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When you travel internationally, it’s a sure bet you’re leaving many familiar comforts behind. Thankfully there are things you can bring that won’t take boatloads of luggage space but will go a long way to make your trip more comfortable.
1. Good shoes. If you need new ones, buy them far enough ahead of your trip that you can break them in and discover if they really are trip-worthy. Many experienced travelers recommend bringing two comfortable pairs and wearing them on alternate days. It’s a good idea to also bring some band aids in case you do develop an unexpected blister.
2. Comfortable clothing. Stretchy, soft layers are best for flying. Remember that temperatures vary greatly on an airplane. Before you pull away from your gate it can get downright stuffy. In the middle of a flight you may want a light jacket. Think about something that will survive being spilled on by your child or balled up and used as a pillow. Fast-drying clothing is a great asset in Ethiopia if you ever need to wash something in the sink and wear it the next day. I try to make sure most of my wardrobe coordinates to maximize my possibilities.
This next bit may be TMI for some people. But, ladies, if you are bigger than a size 8 and are planning on doing a lot of walking while wearing a skirt (embassy appointment, then shopping, anyone?) you might think about bringing a pair of bike shorts to wear under the skirt to avoid thigh chafe. On a trip to Korea in hundred degree weather I discovered that a pair of pantyhose with the legs cut off at knee level make a dandy pair of bike shorts. Or– yeah — wear slacks.
3. Familiar food. Tuna salad packets, ramen noodles, instant oatmeal, chocolate pudding, and fruit cups go a long way towards improving your mood and simplifying a meal when you just can’t face another iffy restaurant with a baby in tow.
4. Tums, Pepto and Imodium. Pop a Pepto chewable every morning to ward off the commonest traveler’s bugs. If you get a bug while in Ethiopia, it’s probably best to resign yourself to hugging the bathroom for a day or so to let your body flush out whatever nastiness it picked up. But on the flight home, by all means take some Imodium. When you have an upset stomach it can feel like an eternity till they turn that ‘fasten seatbelts’ sign off.
Experienced travelers, I’d love to hear from you too. What added to your comfort level on your last trip?
I couldn’t agree more with your shoe comment. Take your comfortable shoes and test them before your trip. Put them on the second you wake up in the morning. Go walk 6 miles. Do your normal day, + extra walking, and don’t take your shoes off until bedtime. Still comfortable? Sometimes, if you’re wearing them, socks can make all the difference. Get the thin ones for hiking in heat.
Also, have you ever heard of (an adult) traveler returning and saying they didn’t pack enough? Never! Reducing the weight in your suitcases is an added bonus, as is the ease in finding the stuff that was important enough to pack.
Good luck on your adventure!
Tamatha
I like Powerbars for an easy, safe snack. They’re tidier than granola bars, designed to be easily digestible and last a long time energy-wise.
Ziplocs!!!
Earplugs help if you’re nervous about the next day and every little noise is driving you nuts. Sometimes I put one in and turn my other ear to the pillow so I can hear just enough to feel secure. (I’m really a nut about loud stuff and use them if I have to take a puddle-jumper prop airplane, too.)
This is most likely TMI, but they now make womens supplies that come in individual packets and include a towelette with each one.
I think the shoe thing is great advice, and would only add that if you can find a nice cool pair (sports-design sandals), that can be really comfy.
The chafing thing is annoying, isn’t it. I’ve used this stuff called Body Glide which I discovered waaaay back when I was into triathlons and such. It comes in a small deodorant-like package.
My favorite travel, all-day, shoe is Keen. If you’ve never tried them, I would recommend you look into them!
I wore my Danskos, but I wasn’t there in the rainy season. They were super comfortable from the day I bought them, so breaking in luckily wasn’t an issue.
We also took shower shoes (synthetic flip-flop type) because of the scary showers we occasionally had to deal with.
When Steve was there during the rainy season, he took one pair of shoes to wear outside in the mud, and that pair was left outside the door of the guest house, and he had “inside” shoes waiting there. He switched shoes again when he went out.
We took quite a bit of food from home, and it actually made the trip just fine. Things like tortillas and a block of cheese packed in a sturdy tupperware were great to have on hand. I definitely second the fruit cups — I was absolutely craving fruits and vegetables, and eating the fresh produce is risky in Ethiopia, so the fruit cups were the next best thing. (I think I ate the equivalent of three pineapples the minute I got back to the U.S.!)
We carried a probiotic to ward off any intestinal distress and had no stomach problems.
Also, we carried our own bottled water and tissues.
We also took those mosquito repellant shirts and slept in them during our trip to Awassa.
For the long flight, a little spritzer bottle that can be filled with water on the plane and used to spray faces often to keep noses, eyes and such from drying out. It’s painful, and makes it easier to catch any of the bazillion bugs other passengers are sneezing, coughing and breathing out for the whole 40 or so hours you’re in the air.