Unique digital nomad travel adventures from around the U.S.
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 …
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 Caribbean. And if you have any questions about the items I packed, or have a suggestion for next time, please let me know.
We traveled to Puerto Rico for five nights. Essentially, we had two days of travel and four days of exploration, making Puerto Rico an excellent micro trip. As part-time travelers, we are always looking for travel destinations where we can pack in the fun in a relatively short amount of time. With full-time jobs, we have to maximize our weekends, holidays and vacation hours. So a long weekend to Puerto Rico was just the ticket.
We stayed in three different locations around the island, but since we rented a car, transporting our luggage was not a problem. Still, packing light is the name of the game and we stuck to our usual carry-on sized backpacks.
The biggest consideration when it comes to packing: the weather. It was hurricane season in Puerto Rico when we visited. We did opt to buy travel insurance for this trip but luckily, there were no hurricanes to ruin our plans and cause us to use said travel insurance. (Hurricane Matthew blew through the Caribbean just before our trip began, although its path was quite a ways east of Puerto Rico.) However, the rain is another story. And let us not forget about the usual humidity. Our clothing choices needed to reflect both hot and wet (for additional resources, check out this post about packing for hot climates).
Some of our activities we planned ahead of time, like kayaking, exploring Old San Juan and sitting on the beach. But some, like caving, were more tentative. However, all activities had to be accounted for putting together my packing list for Puerto Rico.
Speaking of clothes, my travel companions and I discussed our plan of attack for packing for this trip. We determined that by wearing the same ensemble on our two travel days, we would only need to pack clothes for our four days of exploration. C pointed out that if we wanted to rewear our other outfits, then we would only have to pack two outfits in the backpack. We also discussed the need to bring rain gear and at least one swimsuit, preferably two given the likelihood of multiple days at the beach. At the last minute, I changed my mind and only packed one swimsuit. But I did pack enough underwear for the entire trip. Sometimes I just take a few pairs and wash them as I go. Given that this was just a micro trip, it seemed easier to pack for all six days.
I used an app called PackPoint to put my list together and help me keep on track. We have spoken before about the importance of a packing list when it comes to packing light. It really does not matter if you use a pre-printed list, an app or your own chicken scratch. Just make sure to use a packing list! Here is what went on my packing list for Puerto Rico:
Although this was a micro trip, I still had to be conscious of what I packed and how I packed it. Remember our post about tips and tricks to packing light? Well I implemented just about every tip on that list including packing versatile pieces of clothing, leaving room for souvenirs and rolling my clothes.
I opted to pack only one pair of shoes for this trip: my Chaco sandals. They are perfect for walking, hiking and exploring. Even with the rain, the temperatures in Puerto Rico are warm. I knew I would not have to worry about my feet getting cold. (Sometimes they can get a little cold on the plane, so I packed a pair of warm socks. That seemed like a better idea than packing another pair of shoes just in case my toes got cold.) Since the shoes I packed are blue, black and white, I tried to choose pieces of clothing that matched that color scheme. Mostly I try not to clash—which is hit or miss depending on the trip.
I only ended up needing one packing cube since all my clothes fit in just the one. I packed my Turkish towel (which triples as a towel, swimsuit cover up and scarf on the plane) and beach hat, neither of which were much use on this trip thanks to all of the rain. However, the raincoat and umbrella I packed both come in handy. I normally just pack one or the other. But since the forecast called for rain and a lot of it, it seemed safer to pack both. And I am glad I did.
Some of the items on my list were crucial to pack, like my identification and money. Others were very important, like insect repellent and a rain jacket. And some were just because I prefer to have them on hand, like nail clippers and an eye mask. Regardless of which category the items above fell into, they were all “weighed” to determine their worthiness. When you are packing light, each item must be carefully considered. There is not a lot of room in the old backpack for “what if?” Plus, I wanted to make sure I left room for the souvenirs I knew I would be purchasing.
Once you are out on the road, the time for consideration is over. Hopefully, your planning and your packing list for Puerto Rico is spot on. But, if you forget something, there are plenty of stores willing and ready to sell you what you need.
Packing always requires some consideration and research. Some trips are easier than others to pack for. Overall, my women’s packing list for Puerto Rico was fairly easy to prepare. Really, you just make sure to pack your sunscreen and swimsuit and you will be fine.
![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 …
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Packing Light Tools and Gear 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 …
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 from the 4-H girls before you start seeing red. So, instead, we pack some snicky-snacks to help tide us over so we can minimize the burger consumption. As I was preparing for this year’s BBR, I realized that most of my choices make my travel survival food packing list as well. Below is a list of food options that can make all the difference when you just can’t eat another burger in Idaho, another bowl of nasi goreng in Indonesia, or another slice of pizza in Italy. Actually, scratch that last one. There is never a point where I get tired of pizza in Italy. Anyway….
This is an easy way to get some solid protein. It’s easy to pack and you don’t have to worry about it spoiling. I just found these little gems at Costco; they are nice and little so I can finish the bag in a sitting.
This one might sound a little weird, but these little packets are compact and you just have to tear the corner to open it–no can opener required. I’ll eat this right out of the pack on some crackers.
Nuts are a tasty way to add a little protein to your day. And if they also happen to have M&M’s mixed in, then that’s just a bonus. There was one really low point in Yogyakarta, Java, when we had had a long day of temple visiting and were waiting for a city bus that felt like it would never come. B rifled through her pack and pulled out a little baggy of salted peanuts that saved us from wasting away to nothing. We were sweaty, dirty and tired, and a bag of peanuts have never tasted so good.
I’ll be honest, I really don’t like protein/energy bars. The first bite tastes okay, the second one starts to taste like metal and by the fourth or fifth bite, I’m over it and can’t finish. But there are a few I can make it through; I think CLIF bars and LUNA bars are decent. You just have to make sure if you get one with chocolate it doesn’t melt in your pack in the Moroccan heat. During a trip to Europe, one of our group packed an entire case of energy bars with her. One of the recurring sounds of that trip was crinkle of the plastic bag being torn open.
It can be difficult to pack fruits and veggies with you that will last you through an entire trip, but you can pack the little fruit packets shown below. Sure, they won’t have the same nutritional value as real fruit, but it’s better than nothing, right? B will probably brings some cans of V8 with her this weekend because ketchup and pickles don’t really count as your daily vegetable intake. I will not, because I think V8 is gross.
Another good option is dried fruit or even fruit leather. We prefer to make our own but you can easily find options in any grocery store. B has also tried drying vegetables with moderate success.
You always need a little sweetness on your trips, no matter how short the trip is. My go to are Sour Patch Kids and I’ve yet to be on a trip with B when she didn’t have Swedish Fish. In Bali we found some chocolate covered peanuts in a hard plastic container called Cha-Chas. The candy is long gone, but we both like to refill them with M&Ms when we head out now. There was a funny night in Iceland when B groggily woke up at three in the morning to me rattling my Cha-Cha container as I munched away while trying to adjust to the new time zone.
We talked before about how much we enjoy visiting grocery stores while we travel and we usually make those one of our first stops. You can pick up all sorts of tasty treats and carry them with you throughout the rest of the trip. If it turns out to be gross, no worries, you can just grab something new. I saw some Oreos once that were green and thought they would be deliciousy minty. Instead they were a really unpleasant green tea flavor. More successfully, S and B sampled Seaweed and Shrimp flavored Pringles that they both very much enjoyed. One of the things I look most forward to when I visit tropical countries is the delicious selection of fruit. I remember as a Panamanian women laughed as I attempted to cut open a mango. Out of pity she took it and the knife from me and showed me how to do it, and boy howdy did that thing taste great!
Nobody likes to be hangry, much less be around someone who is. Since travel and trips can be unpredictable and you never really know when your next meal is going to come, it is always wise to carry some food with you. Bon appetit!
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 …
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 this was going to be a long flight, but I made the (wrong) assumption that it would be like all the other international flights I’ve been on. Well, you know what they say about assumptions! We were solidly unprepared for the seven-hour, TV-less flight that took us to paradise. Below are some flight survival gear we neglected to bring that help make those tedious, over-ocean flights bearable, along with a few that we (thankfully) don’t ever leave home without.
Here is a video we made about most of the items below.
I used to just bring my basic Apple headphones that come with a new iPhone on flights because they are so small and easy to fit in a bag. These are not great at cutting out ambient noise though. So last year I broke down and decided to get some proper headphones. B uses Sony MDR-NC7 Noise Canceling Headphones that she has been very happy with for years. I opted for the Sony MDR-7506. While these are not noise canceling, they do fit over the ear and do a good job of drowning out crying babies. They were about $100 on Amazon and apparently this model has been a workhorse in the headphone field for about 30 years.
Sony headphones…for audiophiles everywhere
B and I have had our trusty Apple iPod Touches for many moons. (Or at least I did until I left mine in a rental car in Sacramento last weekend. Grrrr….) I know iPhones these days have plenty of memory and can fit lots of songs on there. But I’ll be honest, I still have no idea what the cloud is or how it works. I know I sometimes have music on my phone when I’m using data and random songs will get saved to my phone somehow that I can listen to without Wi-Fi. But to make things simple, I like to have a device dedicated to all my tunes. Maybe if Alamo can’t locate my iPod, I’ll have to figure out how to save music to my phone. But the bottom line is, music and podcasts can help get you through your flights. When you can’t binge-watch any more in-flight movies, you need to be able to put on something chill, close your eyes and relax.
The canned oxygen that is forced through the ventilation system sucks most of the humidity out of you on a plane ride. To combat this, you need to drink lots of fluids. This will also help with your jet lag. The flight attendants come by pretty frequently but it is a good idea to keep a bottle of water handy for the in between service times. As a bonus, you’ll have to use the restroom a lot which will recirculate some of the blood that is gathering in your ankles.
Some international flights offer little fleece blankets. But just in case they don’t, it is a good idea to bring a scarf that can double as a blanket. It isn’t so much that it can get cold, but that it tricks your mind into thinking it is bedtime when you are snuggled up.
Socks serve three purposes on a long flight. First, they keep your feet warm. Second, they help keep your cankles at bay. Third, they allow you to stay clean. Who knows when that carpet was last cleaned. I’m looking into getting some specialty compression socks for the long flights–stay tuned for a review in a future post.
B did a lot of homework and research to find the best neck pillow out there. She ended up with the Cabeau Evolution pillow. It is essentially a big hunk of memory foam shaped like a horseshoe. There is a plastic clip at the end that allows the end of the U to stay together, thus providing a nice support system for your head no matter which way it lolls.
The Cabeau takes up more space than an inflatable pillow, but you are able to roll it up tightly and put it in it’s carrying case that can be velcroed together (which makes it much smaller than you’d think possible). If any of you have ever bought a memory foam pad for your mattress, you’ll know how amazing it is that something so small can turn into something so big. This is along those same lines. Once B purchased her Cabeau and tested it out, I did what any sensible Jane would do: I bought one in a different color.
The Cabeau memory foam neck pillow
No matter your media – electronic or paperback – you need a few good books with you on a long flight. I like to put a few on my iPad and then bring a real one too, leaving it on the road once I’ve finished it. Luckily for me, on the disastrous Hawaii flight I had a beach book in my purse.
Whichever direction you fly, time zones are going to mess with your circadian rhythm. It will help if you get at least a few hours of shut eye on the plane. Ear plugs will help you drown out the noises of the plane.
I’m not one of those lucky people who fall asleep at the drop of the hat. If I am going to catch a few hours of sleep sitting up in an uncomfortable seat, it is going to take some assistance. Everyone is different with what works for their bodies. I will bring a Tylenol PM or Benadryl with me in the hopes that it will knock me out for part of the ride.
Well there you have it. Having the above items will help make your loooooong flights a little more manageable. That and the awesome netflix-like collection of shows airlines provide, combined with the excuse that you really don’t have anything better to do.
With a little preparation and a trusty flight survival gear kit, you can and will survive international flights. You will wake up to a whole new country and set of adventures. As a bonus, you will have had time to plow through the entire first season of The Originals guilt-free.