Women's Around-the-World Minimal Packing List

Kepler Great Walk, New Zealand

Dread packing? Me too! It's overwhelming!

How do you pack for a round-the-world trip?

My husband Adam (you can see his packing list here) and I were midst preparing to leave it all and travel the world for two years. We had a general idea of where we wanted to go, but no set plans. What kind of clothes would I need? What kind of weather were we getting ourselves into? I had to be prepared for everything.

With some good music and time in front of my closet, I made one decision at a time.

I traveled for 2 years with this packing list below to over 19 countries.  

If I can do it, you can too! Use my list below as a guide. You got this, lady!:)

 This packing list will guide you in packing for:

• Carry-on luggage only

• All weather- hot and cold you may encounter

• Covering you for many months and years!

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A note about my list: On this trip, Adam and I focused on camping, backpacking trips, and hiking. I decided hiking pants were more of a necessity than jeans. I also packed more workout style clothes than casual clothes. If this isn't your style, that's okay! Use my list as a guide to help you with your packing. I also used my own list for our four months in Europe with a carry on.

I've also included affiliate links to share the gear I love. By purchasing your gear through these links, you're supporting us. Thank you!

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WOMEN'S MINIMAL PACKING LIST

FOR ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIP

LUGGAGE

1: 40L GoLite Backpack

*MY EXPERIENCE:

We used a 40L backpack because we had a lot of camping gear we took with us. If I were to do this again, I would skip packing the camping gear (if you need a tent, you can rent one) and I’d pack a 30L backpack. We took backpacks for back packing trips out in the wilderness and also a lot of blogs said it’s easier to have in your lap on packed buses. For me, I disagree. Now, if we’re not planning to go backpacking in the back country, I always take my carry on rolly bag. With a backpack, you tend to heft your pack on and off your back a lot and I prefer saving my back and using the rolly bag now.

CLOTHING

Tops

1: light rain jacket with hood

1: HH fleece pullover

1: long sleeve

2: casual t-shirts

3: tank tops

1: work out t-shirt

*MY EXPERIENCE:

I used the “layering” technique. I was ready for hot muggy weather with 3 tank tops. I was also ready for cold weather and I could layer a tank top with a long sleeve, with the fleece pullover, with the rain jacket. The fleece keeps you warm and the rain jacket is the wind breaker and protects you from the water. If you need anything more, you can always buy it wherever you are, like gloves, hat or scarf. I bought my gloves, hat, and scarf in rainy and cold Denmark.

Bottoms

1: pair hiking pants

1: pair yoga capris

2: casual shorts

2: work out shorts

*MY EXPERIENCE:

This set-up of bottoms worked really well for me. In cold places (like New Zealand), I used the yoga pants as extra warmth under my pants. But, they weren’t really necessary (especially in humid Southeast Asia) so I gave away my pair of yoga pants along the way.

Unders

1: bra

2: pairs of underwear

2: pairs socks

2: sports bras

1: pair of wool Smartwool socks

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Again, this set up worked really well for me. Underwear is the fastest and easiest clothing to clean in a bathroom sink with soap and water and then hang dry. I did this whenever needed. We were gifted these Tide travel sink packets to wash your clothes in the sink and these were awesome, too. Also, two pairs of socks worked well for me because they were really just for working out in hot places. I love my pair of socks because I’ve had them for three years and have never gotten holes in them!

Accessories

1: Buff (headband/hat/neckguard)

1: pair wool gloves

1: swim suit

2: sarongs (you can get these along the way)

2: scarves

*MY EXPERIENCE:

The Buff: My buff is my favorite piece of gear because you can use it in hot and cold weather in so many ways! It’s a long column of stretchy material that you can wear: 1. As a headband. 2. As an ear warmer on cold days, 3. As a sun block for your neck on hikes, 4. As a hat in cold weather by tying the end to cover your head. 5. As an arm sweat band. and 6. As a rag for unexpected happenings. It’s awesome, and packs light and small!

Sarongs: Sarongs are awesome to have. You can get these along your journey for less than $5 each. And, they can be used in so many ways: 1. Skirt or dress for fashion, 2. To cover your shoulders or knees at temples, 3. Bathing suit cover up, 4. Scarf for warmth, 5. Practical souvenir to remember your trip with.

SHOES

1: pair of Chacos

1: pair of Montrail trail running sneakers

1: Road ID Shoe ID

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Shoes were so hard to decide on! But, they are heavy and take up a lot of space. I dwindled my options down to a pair of Chacos and a pair of trail running shoes.

Chacos: I chose Chacos because I could use them for several purposes: 1. Everyday wear, 2. In spontaneous water outings in rivers, oceans or streams, and 3. In public showers at campsites.

Trail Running Shoes: I chose trail running shoes because they would also cover me for several purposes: 1. work outs, 2. hiking shoes with more traction than running shoes, and 3. Warm shoes in cold weather with socks on. The traction on my Montrail’s saved my life on the Kalalau Trail in Kauai during a storm!

Road ID Shoe ID: This is a must have for safety precautions. We each got an ID with our emergency contact info engraved on them that Velcrove’s to our shoes, so if anything happened to us, when someone found us, they had our emergency contact information available on our shoes.

JEWELRY

1: Qalo wedding ring

1: watch

1: pair of earrings

1: necklace

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Qalo ring: I left my wedding ring at home with my parents, because I didn’t know where we were going and I didn’t want to bring any unnecessary attention to myself. Also, I didn’t want to worry about my ring while we were abroad. I really like the Qalo one. However, sometimes if I wear it without taking it off it makes my skin peel underneath. I found a cheap one on our travels at the Acropolis in Greece. This can be a fun treasure hunt for you on your travels, too! Find a new travel ring you love:)

Watch: I chose to bring a watch for the sole purpose of knowing the time and having a morning alarm for early flight wake-ups without relying on my cell phone power. Our phones spend a lot of time being on airplane mode or off to conserve battery power.

Earrings and Necklace: I chose one pair of earrings and a delicate necklace that would match every outfit. Along our travels, I got tired of them, so I traded them out for new finds:)

MAKE UP

1: stick of mascara

1: eyeliner

1: blush

1: concealer

*MY EXPERIENCE

This is all I carried. In hot humid places, you don’t want to wear much make up anyway. If I needed more, I went shopping. Shopping for makeup in other countries is a cultural experience in itself seeing what other women wear and how they shop around the world:)

NECESSITIES

1: towel

1: lotion

1: face lotion with sunscreen

1: chapstick

1: retainer (you know I work that retainer!)

1: toothbrush

1: toothpaste

1: floss

1: pair of glasses

1: year's worth of contacts

1: bottle of contact solution

1: contact lens holder

1: bottle of ibuprofen

1: hair brush

1: stick of deodorant

1: travel shampoo

1: razor

3: hair bands

6: bobby pins

1: tweezer

1: cosmetic scissors

1: nail clippers

q-tips

contraception

feminine hygiene items

ELECTRONICS

1: cell phone

1: cell phone charger

1: portable charger

1: laptop

1: laptop charger

1: outlet adapter for all countries

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Portable charger: It’s really important to carry an extra cell phone charger with you. Your cell phone always dies when you need to figure out how to get home for the night! Having an extra charger on you can be a life saver!

Adapter: We each carried an international adapter that can change the type of plugs you plug into with each country. This is important to have!

Laptop: If you’re in a couple, we recommend each having your own laptop. Adam and I attempted to share one laptop and the other person could use the ipad. This was a good idea in theory but not in reality. We both work way faster and are more efficient on a laptop than ipad. We’d argue who would use the laptop first and for how long. And, we’d also stay longer at coffee shops because we took turns with the computer. We finally bought another laptop in Malaysia and it made a huge difference for our marriage, our efficiency on projects, and minimizing our time in coffee shops.

EXTRAS

1: book

1: journal for memories

1: pen

1: sunglasses

1: small/foldable purse

1: 501 Questions: A Travel Game

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Purse: I found a cross strap purse that had everything I needed: 1. A cross strap so someone couldn’t easily yank it from me. 2. It had interior pockets I could stash my passport and money in if needed. 3. It could fold flat or be rolled into my luggage. 4. It could fit my DSLR camera and lenses for a day trip out.

Book: I’m a paper book girl. Lots of hotels and hostels have lots of book options to trade in your read book for a new one. I didn’t want a Kindle to worry about one more thing to keep charged.

501 Questions: A Travel Game: This is our new game we wrote and published that includes over 500 awesome conversation starters. We realized on our travels we’d turn to scrolling our devices during down times. However, the richest moments and memories we have from our travels are when we talk to each other and the new people we meet and have meaningful conversations. Our book is compact and light to carry with you on every adventure (or you can get it on Kindle) so you always have fun questions to spark fun new conversations with your travel pals. You can get it in Kindle and paperback on Amazon here. Thank you for supporting us!

Documents

1: official marriage license

1: passport

1: copy of our passports

1: list of emergency contacts

1: shot/vaccination documentation

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Marriage License: Adam and I had just gotten married a year before so I took our marriage license just in case I forgot to change my name on a credit card or something I forgot about. We never needed it, but I took it just to make sure.

OUTDOOR GEAR

1: Kelty 2 man tent

1: Thermarest sleeping pad

1: silk liner

1: inflatable pillow

1: headlamp

1: spork

1: camelback water bladder

1: roll toilet paper (does come in handy!)

*Adam carried more of our outdoor gear. Check out his packing list for more camping gear we packed.

*MY EXPERIENCE:

Tent, Sleeping Pad, Pillow: We took camping gear thinking we’d do a lot of backpacking trips. We did, however, in our year of traveling abroad, we spent way more nights in hotels, hostels, and our campervan in New Zealand. If I were to pack again, I’d leave the tent, sleeping pad, inflate-able pillow, and water bladder at home. You can rent or buy a tent and sleeping pad and sleeping bag if you need to (we bought sleeping bags in New Zealand for some camping trips). And for water for hiking trips, you can pack a big water bottle.

Silk Liner, Headlamp, Spork, Toilet Paper: I think everyone should carry the: 1. Silk Liner, Headlamp, Spork, and toilet paper with you. Headlamp: Good to have if the power goes out where you’re staying. Spork: For a spontaneous snack! Toilet paper: Some bathrooms do not have toilet paper in Southeast Asia. Silk Liner: Protection from questionable sheets or overnight ferry sleeping situations.

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Save this list for later!

1. Pin this post to use later here.

2. And, download this checklist by sharing your name and email below so you can easily pull it up later when you’re ready to pack!

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WANT FUN CONVERSATION STARTERS FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP?

Get our new game 501 Questions: A Travel Game!

We realized we were turning to scrolling our phones during the down times of travel, but the richest memories are when we turn to each other and have meaningful conversations! So, here’s 500 fun conversation starters we wrote for you and your travel pals to create new memories together on your trip whether you’re waiting forever in airport security or chilling at the beach! Get it on Kindle or paperback on Amazon here.

“This is gold! It transforms conversations into something with more meaning, more intention!”

-Joy Morehead, @More_Ahead

Buy on Amazon

Have fun with the questions and thank you for supporting us!

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10 Fun & Free Travel Games

Let's be real, long journeys can get a bit dull, like five hours in on your cross country road trip. Instead of scrolling our phones for the millionth time, let's make fun new memories together with some good ol' games! Here's a few we like to play on our trips!

10 Fun & Free Travel Game Ideas for Your Next Trip!

1. Hot Seat

This is my all time favorite game- well, right after our game 501 Questions: A Travel Game!

Hot Seat is asking one person in a group, rapid-fire questions for a specific duration of time. So, to play, choose one person to be in the hot seat. Then, choose how much time someone's in the hot seat.  It can be one, two, or three minutes. Then, set a timer for that amount of time. Once the timer starts, everyone asks the person in the hot seat questions until the timer buzzes. You can ask any question that comes to mind. Once the first person’s turn is over, then you pick the next person to be in the hot seat, set the timer, and everyone asks the next person questions until the timer buzzes. You repeat this until everyone in your group has had their turn in the hot seat. Then, you can start the next round by upping the time that each person is in the hot seat to five, ten, or even fifteen minutes. Longer times are fun for storytelling!

In college, a group of friends and I played this for hours on a road trip to Florida til we were at 20 minutes per person! This game tightened our friendships immensely!

2. Two Truths and a Lie

Ooo! I love this game, too! So, to play Two Truths and a Lie, one person shares three things about themselves; two things being true and one being a lie. Everyone has to guess which statement is the lie. If you guess the lie right, you get a point. The person with the most points at the end of the game wins. I love this game, because you learn surprising new things about everyone!

For example: Mine could be 1. I've scuba dived. 2. I've been to New Zealand. 3. I've eaten a cockroach. Which one's my lie?

3. 20 Questions 

20 Questions is tons of fun! So, one player picks a person, place, or thing and keeps it a secret. Then, everyone takes turns asking yes or no questions to try to guess what they're thinking of. The goal is to figure out what it is in 20 questions. 

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Have Fun, Laughter, and Good Conversation on Your Next Trip!

Unplug and get to know your travel pals better with our new game 501 Questions: A Travel Game! It’s perfect for long road trips and around the campfire with 750 entertaining questions and trivia for fun, laughter, and good conversation on your next trip! The game’s available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions here.

“…highly recommend for your next trip (and all trips!). It’s a fantastic way to start conversations while you’re driving, out on a hike, or hanging around the campground!”

-CAMPING WORLD

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4. Group Storytelling

This is a fun one and you never know which way the story will turn! The way it starts is one person in the group starts out with the first line of the story. Then, each person takes turns sharing the next sentence of the story. If you want to make it more interesting, you can create a rule that each sentence has to rhyme with the one said before it. Bring on the drama and mystery!

5. The Grocery Store Game or National Park Game

This one’s tradition!  My parents and I played this on our long trips for the holidays. The game is a memory game working with the alphabet. So, someone starts out, "I went to the grocery story and bought Apples. Then the next person repeats, “I went to the grocery store and bought Apples,” then adds, “and Bananas.” Then the next person repeats, “I went to the grocery story and bought Apples, Bananas…” then adds, “and Celery.” Each person keeps adding an item at the grocery store that starts with the next letter of the alphabet til you end at Z. It’s fun when everyone gets creative with the items and it’s hard to remember!

You can also do other fun concepts, “I went to the National Park and saw a …” or “I went on a picnic and brought a…”

6. The License Plate Competition

This is a fun game for some good competition in the car. See who can find license plates from the most states from cars driving by. Each state is one point. If you see plates from other countries, they count for two points! The person who gets the most points wins and gets to pick the dinner spot or pays for ice cream or any other creative ideas you have.

7. Rapid Fire Word Association

This one is easy to keep progressing, is hilarious, and can get competitive! So, someone says a word, and then the next person says a word associated to it, and so on until someone is stumped or takes too long to think of a word. The person who ended the round is out, and everyone competes until there's a winner. I just played this on a girl's road trip and this game had us rolling! It's fun to see where everyone's minds go associating words! For example: National Park, Arches, Desert, Cactus, Green, Grass, Spring, Easter Bunny, Marshmallows, Chubby Bunny

 8. Rumor Has It

This one can get funny! Everyone in your car chooses another car. Then everyone in your car looks at everyone in the other car closely. Now, don't get too creepy! Then, your car all comes up with a background story of the people, their lives, and relationships. Bring on the drama!

9. License Plate Funny Phrases

This one stretches your mind and takes some creativity! Someone picks out a license plate they see and creates a funny phrase with the letters in the order they see them. For example, if you see AJK 295, you could say Apple Jack’s King!

 

10. Fortunately/Unfortunately

This game goes back and forth between people sharing a “fortunate” statement, then an “unfortunate” statement. And, it can get pretty funny! For example:

• “Fortunately, we’re going to get to our hotel early!”

• “Unfortunately, our room isn’t clean.”

• “Fortunately, then we can go to the beach right away.”

• “Unfortunately, we don’t have a room to change into our bathing suits.”

• “Fortunately, we don’t need bathing suits for the beach!”:)

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BONUS: 3 MORE FUN GAMES!

Here’s three of our favorite travel games (that aren’t free), but are a blast and fun to play on the road!

11. 501 Questions: A Travel Game

Buy on Amazon

If you haven’t gotten it yet, this is our absolute favorite game to play on our travels (and we created it)! We created it to stop scrolling, and connect with each other. It's loaded with 501 awesome conversation starters for ages 4-104!

Ask questions like:

• Would You Rather: Find yourself standing in a flock of butterflies or swimming in a bioluminescent bay?

• If You Could: Take a round-the-world trip, what would be the first country you'd visit on each continent?

• Tell Me About: One thing you're itching to do, you haven't done yet?

• Travel Trivia: What country is The Land of Smiles?

When conversation dwindles and you have the urge to pick up your phone, grab this book instead. Turn the dull moments of your travels into fun new memories! 

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12. Punderdome: A Card Game for Pun Lovers

Buy on Amazon

If you love puns, this is your game! You pick two cards from the deck that have different statements and you have to make a pun merging the two ideas.

For example, one time we pulled the cards “Seeing Your Ex” and “Wild Animals.” Adam’s brother is brilliant at puns and said, “She’s always been straight lion.” He’s so good!

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13. Convers_(ate)

Buy on Amazon

If you love intentional conversations Convers_(ate) is your game! Our friends Mollie and Taylor created this game to take a group through an intentional conversation with open ended questions. The topics are awesome like Community, Wealth, Food, Holidays, Generosity, etc.

Each topic card has an ice breaker question so on some trips, my family’s just played with the ice breaker questions. You go deep and learn a lot about family and friends with these!

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MAKE REMEMBERING THESE GAMES EASIER!

1. Pin this for later here.

2. And, download this game list to pull up on your trip.

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Have Fun, Laughter, and Good Conversation for Your Next Trip!

Buy on Amazon

Unplug and connect on long road trips and around the campfire with fun conversation starters! With our new game 501 Questions: A Travel Game you get 750 entertaining questions and trivia to have fun, laughter, good conversation, and make the time fly!

“…highly recommend for your next trip (and all trips!). It’s a fantastic way to start conversations while you’re driving, out on a hike, or hanging around the campground!” -CAMPING WORLD

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What to Pack for a Day Trip on Your Travels: 16 Small Essentials We Always Carry

What should you remember to pack for day trips while you're out traveling? We've been traveling for over 3.5 years and boy do we have horror stories from forgetting things like wallets and keys. Forgetting one tiny essential can make for a very stressful day.

So, to help us remember and to help you prepare for your day trips, here's our checklist for what we carry on fun day trips while we're out traveling.

16 Essentials to Pack For Your Day Trips

1. Collapsable Backpack

ChicoBag Reusable Travel Pack rePETe Shopping Tote (Black, Bag Body 17.5-Inch x 9.5-Inch, Pouch 6-Inch x 8-Inch)

Our friends gifted us this Chico collapsable backpack and it's been a game changer for us! We love it! It folds down into a small square to make it easy to fit in your carry on luggage bag for the plane and then you can pull it out on your trip and carry everything you need for your day trips. We even use it to carry our computers to coffee shops for work days.

Here's the one we use and love!

Buy on Amazon

2. Water

Wherever you're headed, you always want to carry water on you. You never know how long your day trip may be and when/if you'll see your opportunity to get water and how much it will be. 

We always carry water with us when we take off on a day trip just to be certain we can stay happy and hydrated. 

Adam loves his Nalgene and I love any collapsable water bottle that decreases in size as I drink it. With my camera gear, I like the collapsable ones that can easily be stashed away and make my load lighter as I go. 

Adam's Choice:

Nalgene Tritan 1-Quart Narrow Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle, Trout Green Buy on Amazon

Lindsey's Choice:

Platypus SoftBottles with Closure Cap Buy on Amazon

3. Snacks

Larabar Gluten Free Bar, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, 1.6 Oz Bars (16 Count)

We gotta keep that hangry monster at bay:) We've learned to always carry snacks.

We normally pack some fruit, a bar of some kind, and chocolate. Don't forget the chocolate:)

Lately, we’re digging Larabar’s peanut butter chocolate chip bars because they’re delicious and great to grab on the go!

Buy on Amazon

4. Sunscreen

Beyond Coastal Active SPF 34 Sunscreen (4-Ounce)

Getting burned on a trip is a major bummer. You end up in pain and having to stay out of the sun. No fun in that!

So we always keep sunscreen on us.

We're huge Beyond Coastal fans and have a box of these! This sunscreen is magic. It doesn't leave you feeling greasy like all the others. And, it comes in tiny travel sizes to carry with you so you can reapply on your shoulders and nose if needed throughout the day.

Buy on Amazon

5. Chapstick

Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm, Superfruit - Pink Grapefruit, Mango, Coconut & Pear, Pomegranate - 4 Tubes

It's the worst when your lips are chapped and you have nothing to relieve them. Am I right? When my lips are burning I can't think of anything else, so having some chapstick with me is a must! It's the little things, isn't it?

We love the classic and simple Burt's Bees:)

Buy on Amazon

6. Sunglasses

NEW Peppers 2-Step Grey Red Mirror Polarized Mens Sunglasses Msrp$35

Remember your sunglasses. Adam gets in a funk if he's squinting, so sunglasses are a definite on our list!

Our friends gifted us fun sunglasses like these and we love 'em! When we wear them, we feel like we're off chilling on a tropical beach somewhere. Life feels more fun in these:) 

Buy on Amazon

7. Journal and Pen

RITR954-BRK Field Flex Pocket Memo

You never know when you need pen and paper to scribble down directions, or a new friend's email, or a brilliant idea that springs itself on you:)

We love Rite in the Rain's pocket size journal. It fits in Adam's back pocket and in my purse or the backpack easily. And, the pages wont be ruined if it rains or your coffee spills on them! I have so many pages of journals that are smudged with normal paper. We love these memo books!

Buy on Amazon

8. Phone

And, don't forget your phone!

9. Extra Battery for your phone

EnerPlex 4000mah Power Bank With Built In Lightning Cable - Super Slim Power Bank For Apple Iphone/Ipad And Samsung Devices - Small Portable Charger - MFI Certified

And, an extra battery pack for extra charge!

We've learned to always carry an extra battery pack for our phones. Whenever something terrible is happening like we're lost and need Google maps, or our car was towed and we have to find where it is, our battery is about to die at 5%. ARG!

We were gifted this Enerplex power pack and it's been a life saver for us on our day trips when we're out and away from a power supply. 

Buy on Amazon

10. Camera

If you carry a fun camera or GoPro, remember that too!

I carry a small DSLR, a Canon Rebel, and it fits in a small purse. I love the small size for day trips because it's light and I can keep it discrete by keeping it stashed away in a small purse or pull it out when needed. Check out the Rebel and the other camera gear I carry here. 

11. Tickets

Do you have tickets for your day trip? Remember those!

12. Wallet

And money.

13. Keys

Do you have your keys? Just checking!

14.  ID & Passport

I always have some sort of ID on me in my wallet, but for our passport it depends how we feel where we are. Sometimes we carry our passport and sometimes we don't. 

15. A good book

At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe

These are crucial for all the down moments during an adventure:)

Here's our favorite book right now about a couple traveling the world with their three kiddos! Amazing!

Buy on Amazon

16. Light Jacket

Lands' End Womens Packable Waterproof Raincoat Black Petite Medium

Lands' End

And in case of rain and for all of us who tend to get cold, remember a light jacket just in case:)

I had a super light GoLite wind jacket I took on our round the world trip that I loved, but they've discontinued it. I just replaced it with this one from Land’s End. It’s super light and can fold down into the pocket and fits in a purse or backpack. It also has a hood, is wind resistant, and water repellent for spontaneous rain. Everything I need to keep me covered. 

When we're headed somewhere colder, I pack a fleece and slip my fleece under this jacket and stay cozy warm!

Buy on Amazon

17. Fun Conversation Starters

501 Questions: A Travel Game: Second Edition

By Nubern, Lindsey Desmarais

Lastly, don’t forget fun conversation starters for the in-between moments - on the car ride, shuttle ride, waiting for a table for lunch, and any other downtime during your outing. I created this game to keep Adam and I engaged with one other during our adventures instead of turning to our phones.

Be prepared for fun, laughter, and good conversation with our game!

“…highly recommend for your next trip (and all trips!). It’s a fantastic way to start conversations while you’re driving, out on a hike, or hanging around the campground!” -CAMPING WORLD

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Make Remembering Easier! 

1. Pin this post to use later here.

2. And, download this packing list so you won't forget like us!

Yes! I want the packing list!

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5 Reasons It's Okay to Take a Break from Your Travel Partner and Explore on Your Own

Should you take a break from your travel partner and explore on your own while you're on a trip? We can imagine you're either at a point where you need a break or you can't agree on how to spend your time. We've been there, too! 

One of the biggest questions we get as a traveling couple is, "Do you do everything together?" There's normally a lot of emphasis and drawing out of the word "everythinnngg." We laugh because, there's no way!

We're two different people with different interests, curiosities, and things that excite us.

Recently, we were in Athens, Greece home to the Acropolis and Parthenon. I kept asking Adam, "Would this be a good day to go? Or this one?" He was never committal when responding and I finally realized he doesn't care to see the Parthenon. "How can he not want to go see the Parthenon?!?" I thought. When I asked, he said he didn't want to spend 20 Euro on something he can see better pictures of on Google. WHAT?!? I was shocked, but hey, like I said we have different interests. But, my response to that? "Well I can't miss the Parthenon when I'm in Athens, Greece!" So I scheduled a date with myself and went without him. It was lovely! I packed my camera gear and took the Parthenon at my own pace. It was glorious! You can take the tour with me here through my photo journal:) 

Along our 3.5 years of traveling together, we've learned it's healthy and totally okay to take a break from each other and explore on our own while we're in new places. 

So, should you split from your travel partner? We say, "Totally! Do it!" Here's five reasons why. And if you're still in planning mode, maybe even plan for some solo time before the trip starts :)

5 reasons It's Okay to take a break from your travel buddy & Explore on your own

1. You Have Different Thing's You're Interested In.

It's natural that you and your travel buddy will be interested in two different things. For us, Adam loves mountain biking and tries to mountain bike every day. I'll go once in awhile, but I'm not a big fan. And, I love roaming around taking photos in new places and that bores Adam to tears. So, we've found it healthy to take time to do our own things. 

2. Don't Miss Out or Regret.

Since we all have our own interests, we'll all have things we want to do our we'll totally regret it. Like Adam would be totally bummed out if he never mountain biked when we were in Crete, Greece because I didn't want to go. He still talks about his bike trips as one of his favorite memories. And for me, I'd be totally bummed out if I never took an evening and simply walked the narrow cobble stone streets exploring and taking photos in Rethymno, Crete. That night's one of my favorite memories of our trip.

So, don't miss out on something you're curious about and dying to do even if you're buddy isn't interested. You're only there once. Go do it with or without your pal.

3. Quench your curiosity.

Curiosity is this anxious and lingering feeling for me. If I don't quench it, sometimes it feels like I'm going to burst and if I don't do it I'll be devastated.  So, quench that curiosity of yours, try something new, and go do it! If you don't you'll always be curious and never feel fully at rest.

4. Solo adventures are empowering. 

When you take off from your buddy and you're responsible for all the logistics, how to get where you want to go, how to pay for things, how to solve problems you come up against, enjoying and getting to take a new place at your pace, and then coming home with your own exciting experience, it's so rewarding. You stand up taller and you feel empowered with thoughts like, "Heck yeah I did that!"

5. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

This is so cliche but so true in this situation. When you've been with someone for lots and lots of time, and then get a healthy break, you get a new perspective. You realize how nice it is to have your travel buddy with you and you realize how much you appreciate their company. And it's so nice to return home to your pal and swap your own stories from the day. 

So, how do you break the news to your travel buddy you want a solo adventure?

Be honest and transparent. 

Say something like, "Hey, I need some solo time today. I found this thing I want to do. So, I'm going to go try it. I should be back around this time." 

This gives them your reasoning, sets your boundaries (if you want them), and gives them a heads up for when they can expect to see you again. This way, they can figure out their timing of doing their own thing.

The funny thing is, most times whenever Adam and I have conflicting wants for a day and I share the solo adventure I've planned for myself, he changes his mind and wants to come. A lot of times he just didn't feel like planning something and when I handle that part he's in. And, most times, I'd prefer his company and I'm glad he changed his mind. Other times I say, "I want to do this one solo." 

Cheering you on to take your solo adventure! Have fun! 

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Stay Encouraged to Explore Solo

Pin this for later here.

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Use our Day Trip Packing List

to make sure you have everything you'll need before you head out. 

Yes! I want the packing list!

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Want to see more about the Parthenon and Acropolis?

And see what Adam missed out on:)