What have I forgotten?

[MrsWembley]

Never done anything long haul before and am slightly nervous so all advice welcome!

Flying to South Africa in a couple of weeks and I'm trying to sort things out in my head. Got the tickets, insurance and I know where my passport is. I've got one of those cards that you preload with money. I've got to weigh my suitcase so I know where I am with clothing, etc.

What else?

Speaking of duplicates, make sure you have copies or photos of your documents and cards, should you lose them.

From a recent trip, take at least a change of clothes, nightwear and basic toiletries with you in the cabin, should anything happen to your main luggage.

Also remember to pack light so that you have space for all the lovely things you'll buy there.

Thank-you, Lweji I am hoping to find time to buy lovely things; indeed, my DP has said that I need to budget for presents that I should bring home for the DCs.

As it's in the 20Cs, I'm planning on wearing layers going out and coming back, with a big bag to shove them all into. My DP thinks I should use a rucksack but I find them awkward. Is bag snatching or that kind of thing such an issue that I should worry?

I'm always careful when travelling abroad because the hassle of losing documents would be too much.

So much so that I'm only had anything stolen from me in good old London. 🙄

Do you have a Gmail account, or a similar account that you can log into anywhere in the world? Take a scan of your passport bio data page and email it to yourself - this means that if you lose your passport you can retrieve a scanned copy easily.

Ditto for important phone numbers and other information

Rucksacks are easier to pickpocket than a messenger bag that you can put across your body - keep the bag bit in front of you in crowded places

Yes, I've an Office 365 thing so I can access email wherever.

The messenger bag thing now has me thinking - my hold-all is open at the top, but can I have a small handbag which is that style that I can take.

How rife is pickpocketing?

Y'know, whenever I'm in London, it's natural for me to walk around with my bag in front. And I keep hearing about how dangerous parts of Cape Town are (not that I'm planning on visiting the less salubrious parts), but it never occurred that I should be that mistrustful everywhere

Space on your phone for pics/sd card/camera.

Video your kids singing or making hello/get well messages to your father to show him when you get there (if that would be appropriate). Ditto card making.

Oh, that's a lovely thought I'm crap at thinking about things like that.

Getting really nervous now Hand holds and reassurances would be gratefully received...

If it's an overnight economy flight get one of those inflatable neck pillows, I think the one I got (off amazon) is called Purefly and it has an in built pump so very easy to inflate. Maybe noise cancelling headphones too - helps cut out aircraft noise (engines) as well as noisy people in the cabin. Comfy loose fitting clothes and slip-on shoes, remember to stretch your legs frequently. Drink lots of water and go easy on the alcohol, although if you are flying Air France, the free champagne is pretty decent. :)

In South Africa a lot of atms charge for withdrawals, but Nedbank didn't so I always used their atms.

Oh and I don't think pickpocketing is a major problem is Cape Town, but aggressive and persistent begging is, especially in the city centre (CBD). The only advice I got from locals was "try not to look like a tourist" and learn how to say no in Afrikaans or say "ek het nie klein geld" (I think?!) it means "I have no change". In the Waterfront and Camps Bay it's not really an issue. Uber works very well in Cape Town so get the app on your phone (get a local sim card) and use that.

If you have time to visit places then I would recommend the hop on hop off bus which goes to the Botanic Gardens, Table Mountain cable car, Camps Bay , a few of the Cape Town wine estates, etc. Also a day trip to Franschhoek Wine Valley for the wine tram if you like wine or a day trip to Cape Point, lots of tour companies do one day wine tours and one day Cape Point tours with pickup and drop off in Cape Town.
The sunset boat trips from the Waterfront are also a nice way to spend a few hours relaxing.

What if I leave the list behind?

Put it on your phone or just take a pic of it.

Ok, just about to leave the house. Really nervous now

Thanks to all who have helped, because you really have