With spring officially upon us and the summer months just around the corner, people are
beginning to take a break from their day jobs for some much-needed rest and relaxation. And whether you’re
taking a week off to fulfill your lifelong dream of scaling the Eiffel Tower or planning a weeklong siesta at
an all-inclusive beach resort, here are some invaluable items you should bring along for the ride.
To help you sleep
Because you never know when you might want to take a cat nap, a pair of ear plugs and a sleep mask
will have you dozing off in no time. Whether a crying baby is cutting into your shut-eye or the lights are
turned up too bright in the airplane cabin, popping in the ear plugs and sliding on the sleep mask is a great
way to tune out the outside world just for a little bit.
To avoid painful sunburns
Because nothing spoils a vacation like irritating sunburns, take a preventive approach by bringing
along a bottle of sunblock or sunscreen, a pair of sunglasses and, if you so desire, a wide-brimmed sunhat.
The difference between sunblock and sunscreen can be found in their names. Much like a screen door lets in
some air, sunscreen lets in some ultraviolet (UV) rays, resulting in tanned skin, while sunblock completely
blocks out the sun’s rays. The sun protection factor (SPF) of a sunscreen indicates the effectiveness of that
particular product in avoiding sunburns, with higher numbers offering better protection than lower numbers.
The SPF of a sunscreen can be as low as two and as high as 100 so choosing the sunscreen that’s right for
your skin complexion is paramount. If you’re unsure, just ask your pharmacist. After all, you want to come
home showing off a healthy tan, not looking like a tomato.
To preserve your memories
Whether you want to impress your friends and family with all the fun activities you enjoyed or just
want a visual reminder of your trip, be sure to pack a camera. And to ensure you don’t miss out on any
once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities, don’t forget an SD card and a charger and/or batteries depending on
your camera.
If you’re in the market for a new camera, look no further than the Nikon D5100, a 16.2-megapixel (MP)
single-lens reflex (SLR) camera capable of recording high-definition video. And for a more portable option,
you can’t go wrong with the 14-MP Casio Exilim EX-H20G, which features a 10X optical zoom. The Exilim even
offers GPS capabilities that can show you the way to tourist destinations so you’ll never get lost while on
vacation.
To keep your feet happy
Suitable footwear is a must for any trip. So be sure to select your footwear based on your
destination. Hitting the beach? Sandals are a necessity. Strolling through city streets and museum exhibits?
Bring a light comfortable pair of walking shoes. Hitting the hiking trails? Well, you get the idea. Just know
that you’ll probably want to avoid scaling the Eiffel Tower in flip-flops.
One of the most popular brands of sandals out there has to be Birkenstock. First developed in 1897, the
German-based manufacturer uses cork and rubber to make sandals that conform to people’s feet the more they
wear them, making them one of the most comfortable options around. If you’re more apt to wearing flip-flops,
Rainbow Sandals is a Californian company that has been specializing in the footwear since 1974.
To keep you entertained
Travelling unfortunately can be fraught with delays and waiting times. Basically, you’re likely to
do a lot of sitting around before you reach your destination and will probably be in need of some activities
to help pass the time. For the more traditional among us, a deck of playing cards or a novel by your
favourite scribbler may do the trick.
Twenty-first-century options? The recently released iPad 2, the world’s most popular tablet computer, can
provide users with hours of entertainment, whether you want to listen to music, play games or watch a movie.
For the bookworm in all of us, e-book readers, similar in size to the iPad with the capacity to store
hundreds of books, are very popular these days with Amazon’s Kindle leading the way. And if your kids love
video games, hand-held devices such as the Nintendo 3DS or Sony’s PSP are good options to keep the little
ones entertained.
To keep you safe
It’s always a good policy to get your hands on some local currency before departing. Because you
never know when you’ll come across the next bank machine, have some cash in your wallet for taxi rides, bus
tickets and even a bite to eat. Bringing a credit card along is a reliable fallback. And last but definitely
not least, don’t forget your passport! •
Photo by Marcus Vegas
