Backpacking Packing List:
Money and Travel Documents

First, some general info on money and documents:

The obvious part: Don`t leave your money and travel documents at home!

And of course, put it in your hand-luggage.

This tip may sound obvious to someone. But when you`re in a rush, even this can go wrong!

I`ve actually seen travellers locking up their backpack by the check-in counter at the airport, cause they accidentally packed documents in there..

Shop around for exchange rates. Before departure and when you`re abroad, check the rates at your local bank first. It is common that exchange booths at the airport charge you a larger fee. So, try to find a bank in town!

Want to know the exchange rate? Click into XE`s Currency Converter.

When you`re at the counter to exchange, ask for small bills as well! This will save you time and money.

Small bills are practical when taking the local transport in Asia, buying stuff at small family-shops, at the market etc.

If you try to pay with a large bill, they will often ask if you have anything smaller (like in India). If you don`t have anything smaller, they will tell you to exchange it into smaller bills. And THAT can take you some time! A bank is not always at close range...

When you`re new in a country: The worst case scenario is exchanging money with a local in the street. That person will likely take an advantage of your temporary ignorance... You will likely get less value for the money compared to what a bank would have given you.

Pre-departure, USD dollars are most likely the best allround currency you can bring, cause it`s easily exchanged into local currency. And also be accepted as payment, at least in small bills. You`ll also get dollars when using ATMs in Cambodia.

Here are the currencies for each country:

Thailand -- Baht

Laos -- Kip

Cambodia -- Riel

India -- Rupies

Malaysia -- Ringgit

Philippines -- Pesos

Find an appropriate amount you are comfortable carrying, and can afford to lose. Then exchange it into the right currency.

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You must bring:

Passport and visas

Tickets (electronical/paper)

Money (cash, credit cards, travel cheques)

Travel insurance card

Vaccination card

In case of accidents, the nurses or doctor can take a look at what vaccines you have taken.

And in cases where you have travelled directly from country with yellow fever (eg. Africa), you will have to show papers to the officials that you have been vaccinated for this.

Photocopies of all the above

Passport photographs for visas (like in Cambodia & India where it`s required)

When you take a photograph, make sure your whole head, face and top of your shoulders is clearly visible and don`t cover your eyes with your hair. If you use glasses, the lenses must be clear and not coloured.

Address book (for sending postcards)

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Additionals to consider:

International Driving Permit (if you consider driving at all)

You can drive in Thailand, India, Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos.

But the real question is: Do you really want to?

Driving in Asia is not a piece of cake. They hardly follow traffic rules and most of them don`t have any driving education.

And on top of this, there are cows, goats, camels, people walking in the middle of a driving road, unfinished roads, bikes, bicycles etc. You have to expect that people can park in the walking streets and they will park around your car, if they have to! It`s litterally a driving h***!

If you're driving in Malaysia, you have to drive on the left side of the road (as Britain and Australia). For more information on driving in Malaysia, click here.

But if you still want to drive in Thailand, you can check out this link...

Wanna know about Driving and Traffic Rules in Thailand, click here.

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Where do you want to go next?

Want to know more about money safety? Go to my Money Safety Article.

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