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