BootsnAll's Travel Typepad

Pack Light with the Right Gear

For those of us who have a hard time packing for a week-long vacation in a single bag, the idea of going on an extended trip without multiple suitcases is a bit daunting. But as any long-term traveler will tell you, packing for around the world trips is not much different than packing for a shorter trip. You just need to make sure you have the right gear.

To start with, think about what you would take for a week-long trip and then remind yourself that a year-long trip is just a week-long trip....times 52. If you bring enough for a week, and make sure you pick the right clothes, you'll have enough to get through a much longer trip by layering clothes, choosing items that can do "double duty" and bringing clothes that are easily washed and dried in 24 hours.

For men, most round the world travelers agree than 2-3 pairs of pants and one pair of shorts are really all you need as far as bottoms. For women the same goes, with the addition of a dress or travel skirt (the best travel skirts can be dressed up or down, so one will get your through a variety of situations). Beyond that, a few shirts - short sleeve and longsleeve, plus one sweater for layering - will cover you in a variety of climates and countries.

The rest of your gear will depend on what you plan to do and where you'll be going. If you plan to camp or sleep outdoors, a sleeping bag or sleep sack will be required, or check out the latest travel hammocks for a comfortable and easily portable bed. With the right gear, packing for a long trip isn't that different than packing for a shorter one. In fact, since you'll be able to do laundry every few days (by staying longer in each place, you won't be as rushed as on a 7 day trip and will have time), you can actually get by with less!

Photo by brunomiranda

Travel-Friendly Gadgets: iPad vs. iPhone

You don't have to be a tech geek to know that the good folks at Apple have recently come out with a new toy for all of us to drool over. As if the iPhone wasn't alluring enough, the iPad has become the gadget to have - and it was already being touted as a great tool for travelers even before it was released.

Most of the travel-related iPhone apps will work on the iPad as well, but many companies are coming out with iPad-specific apps - they're designed to fill up that huge screen, so images and video are even more detailed and easy to look at. But no matter what you download onto your iPad, if the hardware gets busted it's not so cool anymore.

Whether you're planning to take your brand-spanking-new iPad on your around the world trip or just bring it to your local cafe to read an e-book, you'll want to protect your investment with a sturdy sleeve or cover. Have a look through these iPad travel accessories to see which ones might suit you. I know, it's not as cool a subject as apps, but you probably don't want to shell out for a second iPad if your first one breaks because you didn't have it in a case.

When it comes to travel-friendly gadgets, I still think the iPhone trumps the iPad when you're out and about (its small size makes it easier to pull in and out of your pocket or purse to read a map or a travel guide). The iPad is smaller than older notebook laptops were, it's lightweight and reportedly has an excellent battery life. I love the idea of watching movies on the plane on an iPad instead of an iPhone, or showing your most recent travel photos to friends... Those kinds of things definitely have sex appeal.

But when I'm walking around a city, I'd just as soon leave the iPad locked up safely in my hotel room and stick with something smaller for my purse. Whether I'm using it just to listen to music as I take the train somewhere for a day trip, using it as a substitute for the best handheld GPS units out there so I don't get lost, or playing a game while I wait in that long museum line - I still think the iPhone is more travel-friendly than the iPad.

iPhone as RTW Travel Tool

Once upon a time, anyone setting off on a long trip - whether it was to explore new lands or to take an educational "Grand Tour" of Europe - had limited options when it came to the tools they could bring along to make their travels easier. Sure, the explorers had "gadgets," but they were often cumbersome (at least by today's standards) and inaccurate, and they certainly weren't widely available to assist the average person in their travels.

My, how times have changed.

Today, anyone embarking on a round the world trip has an array of tools at their disposal - from guides to gadgets to gear - that can help them travel better. They're not all tech-related, but you also don't have to be a serious tech geek to find some of the most popular travel gadgets useful. In particular, one of the things many people are finding extremely useful in everyday life - and in travel by extension - is the iPhone.

With an iPhone, you can carry several travel tools in one small device, which is a huge benefit if you're trying to limit the amount of stuff you're packing around with you. Heck, I remember being so excited I could bring a few cassette tapes and my old walkman with me when I studied abroad in college - despite the fact that the cassettes took up valuable space in my suitcase. Just thinking of the iPhone as a way to carry a huge music library with you is great - but of course it's so much more than that.

Those iPhone apps commercials professing that "there's an app for that" might be annoying, but they're really true - it's astounding the number and variety of apps available in the iTunes app store, with more being added every day. For people who are taking off on a long trip (or who just travel often in general), these iPhone apps for RTW travel are really handy - especially since some of them have several travel tools within one or two apps, which saves space on your iPhone for other stuff.

Oh, and before you leave on your trip with your iPhone, don't forget to protect your gadget investment - it doesn't matter how useful your iPhone apps are if the iPhone breaks and you can't access anything. So be sure to get a protective iPhone case before your trip.

Modern Tools for Modern Travelers

Traveling has been a part of life since the beginning of time, and every generation has managed to make their way from place to place with the technology of the day. And yet every time we turn around, there are new advancements that are supposed to make travel easier and better.

As travelers in the 21st century, we are bombarded lately with advertisements for tools that are more and more high-tech. From internet cafes to netbooks to iPhones, it's possible for us to be connected no matter where we go. You might think that's a terrible thing and relish your opportunities to get away from it all - in which case I'd suggest you stop reading this article right now. (Not to mention leave your techy toys at home next time you hit the road.) But for those of you who love taking the world with you in your pocket, here are some modern tools you might enjoy.

iPhone Apps for Business Travelers
When you're traveling all the time for work, it's nice to have tech tools that are portable to make your life and job easier. Some of the apps listed in this article are only going to be useful to business travelers - those of you who are real-life "Up in the Air" travelers - but some of them are handy whether you're constantly making sales calls or giving presentations or just spend a lot of time traveling (speed trap locator, anyone?).

iPhone Apps for Italy
Planning a visit to Italy? This collection of iPhone apps will help you with trip planning, language learning, and just getting in the mood for the adventure. And some of the apps here will satisfy your Italy cravings when you're nowhere near The Boot. Don't worry if it's not Italy listed on your next plane ticket, either - there are destination-specific apps for just about every country and city in the world. All it takes is a few minutes in the App Store to get inspired for your next trip.

International Flight Tracker
Maybe you're watching an incoming flight to see when your delayed connection will get off the ground. Maybe you're keeping an eye on a flight so you can pick up a friend at the airport without having to wait in the parking lot forever. Maybe you're following flights across the ocean as you're daydreaming about booking your own cheap flights to Europe and getting out of town. And maybe you're an aviation geek who just likes to track flights. Whatever the reason, this international flight tracker is both a useful tool and a fun diversion.

Gear Section and Toeless Socks

We soft launched our new Travel Gear section on BootsnAll.  Chris pointed out that these toeless socks would be prefect for me.  Can't wait to get a pair and wear my flip-flops all winter - of course, I won't need the socks for the 6 weeks in Africa this winter...yahoooooo