Some suggestions before you leave:
- Pay any bills
- If you know where you are going, leave your contact details with a friend or relative
- If your taking a long trip, make arrangements with your bank for any payments, especially credit card related, you don't want problems with your card whilst travelling
- Change the message on your answering machine or voice mail and forward your e-mail
- Confirm your flight time and tickets
- Arrange for some one to water your plants
- Who's looking after your pet? It's pretty important
- Give copies of your keys to someone if you're planning a really long trip
- Visit your dentist or doctor if you're planning to be away for awhile
- Forward newspapers and magazines
- Unplug electrical stuff and switch off the water to your house if your leaving in the winter, burst pipes are always fun to come home to

Personal Packing Tips:
Travel tickets (airline, ferry, train, bus, etc.)
Map - country, underground, etc.
Timetables - if you planning to catch buses, trains.
Address book - keep contacts of people you meet/e-mail address etc.
Passport, Visas.
Vaccination certificate - if required.
Travel insurance certificates - we recommend insurance for all trips.
Travel checks/cash - do not keep the receipt for your travelers' checks together.
Emergency money - good to have, consider a money belt.
Cards (Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, American Express etc) - remember your PIN code.
Driving license - consider an international driving license, many countries insist you have this.
Student ID cards/International Youth Hostel Card etc. Travel journal - not necessary but nice to keep.
Phone cards - can come in useful.
Phrase books or guide books.
A good book - this come in handy if your planning to do a lot of traveling.

Clothes/Accessories/Personal - Men:
- toilet bag/shaving equipment
- mirror
- toothbrush/toothpaste/soap
- shampoo
- sun protection
- contact lenses/lens cleaning liquid
- lip balm
- extra glasses - if you wear them
- sunglasses
- cotton underwear - easy to wash
- condoms
- small first aid kit
- pills and tablets/medication
- water purifying tablets
- motion sickness tablets
- fever tablets/paracetamol /allergy pills/malaria tablets
- shirts/t-shirts - good all round men's wear
- shorts - consider the ones with many pockets
- socks - wool is best
- pants/trousers
- good pair of quality shoes/boots - a pair of cheap flip-flops also come in handy
- hot climates- cap/hat, tracksuit, light raincoat, umbrella, swimming trunks, beach pants
- cold climates - scarf, knitted cap, sweater, gloves/mittens, jacket, long underwear

Clothes/Accessories/Personal - Women:
- toilet bag
- shaving equipment
- mirror
- toothbrush/toothpaste/soap
- shampoo
- sun protection
- contact lenses/lens cleaning liquid
- lip balm
- extra glasses - if you wear them
- sun glasses
- tampons
- small first aid kit
- pills and tablets/medication
- water purifying tablets
- motion sickness tablets
- fever tablets/paracetamol /allergy pills/malaria tablets
- cotton underwear/bra - easy to wash
- condoms/supply of pills
- skirts/wrap a rounds - however it is important to remember that in some countries the length of the skirt and material (semi-see-through) could get you into trouble. also in some countries women are forbidden to wear shorts. check first before travelling
- hot climates- cap/hat, track-suit, light raincoat, umbrella, bikini, swimsuit, beach pants, sarong or light scarf
- cold climates - scarf, knitted cap, sweater, gloves/mittens, jacket, warm underwear

General Stuff To Pack:
- backpack - do not go for cheap ones and buy a rain cover, wet clothes are nasty
- small extra (knap sack) - comes in useful as an extra bag when doing small trips/walks
- plastic bags -excellent to put stuff in, including dirty clothes
- suitcase - if your not backpacking
- padlocks for both the backpack and suitcase or flexible steel cable (or chain)
- earplugs
- sleeping bag
- sheets and a good towel
- mosquito net - necessary in some places like africa due to the malaria problem
- sleeping mattress
- stove
- swiss army knife - very useful
- can opener/bottle opener/corkscrew
- water bottle/thermos
- eating utensils/cup etc - if backpacking
- compass
- binoculars
- camera and film
- poker cards
- lighter/matches
- sewing kit
- wall socket adapter
- alarm clock
- hair dryer/travel iron