SCHOOL GROUP TRAVEL GENERAL PACKING LIST SUGGESTIONS

General Information Please remember that when packing for travel throughout the developing it’s best to pack light. Packing too many unnecessary items will be burdensome and potentially costly at airport check-in. During the journey, you must be able to carry all of your own gear, and if overweight, you will be responsible for paying additional luggage fees. Understand that if you forget to pack something, most of the items on the packing list are available for purchase in-country. Remember: Less is better…when in doubt, leave it out!

Weather In the interest of packing light, versatile items like rain-jackets, hooded fleeces, and long-sleeve wicking t- shirts are recommended. Consult the web for weather conditions for your specific travel destination to see what kind of weather you are likely to encounter during the season in which you will arrive.

Absolute Necessities  Passport with visa! Make 2 photocopies of the signature page and tuck it into two separate places in your luggage  Airline ticket: Your trip leader may have this  Credit card/cash: Spending money and access to emergency funds  Emergency medical insurance card: Your trip leader will have this.  International health card: You will receive this when you get immunizations for the trip-make a copy before you travel and keep in a safe place  Prescription medication: And copies of critical prescriptions  Phone: with family and emergency contact information and mailing addresses for postcards

Travel (check your airline for size restrictions and fees)  /: When considering what to pack in, please remember that throughout the journey you are likely to encounter rough terrain and to make frequent transitions into and out of vehicles and possibly trains. Pack all of your things in a durable and lock-able suitcase or backpack that is easy to carry yourself.  Duffel : It is advisable to bring an empty that can be rolled flat and left in the bottom of your suitcase or backpack. This will come in handy later for doing laundry (separating dirty clothes, etc.) and for transporting souvenirs and other purchases on your return flight back home. The duffel bag should be soft, foldable, and have zippers that can be secured with a lock.  Day pack: Bring a small daypack or fanny pack for day outings. You will use this in airports and on daily excursions. A daypack that has zippers that can be secured with a lock is ideal.  Stuff sacks: These will help you separate and organize things (to separate toiletries and clothing items, shoes, organize souvenirs, etc  Ziploc bags: Ziplocs serve the same purpose as stuff sacks, but can help you keep items like notebooks, medicines, cameras, and other items dry.  Money or pouch: Use a discreet money belt/pouch to safely carry your passport and money in while traveling. Purchase one that can be worn and concealed underneath your clothing (i.e. one that goes under your waistline), rather than wear one that hangs over your neck. A money pouch that dangles over your neck identifies you as a tourist and can easily stolen.

Packing Tip: Use your day pack as a carry-on for the airplane. Put money and important travel documents in your money belt, and a change of clothing, valuables such as phones, cameras, and important toiletries/medicines in your day pack.

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Gear  - large: Many hotels have purified water jugs that you can use to fill your bottle. It is also wise to consider packing a personal water purification system of your choice as a backup. You should aim to drink two liters of purified water per day to stay hydrated and healthy. Always brush your teeth with purified water from your water bottle and not from the tap.  Flashlight or head-lamp: Pack a flashlight or head-lamp, with working batteries and spare batteries, to use in the evenings. Power outages are always a possibility.  Watch or travel alarm clock: Bring a watch with an alarm or a travel alarm clock to stay on schedule and catch early morning trains, flights, etc.  Small locks: These can be used to secure your backpack, daypack, or duffel bag.

Clothing 1 week trip Consider bringing lightweight clothes that dry quickly for maximum comfort. The clothing culture in most countries is modest. To be respectful of local culture, you will be expected to dress according to local custom. Men should plan on wearing lightweight pants in town and shirts with sleeves (t-shirts are fine). Women should plan to dress modestly. In order to be respectful of local norms and to avoid unwanted attention, women should not wear: see-through or tight clothing, low-cut shirts or pants, sleeveless or spaghetti- shirts, short skirts or shorts, and low-rise jeans. Instead, women should cover their upper arms and legs, and wear loose-fit clothing, long skirts, Capri or light-weight pants.

Other notes: Over the course of the trip, participants will have access to laundry facilities and will be able to wash their clothing. The weather is likely to be humid and hot in certain areas, so please try to pack clothing that is light-weight and that dries quickly (wicking material is better than cotton). Bring clothes you are not worried about getting dirty.

 2 t-shirts (one wicking t-shirt)  2-3 pairs of pants or shorts: Light weight pants (jeans do not dry quickly)  2-3 long-sleeve shirts: Light weight for layering  7 pairs of socks: Comfortable, quick-drying, and moisture wicking socks are ideal  8 pairs of cotton underwear. Consider one pair of long underwear for colder climates.  1 fleece jacket: Light weight  1 rain jacket: Light weight, with hood  1 swimsuit: Be conservative. Pair a two-piece with board shorts or a swim shirt.  1 pair walking shoes/sneakers: Sturdy walking shoes or light-weight trail shoes that are versatile enough to be worn every day (both in town and on hikes)  1 pair Chacos or flip flops: For bathing and use in certain water activities  1 set pajamas: Lighter weight  3 bras: (one sports bra)  1-skirt/dress: For everyday wear; needs to be below the knee

Toiletries Please pack only the key necessities. For example, do not bring hair dryers, curling irons, excessive make-up, or other nonessential items. Again, if you forget anything, you will be able to purchase most items. You also might want to pack basic first-aid products such as ibuprofen, antihistamines, antacids, bandages, etc.

 Toothbrush and toothpaste  Hairbrush or comb  Soap  Shampoo/Conditioner  Lip balm  Sunscreen

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 Heavy-duty insect repellent  Towel or Sarong: Small and lightweight for beach or blanket  Hand sanitizer: Pack small bottle of anti-bacterial gel for cleaning hands without water  Glasses/contacts and solution: Bring a copy of your prescription if possible  Small pack tissues or toilet paper: put inside a Ziploc bag  Multi-vitamins and probiotics (optional): Good for staying healthy and keeping illnesses at bay  Feminine supplies: Pack a supply of tampons/pads as they are not always readily available

Miscellaneous

 Sunglasses: A leash to keep them around your neck when you are not wearing them is useful  Sun hat  Bandana: Useful for many purposes  Camera: Bring extra batteries/cards; don’t forget your battery charger and a waterproof casing  Notebook/journal/sketchbook  Book: Lightweight/compact; to read while traveling; can trade books with other participants  Photos or postcards: Share pictures of your family and friends with local people—good conversation starters!  Duct tape: peel off about 4 meters worth and make a mini-roll--useful for all kinds of repairs.  Whistle: for emergencies  Energy Bars/Comfort Food: 5-10 for long travel days—don’t buy ones with any kind of coating, it will melt! (Store in double-bagged ziploc).  Powdered energy drinks: pack a supply of Emergen-C (single packets), powdered Gatorade or something similar (double-bagged in ziplocs)…a nice change from plain water and helps you cope with tropical heat  Address list: Address list for friends and family back home; include mailing and email addresses  Adapter/voltage converter: for charging music player, camera batteries, etc. If you buy an adapter, make sure it is intended for the region, and has your country listed on the package label.  Spending money: Major expenses will be covered by No Barriers Youth (accommodations, transportation, etc), but you will need some spending money to purchase items (i.e. snacks, souvenirs, gifts, phone calls, etc) and also some money to purchase snacks, meals, airplane reading, etc. while in the airport. We recommend participants bring about $100-$200 in spending money. If you want to buy special/more expensive items you can bring more money, but otherwise, $100-$200 should be sufficient for basic purchases. ATM’s will not be readily available outside of major cities so plan on exchanging money at the airport. If bringing your ATM card, be sure to alert your bank to the places you will be traveling to ensure that it will work.

Optional  Playing cards/travel games/crossword book  iPod/Phone: These are helpful for passing time and allowing some comfort during long flights and bus rides, but there will be times when using electronic devices will not be appropriate or may not be allowed by your school.  Carabiner: to clip water bottles onto packs, belts, etc.  Travel umbrella or rain poncho

This list is not comprehensive but designed to help you with the packing process. Please add the items you require to travel safely and comfortably…but remember... Less is better…when in doubt, leave it out!

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