Jan 26, 2012
On Traveling I’ve gotten a few ask box questions over the past couple of months in regards to packing/traveling, so I figure I will just answer them all in one fell swoop since I have some leisure time this morning. By no means am I some sort of travel guru, but I do travel quite frequently, and these are some of the things that work for me and some of the things I’ve learned over the years. For Air Travel: These are the contents of my carry-on bag on any flight I take: My passport if I’m leaving the country. It seems like a given, but you’d actually be shocked by the number of people who forget to pack their passport during the madness of getting everything else together. A thick, soft scarf (it can double as a blanket) A very soft pair of thick socks An eye mask Earplugs A pair of good (and comfortable) headphones. Never assume you’ll get a pair on the plane because the vast majority of airlines do not provide headphones for passengers anymore. A music player of some kind A laptop. I try my best to be productive and sometimes end up editing hundreds of photos on long-haul flights.  Reading material Hair ties (for those of you with long hair) Some FAA regulation size toiletries, like moisturizer, Aquaphor, & hand lotion. Starbucks Via (I much prefer it to the coffee served on most airlines) All of the above is packed in a small rolling suitcase or a large zippered nylon bag. Nylon is really durable and light, hence why I always opt for a nylon carry-on. It’s also easy to clean. Dress in layers because the temperature in flight is so unpredictable, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes that are easy to take on and off. A lot of times I will throw an extra change of clothes into my carry-on in case of some kind of unpredicted issue arises. For Car Travel:  If any of you have followed me for a couple of years, you will know I took a three week road trip from Los Angeles to Boston. These are the tips I would pass onto anyone taking any car or bus rides anytime soon.  A long-haul car trip necessitates talk radio or books on tape. It sounds strange, but for whatever reason it really is very difficult to listen to music in the car for all that time. A talk radio show, audiobook, comedic routines, or podcasts are all really nice to have. Bring food, especially if you have any kind of dietary restrictions or habits whatsoever. Being vegetarian, eating on my road trip was actually incredibly difficult, and I know that despite my best efforts I was not even kind of getting enough nutrition. If you’re kosher, vegetarian, or even picky—I really, really suggest you do this. Different areas eat very differently, and there is not always an option that suits your preferences.   Be aware of the climate differences in every place you will be when you’re packing. Do your research. There are a lot of extraordinary things you can see and do when you have a car and some time at your disposal, and you will not find them if you don’t do your research.  Roadside attractions, quirky restaurants, bizarre shops, historic landmarks—seek them out! Those very things are what make a road trip so unique. For Any Traveling: A truly great city guide (in any form) can be indispensable in a place you’ve never been. Whether it’s recommendations gathered from people you know or from books, they’ll help you find places you may not have found on your own.  Roll with the punches. Traveling brings a lot of surprises, and they can be phenomenal (stumbling across a hidden restaurant) or they can be absolutely awful (the time my family and I were left in port by a cruise comes to mind), but either way, a flexible attitude will make a world of difference both in your experience and that of those around you. Be careful. Traveling can come with some dangers, so just be mindful, smart, and as safe as you can be. Be respectful. Respect the inhabitants of a place and respect the planet as well. The world is in such a sensitive place at the moment. Bring a notebook. I always have a lot of thoughts when I’m traveling, and I love looking back on travel notebooks. Traveling can be so inspiring, and you want to be able to access those ideas after you leave. Bring a camera. Whether it’s your phone, a disposable, anything—just make sure you bring a camera. I can relive most of the trips I’ve taken because I have so many photographs from them, and nothing brings me such joy as looking back on these memories with my loved ones. At some point, you will want to look back at these trips, and the people you’re traveling with will be so grateful that you took photos if they didn’t take any themselves.  So there you have it. This is quite a departure from my normal blog posts, but I hope it was helpful! 

On Traveling

I’ve gotten a few ask box questions over the past couple of months in regards to packing/traveling, so I figure I will just answer them all in one fell swoop since I have some leisure time this morning. By no means am I some sort of travel guru, but I do travel quite frequently, and these are some of the things that work for me and some of the things I’ve learned over the years.

For Air Travel:

These are the contents of my carry-on bag on any flight I take:

  • My passport if I’m leaving the country. It seems like a given, but you’d actually be shocked by the number of people who forget to pack their passport during the madness of getting everything else together.
  • A thick, soft scarf (it can double as a blanket)
  • A very soft pair of thick socks
  • An eye mask
  • Earplugs
  • A pair of good (and comfortable) headphones. Never assume you’ll get a pair on the plane because the vast majority of airlines do not provide headphones for passengers anymore.
  • A music player of some kind
  • A laptop. I try my best to be productive and sometimes end up editing hundreds of photos on long-haul flights. 
  • Reading material
  • Hair ties (for those of you with long hair)
  • Some FAA regulation size toiletries, like moisturizer, Aquaphor, & hand lotion.
  • Starbucks Via (I much prefer it to the coffee served on most airlines)

All of the above is packed in a small rolling suitcase or a large zippered nylon bag. Nylon is really durable and light, hence why I always opt for a nylon carry-on. It’s also easy to clean. Dress in layers because the temperature in flight is so unpredictable, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes that are easy to take on and off. A lot of times I will throw an extra change of clothes into my carry-on in case of some kind of unpredicted issue arises.

For Car Travel: 

If any of you have followed me for a couple of years, you will know I took a three week road trip from Los Angeles to Boston. These are the tips I would pass onto anyone taking any car or bus rides anytime soon. 

  • A long-haul car trip necessitates talk radio or books on tape. It sounds strange, but for whatever reason it really is very difficult to listen to music in the car for all that time. A talk radio show, audiobook, comedic routines, or podcasts are all really nice to have.
  • Bring food, especially if you have any kind of dietary restrictions or habits whatsoever. Being vegetarian, eating on my road trip was actually incredibly difficult, and I know that despite my best efforts I was not even kind of getting enough nutrition. If you’re kosher, vegetarian, or even picky—I really, really suggest you do this. Different areas eat very differently, and there is not always an option that suits your preferences.  
  • Be aware of the climate differences in every place you will be when you’re packing.
  • Do your research. There are a lot of extraordinary things you can see and do when you have a car and some time at your disposal, and you will not find them if you don’t do your research.  Roadside attractions, quirky restaurants, bizarre shops, historic landmarks—seek them out! Those very things are what make a road trip so unique.

For Any Traveling:

  • A truly great city guide (in any form) can be indispensable in a place you’ve never been. Whether it’s recommendations gathered from people you know or from books, they’ll help you find places you may not have found on your own. 
  • Roll with the punches. Traveling brings a lot of surprises, and they can be phenomenal (stumbling across a hidden restaurant) or they can be absolutely awful (the time my family and I were left in port by a cruise comes to mind), but either way, a flexible attitude will make a world of difference both in your experience and that of those around you.
  • Be careful. Traveling can come with some dangers, so just be mindful, smart, and as safe as you can be.
  • Be respectful. Respect the inhabitants of a place and respect the planet as well. The world is in such a sensitive place at the moment.
  • Bring a notebook. I always have a lot of thoughts when I’m traveling, and I love looking back on travel notebooks. Traveling can be so inspiring, and you want to be able to access those ideas after you leave.
  • Bring a camera. Whether it’s your phone, a disposable, anything—just make sure you bring a camera. I can relive most of the trips I’ve taken because I have so many photographs from them, and nothing brings me such joy as looking back on these memories with my loved ones. At some point, you will want to look back at these trips, and the people you’re traveling with will be so grateful that you took photos if they didn’t take any themselves. 

So there you have it. This is quite a departure from my normal blog posts, but I hope it was helpful! 

About
Photography, fashion, musings, food, monsters, culture, cartoons, art. Boston & Los Angeles. All photography Ⓒ Lauren Gaba. All of the photographs, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted by the photographer. No part of this site, or any of the content contained herein, may be used or reproduced in any manner without the express permission of the copyright holder, and all images must be linked back to this blog. It is forbidden to use these images for commercial reasons. Subscribe via RSS.