Packing Hints

With added fees from airlines, the hassle of baggage claim and the many TSA regulations, being able to carry-on luggage is a must and will make your life a heck of a lot easier. The golden rule is always pack less. Don’t pack to many of your own clothes as you will be sure to buy many more than you need when you arrive and then will have the issue of excess luggage to return home.  Simply buy it when you need it while you’re travelling. In Thailand this is particularly true, because, assuming you’re starting your journey in Phuket or Bangkok , pretty much every Western thing you could need is available and is often cheaper too.

1. Make a list. and check it twice. Using a packing list will make sure you not only cut down on items to bring, but also remember to bring underwear (you'll never forget underwear twice by the way).
2. Go with a color scheme. A great way to save space in your bag is to limit the number of shoes you bring and reduces unnecessary repeats of clothing items so you can mix and match everything in your bag. The color scheme should probably revolve around a pair of your most well thought-out travel shoes.
3. Wear Layers and save space. You may be cold on the plan so wear a light cardigan or jacket as you wont need it once you arrive but you will need it again for the trip home. Many flights get in a strange hours back into Australia and you may find that a warm cardigan will come in handy. Long Pants that turn into shorts are great for travel as you can zip them off when you arrive into the heat of Phuket.
4. Don't pack things you wouldn't use at home. First-timers going abroad often make the mistake of thinking they are traveling to another planet and pack far too many items. This classic mistake might be due to the many seemingly fantastic travel gadgets available, but a good rule of thumb is if you don't need it at home, you don't need it while traveling
5. Buy stuff there. Since you’re not going to Mars, you will be able to find things in Phuket you can not only use, but once you bring them home will become souvenirs! And you just might find the perfect face lotion or hair conditioner in a brand that's expensive back at home, making all of your friends  green with envy.
6. Roll large bulky items, but leave the rest alone. It’s an old wive's tail that you should roll everything in your bag and here’s why: You have to keep rolling your stuff up throughout your entire trip. Not only is this a pain in the butt, it doesn’t actually save all that much space. To save yourself the headache, you’d be better off culling a few items out, and packing things that don't wrinkle easily

7. Use unique luggage or luggage tags to help keep track of your bag while traveling. This way even out of the corner of your eye. Plus, if you do end up in baggage claim, you'll see your fabulous zebra stripe bag or cute luggage tags coming from afar rather than elbowing people out of your way to check every nondescript black bag that goes by. Tying a bright coloured scarf onto the handles works well with those Black suitcases!
    

Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Make sure you have travel insurance that covers your full range of activities Flight Ticket – It pays to start looking well in advance for flights because sadly they only seem to get more expensive the closer you book to your flying time.
• Passport – Ensure your passport is valid for at least a year and has plenty of blank pages
• Prescription Medicines – Have a full supply of any prescription medicines you require
• Credit Cards and Debit Cards – Have credit cards and a debit card that will work in international ATMs and won’t block you due to being accessed from Thailand.
• Document Scans – Make scans of your passport, driving license and all your credit cards, insurance info and any other important documents and save them as JPEGs to your online email account like Gmail or Hotmail. That way if you lose any of your documents, you have copies of them available anywhere with an Internet connection. Also keep a list of the numbers of your banks etc that you need to call to cancel your cards in your Internet email account

Things You should Pack

• Tshirts, shorts, skirts, underwear – Tshirts are easy to find in Thailand, but if you veer towards a larger frame, remember that it will be difficult to find bigger sized clothing in Thailand. Therefore it’s worth having decent quality shorts and skirts that will deal with everyday travel and getting washed a lot. Sturdy zipper pockets on your shorts are also invaluable for storing passports and other valuables. Try and get pure cotton wherever possible – it’s much better for your skin as it lets it breathe more easily. Also make sure you have a light top and trousers that will cover your arms and legs – you might need it at dusk when the mosquitos come out. You’ll be able to find this easily in Bangkok – Thai fishermen’s pants are cheap and all over Khao San Road.
   
• Decent trainers and sandals – shoes tend to be poor quality in Thailand, and hard to find in bigger sizes. You will be doing a lot of walking so it pays to have good footwear to keep you comfortable and your feet in good condition. With trainers (or sneakers), it’s probably wise to avoid buying anything too expensive as they will probably get trashed walking on muddy trails etc. You may also wish to bring a spare pair of lightweight close toed shoes if you plan on going clubbing or any of the nice restaurants.

  It’s a bit overkill to wear massive mountain hiking boots in most of Thailand. Even if you are going trekking, unless you’re going to be really hard core about it and spend more than a couple of nights away from civilization, it’s not really worth bringing them. Sneakers will probably do fine. You will be recovering so not advise to do after surgery!

• Sunglasses – you’ll be able to find plenty of cheap sunglasses in Thailand, but you might want to invest in a decent pair that will properly screen out harmful ultra-violet rays. The sun in Thailand can be savagely hot and if you plan on travelling for a while, it’s wise to protect your eyes.

• Digital camera, iPod and other boredom buster gadgets – A digital camera is a must to capture your travels, and an iPod and other gadgets can break up the monotony of long journeys. Buying a camera in Thailand (or an iPod in Thailand) can be fun but not particularly money saving.

Things You Dont Need a Lot of

• Toiletries – Brand name toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, soap, razors, tampons, pain relievers (eg Tylenol or Panadol), toilet paper and deodorant are all plentifully available in every 7-11 which are almost everywhere in Thailand. Obviously you want to bring some of this stuff while you travel, the point is that you don’t need to bring a suitcase full of it.
• Clothing – Don’t bother buying expensive T-shirts at home as you can pick them up for cheap (100 Baht  $3.50 AUD) or less if you bargain well)