Over the years at home, I’ve been working on living ‘greener’ especially when it comes to plastics. But when I’d travel, I’d revert back to bottled water and too many plastic bags. Not anymore! To my surprise, the transition to greener options was easier than I thought. I already had all of the items in my kitchen, with my hiking gear, or in my bag of reusable shopping bags. Here are some of the changes I’ve made:
Water Filter and Bottle – I rarely drink anything except water, so the taste of it and what’s in it matters to me. I filter water at home and although most of the places I travel have had safe drinking water, I would use bottled water when I traveled. This meant I had to find a place to buy bottled water, make sure I had enough until I could get back to the store, and accumulate a mountain of empty plastic bottles.
In my hiking gear I have a perfectly good Grayl bottle that is an amazing water filter. Because I mostly day hike, the Grayl bottle was gathering dust in the closet. Now it’s one of the first things to go in my travel bag. Previously I always made room for my Kleen Kanteen stainless bottle (that I use daily). The Grayl bottle is only slightly larger. I can drink directly from the Grayl bottle or if I have the room, I can decant the water into one of my collapsible water bottles. Three I use are Nomader (rolls up, but is very sturdy when in use), Vapur (rolls up) and Hydrapak (collapses). Now instead of worrying about purchasing all that bottled water and generating all that plastic waste, I simply fill up my Grayl bottle from the bathroom sink and seconds later I have clean and tasteless water.
Shopping Bags – For years I have used reusable grocery shopping bags and now use reusable vegetable and bulk bags as well. I also have several lightweight bags that stuff down to little packets and are easy to keep in my purse for smaller purchases. I take one of these with me when I travel. They’re great to use when doing light shopping while traveling.
Reusable Utensils – As an alternative to eating at 
restaurants, I often grab something at the grocery store or take out place that requires a fork or spoon. Instead of picking up a plastic fork or spoon, I use the reusable combination fork/spoon that I keep in my purse. Other options are reusable bamboo silverware sets or regular silverware from home. Some people also carry reusable straws.
Small Containers – When I’m sightseeing I like to have small snacks like nuts, trail mix, or peanut M&Ms with me to keep my energy up. I used to travel with a handful of snack-size plastic bags to fill each day from the stash I’d keep in my hostel or hotel room. Instead now I use a small ½ cup plastic container with a screw on lid. I fill it every morning and wash it out at the end of the day.
Wax Wraps – I’ve started using Abeego cloth wax wraps at home instead of plastic wrap and they work great for travel too. They take up little room and are great for a handful of nuts, fruit, a sandwich, cookies and similar items. You just rinse them out after use and they’re ready to reuse. Eventually the wax wears out, but they are recyclable, and last a while before this happens.
I’ll admit that carrying these extra items seems to work against the concept of traveling light, but for me the extra bulk and weight is worth it. By carrying my own filtered water and small amounts of food with me when I’m roaming around, I don’t have to stop and find a restaurant every time I’m hungry or thirsty. Plus, I feel like a more responsible tourist by not contributing to the plastic trash pile in the places I visit.
for your luggage if the train is crowded.
2 debit cards
Scottevest – This vest with multiple inside pockets and some zipped outside pockets is my ‘go to’ for traveling. I can fit everything I need to protect in the pockets. When the vest is zipped up, I’m comfortable that my valuables are well protected. But the vest has some downsides to consider. When loaded, the vest becomes bulky, heavy, and quite warm. It also puts all my valuables in one place and the look of it screams ‘tourist’. So, while the Scottevest is a great option, I often add some type of on-body pouch to hold some of the valuables and employ other alternatives when I choose not to use the vest. What I do miss when not wearing the vest is the cell phone pocket at chest height inside the vest that allows me to pull out the cell phone without exposing the rest of my valuables.
PacSafe Neck Pouch – This pouch is on an adjustable strap that loops around the neck and either hangs in front or on the side of the body or tucks into the front of the pants. It holds a passport and cash/cards and is relatively comfortable. The downside is during warm weather the strap around the neck is visible, announcing to the world that you’re carrying a hidden pouch. In my opinion, this works best with turtlenecks or a scarf that covers the strap.
PacSafe Bra Stash – I’ve avoided these in the past, because frankly I didn’t think I had enough to contain anything. But this bra stash (and others like it) have a strap that goes around either the bra itself or the bra strap before you tuck it in, so it seems more secure. Some have metal clasps or snaps, so I’m not sure what happens with these at security. This one has plastic parts.
Stashbandz Belt – This is an interesting product that was developed for runners and for people who need to carry certain medical equipment on their person. It’s a stretchy 4-inch belt that sits between the navel and mid hip. It has two pockets in front (one zipped) and two in back. It carries cell phone, keys, wallet, money, etc. – although carrying all of them at the same time might be a bit bulky. I’ve just purchased this and haven’t given it a good test, but the reviews are mostly positive.
Money Belt – In the past I’ve used a money belt (which for many people is a good alternative), but because I tend to have a gap in the waist of my pants, I have trouble keeping the belt sufficiently hidden. Money belts often have enough room to hold a passport plus cards and cash. Just make sure you find one that fits you properly and your clothing accommodates it.
PacSafe Personal Safe – This item is too bulky to pack in a suitcase when traveling light, but is a great addition when on a road trip or renting a cottage, etc. It’s big enough to hold a tablet and other items. The bag locks and you run a cable around a pipe in the bathroom or other permanent object to secure the bag to the object. This works great in places where there is no safe and you don’t want to take all your valuables with you.
A simple google search on ‘how to eat gluten free in Italy’ yielded a number of helpful sources. One that I have used before is 
My internet search also showed that Italians in general are quite knowledgeable about Celiac disease and many restaurants have undergone training in proper accommodation. For example, in Italy, many restaurants had gluten free pasta that they cooked in individual portions in water separate from the regular pasta. I soon discovered the 
Regardless of your food allergy, it is important to determine what might be your ‘go to’ meals if you have difficulty finding meals on the menu that accommodate your needs to your satisfaction. For me, grilled chicken on a salad without dressing, a fruit and cheese plate, or plain meat and vegetables are usually reasonable alternatives. Many places I’ve traveled also have a dedicated gluten free/allergy free bakery, where sometimes you can find savory items in addition to sweets.
In many locations, people have access to local grocery stores and other sources of allergy safe foods if they have concern about restaurant meals. I discovered that in Italy, the local pharmacies stock gluten free food in addition to the grocery store, because Celiac Disease is a medical condition. In addition, many of the open air markets have fruit, vegetables, and other allergy safe food.
Several years ago, I spent a couple of weeks in Switzerland, staying with family. I asked where the locals eat when they were traveling around Switzerland, and the answer was – the grocery store. Two of the largest chains, Coop and Migros, had cafeterias in their stores that offered a wide variety of meals and individual items that were freshly made and relatively inexpensive.
No longer was the grocery store just for snacks and bottled water! If the hotel room has a refrigerator, you can pick up items for a couple of days at a time. Here are some suggestions:
Dinner – Many stores have store prepared hot items, salad bars, and pizza. You can also get items for a picnic such as roasted chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, bread, and cheese. Almost every area has beautiful parks or gardens available to enjoy your picnic. Some areas also offer free concerts or street performers (buskers) in the evening to entertain you while you eat. One of my favorite meals in Paris was meeting up with a group of people for a picnic of cheeses, sausages, bread, fruit, and wine in a local park on a beautiful evening.
I treated myself to a Sea to Summit Clothesline that is a tiny, yet ingenious product. It’s essentially two strings threaded through a series of beads. After you affix the clothesline to something using the built-in hooks, you thread a small part of your garment between the two strings and slide the beads close together to hold the item. Use in the bathroom, on the hostel bunk bed, or balcony (or anywhere else) to hang up your quick dry clothes and travel towels. When you are done, the clothesline stuffs into its tiny pouch. Combined with Dr. Bonner’s soap, this is an easy way to reduce the amount of clothing and underwear you need to bring on your trip.
Lightweight polyester bags – Lightweight polyester or nylon bags like the one pictured take virtually no space but can be very useful. I use a medium sized one to use when picking up snacks or daily groceries for hostel meals. I use a larger one when staying in hostels. Before I go to bed, I put the clothes for the next day in the bag and when showering in the morning, I hang the bag on the door knob or door hook. There’s rarely a dry space for clothes in a hostel bathroom. Using the bag helps me keep everything dry and together so I don’t lose anything.
lightweight packing cube with a handle. On the airplane, I use it to keep my cellphone, charger, ear plugs, lip balm, tissues, eye mask, ear phones, mini-flashlight, pen, snack, e-reader, etc. either next to me in the seat, under the seat in front of me, or in the seat back pocket. It is all within easy reach, and I don’t have to worry about losing any of it. If I am staying in a hostel, I keep the items I want to have in my bunk in the same bag. If I need a tissue or ear plugs, I don’t have to get up and disturb anyone by unlocking my locker to get these items. Many hostel bunks have an outlet for charging electronics so it’s easy to read on the phone and charge at the same time. Just remember to turn off all the sound and vibration on your phone – whether it’s with you or in your locker before you go to sleep.
you are tight for space and want to ‘wear’ what is essentially the airplane bag mentioned above. I wear it under a jacket or hoodie to try not to advertise that I am circumventing the carry-on weight limit for budget airlines or highlight that I am a tourist when I’m at the destination. However, used thoughtfully, these and similar vests keep your items secure and allow you to go hands and bag free when you want to. If I am travelling in minimalist mode, I either have to commit to wearing the vest whenever I change locations or leave it home because there isn’t room for it in my minimalist bag. Another nice advantage is that I can use the vest instead of a money belt. When the vest is zipped, articles in their own zipped pockets on the inside of the vest are reasonably well protected from pickpockets, but the vest allows for easy access to them. It also becomes a light layer for cooler weather.
Small Backpack – If you are traveling light – i.e. U.S. traditional carryon – adding a small backpack (such as this one by PacSafe) or folding travel backpack (mine is by Neatpack) either in the bag or as your 
personal item gives you a place to put your jacket, cell phone, snack, and travel information while you sightsee. If you are traveling minimalist with only one bag, just empty out the bag and use it for your day pack. If everything you have is in a packing cube or stuff sack, your things will still stay organized.
beach community – genius!).
My first roommates were women (aged 25-35) from Great Britain, Belgium, and Finland. The second night, the woman from Great Britain remained and we were joined by two college aged women from South Korea. For the most part, people did not hang out in their rooms, but either were out and about, or spent the evening in the common lounge. There was no shortage of people to talk with in the lounge and I soon realized that likely 25% of the people there were not what I would consider traditional users of hostels.
There were families (a private family room was cheaper than many hotels and provided access to the communal kitchen), others my age, one gentleman in his 80’s with another family member, and everything in between. People were sharing meals, information about things to do, and insights about life in their country and community. The second night I had a 3-hour conversation with my roommate from Great Britain and it was fascinating to hear her take on our recent presidential election, government sponsored health care, the EU, as well as some of the other places she had traveled on a shoestring.
Fortunately, I had read enough blogs to heed some suggestions on how to be a courteous roommate. Among them are 1) keep a flashlight in your bed so you can get into your locker without turning on the light, 2) lay out your clothes for the next day along with your toiletries so you can shower and get ready quietly in the bathroom, 3) keep the items in your locker organized so you don’t need to rummage, and 4) make sure your flip flops are handy because even though the bathroom was spotless, you want some protection for your feet.