Packing Checklist for your Gap Year

All the things that you must consider carrying while travelling on your gap year. This includes funky things like multipurpose pillow cases all the way to the essentials such as your passport! Download to print the essential checklist here.

LOGISTICAL ESSENTIAL including ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS - It goes without saying you must carry your passport or you wont get very far at all! It is also good practise to carry a copy or picture of essential documents. This includes your essential passport pages, visa documents and insurance policy documents. It can also come in useful carrying a spare set of passport photos. These should be different from the photo used in your current passport. These can then be use should you have to apply for local licences or emergency travel documents. Next it is good practise to carry a local sim card or eSIM as explained here.

This also include MONEY ESSENTIALS - You should carry bank cards and cash of the local currency. You should check in advance if you need to inform your bank that you are travelling or not so it does not get blocked. It is also often easier and cheaper to change currency in advance to your trip than using local cash machines. I also suggest carry a card reader as explained here .

TOILETERIES - You should also bring your own toiletries. although this is not a necessity it is much easier and often cheaper to bring your toiletries in advance. It also means you will get what you are looking for. While in Carriacou, Grenada I struggled finding hair products that were not for the local curls and certainly wouldn't find any of the creams I am used to! Therefore, bringing your own products is largely about your own comfort. Depending on the length of your trip it is likely you will have to buy toiletries locally of course but.... at least you would then know the local stores and how/where to find things that suit your needs more appropriately.

CLOTHING - Something everyone needs is clothing or you will be done for public indecency! Clothing should be relevant to the climate and culture you are visiting. Its one thing saying pack shorts if you are heading to a hot climate area but this may not be appropriate for the local culture. For example, as a women in Muslim dominant countries you should respect their religious expectations by covering your chest, arms etc. Although many tourist areas are becoming less strict its still in your best interest to at least be carrying clothing that can cover you up especially around religious associated areas. You will often be denied entrance into a mosques if you are not considered to be clothed appropriately. Additionally, for your own benefit travelling in tight and flaunting clothes can draw unwanted attention so bear this in mind when packing.

RANDOM THINGS THAT COME IN HANDY - Personal towels can have many purposes from not having to pay to rent one, a beach towel, a picnic blanket, a makeshift blanket and the list goes on! I personally use a microfibre towel that compacts down and is quick drying.

A number lock is another random handy Andy. It can again be used for multiple purposes such as locking together bag zips or being used on hostel lockers.

A personal favourite is carrying things in pillowcases. Firstly, they are great storage separators and secondly a clean pillowcase can always come in handy. It can be also be stuffed with clothing to form a makeshift pillow!

Also an AIRPORT COVER - this is for those who are backpacking with bags that have hanging straps, buckles and handles and are planning to check the bag in. (so it can be stored on the underside of the plane rather than in the cabin). You should have an airport cover to stop these straps from being snagged in conveyor belts and being damaged (I have watched this happen to a friends bag while going through Bristol airport). Although airports will still let you check the bag in without an airport cover they will sometimes make you take it to "oversized baggage drop" and there is always a greater damage risk than if all the straps are tucked away! I personally use the osprey Fairview trek 70 which comes with an osprey aircover and storage compartment on the backpack for easy accessibility.

Next on the list is WATER PROTECTION - Its always a good idea to have some method of protecting your belongings from water. Depending on the nature of your trip this may be more important. For example, I will emphasize protecting my belongings from water if I am camping rather than if I know I will be going to a warm dry hostel or guesthouse! However, regardless I will always have one of these two methods available. Remember drying out gear is much harder than protecting it in the first place!

a) Having a rain cover to attach to the outside of your bag

b) putting essential belongings inside drybags within your bag. If I am in a location going through a period of torrential rain I will prioritise putting a change of clothes, essential documents and valuables within the drybag.

Lastly, HANDWASH LIQUID - this could save you expensive laundry fees and having to reuse dirty clothing in desperate situations. This is a much easier and more appropriate method in warmer climates. Give your clothes a quick wash and hang 'em over your balcony kind of method! This is more difficult in cooler or wetter climates as clothes not fully dried will ruin and go mouldy (yes I've had this happen). It is also nearly impossible in cold climates as drying indoors introduces unwanted moisture. Remember to adhere to the accommodation rules. Some campgrounds will not allow clothes washing in indoor sink and some wont allow clothes washing at all unless using designated machines.

MEDICAL KIT - an essential everyone must have is some basic medical supplies. The additional supplies that people don't usually think about are antihistamines and travel sickness pills. I do not suffer from hay fever and neither travel sickness but you'd be surprised at when they come in useful. I was given an antibiotic for an infection on one trip that made me break out in hives and to the rescue was the antihistamines! Again, while being eaten alive by mosquitos some major relief came from antihistamines! Additionally I don't typically get travel sick but when on a rocky boat ride where benches that you are sat on are being tipped and no access to ginger tea.... the pills certainly come in handy for your and other passengers comfort!