How to Prepare for a Trip (Part 4)

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Prepare a “travel kit”

Here are some items that are so useful that they should have a permanent spot in your travel bag.

Electrical plug adapter and extension cord

You might encounter these situations that make it difficult or even impossible to plug your smartphone, computer and other electronic gadget into an electrical outlet. First, some hotel rooms have only one electrical power outlet. Second, the outlet is in an awkward location, such as behind the nightstand or under a table. Third, the outlet might not be of the same type as the one you use at home.

The plug adapter lets you plug the extension cord into the outlet, while the extension cord lets you charge one or more smartphones simultaneously while they lie conveniently on a desk or table. Get a plug adapter that can be used in the USA, Australia, and Europe. A 3-meter-long compact extension cord with three outlets should be adequate for most situations.

S hook

Having an S hook is almost like having a third arm. Use it to hang your backpack, shopping bags and jacket while you freshen up or rest your weary shoulders and hands.

Shoestring

Compact and lightweight, a shoestring is a heavyweight travel helper. Thread it through several shopping bags and then tie it into a loop so that they can all be shoulder-carried or hung conveniently on your backpack. Conserve luggage space by keeping a rolled-up piece of thick clothing from expanding. Use it to prevent your hat from blowing away on a windy day. During a long flight, fashion a chin pillow out of an in-flight blanket. The possibilities are endless.

Blue tack

Available in school supplies stores, blue tack is great for situations that call for a quick fix, such as coaxing a slippery SIM card into or out of a smartphone, reattaching loose bits of clothing, propping up a smartphone, and the like. Blue tack can be purchased in school supplies stores.

Duck tape (duct tape)

Like blue tack, duck tape (or duct tape) is a life saver. From mending cracked luggage to torn trousers, its quick-fix versatility is legend. Pictured below is a roll of duck tape that has been flattened into a compact shape.

Pocket knife (Multitool)

This handy gadget will enable you to retighten the screws on a pair of eyeglasses, mend a piece of clothing, open a bottle of beverage, remove a painful splinter from a finger, and solve countless other “little” but irritating problems. Invest in a Swiss Army knife or other multitool that includes scissors, blades, tweezers, nail file, mini screwdriver, screwdrivers, bottle opener, corkscrew and mini pliers. Since it is not allowed inside the passenger cabin, pack it in your checked-in luggage.

Microfiber cleaning cloth and bath towel

A clean microfiber cleaning cloth wipes away all traces of dust. It is perfect for your smartphone, camera, computer, eyeglasses, jewelry, and other delicate items. It is durable, easy to wash and dries quickly.

If your destination hotel does not offer bath towels, bring along a microfiber bath towel. Compared to a regular bath towel, it is very compact and lightweight. It absorbs water very well, dries quickly, and leaves no lint on your hair and skin. Microfiber bath towels are sold in stores that specialize in travel or camping accessories.

Marking pen, ballpoint pen

The marking pen is for labeling packages, souvenirs, etc. The ballpoint pen is for general writing, such as filling up departure and arrival forms.

Related articles

How to Prepare for a Trip (Part 1) discusses luggage-related tips
How to Prepare for a Trip (Part 2) shows how to take advantage of your smartphone’s features
How to Prepare for a Trip (Part 3) is a list of pre-trip preparations

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