Travel Insurance
I've been reading up on travel insurance lately and am thinking it would be a good thing to get. According to the wise and well-traveled ladies at Go Green Travel Green (an immensely helpful blog/website for travelers interested in minimizing their carbon footprint), one of the best travel insurance providers they've found for backpackers is a company called World Nomads.
I went to the World Nomads website and got a quote—it's free, right from their homepage. It looks like it won't actually cost that much to cover both Eric and me for all four weeks of our trip (I was expecting it to be way more expensive). Thanks to the sound advice of my friends on the VFF, we'll probably get it. Better to be safe than sorry!
Travel Clothes
The next item I want to discuss is travel clothes. When you're backpacking, your mantra should be "minimalism plus functionality." That means packing lightweight, comfortable, multi-purpose clothes that dry quickly, and expecting to wash at least a few items in your sink almost every night. And if you're going overseas for just one or two weeks, you can do it with just one bag: check out the One Bag Girl blog.
Important factors to consider when choosing appropriate clothes for your adventure are:
- your destination(s)
- what you plan to do there
- the weather
We'll be traveling through Western Europe during the hottest time of the year and will be doing mostly city walking—nothing as extreme as snowboarding, spelunking, or hiking through the rainforest, which would obviously require an entirely different set of clothes and gear.
Some of the best sources for travel clothes are Patagonia, ExOfficio, Prana, Horny Toad, REI, and GoLite. For ladies, Athleta has a nice selection of lightweight, quick-drying travel clothes, and they have a great sale section, too. Even stores like Target, Marshalls, TJMaxx, and Old Navy often have clothes that are perfect for traveling.
The main things you want to look for in your travel clothing are:
- Fabric — Is it breathable? moisture-wicking? quick-drying? easy to wash in the sink? Cotton is best for breathability, but it wrinkles easily (so you can just forget about linen!). Cotton items with some stretch usually have better wrinkle-resistance. Another great travel fabric is the "featherweight stretch" combination of polyester/spandex, which wicks moisture away from your skin and dries super fast.
- Versatility — Does it match a good portion of what you're otherwise bringing? Will you be comfortable wearing it during most of your planned activities?
- Longevity — Will you wear it before and after your trip? Do you like it outside the traveling context?
- Packing considerations — How small can it be folded? How lightweight is it? Can it be crumpled into a ball and shaken out without being a mess of wrinkles?
- Other considerations — Does it require you to wear it with something else, like a belt, jacket, camisole, etc.? Does it have any special features for travelers, like a hidden pocket?
A general note about avoiding unwanted attention
Let me preface this section by saying that I'm all about subverting the arbitrary appearance norms society has placed on us. I want people to dress and look whatever way makes them feel best. However, garnering attention while traveling is the last thing you want, if only for your security. I'm not saying you should cut off your mohawk (hell no!). What I am suggesting is that you try to look less like a tourist, because looking like one can make you a target for pickpocketing and/or other unwanted attention.
With that in mind, I have a few words of wisdom about clothing and blending in. In Europe, you generally don't see a lot of flip flops, baseball hats, sports team t-shirts, or cargo shorts (sorry, Dad; I know that's your entire wardrobe). To blend in a bit more, you can instantly "internationalize" yourself by swapping just a few items. Trade your Old Navy flip flops for your sleekest pair of non-white sneaks. Leave your baseball cap at home and bring a Fidel-style hat instead.
Dudes, trade your cargo shorts for smooth, flat-front shorts (or, if you enjoy subverting American gender norms, get yourself some capris, aka manpris!*). And for the love of maude, get some low-profile ankle/runner's socks. Nothing screams TOURIST!!1!1 like white tube socks cropping out of your spotless New Balances.
What are your best tips for travel clothes and blending in?
* I'm going to secretly try to convince Eric to get a pair of manpris while we're there. ;)
