Travel Packing Essentials

Posted on 06/03/2021

Travel Packing Essentials

Never leave home without it. Whether your vacation is to the beach or across the world, there are certain items that should always go with you. Plan ahead and you will have a safe and enjoyable vacation.

Identification

How many times have you walked the dog without taking any identification with you? What if you were hit by a car crossing the road? How would they call your loved ones? The concept is the same when you travel.

Basic identification is essential. Travelling within Ontario or Canada, a Drivers license, Health card, or birth certificate is sufficient. Crossing the Border requires a passport, and maybe more. Write down an emergency contact person, and make sure they know you’ve done so.

Some countries require you to provide an address where you will be staying, proof that you can financially support yourself while in their Country, Visitor VISA’s or notarized papers that your children belong to you.

Soon, we’ll also need proof of vaccination from Covid-19.

It is your responsibility to know where you’re going and what that destination wants to know from you.

Medication

Of course, you would travel with your medication. It’s important to you and not likely to be forgotten. But what if you do forget it, sitting on the bathroom counter. You should travel with the name and phone number of your Pharmacy, and your doctor. Prescriptions can be sent around the world.

Remember to pack your medicine bottles. The ones that describe your medications and prove that it has been prescribed to you. Never fill your 7 day plastic dispenser with miscellaneous drugs that no one can identify at Security Check points. Take your dispenser with you and fill it when you get to your destination. Or, talk to your Pharmacist, they can prepare a sealed package (blister pack) with your drugs inside, perfect for Security Check points.

Money

In today’s economic high-tech world, people are travelling with less and less cash. Did you know that Canada is one the most advanced Countries in the world when it comes to electronic banking? There are places in the US where you can still pay for a pizza at your door with a Cheque.

Research your destination and find out the best methods of payment. Which credit cards are accepted? Not all countries take American Express, or Canadian Tire Mastercard.

Debit Cards are not used in many countries of the world, and ATM’s are hard to find.

Take a combination of Credit Cards and cash. Carry your money in different places in your carry bag and on your person. An old fashion money belt could save your vacation.

Pick pockets are in every Tourist attraction in the world. Carrying your wallet in your back pocket or unzipped purse is an invitation to be robbed.

Documents

Airlines have gone virtual with tickets and boarding passes. It’s no longer necessary to carry any paper with you, as long as you are quite savvy with your electronics. Some of us still like the security of seeing things in writing.

When all else fails, it’s still a good idea to have a back-up printed copy of your airline tickets with proof of payment for things like seat selection and baggage. Who knows, your phone battery could die just as you reach the boarding gate for your flight.

It’s also wise to carry a paper copy of any hotel reservations, printed in the language of the Country. Hotel reservations and car rentals are among the biggest on-line booking fraud scams on the internet.

Last but not least, take a colour photocopy of your passport. It has no value except to prove you had a passport, should you lose the real one.

APPS

There are many Travel APPs that can be helpful, such as:

• Currency exchange
• Conversion from metric to imperial
• Translation of languages
• GPS and Maps
• Weather
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