packing list for dd's gap yr travels-any suggestions

[brimfull]

has backpack
travelling around europe this autumn
then canada in the spring/summer
will be with friends

she can't decide on essentials like
how many clothes
camera or use phone etc

othre travel stuff you can recommend?

suggestions here

oh that's great thank you!!

well, if she is a going to be a big responsible girl about it, she should do her own packing, and live with the consequences, she is around 18 I assume?!

My DD went backpacking this summer, - I think the tendency is to take far to much by way of clothing. Regarding shoes, she took one pair of walking boots, and a pair of flat ballet pumps to wear with skirts/in the evening.

She had a sleeping bag which rolled up very small so could be attached to rucksack, and also a water container which she filled each day from a big bottle. She took linen trousers rather than jeans because they are lighter (although it was warm when she went). DD took a small digital camera as well as her phone, she also took a notebook so she could write a journal of her experience,one novel to read (all her friends took one so they could swap around) and a pack of cards (quite a few long train journeys.)

Hope your DD has a fab time - mine did

Do not underestimate the benefits of quick drying pants.

thanks very useful replies
she is staying in hostels -don't know her itinerary

chandon - fark off with your patronising post
of course she is packing herself ,I haven't packed for dd sonce she was about 8.

I bought a quick dry towel from a camping shop. It folds to nothing and dried my body within a minute. Also, if she is travelling with friends they could make decisions about electrical items - one person takes the hairdryer, one the straighteners, one the travel speakers, one the iron and so on.

Best tip is to scan all important documents such as passports, visas, credit cards, insurance and e-mail them to yourself. It makes life so much easier at the Consulate.

Get good quality travel insurance. Check out STA Travel or Endlseigh travel insurance.

Brrr, Europe in Autumn, did that in a 70's campervan and froze in the 90's. Take some wooly warmers. x

Ooo that stuff's nice. I would have been over the moon with something from that website.

There is a book called
High heels and a back pack.
It is brilliant as it is aimed at women doing the year long back packing trip.

Take good quality basics.
Cheap stuff for the things you can throw away.
Nothing white.
Lots of darks.
A big shawl, pashmina for cold days, visiting churches, doubles as a sarong, blanket etc etc
Tell her to wear her walking boots for a few weeks around the house and shops to break them in.
The best travel insurance money can buy.
Lots of websites that show travel deals, hostels etc.
take a camera AND a phone. Better quality photos. Upload stuff onto FB as soon as she can so if she loses camera she still has the photos.
Buy a busabout or interrail pass.
Hostelworld.com is great. Pick hostels by reviews not price or location. I use it all the time.
Make a list with the friends of stuff they can share. One take the straightner, etc
For your piece of mind, Write down all the contact detials of people you know who live in the countries she is visiting. You never know when she will need help.
If she reads a lot then an ereader or kindle. Book swaps can be done at hostels too. Take cards/uno for train trips and good for meeting new people at airports etc

Hope that helps

Oh and a swiss army knife (with bottle opener and knife)
Basic first aid kit (panadol, bandaids etc)
Condoms
Tampons (some international brands are wierd)
Pick something that she can collect as a souveniour. Magnet, badge, keyring, Get one from each country as a reminder.
Tell her to send postacards.
Drinking is not the only thing she can do. Go on the free walking tours, look at the sights. Remind her that she can get shitfaced anytime. She can maybe only see these countries once.
Arrange power of attorney (or whatever it is called in the UK) so you do sign, do thing on her behalf.

My dd went back packing in Thailand and India last year - her tip is take as little as you can, most of what she took she didn't need and was chucked away and replaced with cheap clothes from India and Thailand. However having re-read your post realise this might not apply as your daughter is travelling in Europe. Comfortable shoes are a must I imagine.

We kept in touch via facebook (and texting) which meant I could see photos and we sometimes were able to instant message.

oh, lucky girl!

I backpacked around Australia for ayear many moons ago,best year of my life

Naturally I took far too much with me but managed to whittle it down whilst travelling

essentials:
camera
journal
phone cards (to use either with mobile or from phone boxes)
waterproof toilet bag that she can whisk to and from the shower (as she'll likely be sharing facilites and can't leave her toiletries in the bathroom)
scan her passport
good travel insurance is ESSENTIAL - try sta travel
Lonely Planet guide books are invaluable - esp for Canada
clothing needs to be kept to a minimum - get her one of those net laundry bags that she can keep her dirty washng in and haul to the laundrette
sarongs are fab,and comfy flip flops
playing cards - she is guaranteed to use them!
I did busabout in Europe and it was FANTASTIC - look at their website - it's organised to an extent and bloody great fun
a bumbag - genuinely,she needs somewhere to keep her passport, wallet etc safe and not at risk of being nicked.
man, I'm jealous! willpost more if anything else occurs to me

above all remind her that she will be hauling that backpack around, so the smaller and lighter, the better - it becomes a real pain

get a backpack that fully unzips instead of one you have to unload from the top - miles better and easier to get hold of your stuff

thanks you so much girls
I will show dd your suggestions , we're going shopping tomorrow for stuff.
thanks for the links everythingiseverything that stuff looks great .

We'll miss her but also wish I had done this when I was her age and knwo she will love it.

well we went shopping
your lists were much appreciated

I bought her a swiss army knife -lol ..she thinks the tweezers and bottle opener will be very useful

dh guffawed at her having a swiss army knife for traipsing around france

comfortable well worn in shoes / boots are most important

if she has sore feet or a sore back from a too heavy pack, she will not have a good time

if she is in europe in autumn / winter , a decent warm / waterfroof jacket to cover bum

a new hairstyle so she doesn't need hairdryer / straighteners

uniqlo heat tech tops to use a t shirts / thermals

no point in taking dress/ skirt/ tights she can buy spring summer clothes wherever she is

most important - one she is packed, get her to walk a couple of miles carrying it. pref in rain. this will save her a lot of grief later i promise you

i hope she has a WONDERFUL time

Did someone say IRON!?

It really is true when they say lay out everything you want to take with you and then put half away and only take the other half

I left with about 24kg I think and by the time I got to china I was down to 14kg and had ditched a load of stuff that i really didn't need

take your fav jeans one pair only
take your fav shorts or skirt if you must
take your most fav 5 tops and this includes a hoodie or like
two pairs of shoes
pants& socks
wash bag - smallist you can find
first aid kit - but small with essentials
passport
hat
book
money
towel
sleeping bag

what ivykate says.

Don't do what I did and only take 3 pairs of knickers! I thought; one to wear, one to wash and a pair to be drying. Sadly however I forgot to factor in travelling days... had to cave in and buy 4 more pairs. So had enough for a week.

A small suitcase and a small messenger bag. what's all this backpack stuff? Is she hiking off road or just going to different cities?

She can buy everything she needs. She should have a lot of money saved. Will she be able to work? WIll she need an international driving license? ID card? Visa?

All she needs to bring are medications, prescriptions and a credit card, toothbrush, eyeliner, lip balm and mascara, a SPF 30 moisturiser. Maybe a few babywipes in a plastic bag in her handbag.
LOL at travelling in different countries with electrical equipment!! Different voltage....

She can buy everything else when she gets there, really. She can use laundrettes and cyber cafes.

It's like this:
She cannot pack what she'll need for a year, so don't pack anything - buy it there, and leave it there.

An kindle and a notebook, her phone, a VOIP credit account, a camera, I suppose if she must.
Some hard sweets for take off and landing, a bottle of water and and a small towel and some facial wipes in case the flight is delayed or diverted.

She should wear jeans, and a hoodie or a jumper and scarf. A warm jacket. A pair of socks and comfortable shoes.

A small carry on suitcase and a handbag is the max luggage she should carry: basically pack for three days, and keep laundering everything until it falls apart, buy some new things and then do the same.

and do give your dd a password to put in a distress email,just a password knwo to you and her. Or even a password to ask for if she sends a distress email. then you will knwo it is not a hoax

If there's a money crisis, use Western Union or Moneygram, they have offices all over the place and you can pick it up within minutes with the number and answer to the question, which the sender texts thru on the mobile.

I agree, take as little as possible, you don't want to be lugging a hulking great rucksack here there and everywhere.

Here are my essentials:

Jeans
Light trousers
Four tops
2 bras
Knickers, socks a few
light jacket & cardie
Hat
Book & music for journey, UK paper/mag for felllow travellers.

Get the morning after pill by lying to the pharmacist. Just in case there is a real emergency. Some countries esp in Europe don't allow it.