20 things you need in your carry-on!

To travel the world being a tourist or travel the world for gigs, are two entirely different things.
I decided to start this blog to to share tips, ideas and hopefully some inspiration on how to be a ROCK'N'ROLL TRAVELLER. :)

Travelling has become so much easier since the introduction of www - the INTERNET! Everything you need is right in your laptop, smartphone, PC, tablet... Things were so much more complicated back in the day. A simple trip from Sweden to the UK required going to a travel agency, discussing it with a travel agent back and forth and then paying whatever they told you it would cost. Comparing prices was just not an option. 

You had to pick up your ticket at a counter somewhere, you had to stand in line at the airport for what felt like forever just to check in.... And hotels - you had to trust the travel agent to book the "best" hotel for you - whatever that was.

NOW you can plan and execute everything online in a matter of minutes, and get your own, perfect, tailor made solution!

Today I would like to share my tips on what to bring in your CARRY-ON. There are some things that I never travel without. Some are obvious, and some need to be explained.

20 THINGS TO PACK IN YOUR CARRY-ON

First of all... having a practical bag is the key to breezing through security, check-in, boarding, killing time at airports, planes and more. You want everything handy, easy to access without too much digging.
I found my "best friend" by chance at the Graspop Metal Meeting festival in Belgium:
It's a Living Dead Souls Messenger bag with compartments for everything, I can find anything within seconds without even looking! I love this thing! When it started falling to pieces after a few years, I bought another one exactly like it. And I'm gonna stick to it, I love it.

1. Passport - never go anywhere without it. I know musicians who've fucked up tours because they didn't realize that you need a passport when you travel internationally. And make sure it's up to date!

2. Cellphones - I've got 2 phones with two different plans. The first one is a smartphone that only works with WiFi when I'm abroad. I deliberately chose to do this to eliminate any risk of accidentally getting online when I'm abroad, and by that risking enormous bills when I get home. 

The second cellphone is an old school Walkman-phone, Ed Hardy edition. It doesn't connect to anything automatically, so it's safe. I only use it for emergencies - texting and calling. I've got the absolutely cheapest plan for that, it only costs when I use it. 

I guess I could just buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card but this just feels easier with a fixed plan, not having to worry about how much money I've got left. Both phones are unlocked, which means that I can buy a local SIM-card in any country and use my phone for the cheapest possible rate. You won't have that option if your phone is locked to one specific operator. This solution works great for me.

3. Tickets & boarding passes (if you can, have your boarding passes in your cellphone (convenient) AND a printed version! I've had the phone battery die on me right before boarding, it's not cool... So keep a backup version just in case.

Also.... I write down my travel plan on a separate document almost like a school-schedule, where I list everything, step by step, minute by minute. It's all there in ONE place:
My e-ticket numbers, booking codes, times, terminals, hotel booking numbers, addresses, phone numbers, e-mails, check-in and checkout-times, rental cars - booking numbers, the whole thing. 

All of it is organized in a plastic folder - in the right order. You never know when you need to find those papers FAST, and you don't want to be the person that stands there digging through your stuff going "I know I put it here somewhere... hang on...". 

Nose spray, keeps your ears from popping
during takeoff and landing.

4. Nose spray. No, it's not because I've got a cold - but because that's the trick to NOT getting that ear-pain during takeoff or landing. I got this great tip from a stewardess years ago, and I've never had problems with my ears ever since. That - along with chewing gum, is the best solution if you've got trouble with your ears when flying. Also, sometimes the airplane-air makes my nose all stuffed up - nose spray to the rescue!

5. Chewing gum - I carry this with me on every flight for several reasons. First of all, the dry air will make your mouth dry. Chewing gum keeps your mouth moist and you don't have to drink as much. It also helps at takeoff and landing, as mentioned above.

6. Pens - never forget to bring pens! There's always some form that needs to be filled out, whether it's the immigration form that they hand you on your flight to the US or perhaps it's a menu where you're supposed to make your meal choice, or pretty much anything. A small detail, but I'm always the one other passengers ask "excuse me...could I borrow your pen please?" Most people simply forget to bring pens. :)

Always bring Aspirins, at the very least.

7. Mini-pharmacy. Aspirin, cold/flu caplets, Alka-Seltzer.... Once you’ve had your trip ruined by a headache, migraine, a bad stomach, a hangover, a flu or a sore throat - you make sure that it doesn’t happen again. 

I bring 4 headache pills, the rest only 1 or two of each, cause if it happens while you’re on vacation you can always buy whatever you need in the local pharmacy. This is just for emergencies if it happens while you’re at the airport or wake up in the morning the day of your flight with any of the above mentioned symptoms.....

8. Chapstick – You will get dry lips after a few hours in an airplane. It can also be used for minor bruises, stuck zippers, dry elbows, and even as shoe-shine!

Power bank, your security when out travelling.
You'll never be out of juice!

9. Power bank – a good investment. You know how it is – you’re stuck at the airport for hours, and there are no power outlets to be found anywhere. And your phone or iPad is, of course, out of juice. Always bring one with you and you won’t have to fight for those very few outlets, IF you even find one. Not to mention long flights, you want to be sure that your phone works by the time you get to your destination.

Earplugs - if you want to sleep during your flight...

10. Earplugs – That or noise-cancelling headphones. Crying babies, chatty neighbors, constant messages from the cockpit or just noise in the cabin in general. Sometimes it’s just great to block it all out.

My inflatable travel pillow with a flatter neck that won't push
my head forward, like the classic version of this pillow.

11. Inflatable pillow – the best way to kill time is get some quality sleep. Find a good travel-pillow. I found this one that is flat in the back, so it doesn't push your neck forward, which the regular travel pillows tend to do. But there are lots of different models out there, pick the one that suits you - memory foam, inflatable, neck pillow, regular pillow....

Airplane headphone-adapter - and plug in
your own earbuds or headphones.

12. Airplane adaptor for headphones – The headphones you get from the airline usually suck. Bring your own, just plug them in with your airplane adaptor.

13. Camera and other things I don't want to risk losing. Don't put valuables in your checked in baggage EVER! That also goes for carry-ons with wheels. Sometimes they make you check in those as well, even if they give them back to you at the gate. Just don't take the risk, keep all that in the smaller bag you ALWAYS carry with you, at all times.

14. Wallet – you don’t want it stolen, so never leave it out of sight – besides, even on planes you need it handy if you’re buying extra snacks in Economy class.

15. Small mirror – Got something in your eye, lost your contact lens, want to fix your do after hours of sleeping on the plane...? Carry a small mirror just in case.

14. Paper napkins – For everything, a runny nose, got something in your eyes, wipe sweat off your forehead, spilled something, even if you go to the restroom and it happens to be out of toilet paper. Napkins will do great as emergency wipes. ;)

For wiping off your tray, the greasy touch-screen
and after your visit to the airplane restroom....

16. Anti-bacterial wipes - Everything on an airplane is full of bacteria and they don't necessarily have time to clean everything every day. The fold-out tray, the touch-screen, the handrest - not to mention the restrooms... I don't even use the water in there to wash my hands. I don't want to get in contact with that water at ALL. Why not? Read this and decide for yourself... Either way - my anti-bacterial wipes are always with me on any flight.

Energy bars - preferably high in protein. Will keep you full for hours.

17. Meal bars - I always have a bunch of those with me, in my carry-on and in my suitcase. You never know when you'll get hungry and when you'll be able to eat. 

On a long-flight in Economy class, you will get served a meal or two, but you might get the munchies inbetween. A snack of some sort comes in handy. 

It has happened that flights have been delayed or cancelled and I've ended up stuck at the airport for hours. Everything is expensive at an airport. Bring a meal bar and you're all set. 

I love to SLEEP in when I'm at a hotel, and the breakfast time, six in the morning until maybe ten, doesn't work for me. I might WAKE up at ten, so...my "breakfast" is a mealbar. It's cheaper too - hotels that charge for breakfast always overcharge.

It's also great when you're standing in line for hours, or you're at the venue all night, by the time the gig is over you'll be starving. After all, it takes a lot of energy to be rockin'. :) A mealbar is great emergency-food! Alternative: Various kinds of nuts. It will keep you full.

Multi travel adapter - all-in-one

19. Travel adapter (multi) - To charge my stuff, anywhere. Most airports don't have charging stations (some do, bless them!) but I always find a forgotten power outlet somewhere. The best bet is the restroom - there is ALWAYS an outlet there somewhere. 

People might be looking at you wondering what the hell you're doing, but I don't care - it's not like I'm ever gonna see those people again. :) And I'll get my stuff charged, which is the most important thing. For tips on how to find a power outlet at an airport - check out this blog.

There are many brands of caffeine energy-gums. These are my choice.
I can buy them at any 7Eleven in Copenhagen, where I start my journeys. :)

20. Energy gum - I simply do NOT travel without those! They are my savior, they keep me going when I'm jetlagged or when I've got stuff to do and no time to sleep. 

I've used those when I've rented a car and had to drive late at night or just drive far - it often makes you drowsy when you do that, and I don't want to fall asleep while driving. So, these little fuckers have helped me through all those "ugh, I'm so tired"-periods. 

When you're out rockin' you don't have TIME to sleep. You can do that when you get HOME!

I've handed these out to several rock stars and their crew. Especially the crew guys have been very thankful for the introduction of this magical, LEGAL way to stay awake. :)