16 Tips for your trip (in South America)

[André Contini]

1-Padlock

Several cheap hostels use padlocks to lock their rooms, so you can feel safer if you use your own. Also, you can use the padlock to lock your backpack in the lockers that are sometimes provided by the hostel.

 

2-Don't exchange money in airports/duty free/bus stations

These places have a very unfavourable exchange rate. The best places are around the city centre.

 

3-Money belt (inside your pants)

If you travel in South America, you'll discover that many cities don't have cash machines. That means you’ll need to carry a lot of cash with you.

 

4-Torch

A smartphone should be enough. Having a torch is important because some places don't have power.

 

5-Small backpack

For the camera, food, water and coat during your walks.

 

6-Sunscreen

Doesn't require an explanation.

 

7-Take extra underwear in your small backpack

Your flight can be delayed for hours and the airline may send you to a hotel overnight. Or maybe your backpack can be lost by the airline company and you could be waiting for it for days.

 

8-Comfortable shoes

Doesn't require an explanation.

 

9-Books

Some people measure how cool a person is by the number of books, trips and friends they have. So buy a nice book for yours.

 

10-Take all electronic equipment in your cabin luggage

Airports have an “invisible machine” that destroys everything you leave there (if you’ve already checked-in your bags, then you know what I'm talking about)

 

11-Make your itinerary flexible

You shouldn't have activities planned for every day because sometimes you can be so tired that your trip becomes a burden rather than fun. Reserve one or two days in the middle of your trip to recharge your batteries!

 

12-Avoid white clothes and jeans

White clothes may never be white again after a trip. Jeans can be uncomfortable and don’t dry easily. Remember that after all, holidays are made of rainy days as well.

 

13-Toilet paper

After you leave the airport, you won't find it anymore (this includes hostels, restaurants, bus stations, etc.)

 

14-Plastic bags

Take some plastics bags to pack dirty clothes. You can save your clean clothes when you are walking under the rain.

 

15-Jackknife

Opens packs and cuts things.

 

16-Small notebook and a pen

For addresses, annotations, accounts, etc. It's very important to take notes of all payments you make in order to forecast future expenses. Otherwise your trip might finish earlier than expected.