Travel Packing TipsHere are some more travel packing tips specifically for India. It's not always easy to know what you'll need before you get there.
Travel Packing Tips #7 - Coffee Lovers Be Prepared
It depends how addicted you are to good tasting coffee and how easy it will be to find in the part of India you・re going to. But my friend Kara and I both travel with our own stainless steel, one-person coffee plungers, a cup and some good coffee from home. After you've spent all night on a train, there's one thing I really don't want to hear when I ask if there's coffee: 'Yes madam, Nescoffee!' Now instant coffee is not something I can get excited about, so I really prefer to have a decent alternative. In any case on the trains I tend to choose chai (Indian tea) and when it's made well it is a treat, but it's my little luxury when traveling to have that lovely coffee close by when I need it.
Travel Packing Tips #8 - Natural Fibers RuleEven in winter, India can be quite warm during the day. I find wearing natural fibers like cotton and viscose is the best way to keep cool. The most practical trousers I found were cargo pants and jeans (of course), though cargo pants are lighter, which is good for the luggage limit.Travel Packing Tips #9 - Be Prepared to ShopTake an empty suitcase or large bag with you in your luggage as you'll want it to bring all your purchases home. Whether you're a die-hard shopper or not, I know you'll find something you fall in love with. But if it's too big to put in your bag, you can always have it sent home.Travel Packing Tips #10 - Pashminas/ShawlsTake a Pashmina or two, or get them there if you don't have any. Depending which season you're traveling in, take/buy a combination of cotton or viscose ones and wool/cashmere/pashmina as your budget allows. A cheaper woollen one can be used to sit on when you want to sit in a park, as a shield from the sun, as a blanket on a train trip: all in all they're really useful. Guys can also use shawls in India and they come in large sizes and neutral colors especially for them. I got my husband one which was a neutral camel brown one side and grey the other, with a simple border design and he loves it.Oh, a note on the term 'Pashmina'. Because the word 'shawl' is old-fashioned and the word 'Pashmina' is prestigious, you will now hear the term Pashmina used to mean a shawl made of just about anything from viscose to wool to silk, as well as pashmina. I fought this for a while, but eventually it became a clear case of 'If you can't beat them, join them'. Just be careful that you get what you pay for when you go shopping, take a knowledgeable friend with you if you can.
Travel Packing Tips #11 - Sandals with a HeelI find that a pair of sturdy black sandals with a chunky mid-size heel works well in India. It's often too hot to want to wear closed in shoes all the time, so sandals are good, but as long as they have heels you can wear them to a hotel dinner when the occasion arises. Having just a little heel also keeps your feet out the odd unpleasant thing on the ground.Travel Packing Tips #12 - Pack enough clothes if you are on the larger sideI love shopping for clothes and shoes, but in India, I have to be careful. I'm an average size person (both clothes and shoe size) in the west, but in India, I'm supersized. When I want to buy a pair of shoes in India, they usually have to send someone up to the storage area for the extra-extra-extra large sizes. The average size in India would be the smallest size sold in my country. So don't necessarily expect to be able to walk into any shop and buy extra pieces, especially if you・re on the larger side of average in the West, though as India becomes more affluent with big name Western brands having a presence there, it・s a little easier than it used to be.Back from 'Travel Packing Tips' to Tips 1-6 Back to 'Travel tips for India' Back to 'India Travel Secrets' home
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