A pair of binoculars can turn to be useful for any vacation goer. A pair of binoculars is not only useful for watching birds or wildlife; it can also be great for many sports activities and for general sight-seeing. While it is true that a large pair of binoculars takes some luggage space, one can find several types of binoculars that are compact and can easily fit in any hand luggage.

One pair of excellent binoculars are the Bushnell H2O 10x25mm Compact Foldable Binoculars (130105). These binoculars have a 10 times magnification and an objective lens of 25mm. The binoculars come with a case and neck strap. The storage case can fit on a belt that is up to 2 inches wide. The dimensions of the binoculars are approximately 4.75 inches long by 3.5 inches wide by 2.25 inches high (12.1 cm x 8.9 cm x 5.7 cm) when folded in the case and 4.25 inches long by 4.5 inches wide by 1.75 inches high (10.8 cm x 11.4 cm x 4.4 cm) when opened up.

As the name suggests, the Bushnell H2O 130105 binoculars are waterproof and fogproof. According to the manufacturer, the binoculars are nitrogen filled, which enhances the waterproof and fogproof capabilities. Also included is an anti-reflective multicoating for reducing glare and improving contrast. The binoculars weigh 10.2 oz (289 g) while the viewing angle is 65 degrees.

The majority of Bushnell 130105 binoculars owners seem to be very happy with their purchase. Two reviewers on Amazon, specifically a woman and a man, wrote that they bought these binoculars for bird watching and the 130105 was perfectly suited for this purpose.

One wrote that he wanted a pair of binoculars that served him while driving around the country and the man said that these Bushnell binoculars are perfect for this purpose. A man wrote that he is very happy with his Bushnell H2O binoculars as they look robust, provide good magnification and are very compact.

A woman wrote that she bought these pair of binoculars as a Christmas present for her mother. The woman wrote that her mother loves them but she has also used them herself while on the beach. A man stated that his wife dropped the Bushnell 130105 binoculars while they were canoeing and he managed to grab them just before they sank. The guy said that this incident did not cause any damage to the binoculars which proves that the binoculars are indeed waterproof.

A man stated that he has used his H2O binoculars for whale watching and they proved very suitable for such a purpose. Another reviewer wrote that these binoculars are all he needs as they are compact, rugged and very clear. According to another reviewer these Bushnell binoculars provide enough magnification, are lightweight and are easy to focus. Two reviewers said being small, lightweight and inexpensive, the Bushnell 10x25mm binoculars are also excellent for kids.

A few negative reviewers for the 130105 compact binoculars indicate that not all customers were happy with their purchase. According to one guy, the binoculars did not work for him even though he spent a lot of time trying to make them work and so did his wife. Two reviewers also stated that the Bushnell 130105 foldable binoculars do not provide a very clear display.

Another reviewer stated that his Bushnell H2O binoculars turned out to be a waste of money since one of the cylinders contained a piece of debris that was obstructing most of the view. In addition to this, he could not focus on the objects he was trying to see in the distance.

Check out the Bushnell H2O 10x25mm Compact Foldable Binoculars (130105) on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

It is frustrating to go on vacation only to realize that you forgot to take your sunglasses, battery charger or rucksack. While any of the above items can be bought from most stores during the vacation, it may not be easy to say find a raincoat for sale after arriving at the airport during a storm in the middle of the night. For this reason it is best to not forget any essential items at all in the first place.

I have created a packing list for myself which I refer to while preparing my travel luggage or bag. I am sharing the list below and will be updating it during the course of time as necessary.

 

Most Essential Items:

1. Passport and ID card. Though one can travel with an ID card in many European Union countries, it is always base to carry a passport as well just for safety. Note that some in European countries (UK is one such country) it is essential to travel with a passport.
2. Money – here one should ensure to have money in the correct currency.
3. Credit card/s.
4. Confirmation/invoices of airline bookings, including any invoices for putting the luggage in the hold (where applicable). These are usually not required but they may turn out to be useful if one paid for luggage at a later stage.
5. Printed boarding pass if required (mandatory for some airlines like Ryanair).
6. Hotel booking confirmations.
7. Train and public transport booking confirmations (if any).
8. Map of hotel locations. In addition one can also add the position of any hotel/s as a favourite on the smartphone navigation application.
9. Maps of attractions – as per above it is best to have the attractions as favourites on a navigation application.
10. Health insurance card (if available).

 

Clothing and Shoes:

11. Panties, briefs, boxer shorts, bras and any other lingerie.
12. Vests or thermal vests if travelling in winter.
13. Socks or padded/trekking socks for hiking or long warm socks for the winter months. (I normally take padded socks everywhere as they are lightweight, not too hot in summer and sufficiently warm in winter).
14. One (or depending on the availability of luggage space) two pairs of boots or a pair of walking shoes for the city and a pair of walking boots for hiking. It is best to use waterproof boots during the winter and they are warmer and provide better protection against the elements. One should ensure that the shoes/boots are well walked-in (worn at least for several hours) or else they can (depending on the quality and type of shoes) cause blisters and hurt the legs. One pair of boots may be enough if travelling light and/or if the vacation is a short one.
15. Trekking trousers with a few zip pockets. This makes personal belongings (wallet, phone) more difficult to steal by pick pockets and better protected against the rain. If travelling during the winter, it is important to ensure that the trousers are warm and water resistant.
16. T-shirts if travelling during the summer.
17. Long sleeve shirts for mild temperature climates.
18. Sweatshirts if travelling to a country where the temperate is neither too hot nor too cold. Sweatshirts with a hood and zipper are best since one can wear the hood in case of light rain and unzip the sweatshirt if the need arises.
19. Warm or thermal pullovers if travelling during the winter.
20. Raincoat – weather is unpredictable so a light raincoat is usually essential, even if one is travelling during the warm summer months.
21. Warm (insulating) and waterproof jacket if travelling in cold and stormy weather. A synthetic insulating jacket might work best if the temperature is not too cold. In very cold weather, a down jacket may be essential.
22. Hat for protection against the sun (a baseball hot is usually ideal for this purpose).
23. Warm hat and gloves for cold weather.

 

Other Clothing Items (Less Important):

70. Shorts (if travelling during the summer months). It is best if the shorts have a couple of pockets with zippers for the reasons described above.
71. Jogging pants if trekking shorts are not available.
72. Jeans if travelling during the summer months and for going out to clubs. However jeans are in normal circumstances not recommended as per my article Why Do Jeans Make Bad Travelling Pants?
73. Gaiters if travelling to a country where it is raining or snowing heavily.
74. Swimming costume or bikini. These might also be useful for heated swimming pools and saunas.

 

Other Essentials:

29. Towel. Asides from being useful after a bath, a towel can also be useful for getting dry after getting drenched in the rain. Microfibre towels are recommended as they take very little space and dry quicker than conventional towels.
30. A pair of goggles for swimming. Prescription goggles can be useful for those who use glasses. Flippers are not really recommended except for the purposes of scuba diving as they can take a suitable amount of luggage space.
31. A pair of cheap flips flops or sandals. They can not only be useful at the beach but also for avoiding getting foot fungus or some other foot disease from hotels, apartments, swimming pools, saunas or otherwise.
32. Sun glasses and clip-ons for spectacles for protection against the sun.
33. Sun cream and lip salve for protection against the sun’s rays (strong sun factor rating is best).
34. Contact lenses and solution. Disposable (daily) contact lenses are usually the best and safest option.
35. Rucksack or packable rucksack if travelling with a carry on luggage.
36. Water resistant cover for rucksack.

 

Personal Items:

37. Toothpaste, brush and if required interdental brushes and mouth wash. If using carry on luggage the mouth wash must be put into small containers that do not contain more than 100ml of liquid.
38. Any medicines and/or vitamins.
39. Shaving foam and razor.
40. Hair comb.
41. Small towel or washcloth. While most hotels do provide a set of towels, mountain huts as well as some low cost hotels and may not provide these. As per above microfibre towels are best.
42. Soap and shampoo. Not all establishments do provide these, but in any case one may prefer to use a certain kind of soap and shampoo.
43. Bags for carrying shoes.
44. Bag for keeping dirty underwear.
45. First aid kit for blisters and slight injuries.
46. Ankle support bandage.
47. Knee support bandage.

 

Other Items:

48. Vacuum sealer bags. These are especially useful for keeping things organized and maximizing luggage space.
49. Umbrella – this is not really recommended as it can easily break with wind. However it can be useful in cases of light showers with little or no wind.
50. Water container with inbuilt filtration mechanism (a half litre to one litre bottle should be sufficient). This might turn out to be useful, especially if one has a delicate stomach or if one is travelling to a third world country where the quality of the water is not too good.
51. Compass and maps – these may be required if one is trekking. However a GPS receiver is usually best for finding the correct orientation.
52. Binoculars – these might be suitable for watching wildlife and also for watching most kinds of sports games.
53. Flashlight and/or head torch – these are not essential for roaming around the city but they can be helpful if one is travelling to rural areas.
54. VIP lounge card (like Priority Pass) if available or applicable (not all airports have VIP lounges).
55. Leatherman or Swiss army knife or other multi-tool set. It is important to note that these are considered as dangerous items and they will be confiscated if found in any cabin luggage.
56. Camping utensils set (cork-screw opener, bottle opener, fork, spoon and knife). As per above such utensil sets cannot be placed in any hand luggage.
57. Tourist guide book illustrating the places of interest.

 

Electronics:

58. Mobile phone/smartphone.
59. Tablet PC – not essential if one has a phablet or a smartphone with a large display.
60. Navigation application on smartphone. It is best if the most important locations (like the position of the hotel) are inputted as favorites.
61. GPS navigation device – a handheld, weather resistant one will be the best choice; however a vehicle GPS receiver may also work well. A GPS navigation device is not really required if one has a modern smartphone. However smartphone GPS receivers are not always good enough and in any case it is always wise to have a second GPS device as backup.
62. Bluetooth GPS receiver for use with the smartphone – such a device may help if the smartphone GPS receiver is not powerful enough. Bluetooth GPS receivers are usually more powerful and more precise than that the inbuilt ones on most smartphones.
63. Mobile phone charger.
64. Digital camera and pocket for the camera.
65. Spare battery/batteries for digital camera.
66. Charger for any digital camera batteries.
67. One or two emergency chargers for mobile phone and GPS receiver.
68. Water resistant covers for smartphone, GPS receiver and tablet PC.
69. Secure key/s for internet banking services or otherwise.

 

Camping Items:

70. Large rucksack. This would be necessary if one has to travel on uneven terrain, otherwise any normal luggage would be fine. The rucksack would need to be sized according to how long the camping trip will be. A good quality rucksack is recommended, as having to carry a torn rucksack for a long distance by hand is never a nice experience.
71. Tent (as per my article Reasons For Getting a Bigger Tent one should ensure that a sufficiently large tent is available).
72. Tent accessory kit (these normally include a hammer, spare pegs and spare ropes).
73. Sleeping bag.
74. Foam or sleeping mat.
75. Inflatable pillow (conventional pillows are not recommended as the take a lot of luggage space).
76. Small lantern with hook to be used in tent.
77. Torch and spare torch.
78. Spare batteries for lantern and torches. Here one should ensure that the batteries are charged beforehand.

Having a good alarm clock is important if one needs to wake up early to take a morning flight. No one likes the idea of missing on a vacation or overseas conference just because he or she did not wake up in time to go to the airport. It is a bit risky to rely on just a mobile phone alarm clock as the mobile might crash or end up without battery charge in the middle of the night. Setting the alarm clock incorrectly is also a common issue that happens to many people.

While there are many people who suffer from light sleep and awake easily with the slightest of sound, there are also others that go easily into deep sleep. It usually takes a sufficient amount of sound to wake up someone who is deep asleep.

A mobile phone might not produce enough sound to awaken someone who is in deep sleep, especially if the phone is placed a few metres away from the bed. This problem gets bigger as one gets older as ear sensitivity normally decreases with age. For this reason, it is best to turn up the volume to the highest possible value and to place the mobile phone near the bed.

The best way of ensuring that one wakes up at the desired time is to use a proper alarm clock and have a mobile phone alarm as a backup. The best-selling alarm clock on Amazon at the time of writing is the Sonic Bomb SBB500ss. The average customer rating on Amazon.co.uk at present is 4.4 out of 5 stars while on Amazon.com the average rating is 4.3 out of 5 stars.

The Super Shaker and Positive Customer Reviews 

An interesting feature of the Sonic Bomb is the Super Shaker, which is a vibrating element with a long lead. The vibrating element can be placed under the mattress and when the alarm goes the Super Shaker vibrates and so do the mattress and the bed with it. The SBB500ss can be set to sound only, to sound and vibrate or to vibrate only. By using the vibration only feature, it is possible to wake up without waking up other people living in the same house.

As a matter of fact, a reviewer stated he wears ear plugs at night due to the fact that he lives in a very noisy house. The problem is that his alarm used to wake the other people in the house without actually waking him up. The man wrote that thanks to the Super Shaker feature, he now wakes up every day without annoying the other people living under the same roof.

A reviewer reported that he has insomnia issues and he used to oversleep and go late to work. He wrote that the vibrating element is great as he puts it under his pillow and it wakes him up every time without actually having to sound the alarm.

A reviewer is of the opinion that the SBB500ss is an amazing alarm clock. In his opinion one has to be dead if he or she does not wake up with the Sonic Bomb. Another customer wrote that he has a history of not waking up by any alarm clock. The man said that in the past not even a fire alarm and an oil refinery explosion 5 miles from his house did wake him up. According to the guy, the SBB500ss is the only alarm clock that is capable of waking him up.

A woman reported that she used to sleep through an alarm clock, her mobile phone alarm and her husband calling her while on his way to work. The woman wrote that waking up in the morning is no longer an issue thanks to Sonic Bomb’s Super Shaker which she places under the mattress.

Another woman wrote that when her son was at high school, he used to sleep through all the alarm clocks she bought from him. In view of this, he used to go late to school, if at all. The woman said that after buying the Sonic Bomb for him, he never overslept again.

Negative Customer Reviews

No alarm clock is perfect and the same holds for the SBB500ss. According to one particular reviewer from London, he bought two Sonic Bomb alarm clocks and both of them stopped working after a few weeks. Another user said that his SBB500ss caught fire after three months of use.

In the opinion of another Amazon customer, the Sonic Bomb is a terrible product. She said that her Sonic Bomb had a faulty display. She reported the fault to Amazon who sent her a replacement; however the replacement turned out to be faulty as well since it was without any sound. Another reviewer reported that the clock was not working when powered with batteries. When powered with electricity it was still misbehaving as it was not keeping the time properly.

A SBB500ss owner from Maryland USA wrote that his Sonic Boom worked fine for four months but then it went haywire. According to the guy, the alarm now goes off at random. In the opinion of another customer, the bed shaker works great, however his SBB500ss is still pretty useless as it does not keep the time.

Another Sonic Boom owner said that he is disappointed with the alarm clock since it is not as loud as other people report. The man wrote that his other cheap alarm clocks are louder than the Sonic Boom and it is actually his mobile phone alarm that eventually wakes him up.

After going through many reviews, it seems to me that some Sonic Boom owners did not read the manual clearly if at all. The manual clearly states that the alarm clock needs to be configured in the correct country specific setting. When the setting is on UK it will not work fine in the US and when it is on the US setting it will not work fine in the UK.

Apart from these two settings there is another setting for European countries. The manual states clearly that if the setting is not correct it will result in incorrect time. Different countries use different voltages so using an incorrect setting can also result in the SBB500ss alarm clock overheating and burning down.

Check out the Sonic Bomb with Super Shaker SBB500ss on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Some people report that they are unable to sleep in a very dry ambient. This issue can be easily overcome by means of a humidifier. While humidity might not be an issue in some hotel rooms and apartments, this is not always the case. In such circumstances, a portable humidifier is a worthy investment.

One of the best rated humidifiers on Amazon.com is the Smile Rabbit Personal Ultra-compact Air Humidifier – Cool Mist bit. At the time of writing 37 out of 55 reviewers gave a maximum rating of 5 out of 5 stars for the Smile Rabbit while the average rating is 4.2 out of 5 stars.

According to one reviewer the Smile Rabbit humidifier pumps out a lot of moisture. This reviewer reported that it is possible to feel the humidity on the skin without making anything damp. According to this reviewer, this humidifier is very quiet in operation.

A woman wrote that the Smile Rabbit humidifier was one of the best purchases she made from Amazon. The woman said that the lowest setting provides enough humidity for her and she only needs to fill the water bottle every two days.

In the opinion of another woman, the humidifier is amazing. She wrote that she gladly gives up space in her bag to carry the humidifier with her while travelling.

A man wrote that the fact that one can use the humidifier with any water bottle is a great advantage as it is possible to prepare a set of bottles and replace them as required. However the man wrote that he does not really like the light blue glow colour and he would have preferred if there was the option of switching it off.

Another Amazon customer wrote that her nasal passages used to hurt her before she started using the Smile Rabbit humidifier. According to the woman, the humidifier helped her to overcome her dry throat and allergies problem. However she suggested not placing the humidifier too close to the pillow as it might wet it over the course of the night. According to this reviewer, a one litre bottle would last for 8 to 9 hours on the maximum possible setting.

A Smile Rabbit owner stated that while the humidifier works great, one must empty the unit before refilling the water. Otherwise the unit will not work as expected. In the view of another Amazon customer, the Smile Rabbit works as well as the larger units and in her opinion it is the best humidifier she has ever owned.

A customer wrote that she uses the humidifier while working night shifts in a hospital. According to the woman, her coworkers are envious of her and they wanted to know from where she bought the unit. Another Amazon custom customer stated that she has been using a Smile Rabbit humidifier for a year and it is still running greatly as ever.

While there are many positive reviews for the Smile Rabbit, some Amazon customers reported they were not happy with the humidifier. One customer wrote that he received a faulty unit as it was leaking after one or two hours of switching on the unit for the first time.

Another reviewer stated that the humidifier did not work for him. He wrote that when the nozzle is attached, no mist comes out but when he removes the nozzle, the unit just spits water all over the place. Another customer said that she both two units but both stopped working after two days. Two other customers wrote that their Smile Rabbit humidifier stopped working after three weeks of usage while a woman wrote that hers only worked once.

Check out the Smile Rabbit Personal Ultra-compact Air Humidifier – Cool Mist on Amazon.com.