No longer just a tool for licensed professionals or a hobby for the wealthy, high-quality drones are now sold at most electronics stores and can be more affordable than a camera without the wings.

Though, as drone photography reaches new heights (pun intended), so do reports of incidents from amateur drone pilots wreaking havoc.

Beyond the slick appeal of game-changing photography, don't take off on your next trip with a drone until you have a masterful understanding of the red tape, compliance concerns and aviation guidelines in place to ensure safety is the priority.

So before you throw your drone (not your caution) to the wind, use this guide to get you cleared for take-off.

How to travel with your drone: What is TSA's drone policy?

TSA's drone policy mostly defers to individual airlines' guidelines when it comes to traveling with drones in-cabin or storing them in checked luggage. TSA's primary concern is with your drone's battery: lithium batteries, fuel cells and components of certain parachute systems may be prohibited in baggage.

Given that most commercial drones are now relatively small in size, once you've checked your airline's policies, you're likely able to pack it in your carry-on or your checked luggage when flying. Larger specialist drones or higher-end ones may be outside the dimensions for carry-on, especially when in their protective cases.

Keeping expensive equipment in a carry-on case is good practice, as you have more control of how it's handled. Likewise, always pack batteries in a carry-on bag, so they can be stored in a pressurized environment where the temperature is less likely to fluctuate. Most commercial drone batteries have less than 100 Wh (watt-hours), but it’s good to check against the airline’s rules just in case.

Look at the airport security practices for any country you're transiting through. When traveling with your drone through customs be aware that laws vary from country to country, and some places outright ban drones (more on that below). If you’re traveling through security to a country with strict drone laws, it goes without saying you should leave it at home for that particular trip. You could be risking fines or confiscation.

Can you carry a drone on an international flight? Drone regulations around the world

As unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) become more commonly used, policymakers are struggling to keep up. While many countries have established laws when it comes to drones, others do not. Regulations can vary, including the maximum height to which aircraft are able to fly to, the areas they are permitted, the distance they can go to buildings and whether or not identity tags are necessary. In the vast majority of cases, UAVs should only be flown while they are still visible to the pilot.

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Where to keep up to date on drone laws and regulations

Leading drone manufacturer DJI has a handy link on their website to local drone laws listed by country which they keep updated regularly. The Global Drone Regulations Database also has a search function that shows recent updates. In the United States, authorities allow tourists to fly drones under the Federal Aviation Administration.

The most important guideline to remember: never fly a drone within a 5-mile radius of any airport.

Always research flight clearance at your intended flight destination before you arrive as rules and ordinances can vary by city and state, and change often.

The 3 best apps for drones: a map, a forecast and a photo wizard

B4UFly : An FAA-sponsored app for recreational drone pilots that documents where you can and cannot fly in the US. This resource is also the most comprehensive compilation of all airports in the US. The app also provides air clearance options via a text message system depending on your location.

UAV Forecast : A real-time log of local weather conditions that aid in gauging the wind, visibility and precipitation.

PhotoPills: Once you're in the clear and ready to fly, PhotoPills is an incredible resource for lining up the perfect shot.

Take a virtual drone tour of the fascinating new excavations in Pompeii

Why your drone's weight matters

Drones over 0.55 lbs (0.25 kg) should be registered on the FAA website, which also has further information available on policy and use. A flying limit of 400 feet high is in place, while pilots should avoid dangerous areas and refrain from flying over crowds. Beginners should consider a compact drone under 0.55 lbs (0.25 kg) to streamline the process of getting into the air.

Canada has a strict height limit of 295 feet (90 meters), while those operating drones should stay at least five kilometers away from airports, airfields and aircrafts. Further information on the specifics is available through Transport Canada. Italian authorities allow drones compliant with Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) regulations, as long as they are not flown at night, over populated areas or over a height of 229 feet (70 meters), while in Japan drones must keep a minimum distance of 100 feet (30 meters) from people, buildings and vehicles and only fly at a maximum height of 492 feet (150 meters).

Underwater photography contest captures astonishing scenes of animal behavior

Can you fly drones in US national parks?

Drones are not allowed for recreational or commercial use in US national parks or US national forests. In general, US state parks allow drones unless prohibited through a posted order.

How to photograph Yosemite like Ansel Adams

Be aware of no-drone zones

While countries have varying rules on things like height and location, some places have outright banned the use of drones. These include:

Algeria
Cuba
Morocco
Nicaragua
North Korea

Other countries have very strict or unclear drone regulations and thus, flying is definitely not recommended until policies become clearer. They include:

Barbados
Côte d'Ivoire
Eygpt
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Madagascar
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Syria

Best practices for using your drone on vacation

Many official rules and regulations for the piloting of drones cross over with practical tips that will keep you and your equipment safe. As a general rule it’s always good to have your aircraft in sight, as it can become damaged or even crash. Wildlife and nature should always be taken into account, and it’s good to research if there are any endangered or protected species in the area.

Privacy is another big factor that should be considered, as drones can grant access to hard-to-reach areas that may have been designed to be free from prying eyes. As a courtesy, other people’s personal space in apartments and buildings and in public areas such as beaches should be taken into account. You also should never fly your drone near any military base, any government property or private property. Just because there's a wide-open, remote patch of land does not automatically mean you are free to fly. You are responsible for ensuring proper flight licenses and clearances at all times.

Recreational drone use is just that: recreational. Once you begin to use your drone skills for profit, you are a professional and need to obtain the proper clearances, licenses and approvals necessary. As previously mentioned, always maintain at least 5 miles distance from airports must be observed, as drones can cause many issues with air traffic.

After all that, there’s nothing left to do except get creative and have fun with your drone!

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Taking your drone on vacation? Here's what you need to know in 2022

Glistening, groaning icebergs. Playful Adélie, gentoo and emperor penguins. Sunbathing Weddell seals and spouting sperm whales. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest continent on earth, and for many travelers, the final frontier.

Since the “Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration” at the end of the 19th century, people have longed to follow in Shackleton’s footsteps and explore this polar desert. Fortunately for modern adventurers, more opportunities than ever are open for tourists to check the most illusive continent on earth off their bucket lists. But to do that, you have to have the right gear.

What to pack for a voyage to Antarctica

Most expeditions to Antarctica are on scientific research vessels that also transport tourists. Unlike a traditional cruise, however, you won’t need fancy formalwear for the dining room. Dress on board is casual and comfortable and, above all else, keeps safety in mind. Ships typically ban any footwear that’s open-toed or high-heeled, but your tuxedo t-shirt will be just fine for penguin theme night.While on board the ship, your best bet is comfortable, layered clothing and slip-resistant shoes for walking the damp decks. Wildlife sightings are a popular pastime at sea, and this is a good opportunity to give your camera and snow gear a test run, since the wind on deck will give you a taste of Antarctic cold. Binoculars come in handy, too, for spotting far-off whales and birds from the boat.

Be prepared for seasickness crossing Drake Passage

Before you step foot on the southernmost continent, you’ll have to brave the Drake Passage. Those who make the crossing frequently will tell you that it’s referred to as the “Drake Shake” or the “Drake Lake,” depending on the swell of the sea. If it’s the former, you’ll want to be prepared with seasickness medicine. This can be pills, patches, wristbands, or a combination thereof; if you’re particularly susceptible, talk with your doctor about prescription medication before you leave home.

Packing for shore excursions in Antarctica

As you approach your first landing, the ship’s crew will check your outdoor wear and camera gear like tripods for any tiny stowaways. Everything will be inspected, vacuumed and brushed to remove foreign particles like dirt and seeds in order to protect Antarctica’s pristine environment.

Getting from your ship to Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, the Falkland Islands and other popular Antarctic landings requires you to ride in an inflatable motorboat.

A waterproof dry bag or backpack like those used by scuba divers is useful for keeping your camera gear dry, and a waterproof pouch on a lanyard will keep your phone secure and handy for quick photos. The extreme cold will drain the batteries in your electronics faster than usual, so bring extras and keep them in an inner coat pocket to benefit from your body heat until you need them.

How to protect yourself in this harsh environment

Sunglasses with a UV filter are essential for exploring in the blinding southerly sunshine — as is sunscreen. Some people bring ski goggles to help combat the wind, particularly if they have prescription lenses. Moisturizer and lip balm are also necessities in the Antarctic atmosphere; because of its low temperatures, the polar air contains only about one-tenth of the water vapor found in temperate latitudes, and your skin will dry out quickly.

While you might be tempted to pack your bulkiest clothes to stay warm, you’ll be better off with layers of moisture-wicking, windproof fabrics. Top these with waterproof snow pants (a requirement for most Antarctic cruises), but don’t tuck them in — that will shovel ice and snow directly into your boots, leaving you with wet socks and cold toes.

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Preventing contamination of this pristine environment

Many cruise companies provide guests with rubber boots for shore excursions, largely to prevent contamination of the Antarctic snow and soil. But thin, moisture-wicking socks layered underneath a thicker, warmer pair will keep your toes toasty, particularly if you drop some air-activated heat packets into your boots. The same layering approach works best for your hands, with a thin liner pair of gloves topped with a thick, waterproof pair of ski-type gloves.

A balaclava offers an all-in-one approach for keeping your head warm and your face protected from Antarctic winds, or you can opt for a snug-fitting beanie and a neck gaiter that will fit under the hood of your coat and stay put on quick boat crossings.

Stay warm and dry... except for the polar plunge

Despite freezing temperatures, you should bring a swimsuit. The polar plunge is a fun opportunity to shed your snowsuit and strip to your skivvies for a quick dip in the sub-zero salt water. Once you’re back on board, keep your swimsuit on to take advantage of your ship’s sauna to thaw out from the swim.

How to protect your camera gear in Antarctica

You’re likely to take more photos in Antarctica than many other travel destinations, so make sure your gear is ready. Consider a rubber housing to protect your camera body, a rain sleeve to keep out snow and spray, and a lens hood to help combat the icy glare. An external hard drive will help free up space on memory cards, and a power strip comes in handy for charging all your devices simultaneously in your cabin. You may need outlet adapters, too, so check with your cruise line. Speaking of cameras, you can leave your drone at home — you won’t be able to fly it in Antarctica.

Miscellaneous items you also need for your Antarctica voyage

If you’re bunking in a shared cabin to cut costs, then don’t forget to bring a sleep mask, earplugs, a bag lock and other hostel-style roommate essentials.

Heading to Port Lockroy or Vernadsky Station? Carry some U.S. currency with you to purchase items from the gift shop or send a postcard with a penguin postmark to friends and family back home.

The most surprising thing you probably won’t need to pack for Antarctica is a coat. Most cruise operators provide one as part of your package, both for the branding opportunity and for safety reasons. It’s easier to find boatloads of guests on shore excursions when everyone is dressed alike. Double check before you depart, however, to be sure it’s included in your experience.

Antarctica packing essentials at a glance

Synthetic, silk or wool base layers
Waterproof snow pants
Moisture-wicking socks
Wool or insulating socks
Swim suit
Close-toed, slip-resistant deck shoes
Waterproof boots
UV-protected sunglasses
Drybag
Beanie or watchcap
Neck gaiter
Waterproof gloves
A light windbreaker or jacket
Binoculars
Extra batteries
Camera + chargers, lenses, accessories, etc.
Motion sickness medication
Moisturizer
Sunscreen + SPF chapstick

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How to pack for a trip to Antarctica

Picture this: You’re on a trail, 750 miles north of the Mexican border where you started, and the elevation is continuing to rise. After two months of slogging in the desert sun, you feel every rock you have stepped over, every switchback, every mountain pass – and a great sense of accomplishment for how far you’ve come.

But the looming mountain reminds you: There are still 1900 more miles of hiking ahead through two more states, and countless obstacles of terrain and weather.

What does it take to complete the Pacific Crest Trail, the US west coast’s greatest footpath? Perseverance. And passion.

Where is the Pacific Crest Trail?

The Pacific Crest Trail, or PCT, runs 2650.10 miles through the states of California, Oregon and Washington. Spanning from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada. It takes anywhere from four to six months of backpacking. Through one national park and wilderness area after the next, one step at a time. Roughly five million to be exact.

What’s more, the trail covers the most variable terrain the planet has to offer, from the heat of the Mojave Desert in Southern California to the high-altitude granite peaks of the Sierra. Then volcano-hopping in the central regions of Oregon before finally inching toward Canada through the wonderment of the Cascade Mountains in Washington.

Here are the basic skills, terrain, weather and more information needed for anyone who wishes to attempt this grueling thru-hike in 2022 and many years to come.

What to expect on the Pacific Crest Trail

The landscape of the trail: The landscape and environment on the trail change as much as the altitude. One day could be 90 degrees in the scorching desert sun, the next near freezing at an elevation of 9000 feet. Preparation for the daily – even hourly – changes is vital. The lowest point on the trail is only 170 feet above sea level (the Columbia River Gorge on the border of Oregon and Washington). The highest is at 13,200 feet (Forester Pass in California’s Sierra Nevada range). With such a huge variation, you could get altitude sickness in the morning and heat exhaustion by the afternoon.

The weather along the PCT: The weather also changes dramatically and quickly. The desert, blistering in the daytime, can drop below freezing the same night. In the higher altitudes of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, too, temperatures can range from nearly 90 degrees to below freezing, with snow even in the summer months. The variation can be exciting but prepare for rain, sleet, snow, lightning, hail and everything in between at any location on trail, any day of the year despite what the weather channel says.

How to sleep on the trail: Where you sleep depends on what you decide to carry. Most pack a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad for protection from weather and the environment. Yet hikers will cross a road or highway weekly, where it is possible to hitchhike into a town to stay at a hotel or hostel for the night. Be advised, however: most towns rarely have more than a grocery store and gas station. While it’s common practice in the region around the trail, hitchhiking is never entirely safe and we don’t recommend it. Travelers who hitch should understand that they are taking a small but potentially serious risk.

How to prepare for your hike on the Pacific Crest Trail

When to start your hike: Timing is crucial and depends on whether you’re hiking south-to-north (most popular) or north-to-south. If you’re heading north, the start dates range from March to late May; June onward the Pacific Crest Trail Association has revoked any permits issued during this time for a northbound thru-hiker. If you’re heading south, the start dates will depend on the snowpack in the North Cascades of Washington, though they range from early June to September with their own limitations to permitting as well.

How to get a PCT permit: As if the 2650.10 miles of trail aren’t hard enough, the permitting process and applying for one might be a close second. Not only has the National Forest limited the amount of permits issued, they also cut off much of the year for permitting. Limited to just 50 a day for the northbound hiker, starting March first and spanning through to the end of May, spots fill the day the permit applications open. For this year, it began November 9, 2021 for early registration and a second opening January 11, 2022.

For the southbound thru-hiker, the permits are limited to just 15 a day from June 15 to the end of July, then again another 15 a day from the first of August to September 15. Due to COVID-19, hikers are restricted to entering Canada. In order to begin your hike at the Northern Terminus, a hiker must hike north to the terminus, against the traditional start in Manning Park, British Columbia. Permits for entering Canada have been restricted at this time.

With a total number of 8000 permits issued a year for the Pacific Crest Trail, planning your start date well in advance may not guarantee you a space reserved, but offers you the greatest chance at your desired permit date. Should there be no more permits available for your start date or any day in the permit window, you may contact PCTA.org for possible cancellations. Though there is no waitlist available. To begin your future start on the Pacific Crest Trail, you must apply for a permit through the Pacific Crest Trail Association.

Fire permits: Lastly, you will need to obtain a fire permit for uses of a campfire at any location on trail as well as the use of a camping stove. Fire restrictions may be in effect at any location on trail depending on drought or fire weather and each hiker must be knowledgeable of these advisories at their location on trail.

How to train for your hike: Exercises, stretches and other workout routines can be helpful to prepare for months of hiking. Many thru-hikers prepare with trail running. Logging a couple of miles each day in the months before your hike, with slow mileage gains weekly, can prepare both your body and mind for the eight to 10 hours of daily hiking you’ll do on the trail. Stretching, even yoga, can make moving easier and injury-free. After blisters, muscle tears are the most common setback for hikers and stretching can prevent (and even help heal) injuries.

However, the most important training is mental. All the physical training and backpacking experience means nothing if you aren’t driven to make it to the border of Canada or Mexico. The passion and perseverance it takes to complete the trail is often underestimated. Whatever your reason for starting, hold onto it and use it as your personal drive. It will be monumental to your success while hiking and to your happiness once you’ve finished.

What skills are needed for the PCT: Believe it or not, a basic knowledge of camping and backpacking gear are all you need. You will meet other thru-hikers on trail, and the struggles and exertion will often be shared. Spend some time before you go learning some simple map reading skills and basic first aid. And take the time to balance your pack with weight distribution to make the hike as comfortable as possible. The greatest skill you can carry is the knowledge of what your body is capable of doing. Knowing your limits – both physical and mental – will help your ‘cruise control’ stay set.

What to bring on the PCT: Along with your physical preparation and time management, the tools you use are equally essential and can make or break the trip. A several-liter backpack, warm sleeping bag and sleeping pad are a must. You’ll need to choose between a tent and lightweight bivy (smaller than a tent, it covers basically the same footprint as your sleeping bag) for protection from the elements. Rain gear, a down jacket, extra socks, trekking poles, a hat, sunglasses, trail shoes, a backpacking stove, a water filter, a headlamp and base layer clothing are all necessities. Absolutely do not pack cotton clothing – it retains sweat instead of wicking it away, making your clothing heavy and possibly leading to hypothermia.

How to eat on the trail: You’ll need to find your way into nearby towns along the trek to collect food supplies. You can mail boxes to yourself before you leave, for pickup at various post offices or plan to get food from grocery stores. With a basic and lightweight stove designed for boiling water, you can pack out instant meals, mashed potatoes, noodles and oatmeal. Along with snacks; energy bars, chips, nuts, fruit and candy, the stove is great for tea and coffee. Water is obtained naturally, through the creaks and lakes along the trail. You will need a filtration device to drink the water and avoid sickness caused from waterborne parasites like Giardia or H. Pylori. If you do choose to hitchhike, know that people who live near the trail understand the need for hikers to get to town and many are thrilled to see you.

How to get to the Pacific Crest Trail: Many major airports are within a reasonable drive from the trail. San Diego is nearest to the Mexican border and the Southern Terminus for the northbound hiker, while Seattle is the nearest to Canada and the Northern Terminus for the southbound start. Coupled with Tijuana in Mexico and Vancouver in Canada for nearby international airports. Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles are close enough to the trail to be accessible within the borders with connections from there to even smaller and remote locations.

The Pacific Crest Trail and COVID-19

Due to the pandemic, the local areas off trail may be limiting their access to grocery stores and other social engagements to limit the spread of COVID-19. Take this into consideration when entering these areas and use all the tools given by the CDC to do your part. The PCTA also has their recommendations for hiking during the pandemic here. Mailing yourself food to the Post Offices throughout the trail may be the best way to limit your impact. Must you use the local grocery store, please respect the local guidelines and the people who inhabit these small mountain and desert towns.

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Safety recommendations and restrictions during a pandemic can change rapidly. Lonely Planet recommends that travelers always check with local authorities for up-to-date guidance before traveling during COVID-19 .

How to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022: a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know

Trust us when we say Lonely Planet staffers test out a lot of gear. But these things are what have truly made a difference to our travels. Either these things made it easier, offered a chance at connecting with someone or they were just plain fun. Take a look at our list of must-have gear and tech, because we’re confident you’ll find the perfect gift for the on-the-go traveler in your life.

Polaroid camera

From $100

This is certainly an extra item for a traveler's gear – it's just pure and simple fun. Its easy to snap photos of travelers you meet a long the way and share the print with them. Its also fun to have the print to add to your journal, incorporating art and words to really have a keepsake of your trip.

Black Diamond Moji color lantern

Recommended by Gabriel Rovick, adventure photographer and founder of F4D studio
$25

This small lantern packs a serious punch: weighing only three ounces, it can light up your campsite for ten hours on high or a hundred hours on low. Put it in your backpack for car camping trips, nights in a hostel or bushwhacking through the Alaskan wilderness, and with one flick of a switch you can bring the party, as this little lantern strobes its way through the rainbow.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

TYCKA Rangers 56" compact travel tripod

Recommended by Jasmine Alley, a Dallas-based travel blogger and photographer passionate about finding beauty in the world
$70

Whether you're photographing the stars or traveling solo, a tripod definitely comes in handy. I use this exact model because it’s user-friendly, versatile, lightweight and compact enough to fit in a carry-on when I'm flying somewhere. Most recently, I used it to capture the northern lights in Alaska. You could barely see them with the naked eye (they were just a milky glow on the horizon), but with my camera steady on this tripod and a 15-second shutter speed, you could clearly see green in the camera. It wouldn't have been possible to get the shot without it!

Aer Cable Kit 2

Recommended by Alex Howard, Lonely Planet senior editor
$50

Keep track of all your cables (we're not totally wireless just yet) while on the road with this durable nylon-face bag. There are multiple pockets to keep things nice and orderly and a padded interior for protection.

DJI OM 5

Recommended by Amanda McCadams, Lonely Planet social media manager
$159

A small, compact gimbal that attaches quickly and easily to your mobile device, the DJI OM 5 makes capturing smooth video with your phone a breeze. If you’re hiking, making a time-lapse sunset or just taking a pano selfie, it’ll make sure that you don't go home with shaky video.

LensPen NLP-1

Recommended by Erin Lenczycki, Lonely Planet photo editor
$10

My camera lens and phone seem to always be smudged, and even if I pack thirty microfiber cloths, I never seem to have a clean one. So this little guy is a life-saver for me: it's tiny, cheap, and so much better than a t-shirt. I also use it on my glasses daily!

LC-dolida sleep headphones

Recommended by Caitlin Riddell, Lonely Planet director of social media
$23.99

Ears have been the real MVP since the influx of mask restrictions – they hold your airpods, your mask, your glasses and more. If you're trying to get some shut-eye on a long flight or a road trip, try this two-in-one headphone/eye mask combo, which removes the need to have something additional resting on or in your ears. The wireless Bluetooth speakers are so thin it even works for side-sleepers. An added bonus: if you install the Calm app before you travel, you can literally have Harry Styles lull you to sleep in transit, thanks to the celebrity-narrated Sleep Stories feature. You're welcome.

Kelty Redwing 50 backpack

Recommended by Ben Buckner, Lonely Planet senior editor, sponsored content
$150

Rugged and versatile, with pockets for days, this sturdy backpack has been my go-to for outdoor adventure hikes as well as city breaks for years. The ventilated back and suspension system make medium-distances a breeze, and it even fits easily in overhead compartments. (Remember those?)

Promising review: "I've used this particular backpack in the past 4 years to travel around 30+ countries and every variety of travel. I love the versatility of it from hiking to hotels. The two external side pockets, top pocket, front pocket, two bottom side pockets and not to mention hidden pockets under the side ones make it easy to grab gear fast on the go."

Icelantic Skis UV Sun Hoodie

Recommended by Gabriel Rovick, adventure photographer and founder of F4D studio
$65

Icelantic is a Colorado-based, independently owned company that builds gorgeous skis right in Denver. But the brand’s outdoor-wear is equally amazing, and these sun hoodies are no exception. Comfortable for a day of paddle-boarding, hiking, sailing or any other activity you can dream up, these are built to withstand the hardest of players.

Patagonia Endless Ride liner shorts

Recommended by Ben Buckner, Lonely Planet senior editor, sponsored content
$80

These padded shorts – available in styles for men and women – will definitely save your butt. A chamois pad in just the right place takes the pressure off, but the nylon-spandex material elsewhere is light and grippy. You'll never go off road on a bike without them again.

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Best gear and tech for travelers

Traveling light is an essential step towards embracing the spontaneity of travel. With a small pack, you can travel on impulse, sprinting down the platform to catch that departing train, and leaping from boat to village bus without missing a beat. From the comfort of home, it might feel like you need everything but the kitchen sink, but when it comes to packing, less is definitely more.

One of the first surprises for new travelers is that things from back home are easily available in other countries. If you can pick it up when you arrive, why haul it halfway across the world? The other big first-trip packing lesson is the value of having space in your pack–you never know when you might find a Buddha statue or hand-embroidered wall hanging that you can't live without.

If your backpack is bursting at the seams when you set off, you'll soon find yourself wrestling with multiple bags while the light load travelers are grabbing the best seats on the bus. Travelers with a single bag experience less stress–they're the folk you see whistling cheerfully as they walk out of the terminal building while you're still fighting to drag your suitcases off the conveyor belt.

Of course, packing is a deeply personal process. Everyone has their own standards of comfort, and their own notions of what counts as essential. But by following some field-tested tenets of traveling light, you can shed size and weight. And as every veteran traveler knows, you regret the things you didn't bring much less than the pain of hauling around things you didn't need!

The first law of travel physics

There's one inalienable rule of travel physics: the contents of your bag will expand to fill the available space. If your bag is stuffed full at the departure gate, you're already en route to a second bag if you spot anything you want to buy when you reach your destination.

Start with a bag that fits into a plane's overhead compartment, and fill it with only as much stuff as you can fit in without shoving. Leave behind the rest. For ninja-level packing, make a second pass and remove anything you aren't 100% certain you'll use. Tough decisions on your living-room floor will pay big dividends on the road.

Pack densely

Black holes are so compact that now even light can escape their gravity. Your bag should function on a similar principle. Folded is smaller than scrunched up. Folded and rolled is smaller still. If your clothes take up more than one-third of your bag, you are probably letting sartorial decisions take precedence over practicality.

Know your destination

The streets may look different to the street you live on, but the shops sell almost everything you'll find back home, from shampoo and sunscreen to camera cards and phone charging cables. Where tourists gather, you can probably also find plug adapters, the latest movies on DVD and the candy bars you grew up with. A few things genuinely won't be available in your chosen destination, but most will, so don't fill up your bag with things you can buy as and when you need them.

The rule of three

Three pairs of socks. Three pairs of underwear. Three T-shirts. Wear one, wash one, dry one. You can get more miles out of leg wear, so two pairs of pants and one culturally appropriate pair of shorts or skirt should suffice. Stick to light, flowing clothing made from cotton and blends that dry quickly and look good without needing an iron to remove every wrinkle.

Pack less, wash more

It turns out most cultures have figured out how to wash stuff. Whether you use the hotel laundry or the local dhobi-wallah (clothes washer), a clean shirt is usually just a few hours away. Pack fewer clothes, and wash them when they get dirty, and that onerous weight on your back will get miraculously lighter. At a pinch, most lodgings have a sink and running water–bring a length of string and you've got an instant washing line.

Travel-friendly tech

Most modern electronics (like phones and cameras) switch voltage automatically when you plug them in. If in doubt, check the plug for a note saying ‘Input: 100~240v’ or something similar. Leave voltage-specific devices that require heavy, old-fashioned adapters at home. A three-way splitter plugged into a multi-country adapter should be enough to keep all your devices juiced. If you have USB-powered devices, even better. Bring a plug with multiple USB ports and you'll just need to carry the cables.

Only bring what you need

Repeat this to yourself as you pack. The unknowns of traveling make us want to surround ourselves with familiar items but this kind of ‘what if’ thinking is a fast-track to a heavy pack. If you aren't certain you'll use it, you probably don't need it. Remember, many things can be hired, bought or borrowed as you need them. That mask and snorkel? You can probably hire one when you reach the beach. That hairdryer? Most hotels have one.

Don't go shoe crazy

Veteran travelers rarely pack more than two pairs: a comfortable pair of trainer-type shoes that are good for trekking, day-wear and running, and a pair of flip-flops (thongs) for beach wear and dubious-looking bathroom floors. Only bring smart shoes if you're definitely going somewhere you can't get away with trainers (or pick some up locally when and if you need them).

Let tech be your friend

These days, your phone can double as your music player, camera and more, weighing not much more than a sandwich. Heavy books used to the bane of travel (though a blessing during long waits for transport). Today, you can load a whole library onto an  e-Reader and a whole record collection onto an MP3 player. Carry a small portable power bank to keep your devices going when you can't get to a wall socket.

Be weight aware

Some things–paper, glass, metal, batteries–are just heavy, so try not to pack them unless you really need to. If you need battery-operated devices, look for lightweight versions; a head torch powered by a button battery weighs much less than a traditional torch powered by heavy alkaline batteries. To stay on the right side of airline weight baggage limits, carry a small, portable luggage scale.

Function over form

Prioritize useful things. A ball-gown may look great, but a crumple-friendly cotton dress that you can wear on the bus, beach and dancefloor will take you a lot further. Here are some tried and tested travel essentials:

A quick-drying pack towel : fluffy towels are bulky and take ages to dry; synthetic towels dry quickly and pack away to nothing.
A sarong: it's a changing room, it's a blanket, it's a curtain for privacy, it's a towel, it's a bag, it's a sunshade, it's quite possibly the most versatile item in your bag. Oh, and you can also use it to cover your legs.
Compression straps: they squeeze things into your bag, fix things to your bag, and fix your bag to other things, like the roof rack on back-country buses. They'll also function is a washing line (or bring some string).
A cotton scarf or bandanna: it's a head covering for mosques and temples, a sun hat, a dust-mask, a neck and shoulder warmer; you can even use it as a fashion accessory.
A frisbee: in addition to its friend-making potential, strategically packing it on the outside edge of your pack provides hard-shell protection for breakables. Additional uses: cutting board, plate, bowl, bottle opener, fan, dry place to sit.

Tips for the airport

Even if you get your packing list down to the essentials, you might find there are one or two items that just won't fit, particularly on the way home. If necessary, exploit the the airline industry's three biggest luggage loopholes:

Wearing is not carrying: stuff your pockets, don your jacket, wear your hiking boots and pack your sandals.
‘Carry on plus one personal item’: most airlines let you supplement your carry-on bag with a camera bag or smaller backpack, giving you some bonus storage.
Duty-free doesn't count: if you can't fit it in your bag, most airlines let you carry on air-side purchases without penalty in a carrier bag (which also has room for more loose items).

Savvy packer's pack list

Here is a list of everything we'd suggest for a multi-week trip to most popular backpacking destinations.

Backpack (40L max, 35L is even better)
Bag liner (or a large, heavy-duty plastic bag)
Passport and other documents
Compact umbrella
Three or four light stuff sacks for organizing
Three shirts or T-shirts
Two pairs of pants (trousers)
One pair of shorts (or a skirt)
Three pairs of socks
Three pairs of underwear
Fleece jacket, hoodie or long-sleeved top (for air-conditioned transport and high elevations)
Sunhat
Sunglasses
Sarong
Bandanna and/or scarf
Comfortable walking shoes (wear them when you fly)
Comfortable sandals or flip flops
Sleep kit: mosquito net, sleeping bag liner (or a lightweight fleece blanket), ear plugs
Shower kit: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant (or try a piece of alum), small bottle of shower gel
Food and drink kit: snack bars, a travel mug, water purification tablets, a water bottle, a folding knife for cutting fruit
First aid kit: mosquito repellent, clippers, tweezers, plasters, headache tablets, small tube of antiseptic and your usual meds
Camera and accessories (if you can't get by with your phone camera)
Laptop (if your smart phone won't cut it) wrapped in a waterproof bag
Smart phone and headphones (plus charging cables)
Notebook and pens
Parachute cord (or string)
Lightweight head torch
Frisbee

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This article was first published in October 2014.

How to pack for a big trip - tips from experienced travelers

Working wherever your wanderlust takes you has been the dream for years – and is likely to boom in popularity after the COVID-19 pandemic, as more companies shift to remote-work policies and employees get the chance to make up for lost travel time. But living out of a suitcase hits a little different when you need to bring the contents of your desk along with you.

Carrying the right gear can help you stay focused and on top of your to-dos even when your office of the day isn't as chill or climate controlled as the one at HQ. Whether the hotel wi-fi is spotty, the sun is beaming extra bright on the beach, or you want to avoid leaving your phone charger on the train, we found twenty essentials that will keep you on top of the grind around the globe.

Lonely Planet's ultimate digital nomad packing list

Iceland has launched a quirky new website to persuade travelers to swap doomscrolling - the act of compulsively scrolling through social media or news feeds that relate to bad news - and replace it with the more positive act of what it terms "joyscrolling."

The site is called Joyscroll and it has been launched by the Icelandic tourism board after it conducted an in-depth study to find just how much people were doomscrolling on their phones in 2020. It then decided to create an interactive website that would allow people to counter their instinctive habit of chasing negativity by scrolling through joy-inspiring Icelandic sights and sounds instead.

Users of the website cans work their way through a 75-foot-long feed of gorgeous nature scenes and inspirational quotes, as well as listening to joyful musical performances presented by Icelandic stars like Auður, Júníus Meyvant, Gugusar and Ólafur Arnalds. The tourism board came to this figure as its research calculated that each person scrolls through 74.47 feet on their social media feeds each day. There's a tool that measures the distance you're joyscrolling in real time, as you peruse Icelandic waterfalls, geysers, wildlife, northern lights and local cuisine.

There is also a guided breathing section on the site to help users to stay calm. “We hope our content will offer an escape and bring a smile to the world,” says Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, head of Visit Iceland. “Hopefully, sometime soon, people will be able to enjoy it in real life. We look forward to welcoming that day.”

You can check out the Joyscroll website here.

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Iceland can help you quit your 'doomscrolling' habit in 2021

There hasn't been much travel this year but that does mean that many of us have been looking to make our living space that little bit brighter.

Whether you're still in lockdown, looking for the perfect gift or just enjoying some downtime over the holidays, you can keep the sweet memories of past adventures alive. Here are a few suggestions for personalizing your living spaces with vacation photos trapped on your digital devices.

1. Put a frame around it

A digital photo frame is one of the easiest ways to display your travel images. The latest generation of digital photo frames are Wi-Fi enabled and make it easy to link to popular social media and cloud-storage services without a big time commitment. Nixplay, for example, has free-standing and wall-mounted frames that connect to Dropbox, Google Photos, Facebook and Instagram.

The Nixplay mobile app unlocks more features, including collection curation, viewing preferences and sharing options. Digital frames also make great gifts for less tech-savvy family members from whom you’re socially distanced. You can create a dedicated email address so you and other family members can send photos directly to their frame.

2. Create a photo book of your past vacations

Instead of swiping through your travel photos on your phone, turn them into real page turners with a photo book. They can be organized by theme, color or by specific trips. No matter how they are curated, make sure to pick only the images you really love. Fewer photos will have maximum impact on the page, but you break up the book with collages of smaller images, too.

While services like Blurb, Mixbook, Printique, Costco, Mpix, Shutterfly, and Artifact Uprising have templates and tools that will help automate the process, they don’t always populate the layout in a way that makes sense.

Here’s some advice from Steph Lehman, a photo book editor and graphic designer for Far-Country Press, an independent book publisher based in Helena, Montana: “I like many options to work with for subjects and locations, including different orientations, color schemes, choices for usage as main images or accent photos, etc.”

3. Experiment with unexpected print surfaces

Society6 is an online marketplace for artists who sell their artwork printed on a variety of media, from more traditional framed prints to all kinds of home décor items and consumer goods. Anyone can join, which means you can upload your own travel photos and even make money selling them if you’re looking for a side hustle.

Don’t expect a windfall since you’ll probably want to buy all the cool products adorned with your travel photos. Among other things, you can beautify your home office with a photo calendar, enhance your daily meditation with a printed yoga mat and drift off to sleep snuggled under a custom-designed comforter.

There are all kinds of online printing services with unique products on which to print, including lampshades ( Zazzle), wood boards ( PhotoBarn), metal ( Artbeat Studios), acrylic ( Mpix) and peel-and-stick fabric ( SnapBox).

4. Go big with a wall mural or photo wall

It may feel like your world has shrunk a little, but your travel photos can be larger than life. Photo wall murals can make you feel like you’re sleeping in a Scandinavian forest or dining on a white-sand beach at dusk. Murals Your Way, for example, will take your photo and wall dimensions and create custom wallpaper with a water-activated adhesive backing.

Kelsey Miller, a copy editor based in Chicago, likes to find unique ways for displaying images. She went the DIY route to save some money on a photo wall in her living room. “The image on my wall is a cloth tapestry I purchased from Society6,” she says. “I cut it into 12 pieces with a rotary cutter (for a super clean cut), then used a cornstarch/water paste to ‘glue’ them to the back of 12 square frames from IKEA. The best part is that I can peel off the tapestry and the cornstarch/water paste washes off with soap and water, so I can always replace it.”

Photo walls can also be groupings of many different travel photos like the one Cleveland art director Stephanie Park has in her home. “They are from all different places, but I’ve made them cohesive by printing them in black and white. They are in silver frames of all different sizes and styles.”

5. Don’t underestimate the power of a classic print

Printing out your photos isn’t a new idea, but chances are most of your images have stayed trapped in the digital realm. Give your memories some space in the real world and blow them up to appreciate the details on traditional photo paper. “Do your research before you print,” says Vincent McCracken of Mpix, the online arm of Miller’s Professional Imaging, the largest professional photo lab in the United States.

“While drugstores or big box stores might be a convenient way to print your photos, some use cheap paper and your color will vary widely from print to print.” Mpix uses certified archival quality papers and has in-house experts that personally review photos to ensure perfect color on every print. Their standard E-surface paper, which has a pearl finish that you commonly see in wedding albums, reduces glare, which you would normally get from printing on glossy paper.

5. Think outside the frame

There are all kinds of non-traditional ways to show off your travel photos on a wall. You can spend hours on Pinterest and other social media sites exploring all the possibilities. Some of my favorite ideas for exhibiting travel photos include wooden hanger frames, fairy string lights with clips, postcard racks and vintage luggage tags. Finally, if you’re one of those people who hoarded toilet paper at the onset of Covid-19, you can turn the empty cardboard rolls into frames, too.

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This article was first published April 2020 and last updated December 2020.

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Five creative ways to display your travel photos

Many of us turn to popular search engine Google when searching for answers to travel queries, and we were interested in the results of its annual Year in Search data for 2020. This data shows the top trending searches in the US from the trillions of searches that defined the past year.

While “coronavirus” was the top trending search worldwide, the pandemic has obviously had an impact on the trending travel questions this year. Questions that were asked repeatedly included “where can Americans travel right now?” and “when will international travel resume?” People searched for answers to questions around “is it safe to travel?” as well as specific questions around whether Mexico and Hawaii were open for travel. They were also curious about “when will travel restrictions be lifted?"

When we weren’t finding new recipes or trimming our own bangs, we explored virtual ways to stay entertained and connected. Top trending searches around the world "virtual" included field trips, museum tours and tours, as we searched for travel experiences in online formats. "For nearly 20 years, as the year comes to a close, Google has shared the top questions, moments and individuals that inspired the world to search," says Nelly Kennedy, brand editorial director at Google.

The best virtual tours to explore the world from home "Rooted in Google Trends data, our annual Year in Search captures the essence of a year. In 2020, we asked “how to change the world” twice as much as “how to go back to normal,” and “how to be anti-racist” was searched more than “how to become a millionaire.” Each year, the searches that are the backbone of Year in Search illuminate a larger story. In 2020, it was the story of deep questioning, as the world searched “why” more than any other time in history."

To see the full set of trending searches for 2020, check out the list here.

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