What
to Pack When Traveling, Pt. I
Personal
Effects
With
today's heightened security in airports, it is perfectly natural
to want to have your luggage with you when you travel. You want
to be certain everything you packed for your business trip or
vacation arrives intact, and vigilance can guarantee that. For
extended trips, however, travelers are likely to pack more, ultimately
forcing them to check in some of their luggage.
It
is important, therefore, to know what to keep with you at all
times when you travel, and how to pack a case that must be loaded
into a plane's cargo until you arrive at your destination. In
the event your luggage should be lost, it is necessary to keep
the most important items with you at all times.
Identification:
Your passport, your driver's license, any and all picture ID cards
should remain on your person. When you pass through airport security
you will be required to have identification ready for inspection,
and it is important that is stays with you and is not packed away
in a case that won't be readily at your disposal. If you are traveling
abroad and are using a passport, be sure to make copies of the
identification page in the event your passport is lost or stolen.
Keep one copy with a relative or friend at home, and keep extra
copies with you in different places so you will have one ready
if needed.
Insurance
cards
are also necessary to have on you, in the event of a medical emergency
or accident (especially if you are renting a car for your trip).
Money:
This includes paper, traveler's checks, and credit cards. In this
age of electronic transfer, you might not think it necessary to
carry traveler's checks, but they are good to have if you are
going abroad. Always remember the possibility that foreign ATMs
might not accept American bank cards, same with certain stores
and restaurants. A short supply of paper currency (no more than
a hundred dollars) is good to have also for immediate money exchange
once you reach your destination.
It
always helps, too, to have a few dollar bills handy for tipping.
Keep a few dollars in your pocket to pass over to a clerk or valet
when needed. This prevents you from having to dig in your purse
or wallet in a crowd.
Itinerary:
Know where you need to go quickly. Have a small map, itinerary,
or direction sheet with you to expedite the arrival at your hotel.
Whether traveling domestically or overseas, you want to appear
confident and inconspicuous so as not to catch the eye of any
possible scam artists who prey upon out-of-towners. If you are
unsure of where you need to be, seek assistance at the first information
booth immediately.
Keeping
the most important of information with you at all times can make
your trip easier in emergencies. Physical items like clothes and
sundries can be replaced, but if your identity is taken it will
lead to greater problems in the long run. Be vigilant, and be
safe.
Part Two of this article, Packing
for A Trip
Kathryn
Lively is a freelance writer who writes for numerous travel related
websites, including Park Atlanta (http://www.parkatlanta.com),
long term airport parking for Atlanta Hartsfield airport, and
the Grand Summit Hotel of New Jersey (http://www.grandsummit.com),
a luxury hotel catering to weddings and business meetings.
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