In the spirit of full disclosure, this post may contain affiliate links. Please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. In fact, I oftentimes am able to negotiate a lower rate (or bonuses) not available elsewhere. I only recommend products & systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.
Sitting at home thinking about traveling and considering what you should take with you is actually a serious mental task. To leave your home and begin traveling all over the world with just the backpack on your shoulders is a huge challenge. So you should take your packing and your choice of priorities to be an incredibly important thing to do. It’s best to even approach this question from a strategic and militaristic standpoint because you need to be completely self-sustaining.
Running out of the necessities while in a foreign country is not the most ideal situation to be in at any given moment. So you need to think carefully of what will stop you from needing too much help from the locals, what will keep you fuelled for longer, and what are you ‘just in case’ go-to ideas? Be self-sufficient and you will find that you don’t put yourself in vulnerable positions and you also maintain more speed on your travels. You’ll also have more time to do the things you want and plan for when you’re stuck or in trouble for some reason. So what are the things you don’t want to get caught without on your travels?
Lighting the way
When traveling, you’ll be staying in many different places, some of which might be rugged, rustic and very basic. This could be in a small shack that the locals have offered you for the night, an old house with no electricity or just being outside because you chose to camp in the forest or by the side of the road. If something is outside your room, tent or property then you should never be unable to light your way to help you see and identify it. For that, you need an LED flashlight.
LED bulbs don’t sap as much energy from batteries, the torches can also be smaller and lighter. A flashlight is something relatively inexpensive but will shine your surroundings so you can see if a dangerous animal is nearby or even if someone is where they shouldn’t be and do something that is provocative. Make sure that the flashlight isn’t designed for home use but rather for personal travel use as the design will be tougher and possibly waterproof.
Lack of rightful knowledge
Some tragedies could have been avoided if travelers knew what they are owed and what their rights are abroad. Before you leave for your travels you should familiarize yourself with who you can contact the country of your citizenship embassy for. If you have been robbed and the police are corrupt and refuse to help you, you may be able to get some kind of financial assistance from the embassy. They might also advise you on what to do next regarding a theft or a physical assault that may have occurred to you. Sometimes cases that have been brought to embassies have resulted in the government of said nation having a tougher approach to a crime against tourists and travelers. For example, here you can learn about what the British Embassy can offer its citizens in the way of support and help.
One of the key issues to take note of is that if you have had all your money stolen, the embassy can pay for your trip back home. They can also help to contact banks to cancel your credit cards to stop money from being stolen that way. They can also help you in a major catastrophe such as evacuations, food, and water during a major disaster. Being informed pays off.
Emergency funds
One of the most hotly contested topics in traveling circles is how to get emergency funds when you’re in a situation where you need money urgently. It could be to pay for medical bills in a foreign country when you have been injured. It might be because you need more money to travel on further than expected otherwise, your trip comes to an end. It could also be that you need to pay for a car, for a plane ticket or any other number of things. The question is how can you get a quick cash injection with the least amount of strings attached?
Well, presumably you work full-time when you’re not traveling so you can use your income as leverage for a loan. You can see more here about how it works. A simple credit score check is all that is needed, and the company will not check your credit itself. Your loan can be as small as $100, to all the way up to $15,000. The standard amount that you can push up to $5,000 but if you can meet the requirements then the maximum is available. The money is wired straight into your bank account so all you need to do is find an ATM where you can withdraw your money.
Simple yet filling
Your backpack is no doubt, filled with all kinds of high energy foods. You need foods like chocolate, raisins, nuts and fatty foods like biscuits to give you some extra or emergency energy. The rise of MRE packs for civilians has changed traveling substantially as now you can have full meals that are over 3000 calories that fit almost in your coat pocket. They have all the things you need with them, such as heating equipment and cutlery.
However, if you don’t want to buy MRE packs, then you can keep it simple and filling by buying ramen packs. Noodles absorb a lot of water and plump up, so when eaten they fill you up and satisfy your hunger. They also last for an incredibly long time in all kinds of conditions. This food is fantastic because it’s cheap, easy to make and will keep your going in a moment of need. It’s not THE healthiest but it beats being on an empty stomach.
Preparation is key
When traveling across mountains, fields, through strange cities, and on winding roads, you always need some kind of ability to sustain yourself. Explore different avenues you can receive emergency funding. Keep yourself sharp and alert with an LED flashlight during the night. Contact the embassy in case you are in a dire situation but know what they can do for you before you leave.
As always, I’d love to know your thoughts so make sure you drop them down below.
Cheers, Y’all! 🙂