Radecki March

I think, two is the best number of pieces of luggage while travelling. One big backpack, one small backpack and your clothes give you enough capacity to carry all necessary things. Use your big backpack as your trunk: carry it as short as possible and leave it in all secure places (accommodation site, train station locker, check-in counter). Treat your small backpack as hand luggage and carry it everywhere with you.
Whenever you take plane be sure to move all sharp and liquid objects to your trunk, otherwise you may lose these things or you may not be allowed to board a plane.

Please find detailed equipment list below and note items marked with asterisk (*) must be moved to big backpack when you take a plane.

Big backpack with rain cover (capacity: 60 litres; pack less important things first to have more important things on top):

1. Bunch of spare clothes packed in plastic, hermetic bags (the more you take, the heavier your luggage will be, the less you take, you will need to wash your clothes more often; try to hit the middle):
   
• Wind-proof and rain-proof jacket
  
• Jumper
• Shirts
• T-shirts
• Warm, water-proof trousers
• Shorts
• Socks
• Underwear
• Swimsuit
• Swimming glasses
2. Hair dryer (you may dry wet clothes with it; nothing more disgusting than smell of wet clothes put in the backpack for long time)
   
3. Bag marker with your address written (it's good to see and recognize your backpack straight away and it's good to have your luggage sent back by confused airline)
4. Toilet tissues in a smart bag
   
5. [optional] Spare glasses (if you wear glasses have a spare pair; if you lose one pair, you won't be blind)
   
6. [optional] Sheet (you never know how dirty your bed might be; it's very useful for people who are very sensitive to dirt and dust)
   
7. [optional] Cover for pillow (pillows tend to be dirty, too)
   
8. 1 pair of spare, comfortable, waterproof shoes or boots (it's good to check if shoes or boots are comfortable by wearing them for couple of days)
9. 1 pair of comfortable sandals or flip-flops (it's good to wear them while taking a shower)
   
10. Mobile phone charger
11. [optional] Plug adapter (check your destinations whether you need one)
12. Small towel
13. *Hermetic bag with toiletries:
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush with cover
• Soap in a plastic cover
• Comb or brush
  
• Small nail-cutter
• Small bottle of perfumes
• Shampoo
• Sponge
• Shaving set
• Pocket tissues

Backpack overall weight: Less than 10 kg.

Small backpack (capacity: 15 litres):

1. Hermetic and waterproof folder with tickets, reservation receipts, insurance receipt, excerpts from travel guide book and other not very important documents
2. Copy of your passport (you may use it in accommodation places or during any other unofficial checks)
3. Box for food (you probably don't even know how much you may save preparing your own food)
4. UPDATED: Notepad(s) (there may always be a need to write something down: the name of the place or the price to be understood correctly; have a diary and write down everything interesting that happens during the day, because at the end of the journey you may not remember all memories you gained and all lessons you learnt)
5. 2 Pens
6. Marker pen for bold messages
7. Pocket tissues
   
8. *Plastic bottle (if you regularly refill it with refreshing drinks you may avoid dehydration in hot places and thirst everywhere)
9. *Set of spoon, fork, knife or all in one
10. Torch (I hope night won't catch you by surprise!)
11. [optional] Electronic dictionary (it's light but expensive)
12. Contacts book
13. Wipe tissues
14. UPDATED: Book to read (there may be a lots of free time available while travelling, don't waste it!)
    
15. Small but firm umbrella
    
16. Bunch of gifts for nice people (if some person gives you a hand why not give him a little gift in return; it should be something small but funny)
17. Calculator
18. UPDATED: Set of maps or atlas (just to have basic feeling of distance and direction)
19. UPDATED: List of special phone numbers that allow you to call your dearest and tell them how you are abroad without spending a penny; they'll be charged instead (very useful when your parents and friends are richer than you)
    
20. *Hermetic bag with basic health and safety means (contact your doctor if you need anything else):
• A few slices of Aspirin or equivalent (I prefer to use Polopiryna S)
• Generic use antibiotics (ex. Klacid)
• Earplugs (sometimes traffic is too heavy to have a calm sleep)
  
• Pills against stomach problems
• Box of sticking plasters
• Syringes
• Needles
• Condoms
• Antiseptic substance in spray or liquid
  
• Sun screen (factor 60)
• Spray against mosquitoes

Note: Before using any medicine read its leaflet!
Backpack overall weight: Less than 5 kg.

Personal items (do not pack them in the backpacks, put them in clothes pockets and small bags or wear them if they're pieces of clothes):

1. Your current clothes
   
2. Wallet with credit or laser card(s) and big money (ideally, you'll have 2 credit cards: VISA and MASTERCARD from 2 different banks; nothing more disappointing than being stuck with no money)
   
3. Small money in pockets or separate wallet (only currency of the country you're in) - use small money first, some nasty people are not willing to give you change
   
4. Hidden bag with money for the rainy day (ex. :100 EUR/USD/CHF), passport and copies of all other documents (tickets, insurance)
   
5. Mobile phone with roaming on, 2 SIM cards (Vodafone SIM card preferable in Europe) and alarm clock
6. *Small scissors, pocket pen and pocket knife (good tool-set is provided by Swiss card)
7. Notepad
   
8. Sun protection hat or winter hat or both
   
9. Sun glasses
10. [optional] Camera

Please bear in mind above list is only a suggestion, feel free to adjust it to your own individual needs. Any comments are more than welcome.

Labels: Homework before travel