Do you already have your bus ticket on the bilety.pl platform? A long journey to your dream destination awaits you, but you don’t quite know how to prepare and what to take for such a trip? If you want to be sure that you are well prepared for every eventuality, read the article below. We tell you what to pack for vacation. and also what is good to have in your hand luggage when traveling by bus.
Hand luggage
- Food and snacks – it’s worth packing something for a longer bus trip. However, it should be easily digestible food and one whose smell will not spread throughout the bus. Sandwiches, cut vegetables or fruit work great, but avoid things that crumble or may stain the seat.
- Wet wipes – or wet paper or antibacterial gel. Take care of your hygiene both before and after eating,
- Wallet and documents – remember that not all borders are open yet, and there are checks when crossing borders in the EU. You must always have your travel documents with you. Additionally, make a scan of your ID and passport and put it in another place. If you lose your documents, you are saved. It is also worth having some change in the local currency in your wallet.
- Entertainment – take a book with you, it can also be in the form of an audiobook, or download a movie from your favorite platform. A bus ride may be a time to catch up on the movies you missed.
- Headphones – earplugs or eye mask. If you want to rest while traveling by bus, these things are a must-have. They will also be useful if we stay in hostels or in shared rooms.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste – it’s worth having in your hand luggage to freshen your breath during stops during a long journey. You will feel better immediately.
Main luggage
When we don’t plan what to take on a trip, we often expose ourselves to the eternal problem of every traveler – we take not too little, but even too many things that we then completely do not need and which we later have to carry. So what should you pay attention to when packing your luggage? First of all, take into account how long you are going for, are you looking for sunbathing or active recreation? Additionally, check the expected weather forecast in a given place, as well as what baggage limit a given carrier has (do you have checked baggage or maybe just hand luggage?
- Clothes and footwear – just have one pair of shoes (usually the heaviest one) and only pack flip-flops or, if it’s a hot place, sandals. The number of T-shirts, shorts and long pants always depends on the length of the trip and whether we can, for example, do laundry on site. It’s also nice to buy breathable thermal clothing that takes up less space and is easy to wash, so you can simply take less of it. Be sure to cover your head – if it’s cold – a cap, and if you want to protect yourself from the sun, a baseball cap or hat. It is also worth putting a shirt in your luggage, which can be useful when sightseeing, as well as for more formal occasions – e.g. going to a restaurant or theater. On summer days, sunglasses are necessary to ensure comfortable sightseeing. And a swimsuit is a must for the beach.
- Cosmetic bag – always in a mini version. Mini tubes of toothpaste, as well as small packages of shower gel or shampoo, which are available, for example, at Rossman. All this saves space. Whether to take a towel with you depends on where you are going. Some of them offer towels for guests. We also have quick-drying microfiber towels available in stores, which are also a great option if you have little space in your luggage. Foot antiperspirant is also an important purchase – we take care of fresh shoes and feet.
- Electronics – unless we are professional photographers with a ton of equipment, nowadays a phone is enough for memorable photos. It is also worth purchasing a good quality power bank, which will always save us when we do not have access to electricity. It is also worth having a charger, preferably with several USB ports, so that you can charge several devices at the same time.
- First aid kit – it should contain medicines that will be useful in an emergency situation. Painkillers and probiotics. Even if you watch what you eat and drink, different bacterial flora in a given country can pose a challenge to the gut. However, do not take whole packages, just a few tablet leaves are enough.
- Travel insurance – it’s never worth saving on your health. When traveling abroad, buy additional insurance. Especially outside the EU, treatment costs can reach up to several thousand zlotys per day! Thanks to insurance, we don’t have to worry about them, and we can compare the cheapest ones at this link.
The great news for coach travelers is that most carriers usually include main luggage in the ticket price. It is usually a large suitcase, weighing on average up to 20 kg. This makes packing much easier. Compared to airlines, where you always have to pay extra for checked baggage, it is more profitable to limit packing. However, gradually reducing luggage surprisingly affects our travel comfort. First of all, such minimalism means that we simply carry less when traveling – especially if we do short weekend trips or “city breaks”.
Author: Karol Dzieciątko
Traveling is my passion, especially by bus.
Do you have any comments or inspirations? Write me at karol@aura.pl
