Backpacker tips
Passport, phone and money: the only three things you always need
When you do not know what to take, three things are always enough: a passport, a phone and money. I call them the holy trinity of travel. Everything else you can buy, borrow or live without.
The rule
People overpack because they are afraid of what they might need. My answer is simple. If you carry the trinity, you can solve almost any problem on the road, because people everywhere have the same basic needs as you, and money buys what they offer.
Passport: it lets you travel
A passport and the right visa decide whether you can enter a country at all. Visa rules change fast. Before one flight to Vietnam, I met travellers who had been refused boarding because the country had stopped offering visa on arrival only days earlier. I had to change my plans overnight. Check the official rules shortly before you fly, and keep a photo of your passport page in a safe place.
Money: it buys what you need
Money solves the basics: food, a bed, transport, medicine, a new T-shirt. On my first trip to Asia I flew with seven kilograms of hand luggage and planned to buy mountain clothes and gear in Nepal, where they were cheap. Carry some cash in the local currency, a card, and a backup card stored separately. When I lost my wallet on Mount Fuji, kind strangers and the police helped me get it back, but you should not count on that. Spread your money across two places.
Phone: it connects you
A phone is your map, translator, camera, bank and way home. In Bangkok I bought a SIM card at the airport before I left the building, and a few minutes later I had found a hostel and a bus to the islands. In remote villages in Vietnam, a voice translator on my phone let me talk to a family who offered me a bed. Download offline maps, carry a power bank and back up your photos.
What can wait
Clothes, a towel, toiletries, a rain jacket and even most mountain gear can be bought along the way. Pack light enough to walk with your bag for an hour. If something is truly missing, you will find it in the next town.
A simple checklist
Passport and a copy; local cash and two cards stored separately; phone with offline maps and a charger; power bank; a small first aid kit. This is the whole list.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three most important things to take when travelling?
A passport, a phone and money. The passport lets you cross borders, money buys what you need, and the phone helps with maps, communication and emergencies.
How much luggage do you travel with?
On my first Asia trip I flew with seven kilograms of hand luggage and bought clothes and gear locally.
What should I do if I lose my wallet abroad?
Cancel your cards, use your backup card, ask local police or your accommodation for help, and keep money in two separate places in the future.