Unique Cultural Tours
Unique Cultural Tours
Dear Fellow Traveler,
Below I have assembled some essentials that help Steve and I have a hassle-free experience when we travel. I have included links for quick shopping, if you’d like.
As a Colorado Girl, I love to partner with companies and people from my home state. Imagine my surprise when I learned the maker of MY FAVORITE travel purse, Sherpani, is based in Boulder, Colorado! Even better, I bought myself the anti-theft model (big cities + obvious tourist = easy target) and discovered it is made from 100% recycled materials! They have a line for men too, so Steve doesn’t have to miss out.
Happy shopping,
P.S. That suitcase below is the one I use every time I travel!!!
Sherpani creates better day bags, backpacks, and luggage for women who live to travel. Founded in Boulder, CO, in 2002 their mission is to inspire, celebrate, and outfit women to boldly explore the world with a sense of freedom, confidence, and security.
Combination luggage locks on Amazon. This way I never risk leaving valuables behind in a room safe.
These Vortex binoculars on Amazon have a lifetime guarantee, so it’s OK if they bump around in my backpack a bit. I want to see the birds and wildlife when I’m out in the countryside!
Roosters commonly make pre-dawn announcements, and sometimes I end up sitting right in front of a speaker when I’m enjoying live music on our trips. I’ve found upgraded earplugs make life so much easier, even on airplanes. Here’s the link for my favorites.
Compression Packing Cubes. These help us fit everything in a carry-on for a 10-day itinerary. We like to roll our clothes and put them in these packing cubes, and then zip them shut to compress everything. My favorites have double zippers to get smaller.
My favorite mosquito repellant is Sawyer Products SP544 Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin. It does not dissolve plastics like DEET, and the EPA confirms it is effective at repelling mosquitos for up to 8 hours.
Power bank to charge your phone. If you use your phone for pictures, listening to books, or playing games offline, it’s worth bringing this. There are two great options, the thin one about the size of your phone and will give you what you need for a day. Or you can go robust, and get this chunky one that has a lot of power, is water and shock-proof, with solar charging capabilities. It’s all up to your preference!
Tennis shoes with lots of tread! I love these Brooks Mountain Trail shoes because they have incredible tread for when rocks are slippery from rain or mud. And they are much more lightweight and comfortable than a lot of hiking boots.
An ergonomic backpack. This Big Agnes backpack, 28 Liter is a favorite of mine because when I put my camera in a bag, it feels heavy. But this Big Agnes backpack (CO company) makes it feel magically light.
Adapters are essential for outlets in Argentina & Brazil, but not needed in Cuba or Colombia. For Argentina, they use Type I adapters (also common in Australia). For Brazil, they use Type N adapters. This will charge cell phones, camera batteries, etc. Verify that your CPAP or curling iron are dual-voltage (INPUT: 100–240V, 50/60Hz). Otherwise, you may need to attach a converter to your adapter (it is rare to need a voltage converter).
Consider a CPAP battery if you get stressed thinking the power might go out for a few hours at night and you won’t be able to use your CPAP. They are not cheap, but here is a battery pack that is 98Wh, so you can take it in carry-on luggage on all airlines. Check to see if it’s compatible with your device.
Let us know your favorite travel tool! Send an email to Jenny@vivemastours.com to share what needs to be added to this page!
