Unique digital nomad travel adventures from around the U.S.
Trip Preparation List: This is being posted a day earlier than usual because in a reverse Groundhog’s Day phenomenon, our February 2nd will have disappeared completely in between the time that we leave Los Angeles (Feb 1) and arrive in Sydney (Feb 3). So weird. …
Let’s talk about travel shoes for women. Travel = walking. A lot of walking. Having sturdy, comfortable shoes is crucial since you need to be able to wear them all day, every day. If they are cute, well, that is an added bonus. But honestly, …
Vacations full of fresh fruit and beaches always sound really good to me, but to be honest, I’m just not a hot weather kind of Jane. I prefer sweaters to swimsuits; they are softer and I can eat ice cream without feeling guilty. That being said, sometimes you have to put up with the heat if you want to see cool places. No matter how you shake it, Hawaii is going to be hot. It can still be worth it though, if you know some strategies for handling hot weather. If you are like me and start to sweat at 85 degrees, here are some things that might help you survive your next trip to paradise.
Like the handsome cowboy in ‘Country Strong’ croons, timing is everything. If the place you are desperately wanting to visit has seasonal weather, go when it isn’t hot. Seems totally obvious, right? I love Italy. I had a wonderful time visiting in April and May, but even then we had some days that were pretty steamy. B, on the other hand, last visited Italy during February. She had a very different packing list than I did. Sure she didn’t go swimming in the Mediterranean Sea like I did, but she did experience Venice during Carnival–not a bad trade off for not being sweaty. Bonus: lots of people don’t like to travel internationally during the winter months. You will get much better deals and much fewer tourists if you go during the low season.
Clothes–like you before you give a public speech–need to breathe. We’ve talked about this before on this blog; it really pays dividends to purchase clothes that are made of materials that survive in hot weather. In a sticky situation, cotton is most definitely not king. Instead, opt for natural or synthetic blends that will help wick sweat off of you. It might sound crazy, but wool does a very good job of this. Now I’m not saying you should pack a wool sweater for your next trip to Fiji. I am saying you should pick up some thin merino wool underwear, though. Seems counterintuitive, but if a material takes liquid off your body, it will allow some air to get in there and will keep you cooler. Oh, and speaking of letting air get in there, I highly recommend skirts in the hot weather. A little breeze around your legs will cool you off in a jiffy.
We are made mostly of water + when we are hot we sweat = we need to replace the lost water in our bodies. Heat exhaustion is a real downer on a trip. Even beyond the immediate feeling of relief you get when you drink some cold water when you are hot, your body will handle the heat much better if your are properly hydrated. That being said, make sure you drink water that is safe to drink. We are big proponents of reusable water bottles here at Jane Sees, but we are not big fans of giardia. A compromise could be to buy gallons of water and refill your water bottle yourself along the way. On our tour bus in Ecuador we had three seats: one for B, one for me, and one for our three-gallon jug of water.
When you are hot, air blowing on you makes you feel better. These are things we all know. What you might not think about is that you can very easily pack a small fan and in hot situations bust it out. You can even pretend to be a sexy flamenco dancer and open it with flair. It will get the job done of cooling you off that much faster.
When you are hot, not much sounds better than jumping into some cold water. It feels really great too, as long as you stay in the water. Here’s a crazy thought: instead of taking a cold shower, you should actually turn the dial to the middle instead of the far left. Here’s why: taking a warm shower can lower body temperature. Cold water can make you shiver, which is your body’s way of heating you up. You definitely don’t want your body to kick into that mode. Here’s my additional (albeit not scientifically proven) rational: if the water is hotter than the temperature outside of the water, the temperature outside will feel cooler to me when I turn the water off.
If you’ve taken a basic first aid class, you will have learned that one of the quickest ways to cool off someone who is overheated is to place something cool in specific areas of victim’s body. To cool yourself off in a hurry, hold a glass of ice water against your wrist or the back of your neck. You could also do this in your groin area or armpits, but you might want to reserve these maneuvers for extreme situations only or risk getting a few raised eyebrows.
This is gross, but not as gross as dripping sweat. If you carry around a rag or handkerchief you can use this to wipe the sweat out of your eyes. If you are really hot, you can get this rag wet and then use it to wipe your face.
You’ve heard of work smarter, not harder. This can be applied to beating the heat. Again, we all know it is cooler in the shade than in the sun. If you do a little proper planning, you can use the shade to your benefit. At an outdoor music festival this summer, B and I noticed that some trucks along the edge of the grassy area provided a sliver of shade around 1:00 p.m. We reasoned that as the sun set further we would get even more shade. So while everyone else got close to the stage, we set up camp right next to those trucks away from everyone else. Sure, we looked weird for a little while. But a few hours later while they baked, we had a little patch of blessed relief.
When we were touring the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in old San Juan, Puerto Rico, we walked along the outside of the massive walls that protected the people inside from people outside. We were walking along this path in the morning and were in pretty much direct sunlight the entire way. Once we got on the other side I realized that had we decided to walk on the other side first, we would have been shaded the entire time. Proper planning fail.
Air blowing on wet skin cools you off. You can use sweat as the liquid in this scenario or you can use a spray bottle to do this job. Think of the long lines at amusement parks. The best part of the line is when you are under those mister things; a spray bottle brings the mister with you. I’ve seen combo fan/spray bottle apparatuses that do both at once. This probably feels awesome, but might not be so practical if you are trying to pack light. Do what you gotta do to survive, though.
I have a friend who didn’t have air conditioning in her car during a hot Idaho summer. Instead she would keep the windows rolled down and spray herself and her kids as they rolled along. The spray got them wet and the wind from the windows cooled them off as part of a 1-2 punch. It might not have been as sophisticated as normal AC, but it helped them survive.
When all other tricks fail, just get yourself a cold smoothie. One of the best things about the tropics is the tropical fruit, so you might as well embrace it. My personal faves are piña colada, passion fruit, or watermelon/pineapple. One of the most brilliant inventions for resort visiting is the swim up bar. This way you don’t even have to leave the water to get your icy fruit beverage. Genius.
Some people are built for the heat and others are not. If you are in the latter category, you just have to make the best of the situation and deal–otherwise you might miss out on a really great trip. The strategies for handling hot weather above will help you along your path to acceptance. Oh, one last thing, make sure to pack your anti-perspirant!
Since I appreciate seeing what other fellow travelers pack when they go on their adventures, I figured I would share with you my women’s packing list for Puerto Rico. Continue reading to see what I put in my bag for our five-night stay in the …
![Tips to Packing Light [Tips and Tricks]](https://i0.wp.com/janeseestheworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/img_3845.jpg?resize=750%2C400&ssl=1)
Last week I talked about the gear and tools that help in packing light. This week, I am going to talk about some specific packing light tips for women. These are the tips and tricks I actually use while on vacation. There is a lot …
![Tips to Packing Light [Tools and Gear]](https://i0.wp.com/janeseestheworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Shampoo.jpg?fit=2016%2C1512&ssl=1)
Packing light is an art. It takes years of practice and just when you think you’ve got it nailed, you’ll learn some new trick or find a new piece of gear that shows just how wrong you’ve been packing all of these years. There is a lot of trial and error. But for every item forgotten or every worthless piece of clothing packed, a lesson is learned that you probably won’t forget. Investing in the right packing light tools and gear is the first step.
My very first backpacking trip was a three-week lesson on how not to pack for your very first backpacking trip. I had a great time, but I look back at what I packed for that trip and I have to laugh. Luckily, I learned a thing or two. It only takes one time of hauling around a pair of hiking boots (when you have no intention of hiking) before you learn to ask, “Do I actually need a pair of hiking boots for this trip?” And I have certainly invested in better gear since that first voyage.
Speaking of gear, the right tools can go a long way with helping you lighten your load. Below is a list of some of the gear I use to help me pack light. A few are new to my arsenal but all have been road tested. And most I have been using for years. Hopefully, you’ll find something worth trying out the next time you leave town.
Having the right-sized bag is the first step to packing light. The smaller your bag, the less likely you will over pack. R and I both prefer to travel with a backpack. They are easy to carry, leave your hands free and come with cool pockets. Our backpacks are under the 50 liter mark, which means we can carry them on an airplane and we do not have to check them. Whether you are looking for a backpack, a typical rollie suitcase or another style of luggage altogether, the important thing is that you pick a bag that is not capable of holding the kitchen sink.
My first backpack was a lesson in what not to buy. We went on a couple of good trips together, but it did not take long before I realized we were not meant to be. My next backpack, a Kelty, was chosen with a lot more care. Old Red, as I like to call her, has treated me right over the last decade. She is 40 liters and not top-loading. (I recommend you stay away from top-loading backpacks. They tend to be lighter, but it is a pain when you have to unload everything just to find that one item you are looking for at the bottom of the bag.) I do not plan on replacing this one anytime soon. R recently got a new 46 liter Osprey that she has been trying out. So far things are looking good.
I discovered packing cubes way back when they were rare and expensive. Eagle Creek was about the only company that made them and I used to have to go a special travel store to buy them. Nowadays, you can find versions everywhere at just about every price point. These little gems help you organize yourself and keep your stuff clean. It doesn’t matter if I travel for fun with a backpack or for work with a big suitcase, I always use packing cubes.
My original cubes are still in great shape even after countless trips. They were well worth the money I spent on them and if they ever wear out, I will gladly replace them. My personal favorite is the Eagle Creek Pack It Shoe Sac, Black. This thing has saved me on so many occasions. I can usually fit two pairs in there and it keeps the rest of my stuff from getting dirty. It works way better than a plastic bag or shower cap.
Compression sacks are not an automatic go-to for me. I have used them off and on over the years and although they definitely help with getting more into your bag, they don’t necessarily help when it comes to packing lighter. I find my pack tends to be a little heavier than I would like when I use them. But sometimes, they are just the ticket to getting everything nice and compact. Earlier this spring, R and I took a trip to Whistler, Canada. We planned to ski so we had to pack ski gear. Ski gear, especially snow pants, tends to take up a lot of room. So in this case, a compression sack worked great with helping me get everything in my bag.
If you are packing everything you need for a longer trip in a carry-on, then you are going to have to do some laundry. And unless you want to find a washer and dryer every couple of days, you are going to have to do it yourself. No, this isn’t much fun. But it is a necessary. I honestly do not remember when I discovered laundry soap sheets (like Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets, 50-Count), but I have been using them for a long time. As long as you don’t get them wet (they stick together) they work great for a sink full of clothes. Furthermore, they are small and light. Perfect.
It can be hard to decide whether to pack a towel or not. They take up so much room. But if you are traveling someplace with a beach or a pool, then you are going to need one. And sure, if you are staying at a hotel they are going to have towels. But what if you are camping or staying in a yurt? For years, I have packed one of those micro towels that absorb water really well. But they offer no coverage and they certainly do not work for the beach. Now a Turkish towel, that is another animal altogether.
I had my eye on a Turkish towel for a couple of years. But since I did not know anyone personally who had used one, I was skeptical of whether they really worked as well as people claimed. Luckily, I received one as part of a monthly subscription box. I haven’t been using it long, but so far, I am in love and find it makes a great packing light tool. My Turkish towel is more than living up to its reputation. It folds up small and dries fast—two critical things. In addition to using it as a towel, I can also use it as a scarf or swimsuit cover-up. It is a very versatile piece of clothing that takes up very little room.
I have used many-a-small day bags in my travels—everything from purses to small backpacks to grocery totes. I tend to prefer bags at fold up easily and can fit into my bigger backpack if necessary. You just need something smaller that can hold your money and other essentials. It needs to be something you can go souvenir shopping with or take to the beach or put under the seat in front of you on an airplane—especially if you decide to check your bag. Kipling is one of my favorite brands and I’ve loved every bag I have ever bought from them. (Their wallet, a Kipling AC2084 Creativity Small Purse Pouch Black, has traveled all over the world with me.)
Packing small or travel-sized toiletries seems like a no-brainer when it comes to packing light tools. But you would be surprised how many people I’ve talked to who are still not doing this. Maybe they do not care about paying $25 to check a bag. But they should care about hauling around that full-sized bottle of shampoo!
I love perusing the travel-size section of a store (Target’s is particularly good). And if they do not have my preferred brand or I don’t like the price, I use travel-size refillable containers and put my own product in them. Another great idea is to put things like eye cream in a contact holder. And a trip is the perfect time to use up any free samples you may have laying around.
Side note: Curious about how long that tiny bottle of shampoo will last? Check out this post I wrote about how long travel toiletries really last.
Speaking of toiletries, I have recently joined the non-liquid toiletries bandwagon. Things like shampoo and lotion work great in bar form (I really like the J.R. Liggett Bar Shampoo, Original Formula, 3.5 Ounce). They may not necessarily be smaller or lighter than their liquid counterparts, but they are a lot easier to deal with. Technically, they do save you room in your TSA-approved quart bag reserved for liquids. But the best part is that there is no risk of them leaking. We’ve all had that happen and it is no fun. I would recommend trying any new product out at home so you can see if you like it first. It would be very sad if you didn’t find out your new shampoo bar makes your head itch until you were on the road.
I still prefer to travel with an actual book or two. But in terms of packing light, that is about the worst choice I can make. Most likely, you probably already have a piece of technology capable of downloading some reading material. If you do not, there are plenty of affordable options on the market. With most of them, you can read a book, watch a movie and/or listen to music. One small piece of equipment packs a lot of punch in terms of entertainment and can be a valuable packing light tool. I honestly do not remember what it was like to travel without these options. I suppose I packed my CD player and some CDs? Gosh. I distinctly remember putting four books in my backpack once. Now I usually pack two and download more to my iPhone.
Not that long ago, the seat I was sitting in (from Indonesia I think) had a broken monitor. No TV for me. Luckily, I had downloaded a couple of movies so I was entertained. But that could have been a disaster.
Sorry for the overshare here, but this is something we women have to deal with. Getting your period sucks. Getting your period on a trip sucks even worse. But that is reality, unfortunately. More than 10 years ago I read something about the Keeper, a menstrual cup. I decided to give it a whirl and I have never looked back. I won’t get into all of the nitty-gritty details, but I will say it is light and takes up very little space compared to pads and tampons. You can swim and be your adventurous self without worry. Plus, it is much easier to deal with in less-developed countries. It takes a bit of practice to use though, so I would suggest a couple of practice runs before trying it out on your next big trip.
Having the right gear makes packing easier and, hopefully, lighter. It may take some trial and error before you find the right packing light tools for you. But hey, that just means you need to take a lot of trips so you can get it right.
It is nearing the second weekend in August, which means one thing in the R and B household: Braun Brothers Reunion. BBR is a music festival/camping extravaganza with great music and not so great food. I mean, there’s only so many hamburgers you can eat …
A few years ago in a Quito hotel, I forgot that I wasn’t supposed to drink the water in Ecuador and swallowed down a swig after brushing my teeth. In that moment, as I contemplated contracting giardia, typhoid fever and hepatitis, I realized just how …
When I was in my 20s, I visited a back specialist and was told that I have the back of an 80-year-old. (Lovely, right?) What this means is that once or twice a year, I tweak it just right and go down for the count for about a week. This happened to me a few days ago and last night, as B and I talked about how glad I am that this hasn’t ever happened on a major trip, we thought sickness/medicine might be a good topic to discuss here. This post will recommend what travel medicine to bring with you on a trip and share some stories on how to cope mid-trip if something bad goes down.
I have had the same old ziplock baggie with my homemade first aid kit for years now. Before I go on a trip or long hike or whatever, I make sure to throw it in my backpack. Here’s what it contains:
If you commonly take something back home, you should also take some of this with you. For example, B sometimes gets heartburn so she will pack antacids (like Tums) with her when she goes on a trip. (It goes without saying that if you take prescription medication, you need to take these with you also.) You don’t actually need to take your whole pharmaceutical stock with you because countries around the world have pharmacies where you can buy whatever specialty item you need. For example….
When visiting Europe during the Spring, I was beset with an itchy throat and eyes, sneezing and a runny nose. I hadn’t ever really experienced allergies before, but they hit me hard while I was there. So I picked up some anti-allergy medicine and some tissues and was good to go.
In Peru, we went to a place where malaria was a threat. I didn’t want to pay for all of the choloriquin in the U.S. because I knew it would be dirt cheap in Peru. Once I arrived, I headed to a farmacia and got the rest of my series. I was surprised to learn that our pills in the U.S. are treated with stuff to make them not taste so gross. They didn’t do that with the pills in Peru so they tasted real bad. However, I stayed malaria free.
In Poland, C sprained her ankle pretty badly about an hour after we landed. We all packed some ibuprofen, but she pretty much cleaned us out over the course of the trip. We had to resort to the R-I-C-E technique as much as we could: Rest (This didn’t really happen. She was such a trooper!); Ice; Compress with our tightest socks; and Elevate (when she could).
In Morocco, part of our group got pretty sick along the way. We were fine until one day, B wasn’t. Our tour guide had recommended some medication to the others and they were nice enough to share with B. To this day, we aren’t sure what these magic pills actually were. But they stopped her nausea right in its tracks. Now I’m not advocating taking whatever medication people in a foreign country give you (100% not). However, we felt safe because our tour guide and a pharmacist recommended it. Plus, the others in our group had been helped by the magic pills for several days. If you have access to the internet, you can look up what medications are just to make sure you aren’t taking something crazy.
Another good option is natural remedies. I’m not a huge homeopathic cure kinda gal, but I figure if something won’t hurt and it might help, why not? In Ecuador, B and I left our resort to follow our guide, Patricio, and driver, Enrique, to the Napo River for a swim. (Yes, in retrospect, that is the plot for a news story where the dumb American girls are never heard from again.) Patricio and Enrique were perfect gentlemen, but we were assaulted by sand flies. And not just a little–we each got about 50 bites. Patricio recommended we squeeze lemon juice onto them and they’d be gone the next day. Well, the lemon juice might have helped…but we had those bites on our legs for the next few months. Maybe they just stuck around to remind us not to follow near strangers into the jungle.
The Napo is a tributary of the Amazon.
Sometimes the natural remedies really do work, though. B and I took separate trips to Peru, but we both experienced an easing of altitude sickness by using coca leaves. Coca leaves come from the plant that makes cocaine–let’s just get that out in the open. In the Andes, coca leaves are a traditional way to combat the headaches and nausea that come along with being 15,000 feet above sea level. You can use the leaves in a few different ways; the big two are by steeping the leaves in tea or by rolling them together and sucking on a wad of them. I much preferred the tea, although it wasn’t particularly good. It reminded me of green tea or yerba mate (neither of which I drink unless I have to). We both felt the leaves helped us feel better while we acclimated to the higher altitude. And no, Mom, you can’t get high from drinking the tea.
Luckily, we have never had to go to a hospital while on a trip. I can imagine that would be a pretty scary experience and I hope I never have to. We do make sure (as much as possible) to be careful with the food that we eat. In countries without potable drinking water, it is a good idea to stay away from anything that could have been rinsed in the water without then being cooked–a green salad for example. Another trick that we’ve read about is to eat some local yogurt as soon as you can upon arriving. The bacteria in the yogurt will help your stomach adjust to whatever differences are in the food that your body isn’t used to. I don’t know that this trick has worked for me, but I like yogurt and it can’t really hurt, so I usually eat some as soon as I can.
One final note of warning: my brother-in-law tells a story about when he was in South America with a native Peruvian who wasn’t feeling well. They went to a farmacia and the guy proceeded to get one of a few different kind of pills, all of which he took. He ended up with an allergic reaction where his lips swelled up, nice and big. It’s important to know that some pharmacies in other countries are not regulated like they are in the U.S. Red tape and bureaucracy can be a pain, but they can also protect you from swollen lips. Be smart when you are in other countries and don’t randomly medicate yourself just because you can.
Getting sick and hurt happens. It happens to me in one way or another on just about every trip (I call it my delicate constitution). However, you don’t have to let getting a little sick ruin your whole trip. By being prepared and knowing yourself, you can preempt a lot of uncomfortable situations. And after all, travel is all about getting out of your comfort zone and seeing how you do.
Back in February, B and I headed off to Hawaii so I could join her in the Fifty States Club. (Meaning we had visited all 50 states.) We caught a quick hop to Seattle and then flew to Kona on the Big Island. I knew …