| Whether you're a busy business traveller heading off | | | | will allow you to block out annoying light pollution by |
| to yet another meeting, or a backpacker about to | | | | night, and should also enable you to get some shut-eye |
| embark on a gap-year adventure, there are some vital | | | | during daylight hours. |
| items that no traveller should leave behind. The | | | | Power Adapter |
| following will help make your trip much more pleasant, | | | | In this world of the mobile phone, laptop computer, |
| so don't forget to pack these essentials. | | | | PDA, Nintendo DS, and MP3 player, there's little reason |
| Ear Plugs | | | | to get bored whilst in transit. But one thing you will |
| Travelling is an inherently tiring process often requiring | | | | require to keep these devices alive is electricity; and |
| early starts and late nights. Combine this with unfamiliar | | | | remember, different countries have different plug |
| beds and noisy hotel guests, and you're going to need | | | | sockets and different power outputs. To ensure you |
| all the help you can get to fall asleep. Enter the ear | | | | can plug into your destination's national grid, get a |
| plugs; these simple pieces of wax or foam can be a | | | | worldwide adaptor that will allow you to tap the supply |
| saviour for tired travellers, allowing you to block out the | | | | from your host country, anywhere in the world. |
| auditory world, and sink into a much needed deep and | | | | Travel Bag |
| refreshing sleep. Ear plugs come in a surprising variety | | | | It's no good having all the essential items if you've got |
| of shapes and sizes and can also range considerably | | | | nowhere to put them, therefore make sure you've got |
| in price. Start off with a cheaper foam pair and see | | | | a good, strong bag to put everything in. The type of |
| how they perform; a recent review of ear plugs by | | | | bag will obviously vary depending on the type of |
| Slate Magazine found that out of 8 different pairs, the | | | | traveller; backpackers favour, well... backpacks and |
| ear plugs that cost 50p per pair turned out to be the | | | | business travellers tend to go for hard-shell wheelie |
| most effective and comfortable. | | | | cases. Both should also carry a travel make up bag |
| Eye Mask | | | | for small loose items such as toothbrushes and |
| It's all very well cutting out the sounds, but what about | | | | toiletries. |
| light? Who hasn't switched off the light in the hotel | | | | If you remember to pack these four essential items, |
| bedroom, only to find that the flickering street lights | | | | you'll have gone a little way to making your trip |
| outside deny you of your sleep? A good eye mask | | | | smoother and more comfortable. Happy travels! |