I spent hours and hours planning the best way to pack my bags for five months of straight travel in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. How am I feeling now that I’m a month in?

Packing List

• What I Wish For: Almost every day, I long for a warm robe. To me, there’s nothing like coming home after many hours of exploring and lounging in something soft and comfortable. But for weight reasons, a robe just wasn’t a realistic addition to the packing list.
• What I’m Relieved About: (1) I wondered whether it would be worth buying and lugging around a Scrubba wash bag — would I actually use it? The answer is “yes.” When I was on safari with no washing machine, I used it multiple times to take the dust and mud out of my clothes, and it worked like a charm. So happy to have it along. Ditto for the laundry sheets that I’ve brought to go with it. (2) My sister told me I would need more than four pairs of socks. She is very wise, so I added more (I now have six pairs), and I’m pleased about that choice. (3) I don’t strictly need two different scarves (one black, one colorful), but my vanity is happy with the options.
• Notes on Toiletries: (1) I did not need to bring soap. Every place I’m staying has it. (2) I did need to bring shampoo and conditioner, because I have not found those consistently at Airbnbs (or even hotels). 

Traveling With Just a Carry-On

• Pluses: I’m so happy that I don’t have much to lug around! And it’s great to have a rolling bag that turns into a backpack with just two zips and two clicks — my Osprey Farpoint is awesome. It’s wonderful to be able to manage both cobblestone streets and airports with ease.

• Minuses: (1) Not being able to buy many souvenirs is sad. I’ve bought a few and discovered that international shipping rates are crazy-high. (2) I’m already getting sick of my clothes, and they’re all going to be with me for four more months.
• Fact: Having only a few pieces of clothing requires you to do a lot of laundry. I like doing laundry, so this isn’t a bad thing, but it does take time (and — see the Scrubba note above — some effort). I’m very happy that, where possible, I booked Airbnbs with washing machines.

Phone Service

I’m pleased to report that my eSIM is working excellently — and when I’ve had any trouble, the folks at Airalo have provided the best customer service I could possibly hope for. I can’t imagine going back to physical SIM cards or data roaming with my provider.

Travel Insurance

I had both joy and pain (literal and figurative) engaging with the medical world in Senegal, which made me very happy to have travel insurance. The downside of travel insurance is that you have to pay the initial costs out of pocket. That’s ok if the costs are small and you have the funds, but if you’re traveling on a budget or you’re in a country where medical care is pricey, it’s not great. As a US citizen, though, you don’t really have an alternative — if you don’t have travel insurance and health stuff goes south, you may have a real problem on your hands.

General Reflections

Planning: I took care of all of my airplane, car, and lodging bookings before I stepped on my first flight of the trip. That hasn’t left room for spontaneity, but I am continually grateful for the fact that I know what’s happening next and don’t have to think about it.

People: I’m so glad I’ve done some of my travel with friends and some on my own—it’s been good to balance camaraderie and laughter with reflection and alone time.

Overall: Long-term travel is amazing! Aside from spending waaaaay too much thinking about packing and laundry, I’m having a blast.