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On the second Wednesday of the month, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes a guest column featuring tips and advice on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other solo female travelers! Here she is with another awesome article!
The following are my tried-and-true methods and products that, even after almost four years on the road, I still love and use:
What to Wear
In places where clothing is cheap, such as Southeast Asia and India, don’t stress too much about having a complete wardrobe ready to go before you take off. Just about every girl I met in those regions wore clothing she’d bought on the road. It will suit the climate and at $3-$6 USD per garment, won’t break the bank.
In Europe, Oceania, or anywhere remote, where you might either not be able to find cheap clothing or buy it on the road, bring everything you think you’ll need. These lists will help:
Hot climates
Temperate climates
Cold climates
Toiletries
I’m often asked about buying toiletries on the road, and I’m happy to report that it’s both easy and straightforward finding shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and soap. Ladies abroad use these things, too.
Pantene and Dove products seem to be universal, and with the exception of a few really off-the-grid places, such as tiny islands and extremely poor areas where people mostly subsistence-farm, you’ll be able to find basic toiletries easily on the road.
My basic toiletry packing list includes:
For items such as prescriptions, the ease of traveling with them will heavily depend on what you need and how much you can get up front, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The best way to handle it is to talk to your doctor and insurance regarding how much you can get before you leave and how to best take it across borders.
Remember that in much of the world, doctors aren’t too expensive to visit and it’s possible to get prescriptions written and filled on the road. Some developing countries will not even require a prescription for some items, from prescription shampoos and skin creams to anti-anxiety medications.
Practical Items
Though most items such as bedding and pillows are provided in hostels, you’ll need a few items apart from those to make your travels easier and cheaper.
For example, in some parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia, it’s much easier to get your washing done for you at your hostel than to wash it yourself. When camping or traveling in other parts of the world, however, it’s expensive and difficult to find someone to do your washing, so it’s better to bring a washing line and do it in the sink yourself.
The following are my must-haves for making traveling easier:
Products to Keep You (and Your Stuff) Safe
If you’re traveling with anything of value — which most travelers are — the next most important things to pack are locks and items that can keep your electronics and your person safe.
In my nearly four years of traveling, I’ve never had anything major stolen. I credit this to watching my belongings like a hawk, always carrying the important stuff on my person, and using thief-safe travel products. These are the ones I swear by:
Things You Generally Don’t Need
After almost four years, those are my staples that I still bring with me on every trip. Even with all that, it’s still possible to pack light, travel with just one big bag, and keep your stuff safe and yourself comfortable. It’s all about having the right essentials and leaving the stuff at home that doesn’t serve a purpose during your trip.
Conquering Mountains: The Guide to Solo Female Travel
For a complete A-to-Z guide on solo female travel, check out Kristin’s new book, Conquering Mountains. Besides discussing many of the practical tips of preparing and planning your trip, the book addresses the fears, safety, and emotional concerns women have about traveling alone. It features over twenty interviews with other female travel writers and travelers. Click here to learn more about the book and start reading it today!
P.S. — As you know, we’re currently raising money to send a group of students to Cuba. They are from one of the roughest areas in D.C. and most haven’t traveled outside city, let alone the country. We’re 33% of the way to our goal. Your donation will not only help these kids but also get you ALL my ebooks and guides!!! If everyone gave $10 (two less beers on the road), we could do dozens of these trips. Please help with this project. Let’s give back and do good as a community! Click here to learn more, see the kids, and participate!
The post The Ultimate Packing List for Female Travelers appeared first on Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site.
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