Antarctica Cruise Packing List
Icebergs in the Gerlache Strait at sunset in Antarctica.
Antarctica is the ultimate adventure—the wildlife and scenery are unbelievable. Deciding what to pack for an Antarctica trip is almost as important as when you go.
If you’ve got an Antarctica cruise coming up or are looking at booking one, here is a complete Antarctica cruise packing list. From boots to gloves, I’ve compiled a detailed list of what to pack for Antarctica. (For a little pre-trip inspiration, check out my Antarctica photo post with images of the month I spend there for work.)
Affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog.
What to Pack for an Antarctica Cruise
I’m wearing a float coat in this photo, which doubles as a life jacket. Underneath, I’ve got on an ultralight down jacket, two thermal tops, one tank top, two pairs of thermal bottoms, rain pants, two pairs of wool socks and waterproof boots. Also, I’m wearing a fleece buff, fleece hat with ear warmers and waterproof gloves.
I packed terribly, so I want you to learn from my mistakes when packing for your Antarctica cruise. Most days the weather was right around freezing, give or take a few degrees. Some days the sun was shining, and other days, it was pouring snow. I am very cold natured so keep that in mind when reading this list!
Biosecurity in Antarctica
Waterproof and water-resistant are not the same thing. Everything you pack for Antarctica should be waterproof. Due to biosecurity reasons (to prevent invasive plant species), you must wash off your boots and vacuum all your clothing before your first shore landing. Then, you must wash and sanitize your boots or anything that touches the ground between landings, which is so much easier when you have waterproof clothes/bags.
Antarctica Cruise Packing List
- Waterproof hooded raincoat: If you’re takinga cruise, they will most likely give you a warm insulated jacket. If not, you’ll want a very warm waterproof jacket or one you can put warmer layers under. I’m a big fan of Marmot’s rain gear, which can be used as a shell to layer under. Buy a size bigger than normal if you plan to layer under.
- Insulated Boots: These need to be waterproof, insulated and knee-high. I recommend either Muck Boots or Boggs. You can possibly rent these through your cruise company.
- Waterproof pants: These need to be wide enough to go OVER your boots. I recommend pants that have a full zip along the leg, which makes them easier to take on or pull off. I typically buy Marmot’s pants. Buy a size bigger than needed so you can comfortably wear layers under them.
- Ultra-light hooded down jacket: This saved me! If your outer jacket isn’t not insulated, then add a fleece over this. I wore a Uniqlo lightweight down jacket under a Columbia fleece. Since Uniqlo doesn’t make the same style I have, I recommend Patagonia’s Nano Puff or Nano-Air hooded jackets.
- Thermal tops: Packing three or four thermal long-sleeve tops. I layered two of these tops most days. I like these Patagonia Capilene and Columbia Omni-Heat styles, which they make for both women and men.
- Thermal bottoms: Pack 2-3 pairs. I wore a pair of Patagonia Capilene thermals underneath a pair of fleece-lined leggings every day. (My fleece-lined leggings were discontinued from Athleta but these Arc’teryx Essent Warm ones are similar.) Some days I put a pair of fleece jogger sweatpants over them. Then, my waterproof pants on top.
- Merino Wool Socks: Pack at least four pairs. I wore two pairs most days. I find Darn Tough socks to be the most comfortable and love their lifetime warranty.
- Gloves: Pack 2-3 pairs. I love the Seirus Soundtouch Xtreme All Weather Gloves but also had a pair of lightweight gloves and a pair of wool ones as a backup. Make sure you can operate your camera or phone with any gloves you buy.
- Fleece buff: I had two of the Buff brand ones just in case one was wet.
- Hat with ear covers or flaps: An insulated warm beanie hat is critical for colder days—consider adding ear warms on top of your beanie! For sunny days, I wear a Columbia water-resistant baseball hat (similar to this one) with ear warmers over it to keep it from blowing off in the wind or on a zodiac ride.
- Sunglasses and ski goggles for snowy Zodiac rides (I was so jealous of everyone who had googles.)
- Sunscreen and Chapstick with SPF: You will get sunburned in Antarctica. I really love Sun Bum’s natural SPF chapstick and matte face SPF because it doesn’t leave your hands greasy, so there’s less chance of SPF getting on my camera.
- Dry bag backpack: The most common brand I saw was Overboard. I took a normal backpack with a rain cover, which was a huge mistake.
- Lightweight dry bag for your camera and phone: I used a 13-liter Sea to Summit for my camera with wide lens and kept my phone in this one-liter Sea to Summit dry bag in my jacket pocket. My second camera body with the zoom lens was on my backpack.
- Hiking poles or walking stick: Your cruise ship might have these, but they are really helpful in the deep snow.
- Hand and foot warmers: Two pairs for each day of the trip, excluding sea days. While the easiest thing to buy are the disposable Ignik Brand, consider a more environmentally-friendly rechargeable hand warmers.
- Meclizine Sea Sickness Medicine: We had 20-foot waves on the Drake Crossing, which is an average crossing. Most ships will provide these but consider taking the medicines that work best for you.
- Nuun electrolytes: Hydration is important, especially after being in the sun all day or dealing with rough seas. Nuun is my favorite brand because they are low sugar and taste great. (I like the lemon-lime flavor.)
Gentoo penguins swimming near Useful Island, Antarctica.
The Best Camera Gear for Antarctica
Due to IAATO rules, you can’t get closer than 15 feet to penguins and other animals. You need at least a 500-600mm lens for wildlife shots. I recommend having two camera bodies—one with a wide lens and another with a zoom, so you aren’t changing lenses in the extreme weather. (Consider renting gear through LensRentals.com. I’ve used them before for many shoots.) There’s really no need to bring a tripod.
- Wide angle-lens (Recommended: 24-70 mm f/2.8)
- Zoom 500-600mm: I bought this Sigma Nikon 150-600mm lens because it was the lightest weight zoom I could find. While it was very sharp, the focus was very slow. I’d almost recommend shooting a Nikon 70-200 with the 1.4x teleconverter and/or a Nikon 500mm prime because the focus is faster. You can rent these cheaply from LensRentals.com.
- Rain covers: I recommend the LensCoat RainCoat in both the large and small sizes.)
- Camera Dry Bags: I used this lightweight Sea to Summit bag for one camera body with a wide-angle lens.
- Circular polarizing filter: This really helps with reflections and reducing glare on the water and snow.
- I highly recommend the PeakDesign’s Slide camera straps, wrist straps or Capture clip that attach to your backpack strap.
Best Time to go to Antarctica
The best time to take an Antarctica cruise is from November to March. Based on what you want to see or do, consider the following:
Penguins: They will be nesting early in the season and have eggs by mid-December usually. Some will start hatching at the end of December. January and beyond is the best time to see chicks in their fledgling stage, where they look like little feather dusters. If you want to see baby penguins, go in January to be safe.
Whales: February and March are when whale numbers are at their peaks. The January trips that ran after my December trips saw a very large number of whales. (We saw a good number of killer whales in December, along with some humpbacks.)
Fast Ice and Snow Activities: There’s always more snow earlier in the season in November and early December. If you want a chance to see fast ice (sea ice that’s fastened to the coastline) and walk around on it, going earlier in the season (November to mid-December) is your best chance. Sometimes, you can still find it in January, but it’s never guaranteed.
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Best of 2023
A long exposure shot of Kuang Si waterfall outside of Luang Prabang, Laos
I kicked off 2023 in Sydney, Australia and will be ringing in 2024 in Thailand. In the last 12 months, I’ve been to 22 countries, which is why I took the last two months to sit still in Chiang Mai, Thailand to recharge. Reflecting on the year is always an exercise in gratitude for the beauty and diversity of the world and my experiences.
People often say I’m “lucky” because I get to travel for a living, which I wrote about in an old post. I’ve always found that slightly offensive because it devalues all the hard work, persistence and sacrifices I made to build this life. (If you’ve read my book, you know 2010 Anna was working three retail/service industry jobs and barely making $20/30K/year.) A friend recently had a slight turn of the phrase that I loved: I am lucky—lucky I found the courage to put in the hard work, quit jobs that didn’t align with my career goals, make the decisions and sacrifices (like the time I rented my friend’s living room for $230/month to save money for my first South America trip) it took to build this life. Bravery is often mistaken for luck.
Every year I share a recap of my favorite adventures and photographs of the year. I am lucky that I was brave enough to make these trips happen. From Laos to Corsica, here are my best travel photographs from 2023!
I’ll be hitting the road in early January to three NEW and exciting locations. Follow along on Instagram for updates. There will be ruins and a gnome.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Left: A roadside shop on the road to Wat Xiang Mine across the Mekong River from Luang Prabang. Right: A woman cooks pancakes at the Luang Prabang, Laos morning market.
Nestled on a peninsula on the Mekong River, the entire city of Luang Prabang, Laos is a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s been one of my favorite cities since my first visit in 2009. In January, I went back to visit for the first time in almost a decade, and the city is still intoxicating. It’s small enough to explore on foot but with enough attractions to keep you busy. Thanks to being a former French colony, it’s got the best wine and croissants in Southeast Asia. One of my favorite things to do is walk through the local morning market with my camera, which is where these photos are from. Street photography is one of my favorite things in Asia. For more about Luang Prabang, check out the Instagram highlight on Luang Prabang.
Cibolo Creek Ranch, Texas
The view from one of the highest points at Cibolo Creek Ranch outside of Marfa where I went on a trip for a travel story.
In March, I did a big West Texas road trip with a two-night stop at Cibolo Creek Ranch for a travel story. The five-star resort is one of the oldest ranches in Texas covering 30,000 acres across the Chinati and Cienega mountains in the Big Bend Region, 32 miles south of Marfa. For this story, I wrote an in-depth piece on the history of the ranch and its amenities. My favorite part of the visit was the llamas and the scenery. There’s nothing like the vast openness of a West Texas landscape. For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about my visit.
The Wave Hike, Arizona
One of the hardest hiking permits to get is The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) in the U.S. In addition to the 48 advance permits, there are 16 daily permits given out each day.
It took FIVE years for my hiking friend group to FINALLY win the lottery to hike The Wave, an epic sandstone rock formation in Coyote Buttes North in Arizona. The lottery is limited to 64 people daily. (You must apply online three months in advance (48 spots) or enter the daily lottery (16 spots) on mobile devices within a certain geofence.) We did the 6.4-mile roundtrip hike in May, and the scenery along the entire hike was stunning. We were worried The Wave would feel crowded, but we had the entire place to ourselves for half an hour. The handful of other people we passed were very polite about not being in our photos. The hike was completely worth the effort to get the permits. The best part was that this adventure reunited our friend group from across the world—I even flew back to the U.S. from Italy for the hike! (For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about the hike!)
Azores Islands, Portugal
Miradouro da Vista do Rei is a short trail with a stunning views of Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul on Saõ Miguel island in the Azores.
I actually went to the Azores twice this year, which is surreal. I went for work in April and then, again in July with friends for a hiking trip. The archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal comprised of nine islands that are only a five-hour flight from Boston and roughly two hours from mainland Portugal. We divided our trip between Saõ Miguel, the largest island, and the third largest island, Terceira, because they were the easiest islands to get flights to/from and find rental cars/accommodation. (If you’re planning to go to the smaller Azores islands, book your accommodation and rental cars at least four months in advance.) The volcanic islands are known for the year-round spring-like climate and lush hiking trails. (For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about our hikes!)
London, England
A view of Big Ben from across the River Thames.
After a three-year restoration project, the scaffolding was removed in 2022. This summer I went back to visit for the first time since it was removed so I got up at sunrise for a fun shoot. It was my first time seeing the famous clock since my first visit to England in 2002 when I was studying abroad. Back then, I was shooting a film camera that put the date automatically on all my images so glad to shoot it again this time! This image was shot in the arch of a walkway on the other side of the Westminster Bridge.
Bonifacio, Corsica
A view of the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean from the fortified citadel of Bonifacio, Corsica.
I fell in love with the French island of Corsica this summer while working in the Mediterranean. Bonifacio, a coastal town on the southern tip of the island famous for a medieval clifftop citadel, was my favorite stop. The entire island is a hiker’s dream. I literally can’t wait to go back to hike. This image was shot from the eastern edge of the citadel walls.
Northumberland, England
Dunstanburgh Castle, England shot on Kodak Portra 120 film (ISO 400) on a Hasselblad.
When I visit my friend Fran in Northern England, I always borrow her dad’s Hasselblad film camera. I took three rolls of Kodak Portra film. Fran and I took a road trip to Northumberland located on England’s east coast just north of Newcastle. It was once the largest kingdom in the British Isles and is famous for a collection of castle ruins. And, you know I never pass up a chance to photograph ruins! My favorite castle was the coastal 14th-century Dunstanburgh Castle that’s only accessible by foot along a two-mile path through fields filled with sheep and cows. My favorite part about England is the public footpaths across the country that often go through private lands. It’s such a fun adventure to walk through these rural trails and hop through fields. For more details, check out my Instagram highlight about my visit.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
Left: The colorful port of Tobermory on the Isle of Skye. Right: The Tobermory Lighthouse, which is just a short walk from town.
For the first two weeks of August, I explored the Scottish Highlands and islands including the Isle of Mull, which has the most colorful harbor in Tobermory! (This was a work trip. One of my freelance jobs is teaching photography for a luxury travel company.) It’s one of my favorite little towns of the trip with cute shops and the best little homemade ice cream shop on the water. The lighthouses along the islands are so strikingly beautiful for photographs.
Vanuatu Water Music & Sand Drawing
Sand drawing on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu.
The sand drawings of Vanuatu are listed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Heritage. These complex drawings are traced continuously with one finger in an elaborate pattern that tells a story. It’s one of the most unique forms of communication I’ve ever witnessed.
Ëtëtung, Vanuatu’s women’s water music
Another fascinating aspect of Vanutu is the women’s water music, known as Ëtëtung. The women combine their vocals and use only their hands to splash, slap and skim the water in a rhythmic pattern. It’s a visually and acoustically astounding performance.
Alfred the Gnome’s best photos of 2023
If you’re interested in a print of the landscape or gnome images above, shoot me an email (Anna at TravelLikeAnna.com) with Photo Print in headline).
Happy New Year and Safe Travels in 2024!
Travel Safety Tips: What to Pack
In July, I photographed Big Ben in London. The iconic structure spent five years covered in scaffolding for a reconstruction project.
As a woman who travels solo most of the time, I am always thinking about my safety. I wanted to share a few tips for things to pack for safety along with how to stay safe online. I’m currently typing this from the airport and have every single one of these items with me.
- Pack a rubber doorstop. (I have a lightweight one just like this in my checked bag.) I put this on the inside of every hotel, Airbnb, or apartment door. This prevents or at least makes it extremely difficult for anyone to open the door from the outside. It’s a travel-friendly alternative to a door stopper bar.
- Pack a keychain-size pepper spray. Whether I’m in Austin or Chiang Mai, I’ve always got a small bottle of pepper spray in my purse. While I took every self-defense class they offered in college including one on pepper spray, I never bought one until my 2015 South America trip. A friend I met was robbed/kidnapped in Peru and the pepper spray helped her and her boyfriend get away. To travel with it, it must have a safety latch and be in your checked bag. I put mine in a small Tupperware box. Important note: Pepper spray is illegal in England and many places in Europe. I didn’t know that until this summer when I noticed signs as I boarded the Eurostar train. This is the exact pepper spray that I carry.
- Put an AirTag in all your bags. I have one in every one of my bags and even my car. (I park my car for long periods of time, and I’m always scared it’ll get towed when I leave it in Austin.) This is tremendously helpful for lost luggage or even potentially locating stolen items. (The police got a friend’s stolen car back because they were able to track their iPhone that was in the car.) I recommend getting a four pack of AirTags.
- Use a VPN on your computer and phone. A VPN offers privacy protection while you are traveling both at home and abroad when connecting to public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, etc. I’ve used NordVPN for years because it’s the fastest and most trusted VPN. VPNs are excellent for streaming movies or checking your bank accounts. It shields your IP address to protect your privacy and location while also offering secure data encryption. (Pro Tip: It’s also good if you happen to be in a country where Disney+ or any streaming service isn’t available. With a VPN you can use a U.S. IP address for streaming services regardless of your location.) Check out NordVPN here!
- Buy a stainless-steel water bottle. There are two reasons for this so hear me out. It’s easier to sanitize a stainless-steel bottle with boiling water when traveling in places where you can’t drink tap water than a plastic bottle that might melt. (I once got a very bad case of food poisoning in Mexico because I wasn’t washing my plastic Nalgene properly because I was scared of the local water. Learn from my misery.) The second reason might sound silly but as a solo female traveler, I’m always thinking of items I can use in self-defense to get out of an unsafe situation with another human or an animal attack. Thankfully, I haven’t had to do that, but I imagine it would hurt like hell to get hit with a stainless-steel water bottle. I prefer Klean Kateen over Yeti because Yeti’s bottles are way too big and heavy for hiking or most backpack side pockets. I recommend a 16-ounce insulated bottle.
6. Buy travel insurance. While my whole life is built on adventure, I don’t make any compromises with my health—I ALWAYS have travel medical insurance when I’m abroad. (Check out my in-depth travel insurance blog post here.) My go-to company is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance which offers coverage in over 175 countries. Their new Nomad Insurance 2.0 health plans have even more benefits with coverage included for adventure sports, theft of electronics and 30+ adventure sports like scuba diving and quad biking. As someone who’s had their iPhone stolen and travels with a carry-on full of camera gear, I’m excited about these new benefits especially the coverage for electronics. (Please note that these additional benefits aren’t currently available for U.S. residents but will be in the coming months.) Buy SafetyWing Nomad Insurance here.(AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use.)
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What to do about Lost Luggage & Broken Suitcases
Miradouro da Grota do Inferno on São Miguel island in the Azores, Portugal.
[I’m back after a summer break—my blog was cloned by a scammer in late June so I was trying to get that resolved before I started posted again.]
2023 has been the year of luggage woes for me. After more than two decades of travel, my luggage was lost for the first time. I knew my time was coming. (It inspired me to write a post about what to do if your checked baggage is lost so you can benefit from my misfortune.) The first time my luggage was just left in Dallas overnight on my way back from Asia in March and arrived the next morning—the best-case scenario.
Fast forward to July in Europe – London Heathrow had a massive malfunction with their Terminal 5 luggage sorting system, and my bag got stranded. I arrived in Lisbon for a short two-night stint before my flight to the Azores for a seven-day hiking trip. Of course, ALL of my hiking gear is in my checked bag – hiking boots, hat, camelback, etc.
Before I dig into the details of my luggage fiasco, I wanted so share some tips to help you in a similar situation:
What to do is your checked luggage is lost or delayed
- Always use an AirTag to track your bag. I recommend putting an AirTag in every checked bag and I even keep them in my carry-on bag with my camera gear. Buy a four-pack of AirTags for discount pricing! (affiliate link)
- Always keep your baggage tag receipt. Even better, take a photo of it when you check-in.
- File a report directly at the airport. It complicates things tremendously if you try to file one after leaving the airport. You’ll be given a reference number for tracking that you’ll need to keep.
- Keep all receipts for any toiletries or clothing purchased. Don’t go overboard with purchases. There is often a daily dollar or item limit for what you can claim.
- Call the airline if the status of your missing bag isn’t updated online. I did this to clarify I couldn’t pick up my bag in Lisbon for a week so they didn’t think it was abandoned.
- Get written proof that you picked up your bag. You’ll often need this to file for reimbursement, especially with credit cards that pay a daily amount for expenses. (Chase pays $100/day per person for a max of $500.)
Now, back to my luggage fiasco….
An airline representative was passing out papers with QR codes linking to the missing baggage form when we arrived, which I filled out instantly. I selected that I’d pick it up at the Lisbon airport. Since I was island-hoping in the Azores, it seemed too complicated to get it sent there. Plus, British Airways doesn’t fly there. (Luckily, I did have a few pieces of clothing in my carry-on. I try to always have a change of clothes but airlines have gotten stolen strict on carry-on bag weight that I normally just have only my camera gear in my carry-on.) I bought a few toiletries, pieces of clothing and borrowed a pair of hiking boots from a friend. While airlines are supposed to provide reimbursement for clothing and toiletries, I didn’t go crazy with buying things because I wasn’t sure how much of a hassle it would be to get reimbursed.
Thankfully, I had an AirTag in my bag, so it was easy to track. British Airways’ antiquated system didn’t update for days–it said it was trying to locate my bag when it was already in Lisbon per my AirTag. Of course, it made it to Lisbon five hours after I left for the Azores!
When I flew back to Lisbon after my Azores trip, I picked my luggage up at the airport, which was another fun venture with a grumpy staff member of a third-party service. I made sure to get proof that I picked up my bag to use for my reimbursement claim. Afterward, I went online to file for reimbursement for the things I bought. The form was very tedious because every item must be listed individually.
After a month with no response, I followed up with the airline and decided to go ahead and file a claim with my credit card since it didn’t seem like British Airways was going to reimburse me. I bought the flight with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, so I filed a claim through their system, which is operated by a third party (eclaimsline.com). The website was tricky and had trouble loading. I tried three different web browsers across multiple days before finally getting it to load for me to fill out another tedious form where I had to itemize everything and convert the currency to USD. Every airline in the world was listed in the dropdown menu except British Airways so the form kept giving me an error at first before I finally found an “other airline” option buried in the list. I had to include the claim number I’d filed with British Airways, upload proof my luggage was delayed, receipts of the items I purchased, my credit card statement proving I’d bought the ticket with my Chase card, proof I’d gotten my luggage back, etc. Both this form and my British Airways form asked for direct deposit for my bank account. This Chase benefit has a limit of $100/day per person with a $500 limit and was very specific about how many electronics chargers (one per device) they would cover.
Naturally, two days after I did this, British Airways responded with an apology and said they’d deposit the reimbursement soon, which they did in two days for $73. Of course, I heard back from my credit card claim right after that, and they also said they were reimbursing me, but nothing has been direct deposited. I possibly might get double paid for the claim, which honestly just makes up for the time it took to fill out the forms and find all the required documents! After reading this story from The Points Guy, I didn’t have high hopes for my Chase claim but was very surprised I at least got a response so quickly. I’d had a good experience with them paying for a canceled trip in 2019, which I wrote about in this blog post here.
(I also had travel insurance. If the airline or my credit card had not paid, then I would have filed with them. I pay a high annual fee for my credit card so that’s why I filed with them instead of my travel insurance first.)
Does travel insurance cover lost checked luggage?
It depends on the policy and the brand. I recommend Safety Wing Nomad Insurance. Their plans cover lost luggage and pay up to $500 per item, which is not subject to the plan’s $250 deductible. Safety Wing’s travel medical insurance policies cover people (including children) all over the world even when they are outside their home country. Other benefits include travel delay, emergency response, natural disasters and personal liability. Currently, I always use Safety Wing for my travel insurance because it just makes it easier for me to travel to the world knowing I can get coverage anywhere and at anytime. For more about travel insurance, check out this post.
Broken Suitcases & Suitcase Warranties
My brand new suitcase was missing a wheel after a SAS Airlines flight in Europe.
While I’d been lucky to not be cursed with lost luggage until this year, I’ve been plagued with broken suitcases for years. There was the time that early 20s Anna thought it would be smart to slide her suitcase down a staircase to avoid carrying it. The zipper on the front pocket of the soft-sided suitcase popped off. I was broke so I just duct taped the suitcase shut for the next two months of my trip.
Then, I was cursed with broken wheels – often caused by sketchy sidewalks. In 2019, I went through three suitcases in six months. When one would break in the middle of a multi-month trip, I’d buy a new one wherever I was. The new one was often subpar to the one of broken and made me realize that I just needed to suffer with the broken one.
Suitcase wheels that have dual wheels on each individual wheel are stronger and more durable than single wheels. (This is a photo of the replacement parts Samsonite sent me to repair my broken wheel that the airline had ripped off.)
TIP: Always buy a spinner suitcase with wheels that have two wheels per wheel. They are much sturdier and last longer.
Suitcase warranties have been mostly worthless to me because it’s not a quick fix when I’m in the middle of a multiple-month trip. Suitcase companies often want you to take it to an inconveniently located repair center or deal with lengthy paperwork.
When I flew from Athens to Copenhagen in June on SAS Airlines (good airline aside from luggage drama), my suitcase arrived missing the back left wheel. I had literally just bought the suitcase in April at the Samsonite outlet in Texas for $180.
I filed a claim with the airline, which was a tedious two-step process that yielded no results. Since I could still roll the suitcase if I did it a certain way, I just dealt with it and researched all public transport to ensure there were elevators.
After emailing Samsonite directly twice and never getting a response, I called a Samsonite repair center in San Antonio to ask if they sold extra wheels. The friendly guy on the phone asked me to email photos because the numbers on the suitcase tags were worthless. He had the wheels in stock and shipped them to a friend who was meeting me in Lisbon. Without even asking for proof of purchase, he sent the wheels for free to my friend! When I got my suitcase back, I was able to swap out the wheel with a screwdriver – very simple! Moral of the story: Call a repair center directly for parts instead of going through company website.
Are expensive suitcases like Away worth the price?
It depends on where you live, how often you travel and how long you travel. For example, Away’s website says it will provide a replacement kit under their lifetime warranty but likely will only ship to the US or UK, which are the only places it ships its products. For the average person going on short trips with a homebase in one of those countries, then it would possibly be worth it. I have friends who swear by Away bags. If Away sent me a free bag, I’d be willing to try it but just can’t justify the cost since I’m abroad too frequently for long periods. Plus, I have a Target brand carry-on suitcase that was a $100 last-minute purchase that’s been going strong for two years. I’ve never wanted to spend a lot on fancy luggage because I’m often abroad for months making it hard to get it repaired or get spare parts. That’s why I can’t justify the cost.
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Six Travel Hacks for Fall
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, Alaska
I keep a running list in a note on my phone about the random things that make my travels easier, cheaper and less stressful. Earlier this year, I shared five of my favorites and wanted to continue the series. Travel is more chaotic than ever—here are five tips to help things go a bit smoother!
1. Check your boarding pass. TSA PreCheck is one of life’s greatest inventions, BUT it has to be printed on your boarding pass for you to be able to skip the normal queue. TSA PreCheck is often NOT printed on boarding passes abroad because it’s a U.S.-only system. If you’re flying internationally to the U.S. and have domestic connections, be sure to have the boarding passes reprinted when you arrive or request them in your airline app if possible. The good thing about having your pass printed abroad is they don’t usually have boarding group numbers, so I go with the boarding group after first class every time.
2. Download airline apps. While it’s common knowledge, these apps make it easier to change flights and check in. They also make it easier to spot flight delays. Often, the apps notify you of a delay before the airport staff are even aware and also show you the status of incoming flight. This makes it easier to adjust plans or change flights in the app quickly before everyone else scrambles to do the same.
3. Research Credit Card Benefits. Pay for all travel expenses with credit cards, not debit cards. Most credit cards offer trip cancelation and rental car benefits that save you money. (My Chase Sapphire Reserve has a sweet rental car coverage policy, so I avoid paying extra for car insurance when renting abroad. When I rented a car in Tasmania (my first time driving on the left), I called to get ALL the details in advance.) When my December 2019 trip to the Philippines was canceled due to a typhoon, Chase also refunded my all the money for my non-refundable flights and accommodation, which you can read about here.
4. Check Your Downloads. Before you board a flight, put your phone and other electronic devices in airplane mode to verify all your downloaded books, podcasts, TV shows and movies actually play or load normally. The Disney+ app has failed me a few times, so I always, always check now. Also, sometimes, the content expires after a set amount of time so it’s always good to double check before boarding!
5. Check Device Charging Settings. Apple has this rather annoying setting on all devices, from computers to AirPods, called Optimized Battery Charging. To help maximize the life of your battery, it will delay charging past 80% based on your normal routine. While this is fine for everyday life, it’s not ideal when charging your devices for a long flight or trip. Be sure to turn it off so devices fully charge before any long trip so you aren’t fighting people for airport power outlets. (I also bring a backup pair of old school corded headphones just in case!)
6. Drink Electrolytes. Before and after any long flight, I drink a glass of electrolytes to stay hydrated because I’m terrible at drinking water on planes. I love Nuun’s sports electrolytes (affiliate link), which only have 1 gram of sugar. I always travel with a tube of these!
Hope you enjoyed these tips! Safe Travels!
7 Ways to Save on Hotels & Lodging
La Résidence d’Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia is one of my favorite hotels where I stayed on a work trip to Southeast Asia just before the pandemic.
Accommodation, food and transport are the top three expenses in life and travel. With gas prices and inflation increasing, I wanted to share a few tips to reduce the cost of accommodation, including hotels.
1. Book Direct
By booking directly with your hotel or lodging, you cut out the middlemen and their commissions. Often hotels will only give you loyalty points if you book directly through them, which is the best way to maximize savings and rewards. Many hotels will even price match discount travel sites. The best tactic is to use those search engine sites like Kayak or Google Hotels then, book directly through the hotel. If you are certain about your travel dates, consider the cheaper non-refundable rates that many properties offer.
2. Use your Rewards
Since many people have credit cards with rewards, it’s a good idea to check your points balance to see if you can get some free or discounted stays. (I have a stockpile of rewards points from my pandemic travel hiatus that I’ve been slowly redeeming.) Many credit cards will also let you pay partially with points and cash to also help reduce the cost.
3. Be Flexible
Being flexible with your dates can also help you score a deal. Many sites will let you search for a month at a time to see the lowest rates for each day. On a recent trip to Marfa, Texas, I moved my travel dates back a week to save money since there was more availability.
4. Shoulder Season
Even though it’s peak summer travel season as I’m writing this, consider moving your trip dates back a bit into the fall for cheaper rates and fewer crowds. Spring and fall are the best times for deals. For example, I scored a great deal at this wonderful bed and breakfast in Ocracoke, NC in early April by booking my trip the first week of the spring season before rates increased. (For more on Ocracoke, check out my story I wrote for the Washington Post a few weeks ago.)
Alfred the gnome enjoys the occasional hotel stay.
5. Discount Programs
Both AAA and AARP offer a roughly 10% discount on most types of accommodation, from hotels to campgrounds. If someone in your group has one of these, be sure to take advantage. If you’re a frequent Booking.com user, you can unlock their Genius discount pricing level on select properties from hotels to hostels. Don’t forget to use programs like Rakuten to get cashback—simply use their referral link when booking directly through a hotel or with sites like Booking.com. The money is sent directly to your PayPal account quarterly.
6. Be Aware of Hidden Fees
Most sites, from hotels to Airbnbs, don’t include taxes and cleaning fees in their pricing totals, so prices might look deceptively cheap initially. (Airbnb is notorious for expensive cleaning fees!) Booking.com doesn’t always include taxes either. On my Puerto Rico trip last fall, all the properties on Booking.com had a small note in fine print that said there was an additional 9% tax AND up to a 13% property service charge added to the final booking! (It’s a bit evil to tack on an extra 20% in fees in such a sneaky way. Why not just be transparent with the total cost?) Instead, I booked directly with hotels and Airbnbs for cheaper, more transparent rates. Also, check to see if your lodging includes breakfast or at least a fridge for you to store your own food. That can also help cut costs. (I totally travel with my own toaster so I can eat bagels for breakfast! Haha!)
7. Book Last Minute
Another great way to get a deal is to book last minute with apps/sites like HotelTonight or Hotwire.com, which offer last-minute deals on empty rooms but often don’t tell you the property’s name until after you’ve booked.
The Best Budget Alternative: Camping
In late April, I booked a safari tent at El Cosmico, a luxury campground in Marfa, Texas where you can rent everything from tepees to vintage Airstream trailers. The safari tent had a double bed and electricity. It was $69/night compared to the cheapest hotels in town, which were close to $200 with taxes and fees. The average tent campsite in the U.S. is $35 or less at both national park campgrounds and chains like KOA. (I really like KOAs and private campgrounds.) I thoroughly research reviews for campgrounds and really enjoy staying at them. Last fall, my friend Rolando and I drove out to Mono Lake from San Francisco and stayed at two really nice independently-owned campgrounds. One night we slept in our car because we got in really late and had to be up early. (I literally HATE paying for hotels in these situations because it feels like a waste of money when you’re in the room for only six hours. Sleeping in a car can be much more comfortable than you imagine unless you’re extremely tall or have back issues.) I don’t have my own tent and just borrow one from friends. It’s literally the most inexpensive way to travel in the U.S.
Also, I feel like Airbnbs used to be cheaper than hotels but now, I they are almost the same cost especially in major cities. The one benefit to Airbnbs is that they often have kitchens, which can reduce your food costs. I recommend comparing prices with Airbnbs and hotels before booking anything to see which is the better deal. Or even better, check out campground rates!
*Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support.
My Top 5 Travel Hacks
Mono Lake, an ancient saline lake on the edge of the Sierra Nevada in California, is famous for unique limestone formations.
I keep a running list in a note on my phone about the random things that make my travels easier, cheaper and less stressful. I picked five of my favorite ones to share with you here. If you like this, let me know, and I’ll continue the series.
1. Rental Cars
When pricing rental cars, compare airport and city location rates. I saved $350 in Puerto Rico in November by renting from a location in a suburb of San Juan. Before the pandemic, the cheapest rental car rate I’d ever gotten was $17/day from the Oakland airport. While I prefer to book directly through a rental company, I find Hotwire* is the next best option when prices are high.
2. Free Flight Upgrades
After check-in has closed for a flight, I ask at the gate counter if there are any empty rows or empty aisle seats closer to the front of the plane. In the past year, I ended up with several free upgrades to main cabin extra and my own row on four flights! By asking at the gate counter, the agent can often waive the fee for the preferred seats, which is why I use this strategy.
3. Sim Cards
Buy a local SIM card instead of paying for an international plan for your phone. I have NEVER had a good experience with using my U.S. phone plan abroad. Not only is it expensive, it never works properly. (Seriously, Verizon, why can’t you get it together?!?) In January, I paid $10/month in Buenos Aires for a 15GB monthly plan. In Thailand, I paid $10/month for an unlimited plan. It’s always cheaper to buy sim cards and data plans outside the airport. TIP: If you’re going to the UK or Europe, I recommend Giffgaff because they’ll mail a SIM card to you in advance internationally. That way you just turn your phone on and it works! They have free roaming in Europe, but the roaming period is longer if you use the SIM in the UK first.
4. Luggage Carts
You can always find abandoned luggage carts by airport taxi and rideshare pickup areas. It is absurd that it’s $6 or MORE to rent a cart at U.S. airports when they are free in most other countries. I would run for political office solely on a platform to make airport luggage carts free. (In addition, I’d ban leaf blowers and injury lawyer billboards—I’d replace the billboards with photos of kitties, puppies and baby alpacas with a thought bubble that says “Drive safe!”)
5. A Word About Band-Aids
Always always always pack Band-Aids. It is literally impossible to find decent quality Band-Aids in certain countries. (That’s right, Chile, I’m talking about YOU!) Most of South America and Asia don’t do Band-Aids well.
Quick Update:
After three months abroad, I’ve been stateside for a month and laying low on social media because I’m swamped with work. I’ve been visiting my parents and building furniture with my dad. (He makes 18th century furniture for a living, and I wanted to build a bed!) I’ve got some more location guides in the works (Croatia, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Portugal, etc.) but haven’t had the time to finish them. I do this blog in my free time, and it takes at least three days straight to write a detailed location guide. I’ve got some exciting work travels in April and May so follow along on Instagram! I’ll do my best to get some new location guides up in the next few months. Just a reminder that I’m currently posting monthly.
* There are two affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no cost to you that goes toward running this blog.
Antarctica Photo Diary
Since I spent most of December in Antarctica for work, everyone has been asking to see more photos! I’ve collected 17 of my favorite photos to show you some of the landscapes and wildlife on the white continent. Antarctica was another world—I highly recommend going. To help with planning, I’ve made a second post about what to pack for Antarctica and when to go! Enjoy the photos!
The Danger Islands have the biggest Adélie penguin colony on the Antarctic peninsula. There are 750,000 pairs of Adélie’s across the five islands. This image of two Adélie’s on an iceberg was shot at Heronia Island from a Zodiac boat. I literally couldn’t have posed this photo any better!
After almost two weeks of snowy or overcast days, we had lovely clear day with a beautiful sunset along the Gerlache Strait in mid-December. I stayed up late taking photos of icebergs. This shot was taken at 11:30 p.m.!
Gentoo penguins start nesting in November and eggs start hatching in mid to late December. We were lucky to catch these baby chicks at Brown Bluff. These were the only chicks we saw the entire month of December. The mother is regeritating her food to feed the babies in the second image.
Brown Bluff was covered in penguins. There were 18,630 pairs of Adélies and 800 pairs of Gentoo. All the little black and white spots are penguins covering the entire island.
This large Gentoo colony at Cuverville Island was stunning with the glacier in the background. Yes, all the brown you see is rocks and mostly poop. (Their poop melts the snow.) They’ve made little tracks down to the water for feeding.
Speaking of poop, these two are covered in it and mud! The Gentoo on the left is sitting on an egg and preening her trail. Gentoos have the most prominent tail of the brush-tail penguins. The one on the right is carrying a rock to help build a nest. Rock theivery is also common among penguins.
Snow covered Gentoon penguins at Damoy Point near the entrance of the harbor to Port Lockroy. The first few days of our trip in December were very snowy. We probably had five feet of snow on the first 10-day trip, which is a bit usual.
Left: Gentoo penguins walking down to the sea at Cuverville Island. Right: An Adélie penguin in the snow at Red Rock Bay. Adélie’s have solid black faces with white around their eyes while Gentoos have white on their heads and orange beaks.
Dramatic ice sickles on an iceburg near Pleneau island. The island is famous for a nearby iceburg graveyard.
One of the coolest things to see and hardest to photograph are penguins when they are swimming. They are like little torpedos. I photographed these Gentoos at Pleneau Island.
This photo of a Gentoo penguin colony at Cuverville Island shows just how dramatic the scenery was in Antarctica.
As we left Neko Harbor, the Gentoo penguins rushed to the water using the nice path we’d shoveled and carved out of the snow.
A Crabeater Seal lounging on an ice in the iceburg graveyard near Pleneau Island.
A Weddell Seal at Jenny Cove. These seals were discovered and named by British captain James Weddell in the 1820s.
Antarctica Packing List & More
I wrote a second blog post breaking down what to pack and when to go to Antartica based on what you want to see. Check out the post here!
10 Best Photo Spots in Southeast Alaska
It is entirely possible to have a favorite glacier and this one — South Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm — is my favorite due to the surrounding landscape.
In June, I got on my first flight in nearly 15 months and headed to Alaska. Over the next three weeks, I shot more images that I had in the previous year—breaching humpback whales, baby seals on icebergs and black bears grazing in meadows. (One of my freelance jobs is working as a photography instructor for a travel company in Southeast Alaska.) Even though I’ve been to 52 countries, the wildlife and scenery in Alaska rival any place I’ve been. While I’m far from an expert on all things Alaska, I want to share my favorite photo spots in the Inside Passage. If you’re vaccinated and itching to travel this summer or fall, Alaska is the place to go. Flights will be packed – they are everywhere but it’s totally worth it!
Here are my favorite 10 photographs and locations from Southeast Alaska: (There were all shot in 2019 or 2021)
Misty Fjords National Monument
Misty Fjords National Monument in Southeast Alaska spans over 2.3 million acres.
The second-largest wilderness in the U.S.—Misty Fjords National Monument—lies 22 miles east of Ketchikan. A temperate rainforest covers these steep fjords, which stretch 3,000 feet high along the Behm Canal. There are 20 miles of hiking trails with 13 public recreation cabins and five three-sided shelters. This national monument is part of the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the U.S., and normally receives over 200 inches of rain a year. Although, there was more sun than rain both this year and in 2019 than normal on my trips.
Nearest City: Ketchikan. Day trips by boat or floatplanes are the best transit options.
John Hopkins Glacier – Glacier Bay National Park
The approach to John Hopkin’s Glacier, located in the center of the photo, is one of the most scenic in Glacier Bay National Park. The glacier itself extends for 12 miles.
Glacier Bay National Park is a must-see for any visit to Southeast Alaska. A single tidewater glacier covered the entirety of Glacier Bay over 250 years ago. It started retreating in 1750 and now has retreated 60 miles to the head of the bay. While the park has over 1,045 glaciers, John Hopkins Glacier is one of the seven active tidewater glaciers that calve into the bay. The glacier stretches 250 above the water and is one mile wide.
The park is only accessible by boat and permits are restricted during the summer months. Kayak trips are also an option with rentals and guided tours available from the visitor’s center. There is an option to camp by the glaciers.
A 10-mile road connects the town of Gustavus with Bartlett Cove where the visitor’s center is located. The visitor’s center has a really short but pretty walking trail along a boardwalk. Be sure to visit Snow, the skeleton of a humpback whale hit by a ship near the park. (The park is now a sanctuary for these whales with some of the strongest protections in the world. Outside of the park, 100 yards is the distance set by NOAA for safe whale watching for humpbacks. )
For history, be sure to read John Muir and the Ice that Started a Fire by Kim Heacox. It’s a great biography of John Muir.
Nearest City: Gustavus
South Marble Island, Glacier Bay National Park
A group of stellar sea lions haul out on rocks in front of South Marble Island at low tide.
South Marble Island lies at the entrance of Glacier Bay surrounded by nutrient-rich waters that are optimal feeding grounds for wildlife. It’s the nesting area for many sea birds that spend most of the year on the open ocean. I almost always see a few puffins here! It’s also a haul out of sea lions, especially the bachelors who did not succeed at challenging the other males at breeding islands outside the park.
Nearest City: Gustavus
Petersburg
A view of the Sons of Norway Hall reflects in the water at high tide in Petersburg, Alaska.
Petersburg is a tiny photogenic Norwegian Fishing Village and my favorite town in Southeast Alaska. (I also like Sitka.) Across the water on Kupreanof Island, there’s a great hiking trail (Petersburg Lake Trail) on a wooden path through a muskeg, a bog with very acidic soil that’s home to some unique plants like the carnivorous sundew. The coastal bike path around town is gorgeous. Be sure to stop at Sandy Beach, a cute spot for photos with a raised wooden walkway through the forest. (Bears have been spotted here so have your bear spray!) The wildflowers are lovely along the coast during the summer. Another photogenic spot is Birch Street, a dead-end road that’s lined with stilt houses. It’s best photographed at high tide from South Nordic Drive.
Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness
The ice floating near tidewater glaciers is a safe haul out for harbor seals because the ice floats regardless of the tide cycle eliminating the threat of terrestrial predators. (South Sawyer Glacier, Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness)
While all of Southeast Alaska is gorgeous, this is one of my favorite spots. The Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness consists of two narrow, deep fjords that are roughly 30 miles long – Tracy and Endicott Arm that each dead-end at tidewater glaciers. I’ve been to both but prefer Tracy Arm because it’s home to my favorite glacier—the South Sawyer Glacier. (Yes, it’s totally possible to have a favorite glacier!) I’ve been here probably 10 times, and it never gets old. My favorite time to visit is June when the harbor seals are pupping. The seals hang out on the icebergs for safety. Due to frequent (every six hours) and drastic (22 feet!) tide changes, the icebergs provide safety for the harbor seals since they keep floating regardless of the tide in the deep fjord. The seals also hang out near the glaciers in Glacier Bay, but I find Tracy Arm to be more photogenic for the seals. I recommend being in a Zodiac or smaller boat for the best photos. Taller ships don’t allow you to get as good of a photo angle.
Nearest City: Juneau
Inian Islands
Two sea otters float in a bed of bull kelp in the Inian Islands. The otters tie themselves to the bull kelp, an annual seaweed, when they sleep and often do the same for their babies when they go hunting for food.
The Inian Islands is one of the best wildlife photo spots in Southeast Alaska. The islands are located at the intersection of Icy Strait and the ocean—one of the few places where the Inside Passage meets the Pacific. Due to the tides, there’s a lot of upwelling sending nutrients and fish to the surface. It’s a delicious buffet for many animals including sea otters, stellar sea lions and bald eagles. There’s also a wide variety of sea birds. The area was a summer fishing camp for the local Hoonah Tlingit people and became a wilderness area in 1990.
Nearest city: Gustavus or Hoonah. (Elfin Cove Fish Camp is also close.)
Chatham Strait
A humpback whale tail photographed along the Chatham Strait. Often, it’s difficult to get a tight shot of a whale so I try my best to make it park of the larger landscape to provide a sense of place.
Another great spot for whale activity is Chatham Strait, a narrow passage that extends for 150 miles from the junction of Icy Strait and Lynn Canal south to Coronation Island and the ocean. It forms part of the Inside Passage between Alaska and Washington State and the width varies from three to ten miles wide. This summer we saw 50+ whales near Tebenkof Bay including multiple groups bubble-net feeding. (I’d seen bubble-net feeding twice before this.) They were all a bit too far for my camera to get any good tight shots but witnessing that scene was impressive enough!
Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka
This tight portrait of a bald eagle was shot with a 600mm lens at the Alaska Raptor Center with a wide aperture (f/5) to blur the background.
This non-profit was started by two locals in 1980 tending to a single injured bald eagle. Now, the rehabilitation center offers treatment to over 200 injured birds each year. While they strive to rehabilitate and release birds, some are unable to be released due to the severity of their injuries and become part of their education program called Raptors-In-Residence. This bald eagle was photographed outside the center—many wild eagles also hang around this area. It’s a great place to see these birds up-close and get detailed shots of various types of birds. Also, Sitka is a cute town with only 14 miles of paved roads. I highly recommend the Stika National Historical Park.
Eldred Rock Lighthouse, Haines
The Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal was built in 1905 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
I saw this octagonal lighthouse on a map and convinced my expedition leader to come here at sunset and circle the lighthouse for a photo opp. Thankfully, they said yes! I later found out that this lighthouse is the oldest original Alaskan lighthouse building. It’s located on an island in the Lynn Canal on the route to Haines, the adventure capital of Alaska, and is not accessible to public. Haines is another cute town that’s known for adventure activities. One of my favorite sites is the Hammer Museum, a white-walled house filled with hammers from across the world and history. There’s also a brewery that makes spruce-tip beer, a distillery and other cute shops.
Nearest City: Haines. The lighthouse is visible from the ferry.
Port Adolphus
Every humpback whale has a unique tail design that serves as its fingerprint. You can upload images of whales to Happywhale.com to identify the whale and track sightings.
Located at the northern tip of Chichagof Island and the southern side of Icy Strait, Port Adolphus is a great spot for watching humpback whales and birds. We had some up-close encounters a few weeks ago while cruising in Zodiac boats. The whales literally came up right beside us! This image was shot with a 70-200mm lens.
How To Get Here
A black bear walks along the shore in Misty Fjords National Monument. (Black bears aren’t always black and have a more pronunced face and ears than brown bears.) Most of my bear sightings are along the shore in Alaska. This was shot from a Zodiac boat.
Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan are the biggest cities in Southeast Alaska and the best place to start your trip. (I personally love Sitka the best of all three.) There’s direct flight from Seattle to all three. After that, you’ll need to get around by boat (day tours or charter boats) mostly or fly to other cities. The Alaska Ferry System is another transit option.
What Camera Gear to Pack for Alaska
Tracy Arm, Alaska // The underside of an iceberg that’s flipped is one of my favorite things to photograph because it’s so pristine. Only 10% of an iceberg is visible above the surface of the water.
Packing camera gear for Alaska is tricky because you need to be prepared for all situations and weather. I recommend a wide-angle lens (24-70 mm) and a zoom (at least a 400mm). A 200mm zoom is not enough—you’ll need at least a 400 mm or even a 600mm would be helpful with animals shots especially whales. There’s also a great chance for macro photography in the forest and tidal zone.
During the summer, the weather is either bright and sunny, or overcast with light rain, which is the norm. Be sure to bring rain covers and dry bags for your gear even if it’s only to protect from the spray on boat rides.
If you’re shooting wildlife from a boat, remember to use fast shutter speed to freeze the motion. I recommend at least a 1/1600 but 1/2500 is ideal. I also recommend lenses with vibration reduction and a circular polarizer for sunny days.
Also, try to visit glaciers on overcast days—the blue really stands out more when the sun isn’t out.
Ten Essentials to Pack For Summer in Alaska
A bald eagle floating on an iceberg in Glacier Bay National Park.
After working two summers in Alaska, I’ve listed the essentials I always pack and links to my favorite things!
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Gortex Rain Coat & Rain Pants (I recommend full-zip rain pants like these.)
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Tall waterproof boots (XtraTuff’s are the cowboy boots of Alaska. Literally, everyone has them. I’ve loved mine and hike in them.)
- Waterproof baseball hat (This keeps the rain off my face on boat rides and when I’m shooting. I put an ear warmer headband over this so it won’t blow off in the boats.)
- Waterproof socks and gloves (I layer the Dexshell waterproof socks over my regular socks in case I top my boots and use Glacier Gloves.)
- SPF shirts for hot days (I love these Columbia long sleeve ones!)
- Dry bag for camera gear and camera rain cover (I always have this 13L lightweight dry bag with me.)
- Durable Hiking pants (The PrAna Halle pants are my go-to, and I layer them under my waterproof pants.)
- Thermal tops and bottoms (It’s freezing near those glaciers!)
- Buff (I always have one around my neck most days. Scarfs get in the way too much here.)
- A hiking backpack with waist straps (This will save your back. I love my Osprey one that’s similar to this!)
- Bear spray (You can’t take this on a plane so you’ll have to buy it when you arrive.)
- John Muir and the Ice that Started a Fire by Kim Heacox (This biography of John Muir is a must-read for any Alaska trip and adds great background context!)
*Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use. Please email me with any questions.
A Guide to Budget & Eco-friendly Travel Clothing
South Sawyer Glacier, Alaska, June 2019 // According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska’s glaciers are losing 75 billion tons of ice annually and contributing the global sea level rise.
To celebrate Earth Day, I wanted to share some tips for how to buy eco-friendly travel gear that’s good for the planet and doesn’t break the bank. In 2018, there were 17 tons of textile waste generated in the U.S. and nearly 66% of it ended up in a landfill! Here’s five tips to make eco-friendly purchasing choices and reduce waste sent to landfills:
1. Buy Used Gear
Last October, REI launched their used gear program. They sell used gear online at a significant discount and their co-op members get store credit for trading in items. (An REI lifetime membership is just $20, and you get annual dividends on your purchases. It’s a great investment.) All items are labeled by condition from excellent, lightly worn and well worn.
Patagonia has a similar program called Worn Wear where you can purchase used gear or trade in for credit for both new or used gear. Both programs keep clothes out of landfills and save you 50% off the retail price. Plus, excellent condition items are often just brand new items!
Near LeConte Glacier, Southeast Alaska // When I’m running photo trips in Alaska (for a carbon neutral company), I wear Marmot’s rain gear. They make quality gear and earned my loyalty after replacing a jacket I’d worn around the world for years under warranty. (FYI: This is not an ad.)
2. Repair Programs and Lifetime Warranties
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started traveling was not investing in quality travel clothing and gear. The high cost scared me away. It took me years to learn that investing in quality items from companies that offer lifetime warranties to either fix or replace an item was a better long-term investment for my bank account.
Repairing items extends their life and keeps them out of the dumpster. Plus, the combination of both repairing and replacing items under warranty saves you money. Here are a few of my favorite brands and the items they replaced: Osprey Packs has fixed two of my backpacks and replaced one. Marmot replaced my PreCip rain jacket when the lining started to rip. (For the 20th anniversary of this jacket, Marmot released the PreCip Eco Jacket made with 100% recycled nylon!) Patagonia replaced a pair of thermals that were unraveling at a seam the day before a big trip! Keen replaced my hiking boots when they started to come apart at the toe. All of these brands have earned my loyalty for life for standing by their products. Plus, I’m pretty tough on gear since I travel nonstop.
3. Recycled Clothing
Outdoor companies including The North Face, Patagonia and Copotaxi have programs that allow you to buy gear made from recycled materials. This ranges from jackets to bags. Each item has a unique color scheme so no two items will be identical! Each company accepts their items for recycling as well to be included in the program.
Clothing brands like Levi’s, Madewell, Zara & H&M offer clothing recycling options usually in exchange for a coupon. (You bring in a bag of clothes to recycle and get a coupon.) A large percentage of donated items to places like Goodwill end up in landfills so recycling can be a better option in some cases. This NPR story digs into the details.
Misty Fjord, Southeast Alaska
4. Research Sustainability Practices
The best place to start researching a company’s environmental practices is their website! Almost every single outdoor clothing manufacturer has a sustainability section on their site that digs into their practices ranging from sourcing materials to labor to packaging. Another great tool is the brand dictionary by a non-profit called Remake that rates companies by their environmental impact.
Also, check to see if companies contribute to initiatives like 1% For the Planet, where members donate at least one percent of their sales to environmental causes. Focus on supporting companies that care about the planet.
5. Product Packaging
The packaging is just as important as the product itself. PrAna makes my favorite hiking pants and has one of the best responsible packaging movements. Starting in the fall of 2021, their packaging will be 100% plastic free. They use roll packaging with recyclable raffia ties. Their mailing envelopes are all brown paper. Patagonia also uses brown paper mailing envelopes.
Be sure to recycle all packaging material. Plastic mailing bags can be recycled at many stores including Target and supermarkets like Publix or Food Lion. I haven’t bought a mailing envelope in years because I just reuse ones I’ve gotten in the mail. I suggest you do the same.
I use Peak Design’s quick connecting slide camera strap and the aluminum lightweight travel tripod that folds up to a the size of a water bottle! (They also make a carbon fiber one!)
Eco-Friendly Camera Bags, Tripods & Straps
This month, Peak Design, my favorite camera bag and accessory company, just launched their new Peak Design Marketplace to allow people to both buy and sell used Peak Design gear easily. The site allows you to sell directly to the owner with no middle men, and all sales are 100% carbon neutral. The company’s lifetime guarantee covers both new and used products! They make my favorite camera strap and lightweight travel tripod! There’s no better way to buy quality camera accessories on a budget!
How to Get the Best Deals
Since both quality and sustainably made clothing aren’t cheap, there are ways to find good deals on gear. End of season sales are the best time to get deals. Winter items on clearance right now (during the month of April). I got a Marmot raincoat for half price ($50) on a clearance rack at REI one spring! I always plan ahead for what I need so I can buy it during holiday sales like Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day or Thanksgiving/Christmas.
Cashback apps and websites like Rakuten also help. Rakuten is a website and browser plug-in that offers cash back when you shop at over 2,500 websites from stores to hotels! Every three months your cash back is deposited to your PayPal. Get a $25 bonus for joining and spending $25 using one of their links!
For more ways to be an eco-friendly traveler, check out this previous blog post!
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