What We Pack
Here are a few of our favorites for our group trips (they are great go-tos for our solo travelers and honeymooners too).
“He who would travel happily must travel light.” -Antoine de St. Exupery
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Luggage: Check-in, Personal Item, and Daybags
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Inflight Amenities
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Organization
There’s nothing better than a well organized travel gear system. Here are a few of our favorites:
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Tech + Electronics
You won’t get far without your chargers and adaptors. Depending on where you go, you may or may not need converters. Ask before you buy!
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Clothes + Shoes + Accessories
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Tropic Feel Shoes Homepage LinkA few of our tried and true tropical clothing options for women.
Men’s Best Bets
Toiletries
From bug spray to dry shampoo, we’ve got the items you might not think of listed here
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Other Gear + Gadgets
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Southeast Asia
Costa Rica
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia Trip Packing List
Luggage:
Hard Sided International Carry-On (20 inch) with 4 Wheels – Not practical for our group trips, but
putting it on the packing list for those needing camera protection. We recommend this for our travelers
flying in Business Class because it is heavier than recommended carry-ons for Asia travel. Sometimes
it makes sense to carry a hard sided bag, whether it’s for camera gear, computers, or anticipatory
fragile souvenirs. This price is hard to beat.
Underseater Personal Item Bag – Another great personal item option. This is big enough to hold a
13 inch laptop or iPad, DSLR camera, those large noise cancelling headphones, an inflight toiletry kit
and power bank and cables, and a change of clothes (yes, we’ve done it many times). Pairs great with
an Eagle Creek or Patagonia backpack/duffel as our recommended carry-on kit for our group trips.
Osprey or Patagonia 45L Backpack/Duffel – Our new favorite carry-on for those who can wear their carry-on backpack style. You will fly through the airport hands-free with this one pound 45 Liter (or a smaller, 30 Liter which can be used as a personal item) check out he mesh external water bottle pocket and organization options. Pair it with a larger type of Sling bag as your carry-on options. Don’t forget to check dimensions for the airlines you will travel with.
Tomtoc and Bellroy Sling Bags – Tomtoc is a great less expensive sling option similar to Bellroy, our
favorite Sling on the market. We like the smaller Lite one for shorter trips, and the larger Venture 9L
for International Trips. There are other sizes and styles too so check out their website for all the
options.
favorite Sling on the market. We like the smaller Lite one for shorter trips, and the larger Venture 9L
for International Trips. There are other sizes and styles too so check out their website for all the
options.
Timbuk2 Ruk – Currently loving this bag with the rolltop to adjust size from personal item to larger.
Gonex Rolling Duffle 70L for Check-in – We like this bag for its shape. It easily holds packing cubes
of varying sizes and has a mesh compartment on the top and great wheels. Compare it to Eagle
Creek’s Migrate Large.
Inflight Amenities and Travel Necessites:
Passport Case (with zipper) by Pacsafe– our favorite with RFID and room for a Tile or Apple Air Tag
and credit cards, dive card, and global entry card.
Travel Document Case – Not to be confused with a passport cover. You will put your passport in its
cover inside the document case along with other printed documents you will need during your travels.
Don’t forget to take a photocopy of your passport and vaccine card and put those items inside your
luggage.
Foot Hammock – One of our most popular items for Economy Class travelers. This will save you from
excessively swollen legs, we promise.
Seat Back Pocket Organizer – Keep all of your inflight gadgets in one place saving your seat mate
from having to get up every time you want an item out of the overhead bin.
Compression Socks – A tried and true brand to keep your circulation flowing.
Noise Cancelling Headphones – An excellent option from Anker for about a third of the price of
those Bose (which we love too).
those Bose (which we love too).
Headphone Adaptor for Wired Headphones or Wireless Airpods Adaptor – Whether you are
traveling with wired headphones or wireless, you will likely benefit from one or both of these adaptors
on Asian carriers. (Singapore Airlines has a three prong plug but we use our two prong adaptors in it
and it works.)
Travel Blanket with Hoody – When you aren’t quite comfortable with that thin fleece blanket in
Economy Class, this is a great solution for those chilly long distance flights. You will love the hoody
when you just want to sleep and not be interrupted.
Molded Eye Mask 2-Pack – Most of our travelers swear by these for another way to try to get some
rest on that long over the water flight.
Organization:
Packable Daypack – A great way to carry your sunscreen, camera, water bottle OR bring it along in
your purse for shopping excursions. This is a good price because Osprey is discontinuing (new model
out now). There are a million packable daypacks but Osprey makes the best and worth the money for
the water bottle holder. (Trust us, we have tried a dozen.)
Clean/Dirty 2 Sided Packing Cube Eagle Creek’s two sided packing cube is perfect for storing your
dirty clothes on one side and clean clothes on the other. We like to keep swimsuits and beach wear on
the clean clothes side but you can organize it however you choose.
Compression Packing Cube Set with Laundry Bag – We love these compression cubes both for
space saving and organization. Try our hack of either getting a couple sets and color coordinate your
cubes’ contents or use some painter’s take and write on the cubes what is inside. This laundry bag that
is included is perfect for gathering your dirty clothes to take them to the laundry shop.
Packable Duffel for Souvenirs – This is a tried and true travel hack. The 60L is a great item to bring
along. Keep it all packed up in its pocket pouch until you are ready to pack your souvenirs for the flight
home. You are allowed two checked bags on International Flights so make sure you do most of your
shopping at your last stop.
Haiku Crossbody Purse – We love this brand for their well made eco products and this is a great bag
at this price point.
Carthartt Fanny Pack – A well made brand and great do to purse replacement. If you are careful,
there’s no need to worry about it being stolen.
Tech & Electronics:
Travel Outlet Surge Protector with Long Cord – This item replaces the larger, bulky, heavy one we
used to have on our packing list. Like the older version, the long cord is golden in Asian hotel rooms
when power outlets are often way on the other side of the room, behind the TV. This power strip has
plenty of sockets and USB slots and allows for voltage conversion from 110 to 220, a must if you plan
to bring a devise with heating elements like a dryer or flat iron. This one includes outlet adaptors so
make sure you check with us on which ones you will need to bring from this kit.
Surge Protector with Long Cord – If you don’t need the converter (above), consider a plug hub with
USB outlets. It is guaranteed the plug you need will be very far away from where you want to charge
your items. Additionally, it is quite common for there to only be one or two outlets in your room and if
you are sharing a room, this item will make things so much easier. Note that you should never charge
a phone, laptop, or tablet in a USB provided in a nightstand or lamp. Laptop Travelers should consider this one currently on sale.
Universal Outlet Adaptors – Not completely necessary for our travelers only going to Thailand (our
plugs fit into SOME OF their outlets), however they have more than one size and it is best to bring all in
case the plug nearest your bed is a different type. Check with us on which types you need to bring for
your itinerary. We like the individual adaptors (available in bundles) like this because some of their
outlets are not flush and the box style, on-the-wall type don’t fit: (best) Outlet Sets
Three Prong to Two Prong Adaptor – An inexpensive addition you should carry to make life
smoother. You can get just one at the hardware store for a couple bucks, but if you get three, your
roommate can use one and you’ll still have one for the person who forgets to pick one up.
Power Bank with Battery Life Display – Anker isn’t the only name in the power bank game. We
love this less expensive version and have never had an issue with it’s operation. In fact the digital
display with battery percentage remaining is super practical for travel. Note you will need an adaptor
with higher wattage in you want to charge a laptop in this unit, however most don’t and this works
great charging two items at a time, including a tablet.
On-the-go Magsafe Charger (wireless/attaches to phone) – Our newest recommendation is this 10,000 mAh iPhone and iWatch charger. We love it because no cord is needed and it’s a great way to recharge your Apple Watch in between adventures.
Apple Air Tags – Don’t stress about whether your luggage made the connection in Singapore, monitor its movements with AirTags for iPhone users or Tile for others.
Short Charging Cables – All of your cables don’t have to be 6 feet long. These shorties are perfect for
recharging your items on the go.
Electronics Organizer (2 options) – We like these two reasonably priced pouches for your electronic
gear. One or both will be room for whatever tech items you bring along.
Evergoods Brand Civic 2 – This pouch has amazing functionality as a desktop caddy that opens and
can stand on a table top as a way to stay organized in your hotel room. A bit pricey but it’s the last one
you will ever purchase.
Or Another Destop Tech Organizer we just found and love for around half the price.
can stand on a table top as a way to stay organized in your hotel room. A bit pricey but it’s the last one
you will ever purchase.
Or Another Destop Tech Organizer we just found and love for around half the price.
E Reader –These are great for the flight which will be dark most of the journey because they have
their own light source. Don’t forget to download the amazing story of Lek Chailert, The Elephant
Lady of Thailand and for our SIS6 Trip, Focusing on Angkor, First They Killed My Father,
Buddhism 101.
2-in-One Flashlight – This little light packs a punch. You can use it as a nightlight, flashlight, or bottle
opener (Soda water in Thailand comes in glass bottles). Power goes out sometimes, or you may need
to get to the bathroom if your roommate is sleeping. Clips onto your backpack.
Headlamp – For our Elephant Ambassadors, we suggest bringing a headlamp for our rural overnight
stay. This is the one we use for backpacking because it is Ultra-light and we love that for travel too.
Toiletry & Medicine Kit:
Hanging Toiletry Kit – We find the best travel toiletry bags can be hung. Whether you are sharing a
room with someone or just have limited counter space, the hook lets you get your items off the sink
countertop and keeps them organized for when you need to pack up and head to the next destination.
Sun Bum Reef Friendly Sunscreen (Face SPF 50) – Always use Reef Friendly products and when
you can, rinse off when entering the ocean. Let’s respect our fish friends.
Reef Friendly Sport Sun Crème – Always use Reef Friendly products and when you can, rinse off
when entering the ocean. Let’s respect our fish friends.
Eco Friendly Mosquito Repellent – On occasion, we will make you our special insect repellant if you
are local($10 for 3 oz), but in a pinch, this is an excellent “natural” deet-free brand.
Multi Symptom Imodium – You’ll probably need this at least once during your trip. Cipro is readily
available in Boots or other pharmacies in Southeast Asia, so if you find yourself using more than 3 of
these tablets, you might want to switch to Cipro to be safe. (Cipro is available OTC in Thailand.)
LMNT Flavored Keto Electrolytes – Whether it’s because you are dehydrated from the heat or from
stomach or health issues, you will appreciate having these in your toiletry kit and you will love these
flavors!
stomach or health issues, you will appreciate having these in your toiletry kit and you will love these
flavors!
ANTI NAUSEA MEDICATON – Trader Joe’s has Ginger Chews that taste yummy. Some need a bit
more like this linked option.
BASIC FIRST AID KIT – You’d be surprised at how handy this will be – if not for you, for a travel
companion. Don’t forget to pack in in your day bag!
Clothes, Shoes, & Accessories:
Cooling Bandana – Great for hiking or just days on tour, this is a great way to cool off (that and a
quick trip into a 7-11)
Souvenir Trucker Hat – Bring a fun trucker hat you can leave behind with the local who touched your
soul. They usually love these especially with sport teams’ logos or movies or tv shows.
Water Socks – These are great for jumping on and off the longtail boats and for walking in shallow
water.
Beach Cover Up Skirt – A Rip skirt knock off that’s perfect for lunch by the pool or at a beach side
cafe. It has quick dry material and is very light weight. Great to wear on the boat too.
UV Protection Travel Blouse (Women’s) – We are excited about this one. It doubles as a beach day
shirt and a temple day outfit. Check out the cooling vent in the back!
(Men’s Version)
Short Sleeved Button-up Shirts (Women’s) Travel shirts are easy to wash at night and will dry by
morning with these fabrics. These are cooler solutions to t-shirts. We still recommend three of your
favorite t-shirts.
(Men’s) We recommend 3 – 4 t-shirts in addition to this (or 2 short sleeved button up shirts and 2-3 t-
shirts.
shirts.
Chaco’s River Shoes (Women’s) – A practical option to be used as a walking shoe, a beach shoe, or
an evening shoe. Very lightweight and fast drying. Our founder’s favorite version.
(Men’s currently ON SALE)
Royal Robbins Bergin Skirt – A great travel skirt. Note that it is too short for temple use. This can
replace a pair of shorts.
Light Denim Beach Shorts (Women’s) – Too short for temples and palaces, these can be worn
around Thai islands and resorts.
(Men’s Shorts Option)
Women’s Hiking Shorts. A total of two pairs of shorts is plenty because you will wear pants short
pants (capri) most of the time, so it’s a good idea to make one of the pairs for hiking.
Men’s Hiking Shorts. Mens hiking shorts can be work as casual shorts for travel days or non temple
days since they are longer than women’s. These are practical with the phone and cargo pockets and
are quick dry.
Swim Trunks – A simple option with color variations. We suggest 2 swim trunks for men so they are
dry when needed; or one swim trunk and one quick dry short.
Rash Guard and/or Sun Hoodie – Pretty much a must these days. Women’s Rash Guard and Sun
Hoodie / Men’s Rash Guard and Sun Hoodie TIP: Get a pre-owned one on Poshmark where they are
half price or less. Use this link for $10 off when you sign up on Poshmark.
Beach CoverUp – A longer coverup works well for shopping after a day at the beach without a
costume change.
costume change.
Foldable Sun Straw Hat – Just bring a hat. Baseball hat or anything. You will need it in the tropical
sun.
Royal Robbins Adjustable Travel Pants (Women’s) – Whether you need a long pant for the flight
or capris allowing for a cooler option, this pant is your two in one go to. We suggest one more pant and
one capri or long short as well. (Men’s Option). We recommend two extra pairs of pants for men and
two more shorts – more options below.
Prana Corissa Dress – This wrap around dress is a great travel dress choice. You may reduce the
number of pants you bring if you pack this.
Scarf (for Temples) – A scarf is a travel essential, especially for counties where you will visit temples.
It works as sun protection, an air conditioner blocker, or an accessory for a fancy dinner. Light colors
are recommended to beat the heat.
Chacos Slides (Women’s) – Great for the flight and to use on temple days (flip flops not
recommended)
Rain Poncho – It usually always rains in Asia, but in rainy season, don’t get caught without your
poncho.
Underwear and Bras Exofficio Women’s and Exofficio Men’s Underwear / Boody Bras are our
favorite for quick dry features (underwear) or comfortability (bras)
Short Sleeved or Tanks are good for beach days or when we aren’t heading to a temple. For Women,
we like these sleeveless shirts by Columbia as they are dressy and very lightweight (cotton is not
advisable in tropical climates (2 would be perfect for excursion days – don’t forget a shawl or scarf if
it’s a temple day). For Men, these quick dry tanks are a good option (2 or 3).
Pajamas and/or Lounge Pants – A good pair of Elephant (lounge) pants can be used to sleep in or
wear to the beach or café. These are for sale everywhere in Southeast Asia for about $5-8. You can
spend a whole day looking for your size (we can help because we know of some places) but the it’s
about the quest not the journey, right? These are what we mean by Elephant Pants and they are
unisex. Brind a couple of things to sleep in. Perhaps one pajama set and one lounge pant/short and use
one of your t-shirts as a sleep shirt. Women’s pajamas. Men’s pajamas.
Other Gear & Gadgets:
Dry Bag for Island Hopping – It you plan to go snorkeling from a boat, we recommend bring one of
these “boat bags” along. This one has an outside mesh compartment for your wet towel. You can also
use this to pack wet clothes in between activities.
Small Dry Bag – Bring one of these along to keep your phone, room key, wallet, and money separate
from the rest of your gear on the dive boat. We suggest a bright color that is different from your towel
so it’s easy to find in your boat bag.
Quick Dry Towel – Your hotel will have beach towels but they are heavy and huge. Consider this one
for excursions where a towel will come in handy. If you get one of the larger ones, you can use it as a
travel blanket. (Consider leaving the bulky case it comes with at home as we find it to be a space
waster.)
TSA Approved Travel Lock – You will need a couple. Don’t make it easy for curious baggage
handlers. Plus, they keep your luggage from opening!
Beach Blanket – Packable – A new item on our packing list, but at this size and weight, why not? Use
it to sit on the grass or take it to the beach instead of a sarong, because those take a week to dry in
the humid climate.
it to sit on the grass or take it to the beach instead of a sarong, because those take a week to dry in
the humid climate.
Hero Clip – If you haven’t heard of these, check this out. Use them for hanging your bag up in the
public toilets or on the minivan.
PEAK DESIGN Reusable Shopping Tote – This one has a zipper and can be a travel purse as well as
a fold-up tote. You will find this item extremely necessary and Peak Design is a great company to
support with eco friendly materials on many products.
Seasick Prevention Bracelets – Can’t hurt. These help for sea sickness and car sickness along with
some ginger chews (pick those up at Trader Joe’s).
Refillable Water Bottle with Filter – You’ll love this budget friendly Brita bottle with a filter. Filtered
water is always available in our hotels so just refill your bottle every morning before setting out for the
day. Another tip is to purchase an extra large sized water at 7-11 (or the equivalent) and refill your
bottle and another’s. The less plastic we purchase, the better we serve the countries we visit. Metal
Water Bottle Option (no filter) – We like this one better than Hydro Flask. Don’t forget to put on
your Get Out There Tours+Travel Sticker(s)!!
Instant Coffee Packets – Hotels in Asia come equipped with water boiling kettles with tea and
instant coffee. There’s never enough if you are a true coffee drinker (and you may not like the weak
flavor of Nescafe or similar.
Powdered Oat Creamer – You’ll love these convenient single serving Oat Milk Creamers as much as
we do!
Travel Utensil Set – Please help stop the use of single use plastic in Asia. You will find these more
sturdy anyway and very practical. This one comes with straws for those Mango/Passion Fruit Smoothies
you’ll fall in love with!
Costa Rica
Costa Rica Trip Packing List
Clothes:
- 1-2 lightweight long sleeved button up shirt(s) with wicking, spf, and ventilation Women’s or Men’s
- 3 wicking t-shirts (cotton is horrible for this climate and will not dry) Women’s or Men’s
- 1 tank or sleeveless wicking shirt (can be worn under long sleeved as layer) Women’s or Men’s
- 1 sun hoody or rash guard (unisex) that can be worn on rafting excursions or as a protective layer or Women’s
- 1 pair of convertible pants (zip off shorts) Women’s or Men’s
- 1 pair of lightweight jogger style pants (tight ankle style) Women’s or Men’s
- 1 pair of hiking 5”+ shorts Women’s or Men’s
- 1 pair of comfortable water resistant or quick dry athletic shorts to raft in (see hiking example above)
- 1 pair of pants to lounge in (lightweight, elephant or boho pant style)
- 2 sets of pajamas; one short, one long legged/sleeved (long legged could be used as lounge pants)
- women: 2 quick dry/wicking bras or sports bras
- 1 pair of underwear per day
- 2 swimsuits/trunks Women’s or Men’s
- cover up for pool or hot spring use (sarong ok)
- rash guard or quick dry sun hoodie – see above
- quick dry travel towel
- 1 sun hat (hiking hat with brim) AND 1 trucker style hat (quick dry mesh type best)
- sunglasses
- croakie style cord
- 4 pairs of merino wool socks (merino can be re-worn)
- 1 rain jacket or poncho
- 1 buff or bandana (this one has insect repellant)
- adventure water shoes (this is a specific requirement if rafting)
- hiking shoes
- sandals that are also walking shoes
- flip flops for hotel (optional)
Toiletries:
- eco-friendly sunscreen (no chemicals)
- eco-friendly bug repellant
- brush/comb
- shampoo/conditioner
- soap/bath gel
- lotion
- moisturizer
- shaver/cream
- q-tips/cotton rounds
- toothbrush and toothpaste
Medications and First Aid:
- anti nausea medication
- anti itch cream
- Imodium or similar
- probiotics
- Benadryl
- motrin or other anti inflammatory pain relief med
- Cipro or antibiotics
- bandaids
- Leuko tape or blister remedy
- basic first aid kit with gauze, tape, antiseptic, etc
- eye drops and any contact lens solutions you may need
- aloe vera gel
Gadgets and Electronics:
- headlamp
- water bottle
- water proof phone case and strap
- 5 foot power adaptor (outlets are always way across the room)
- cords and cables
- three prong adaptor
- usb adaptor
- portable fan
- clothes line
- laundry sheets (cut up two or three into squares to wash clothes in your sink)
- spork or bamboo cutlery and metal straw (say no to plastic)
- foldable, reusable shopping bag
- water bag for rafting (this one is a bundle with water proof phone pouch)
Luggage and Packs:
- Travel Sling
- Personal Item Backpack for travel
- Backpack for hiking
- Travel carry-on convertible duffel – backpack by Patagonia
- Check-in budget wheeled duffel
- Hanging Toiletry Kit (great for two sharing a room with limited counter space)