Yes, I arrived in Delhi on a plane which had no luggage. The computer at Heathrow malfunctioned; no one on the BA plane to India had luggage. Here is what I learned below. PS once I bought basics,had some sleep, it was not a big deal.
Always carry on:
Medicine. toss in a few optionals as ‘just in case’: bandaids, ibuprofen type pills, Immodium type liquid, eye saline. Don’t do what my son did and put all pills in one container then call his mother from Pakistan for information. Even if you think you know the color/shape of each…..you will forget if tired. Take a picture of the assembled pills, write on it which is which. If you have serious pills, bring the prescription in the generic. Why? We had a woman who dropped her pills, could not locate all of them. We called a doctor, who replaced the pills using her generic prescription. Identifying US brand names can be a problem. Bandaids? In some areas bandaids come in a non sterilized roll or there are none for sensitive skin.
Toilet Paper Yes I admit to traveling with a roll of toilet paper. Why? In case the hotel staff did not leave an extra roll and I needed it all at once. In case the airport lavatory runs out, and in case, I have a non stop sniffle and cannot find tissues quickly.
3 panties and 3 tees short or long sleeved depending on weather. Why? Who doesn’t need clean undies before they have time to do laundry in the hotel sink or get laundry done. You can sleep in a tee shirt but probably not without one. Hotel laundry can take 48 hours FYI.
One pair socks No one knows if worn twice. Socks are generally easy to purchase anywhere in the world.
Extra eye glasses. and a cloth cleaner. Eyeglasses packed and/or worn on the plane emerge smudgy even crooked. They are difficult to replace fast.
Office Supplies like Pens You will need a pen somewhere/sometime, and you will lose at least one if you lend it out. Safety pins and paper clips. Guaranteed, you will use them. Small notebook or at least paper. If you write reminders on your boarding pass, good bye when you throw it out. The great airline staff you want to praise? The awful airline staff you want to complain about? Just a quick tip from a seat mate? Something you forgot to tell the pet sitter?
Extra phone charger and with a grounded plug (the chunky ones not the tiny chargers). I found on some airplanes, only the chunky adaptor works for in flight charging. Adaptors, yes for where you are going and the connecting airports. Overtime airports are changing to USB ports.
One big scarf you can lose and not cry over. To cover shoulders, head, seat, whatever.
One small pillow, bright colored so you don’t abandon it on disembarkation. Mine lives with someone who took it off my Virgin seat. I hope they like it.
Personal travel tips from The Women’s Travel Group, Contact us here. Or call 646 309 5607.
