What to Take on Day Trips

Whether you’re a man, woman, or child, you should try to pack with mobility and comfort in mind.  Many medical tourism countries are hot and congested, so wearing loose and comfortable clothing is a wise decision.  And as a general rule, you should only take the most essential items with you. 

As a lone female traveler, this list of essential items deserves closer attention.  For in addition to a money belt, cell phone, and map (recommended for all travelers), the following items have proven extremely useful for many female travelers: 

• Flashlight – although you should avoid nighttime travel by yourself, there are situations where it can’t be helped.  Take a flashlight with you just in case.  We’ve never had a reader write to us saying, “Gosh, I wish I hadn’t brought a spare flashlight.”

• Police info – you should know the emergency contact numbers for whatever cities you visit.  Having this information easily accessible will sometimes deter taxi drivers who try to cheat you, annoying guys who constantly hit on you, and vendors looking to take advantage of you. 

• Comfortable shoes – avoid the temptation of wearing stylish high-heeled shoes when you travel about.  They are uncomfortable, inappropriate (in some countries), and very difficult to run in.  Your shoes should be simple, completely broken-in, and modest.  For a list of packing tips, please visit our section on What to Wear.

• Umbrella – we realize that it’s a major pain to carry an umbrella (especially when it’s not raining at all), but it provides a little extra protection against would-be attackers.  When push comes to shove, umbrellas don’t do that much damage, but your goal is to make yourself as unattractive a target as possible.

• Pepper spray – this one is a personal choice, and for legal reasons, we can’t officially recommend carrying items of this sort.  But if you are risk-averse, pepper spray can ward off even the most persistent individuals.  Keep in mind, however, that pepper spray is illegal in many countries.  Use this item at your own risk.