I left for Thailand, prepared. First aid kit, rain coat, sandals, quick drying underwear; I had my North Face bag packed with what all the web sites said to bring. I arrived in Thailand at about 5 AM, lost on Khao San Road, only to go into a 7-11 and quickly learn I had too much. How could these websites be so wrong? Over time I picked up some tips from seasoned travelers about what to take and what to leave at home.
Getting there is the first thing people who never traveled before can find difficult. Go to a travel agent and book a flight to Bangkok with an open return ticket. Open return tickets will solve any problems with getting on a flight that a one way ticket may cause. Online deals, while attractive, are not necessarily better than travel agent deals. Travel agents also offer the open return ticket that online sites usually do not.
Bangkok is your best choice of landing. Not only does it have a large airport that is cheap to fly into, but it is also the home of Khao San Road. For those who have been traveling cheaply in Southeast Asia, Khao San Road is synonymous with late night binge drinking, run down guesthouses, and scams galore. However, reputable travel agencies are easy to find and offer good deals all over the area. If you are jet lagged, the 24 hour atmosphere is perfect to adjust to the new time zone.
Your backpack does not have to be a hiking North Face style one. Unless you are going to go hiking on your trip and take everything you have with you, it is best to get one with wheels that can easily be locked. The heat in Southeast Asia makes lugging a backpack halfway across a city no fun. Locking your bag comes in handy on bus rides where thieves are common. Locks can be bought cheaply in any tourist area.
Use a smaller, carry on bag for valuables and look for a hip pack at the bag stores. Keep money and valuables carried with you in the hip pack to avoid pickpockets. A small pack on your back or side is still likely to attract pick pockets and thieves. A simple messenger bag works great for holding valuables on buses and planes where you check your backpack.
When packing for long trips, pack less than you think you need. Do you really need to bring a whole first aid kit full of things you don't even use where you live? No. Take immodium, some aspirin, and any prescription medications. Toiletries and most medication can be picked up at any drug store or grocery store.
Pack as little clothing as possible. The first thing you'll notice is all the clothing for sale on the streets and all the travelers wearing it. Spending $3 to $5 for a t-shirt and a few bucks for some shorts is not only cheaper but also provides an excuse to explore the area and spend some money. Most laundry will be done at laundry stores where it is dropped out and hung out in public. While I've never had anything stolen, it does happen. Leave the flashy stuff at home.
Almost everywhere in Southeast Asia are flip flops or fake Teva sandals acceptable. There are exceptions but why pay $20 for a pair of thong sandals when you can buy a pair just as good for $5 on the street?
Take your laptop. I can't explain how much I wish I had my laptop with me for the 6 months I traveled in Southeast Asia. Internet cafes are good and found everywhere but internet cafes can end up costing a lot. Laptops allow for easy picture management, mp3 playing, cheap Skype phone calls, and an easy DVD player for the pirated DVDs you will most likely want to buy. Some websites say that real backpackers would never take a laptop. Then don't be a real backpack, be a real traveler.
Other than the laptop, leave electronics at home. Find a good deal on a cheap mp3 player before leaving. Cheap ones can be found for about $20 on sale. Find a cheap Nokia phone, about $30, somewhere and buy it. Used phones, while flashier, don't last as well as the cheap Nokia. The last thing you want is to give your number to that cute Brit from your guesthosue and find out the next day you missed a call to go out dancing.
Take a major credit card like Visa or Mastercard. Make sure the credit card is set up to allow cash advances and a pin number for ATMs. Some places would not take Maestro cards. The last thing you want is to be stranded with no money in a strange place. Pick pocketing does happen and your ATM card is a target. Have a back up plan.
Leave Lonely Planet on the shelf. Yes, I said it, but I don't really mean it. The backpacking staple is no as longer relevant with all the up-to-date web pages that can be found. Lonely Planet's Southeast Asia on a Shoe String is a good guide to have. The single country guides have some information that is fascinating, but most of it can be found all over the internet. I found WikiTravel to be a much better resource than Lonely Planet.
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