Suitcase and World: Packing List. Israel.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Packing List. Israel.


Image from Travel Philippines | Entertainment
Who says you can't cram a lot into a backpack? :-)

As with my past few trips, the backpack is staying at home and I'm taking my Eagle Creek wheelie with me. It's a soft sided suitcase, small enough that I can put it in the overhead compartment. The trick is to not to pack in so much stuff that the suitcase is too heavy for me to lift, above my head, into the compartment.

Since I'm only going to one country and the weather will not change much from one location to another, I should be able to keep things light.

The plan will be to bring mainly lightweight clothing that I can wash and dry overnight.....the usual travel gear for me.  

I will need some good walking shoes though as I'm hoping to make a side trip to the Judean desert and that will entail doing some walking on unpaved ground.

The weather won't be terribly cold in either Jerusalem or Tel Aviv though nights will be chilly.  I think a thick cotton sweather and my lightweight winter coat should do the trick.  Worse comes to worse, I will have to buy some warm clothing.


According to historic weather reports, it can be rainy this time of year.  I really hope not.  In any case though, I will pack along my rain jacket.

I also have to bring a long a scarf, not so much for keeping warm but to cover my head.  I don't know which places I will need to cover my head but I'm coming prepared.

This trip, I will be spending half my time in the city and with being on a tour for most of the trip, I think I should bring along some *nice* clothes for going out to dinner.

Lastly, I will be bringing my trusty Nikon camera but I'm debating whether or not to bring along either my tripod or my monopod.  I really would like to take some nice photos this time around but I'm so used to going without any *pod* thing that I'm afraid I won't use either and it will end up being a waste of time to have lugged them along.

The trip is still a few weeks away but I'm already starting to put together my packing list - need to leave me time to pick up with items I might be missing.  No such thing as being too prepared!

The List
  • Passport, airline tickets and travel documents (all with photocopies)
  • Hotel and tour voucher/confirmation
  • Israeli Shekels, $US, credit and debit card
  • Rain jacket
  • 4 long sleeve cotton shirts
  • 1 long sleeve shirt/jacket
  • 1 pair of hiking pants, 1 pair lightweight cotton pants, 2 pairs jeans
  • 1 pair of shorts
  • 1 short sleeved t-shirt
  • 1 heavy weight cotton sweater
  • 1 lightweight winter coat
  • Underwear and one pair of socks
  • Sunhat
  • 1 pair walking shoes
  • 1 pair dress shoes
  • 1 pair rubber slippers
  • Toiletries and first aid kit (including Tylenol, Band Aids, Neosporin, lip balm, Immodium AD, Pepto Bismol, Zithromax, Cipro)
  • Toilet paper, handiwipes
  • Binoculars and flashlight
  • Plastic hanger for drying clothes
  • Spare pair of eyeglasses
  • Nikon dSLR camera & lenses, spare batteries, chargers and outlet adapters, SD card
  • iPad with SD card reader
  • Pen and notebook
  • MP3 player
  • Drain plug, laundry detergent, and plastic hangers for drying clothes.

As always......,
  • 1 collapsible tote to bring back all those things that I buy along the way but have no space in my backpack for.

And, last but not least, a spare pair of eyeglasses.  I used to always pack in a pair but have been lax about doing so on the last few trips including my trip last year to Kerala on which I lost my glasses to the waters below my hotel window room. What a hassle!!  That was a lesson learned and from now on, as a reminder, I will add the glasses to my packing list so I do not forget to bring them!!

The list is long but I know it all fits in!