Twelve Tips for a Great Budget Trip: It’s the Little Things!

Some items can be extremely useful while traveling. Here are a few of our favorite things...

What

Why

Money belt

Although you won’t need it in most destinations, it’s excellent to have while traveling, especially on overnight bus trips, where sleeping and thievery don’t mix. (Remove before going into a full body scanner at the airport).

Plastic bag

For separating dirty clothes from clean.

Eye shade

Blocks light to facilitate napping and sleeping on planes buses, and park benches.

Ear plugs

Makes sleeping easier in noisy hotels and buses; makes volume of action movies bearable.

Nail clippers

In checked (airline) baggage, of course.

Outlet adapter

Many budget hotels don’t have three-prong outlets. (To be fair, most three-prong outlets also do not have budget hotels.)

Safety pins

Pin two or three of different sizes to shaving kit or makeup bag.

Immersion coil

Heats water in cup for early morning tea or coffee; bring unbreakable cup, spoon, and tea bags or instant coffee. If possible, swipe one or two sugar packets per day from Sanborn’s or VIPS.

Universal plug

Thin white rubber stopper makes it easy to wash out garments in budget-hotel sinks, which are often stopper-less.

Socks

One pair, even for tropical climates. Wear on a chilly bus, airplane, or during infrequent cold snaps at your destination.

Rubber sandals

For hanging out in your room, at the beach, pool and to use in suspicious hotel showers. Foot fungi suck!

AND THE NUMBER ONE THING TO TAKE ON A BUDGET TRIP TO MEXICO IS:
A SARONG!
In your hotel room, use it as a towel, curtain, lightweight bedspread, room separator, or lounge wear. Take to the river, beach or waterfall to sit on, or dry yourself off. On the street (in certain beach resorts), voila, it’s a man’s metro-skirt! For both men and women, a sarong (usually a rectangle of non-transparent cotton cloth) is an inexpensive, versatile, and easily packed travel item.

---Jane Onstott