Three Best Buys of the Trip

We thought it might be mildly useful to our loyal followers if we did a post on the most useful items we’ve bought for the trip. Planning was a pretty difficult task. There were just so many possibilities and potential scenarios where a certain item might be helpful. Do we need a clothesline? What shoes do I pack? How important are my headphones? Are hotels going to provide me with a French press??? If you’re in our income bracket, they don’t. Now that we’re a few months into the trip, we’ve discovered that some things came in much handier than others. 

TOP THREE ITEMS

#1 - Tevas. 

“What are a Tevas” you ask? Shoes. Awesome shoes. Not too expensive either. I’ll admit, I’ve spent most of my life hating these types of shoes. They’re basically sandals that strap around the back of your ankle. They indicate the following:

“I have given up on looking cute.”

“I don’t want to admit how far over the age of 30 I am.”

“I’m getting worried about my cholesterol.”

“I’m not so sure about Tok Tok...” 

Etc.

Just kidding. Here’s the deal: it’s a lightweight yet durable shoe that takes up very little space and you can just slip it on and off but still walk 60+ minutes comfortably. Unbeatable. Shriya got hers for $25 or so, and mine were closer to $45 (both on sale). There are multiple different styles, and I can’t recommend them enough as a versatile travel shoe. They’re great for the beach or doing a hike through the rainforest to a lake or waterfall. This is where I would make a joke about asking Tevas for money, but I’m not sure they’d appreciate my jabs at their aesthetic value. 

#2 - A sturdy travel backpack

I’ll never forget when I bought a mattress online. There was literally an endless number of blogs, options, and information. Turns out the same is true for backpacks. There are tons of companies out there trying to perfect their design, appearance, and functionality. We looked through plenty of them, and eventually I settled on the Aer 2, and Shriya got a Tortuga backpack. Both of them are super durable, and have tons of compartments. I’ll admit that at first I sort of felt like this was overkill, but now that I’ve used it for months, I can really appreciate the quality of the material and design. 

We’re constantly packing up and moving to the next location, and I really feel like the different compartments offer a level of functionality that makes that experience much easier and more organized. One word of caution: these backpacks can be very big, storing up to about 45L (how did they determine the number of liters these backpacks can store?). If you buy a bigger one and fill it with all it can hold, it will be VERY heavy, and it may not fit under an airplane seat. Ours are both 35L. Either way, the quality of the product still stands, and I think it could be a good long-term investment for anyone who enjoys travel. 

Look to spend $150-300 on a really nice, sturdy backpack. You can probably get a little cheaper on eBay if you’re the type that loves to hunt for a deal, like Shriya, who did buy hers "like-new" on eBay. 

#3 - New iPhone 14 pro 

When you’re a super successful travel influencer and your constituents are demanding fresh content almost every day, a powerful handheld device comes in really handy. It’s also nice if you are not influential at all. The camera alone makes a big difference. We both take pictures, but my phone is older, and there’s a really obvious difference. Additionally, the ability to use e-sims everywhere makes staying in touch and getting around way easier. (side note: SIM cards are readily available, easy to deal with, and probably cheaper than whatever your domestic phone plan can offer you. If your phone can use e-SIMs and just do everything online, it’s easier still!)

Better battery life, newer features, and more power overall has certainly been a boon on the trip. We wouldn’t die without it, but is it a good buy? Yes. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

  • Turkish terry towel. The triple T. Though not extremely absorbent, it is very compact and has come in handy in many situations. From living out of a car in NZ and AUS, to island life in Thailand, we’ve been happy to have them on many occasions. Two for $20? Not bad at all.
  • Apple AirPods Pro/noise canceling headphones. I really love these for flights of any duration. Also, you never know how loud it’s going to be where you’re sleeping. I find them super handy, and not prohibitively expensive. 
  • The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account. It’s free. You get a debit card. Unlimited rebates on ATM fees worldwide. Can’t beat it! If only it was one of those thick metallic cards… In all seriousness, I’ve never had an issue getting cash from any ATM. Of course exchange rates still apply, but you’re not paying any extra fees to get your money. Convenience and reliability are big here.
    • P.S.: Charles, I know you’re reading this. Would it kill you to throw me a sponsorship or something? This is free advertising!

We’re really looking forward to writing more about Thailand soon. Let us know if there’s something specific you’re interested in!

Shriya & Peter