10 Things Experienced Travelers Know NOT To Pack (Never Take #9!)

Click "show more" to see links mentioned in this video and ad disclosure 👇

The more you travel, the more you realize what you DON'T need to pack. Here are some travel packing tips that'll help you avoid packing unnecessary stuff.

And here are a few things I mentioned in the video:

___
🟠 C O O L S T U F F :

___
🟢 T O P R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S :

___
🔴 C H A P T E R S:
0:00 travel has changed
0:09 the wrong type of pillow
0:54 the wrong towels
1:23 the wrong type of money
3:12 the wrong type of SIM
4:16 printed stuff (sometimes)
5:08 the wrong tech stuff
6:42 the wrong camera
7:09 the wrong liquids
7:38 the wrong luggage

___
🟣 A L I T T L E A B O U T U S

Heyo! Mitch and Day here 👋🏼

We’re just your typical American-Colombian couple determined to live every second of our precious time here on earth to the fullest. After a 10-month solo backpacking trip through South America, I (Mitch) stopped in Cali, Colombia to take salsa dancing classes 💃🏻. I only planned to stay for a couple weeks, but God had other plans for me. I met a cute Colombian girl (Day) in class, those couple weeks turned into a couple years, and before we knew it...we were married 👰🏻🤵🏼

Now we’re traveling the world full time as digital nomads, supporting ourselves by working online 👨‍💻👩‍💻

Our goal with these videos is to inspire you to step outside your comfort zone, give you an inside peek at our crazy imperfect lives, and show you that you don’t have to be rich to live an extraordinary life...all you need to do is make the choice!

___
Advertiser Disclosure:
This video may contain links through which we are compensated when you click on or are approved for offers. The information in this video was not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Offers are current only as the time of the video publishing date and may have changed by the time you watch it.
Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. Project Untethered does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

[ProjectUntethered]

What other commonly packed items do you think should be left at home? Share your thoughts in the comments 👇

[sobaksobak]

Last year I did 14 days in South Korea with my daughter. There were things I didn’t pack thinking I would just buy them there but I found it takes away from the vacation to have to spend time buying stuff you need, especially if you’re at all particular about brand or type. This year I’m just packing everything I need.

[vshanks]

Tell me, I just wanted to tell you that of all the Youtubers that are male that have offered plain and simple suggestions for travel. I found your channel to be the best. I’m so glad I found your channel!!! Please keep up the good work Vic.

[dotted-]

Yes to carryon only. Over past 5 months I’ve switched to no checked bags. Made numerous week-long trips refining my packing and invested in lightweight travel/merino wool clothing. Selling everything to begin my full-time, slow intl. travel in 2 months with carryon only. Love the thought of having everything I own in a small roller bag and my knack pack.

[grantw]

Excellent advice! We are 73 & 76 and although we have travelled the world with only carry-on rolling suitcases, this year we are switching to carry-on backpacks and carefully weighing all our items as we will be using trains to get around the country. We will definitely not be taking any "just in case" items that we always seem to add and never use.

[Cosmotravels]

Doing our 1st Carry-On only for an 11 day trip to Ireland. Also, 1st time going there. I watched your videos & Portables, so I feel more confident about doing this. Thank You!!!

[paulharrison]

Some interesting ideas thanks, I looked at the esim, and to be honest it's way way too expensive, actually more than twice as much, when compared to getting a physical sim when I get to my destination.
One tip that you no doubt now know, is never ever give your passport to someone when hiring a motorbike, car, jetski, etc, give them a photocopy, if they insist on the passport, go elsewhere.

[markushilbmann]

I often bought the SIM cards offered upon arrival and often there was a special offer for arriving travelers.
Enough data volume for the first few days ...

[ebermtheburn]

I use a 38L carry on backpack for the overhead bin and a 20L personal item handbag for under the seat. It has always worked perfectly.

[MikaTyni]

I always print a physical copy of my boarding pass. Relaying only on your phone is just stupid.

[dplj]

8:12 i do carry on, dual purpose, slip offs at airport.

[WikidWard]

Have a look into rolling square and their charger cables. They can be used for all devices and they have several lengths.

[robertashagam]

I figured out how to use the trtl. As you said, you just have to move it around till it feels ok. Comfortable or not- it supports your neck and head. Tu for this. Now, let’s get the e -sim:)

[scrapjoy]

In a window seat, a packing cube doubles as a clean pillow.

[talhamorol]

both checked bags and carry on are good for flights!

[loretab]

Thank you I travel with my towel for a long time but never use it.

[thebubbacontinuum]

1. Airline pillows are worthless.
2. On a 14-hour flight, you will definitely want something to hold your chin up off your chest, so travel pillows are important.
3. There are inflatable pillows that work great and pack small.
4. A rain jacket is just about worthless, but a travel umbrella is great and takes up less room.
5. Your wife's pillow idea is genius.
6. You shouldn't pack a towel, but you should definitely bring a decent washcloth.
7. If you really need to use your own number while you're away, Holafly won't do you any good. I pay Verizon $10 per day for international service. I consider it a worthwhile expense so I can continue doing business overseas.
8. Books can't come close to doing what guides do. I had to book guided activities in order to get foreign countries to grant visas to my African wife, and the guides really enhanced our trips. We learned what locals are going through in Hong Kong because of the filthy communist government, for example. Also, if you take a food tour, a guide who has to watch you eat the food is more likely to take you to good places, and they'll help you eat the way locals do. Youtube jerks have sent me and my wife to places with disgusting food, and everything recommended by Anthony Bourdain is garbage.
9. Phones are amazing these days, but there is no substitute for a good camera if you want to do a really good job of preserving memories. Remote mikes with dead cats are essential, even if you're only taking a phone. Bring a tiny rechargeable light for places like dark restaurants. If you're really serious, buy a gimbal.
10. The carry-on cult is right when it comes to very short trips, but if you're gone more than a week, you will get tired of washing your dirty underwear in the sink frequently and wearing the same 4 shirts. Life is much easier with a big bag, unless you're pulling it all the time. When I travel, I have to move my bag a little bit when I'm going to and from airports. Other than that, it sits in my room or in racks or cargo holds. You can fill checked bags with clothes you're not afraid to lose, and aside from that, the loss rate is very, very low. When you come home, you'll have a place to put stuff you bought. Also, you'll never be surprised by a stewardess who forces you to check your tiny bag after boarding.

Stuff I've learned:

1. Bring your own OTC medicine. Don't assume you can get anything OTC abroad. Don't expect to waltz into a beautiful American-style drugstore and choose from thousands of items in relative anonymity. In Ireland, you have to beg a pharmacist to let you have things, and you get to enjoy telling a stranger you have jock itch or hemorrhoids.
2. Take a small laptop that folds into a tablet. You may want to use it at your hotel for various things, like picking new destinations and flights, and a hotel PC is no substitute. If it doubles as a tablet, you don't have to squint at a tiny phone while watching movies or reading on a plane.
3. Bring a backpack made for holding a laptop, glasses, a cold drink, and whatever electronics you need. Swiss Gear makes fantastic small backpacks. A backpack will allow you to keep your medications with you, as well as things like antiseptic wipes, and you won't have to leave valuables in a hotel room "safe" that can be opened with a butter knife.
4. Start walking and exercising a month before you travel, so you can handle walking a lot. Walking is the best way to see new places, and it helps kill travel fat. If you show up in a hilly place or a place where you have to walk a lot on flat ground, without getting in shape, expect to be miserable. Like my wife was in Hong Kong and Egypt.
5. Find room for a good white noise machine, unless you enjoy listening to drunks at 3 a.m.
6. Bring a good sleep mask and silicone ear plugs.
7. Bring a clothesline. And if you're in Singapore, get yourself a big bottle of Guardian purple body wash for about $3. You can use it on your hair, body, and clothes.
8. Always, ALWAYS keep Imodium in your backpack, on your person. Single most important travel medicine. Bring stool softener, too. If you overdo the Imodium, you will be glad you brought stool softener.
9. Your American health insurance won't work in other countries, so buy a short policy. Don't buy it from Heymondo, because they are crooks who do not pay claims.
10. Get Global Entry. It's worth it.

[kiyoshitakeda]

Currency carry includes USD, JPN¥, HK$ or CN¥(Renminbi). Why? Usable everywhere and convertible too. Also easily available at banks. Your tips made sense and I do lots of them too.

[twdeer]

Any time that I have flown I always do carry on. I planed my whole trip via the web. I didn’t find much on YouTube about my destination so I had to plan via travel sights.

[buzzbladz]

Physical Boarding Pass and copy on the phone for Me, redundancy in case of theft or phone dying. Great advise, got My sub