super practical.

Medication:
Migraine sprays (not used, hurrah!)
Consider Ibuprofen or gel for your sore muscles!

Electronics (because I’m “always-on”):
Macbook Air (11 inch) plus charger
iPhone 6 plus + charger
Earphones
Adapters for Switzerland/whatever country you’re going to
Nikon D5100 with 18-200mm Lens plus charger
GoPro HERO3+ plus charger and harness for chest or helmet
USB sticks, memory card, memory card reader

Admin:
Passport
Visa master card and debit card
Small wallet
Local currency
Ski pass

So what do you think? Anything missing that you couldn’t live without? Anything I’ve included that you think is completely unnecessary? Let me know how you get on with packing for your next ski trip!

Why not also check out my other packing lists: for South America, for Asia, and for travelling as a digital nomad!

Packing List for a Digital Nomad: Travel gadgets for working and blogging on the road

3 February, 2015 By Anna S E Lundberg 3 Comments

It’s the dream that more and more of us fantasise about: working from a beach in Thailand, or maybe from the mountains, with only your laptop for an office. The reality, of course, is that it’s hard to find a job that doesn’t require your presence at all in an employer’s or client’s office, and then when you are abroad you’re often struggling to find a reliable Wi-Fi connection and worried about your computer getting stolen or your data hacked. With that in mind, I’ve amassed a whole lot of paraphernalia for when I’m travelling and need to keep up with emails, presentations, blog posts, not to mention staying in touch with friends and family…

Here’s my take on a packing list for a digital nomad:

Laptop plus charger: I’m an Apple girl and I travel everywhere with my 11-inch Macbook Air. It’s lightweight and slim, fitting into handbags and backpacks but still holding sufficient capacity for my business and blogging needs. (For a long time the memory was full and I couldn’t understand why, until I discovered that iMovie had kept drafts of old videos that I had created or downloaded. I deleted these and since then have had no more problems!) Before travelling to Asia, I bought a Kuzy Hard Cover in black to make it look less like a Mac and the Coodio Laptop Case in grey to protect it (this came with a practical zip pocket as well as a little case where I could put the cables). I also make sure that I’ve backed everything up via Apple Time Machine and with the new FileVault that came with Yosemite I now also encrypt the hard drive to make it harder to hack.

iPhone plus charger and earphones: I always travel with my iPhone, although when I went to Asia I left my new 6 plus at home and travelled with my old 5S. It’s useful for making calls, of course, plus these days there’s Wi-Fi almost everywhere so you can get onto WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, whatever your poison… (Travelling in South America, I had put on a black case to make my phone at the time less conspicuous – but that didn’t prevent it from being stolen!) You may also want to consider bringing an extra battery pack (e.g. Mophie) or solar charger for when you don’t have access to sockets; though I have to say that my phone battery lasts much longer when I’m abroad since I turn roaming off and don’t constantly check it as I do at home.

International adapters: The Apple World Travel Adapter Kit is great for Macs and iPhones, and includes six plugs that work in countries including the US and the UK, Japan, China, continental Europe, Korea, Australia and Hong Kong. It’s also worth bringing along the specific adapters for the countries you’re visiting for any other chargers you have (camera, Kindle etc.) or an all-in-one universal travel adapter.

D-SLR camera: I almost always have my Nikon D5100 with me these days, usually with just my Nikon 18-200mm Lens plus the charger. I also have a Nikon 50mm Lens as well as the Manfrotto Lightweight Travel Tripod and a Hoya polarising filter.

Memory cards: Taking lots of photos and video clips means that you need a lot of memory. I bought large, fast memory cards for both the D-SLR (SanDisk Ultra SDHC 32 GB) and the GoPro (SanDisk Extreme Micro SDXC 32GB). This might seem a bit excessive but since I rarely delete photos and videos from my memory cards, keeping them as an extra back-up, it’s very convenient to have such a large capacity to play with.

Memory card reader: To save photos onto my computer (or rather my USB stick), I bought the Hama SD / MicroSD Card Reader, which connects to the USB port. (I also have one that works directly with my iPad.) That way I can choose and upload photos to this blog while travelling. I still keep all my photos on the memory card, I don’t delete them while travelling, so this means that I have an extra backup in case one or the other is lost or stolen.

USB sticks: Since my Macbook Air doesn’t have a lot of memory, I bought massive USB sticks to be able to put my photos and heavy files on, one 64GB and one 32GB, both from Kingston. I also found a little case to keep the USB sticks, extra memory cards and card reader all together.

Kindle: I no longer bring books when travelling as they just take up too much space, and they’re heavy. I bought a canvas case on NotOnTheHighStreet.com to protect my Kindle, and to make it look less like a Kindle when in South America and Asia. (I did the same with my iPad when I first travelled with it instead of my laptop.) *Update* These days I tend to just read on the Kindle app on my iPhone, but I think if I were travelling in some particular countries I would still prefer to have my less conspicuous and less indispensable Kindle when out and about.

GoPro camcorder plus charger: I’ve recently started bringing my GoPro HERO3+ on trips although I haven’t started doing anything yet with the footage! *Update* I now do my filming on my iPhone so the GoPro generally stays at home.

Selfie stick: A genius invention! For narcissists, yes, but when you’re a solo traveller it’s incredibly useful to have this so that you can get good photos of yourself without (a) having to ask a stranger (who’ll usually take a shitty photo) or (b) having your big fat arm in the picture. I bought the QuikPod Explorer 3 monopod, it’s lightweight and works with both my iPhone 5S and my GoPro. If you’re in the US you can buy it directly from QuikPod, otherwise I found mine on eBay. You can also buy these at much cheaper prices while travelling, especially in Asia – I just don’t quite trust them and when you’re extending it out over the side of a boat, off a mountain, or in a swimming pool at the top of a 55-storey building then you sure as hell want it to be reliable…

*Phew* that’s it! It sounds like a lot but many of the bits are small and don’t take up a lot of space. You also don’t need lots of adapters if you’re only going to one country.

Anything missing from the list that you can’t live without, or that’s made your life easier when travelling as a blogger or while running your business? Share your tips in the comments below!