I (26/male) am leaving Los Angeles in January for at least one year of backpacking solo around Australia, NZ, SE Asia, and possibly some other places! Other than enjoying my remaining time before I leave (going to favorite restaurants, hanging with friends, etc.), what pre-trip activities should I be thinking about, and what preparations should I be making (especially while I have good insurance)? What do you wish someone had told you before you left for a trip of this length and scope? [more inside]
posted by adamk on Oct 7, 2009 - 11 answers

I am looking for a new bag - hopefully, you can help me find one bag that will do my international business trips, day hikes, and weekends away. [more inside]
posted by AnnaRat on Sep 5, 2009 - 14 answers

Can you tell me where to find cheap packing material for moving - bubble wrap, newsprint, peanuts, whatever. I've already seen this thread on where to get moving boxes, and if you have anything new to add, that'd be great. In case it matters, we're moving a standard 2 bedroom apartment across town in the far northwest Chicago suburbs. Nothing particularly valuable.
posted by desjardins on Jun 13, 2009 - 17 answers

How many outfits should I a (24f) pack for an 10 week internship in San Francisco? [more inside]
posted by anthropomorphic on May 28, 2009 - 24 answers

Why the heck does plastic packing tape smell like vinegar? [more inside]
posted by rawredmeat on May 26, 2009 - 7 answers

What size backpack do I need for a 17 day trip that will include four different flights, train trips & hostel/apartment stays? [more inside]
posted by eunoia on Mar 25, 2009 - 14 answers

Comic and card boxes seem to get listed cheaply, then have absurd shipping charges. I could use shoe boxes, shipping boxes, office boxes, whatever - I just want to know how to get them cheaply. [more inside]
posted by krisak on Jan 10, 2009 - 22 answers

Is there a good schedule/list site that can help you move houses? [more inside]
posted by jessamyn on Dec 30, 2008 - 6 answers

I am a 49 y/o woman traveling for Xmas to Akumal (near Cancun) with my family and my extended family. We are staying in condos right on the beach and I want to pack comfortable clothes/shoes but still look good. What besides swimsuits and cover-ups and hat should I take? What shoes? I have Keen water sandals but they do fill up with sand on the beach and are probably mainly for river shoes when you need to walk on rocks. I also have black teva flip flops. Not the most flattering at all! We will be snorkeling, reading on the beach, walking, sightseeing going to restaurants, playing with young nieces and nephews. Thank you!
posted by seekingsimplicity on Dec 15, 2008 - 2 answers

Less than six months before moving internationally - how do I manage all my stuff? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Nov 8, 2008 - 15 answers

I'm having great difficulty finding a supplier of boxes and packing materials in the Netherlands that doesn't require buying in bulk [more inside]
posted by MentokTheMindToker on Oct 16, 2008 - 1 answer

Long time listener, first time caller: Any globetrotting rowers or shipping pros out there? I need to transport a rowing oar overseas, and I don't want it damaged. I'm planning to check it on my flight as 'sports equipment', but any advice or alternate suggestions are welcome. More details inside. [more inside]
posted by iona on Oct 8, 2008 - 9 answers

When packing for two seasons, how can I avoid airline baggage fees on size and weight? [more inside]
posted by netbros on Sep 22, 2008 - 13 answers

What is the most secure and cost effective way to start moving a small number of things to the US from France? [more inside]
posted by tip120 on Aug 18, 2008 - 5 answers

This is my first real (cross-country) move. What are your best packing/moving strategies that I should adhere to? [more inside]
posted by Asherah on Aug 2, 2008 - 8 answers

How to pack for one year? [more inside]
posted by Flying Squirrel on Jul 22, 2008 - 17 answers

I'm going to spend a week in Copán Ruinas, Honduras. What should I pack? [more inside]
posted by toomuchkatherine on Jul 19, 2008 - 7 answers

Decoding a 10bit video file ain't easy... [more inside]
posted by shino-boy on Jun 30, 2008 - 12 answers

Which is the best shipping service to use for moving? USPS, Fedex, or UPS? I would like them to come to my house. [more inside]
posted by lunasol on May 27, 2008 - 10 answers

My girlfriend and I are moving across the country, from DC to the metro Dallas area. I've never moved cross-country on this scale, so what tips/advice/warnings can you give me about this sort of move? [more inside]
posted by SNWidget on May 27, 2008 - 16 answers

i'm trying to pack conservatively for a one month backpacking trip through south east asia. what items should I leave at home and purchase easily/cheaply while I am there and what items should I be sure to pack that I cannot get while abroad?
posted by nyu2 on Feb 27, 2008 - 32 answers

What stuff should I bring with me on tour? [more inside]
posted by knowles on Feb 24, 2008 - 30 answers

How do I ship a 42 inch flat panel TV for repair without getting hosed on shipping rates or service? [more inside]
posted by The Deej on Sep 23, 2007 - 6 answers

Help a nervous kid sort through all the helpful AskMeFi threads already out there to answer this question: I'm moving from the Bay Area to Brooklyn - how can I do it effectively? [more inside]
posted by rmrudy on Aug 15, 2007 - 9 answers

Can anyone recommend a reliable moving company in Orange County, CA? [more inside]
posted by sciatica on Jul 18, 2007 - 3 answers

At the end of this month I'll be moving from Ottawa, Canada, to Beijing, China to work as a software developer for a couple years. What should I bring with me, and what am I better off buying once I arrive? [more inside]
posted by benign on Jul 15, 2007 - 19 answers

Help a woman appropriately pack for Burning Man. [more inside]
posted by aacheson on Jul 7, 2007 - 23 answers

I'm traveling to china in a few weeks, for a few weeks. We're going from Beijing to several outer areas, staying in hostels, figuring things out as we go. What do we need to be prepared for? [more inside]
posted by pithy comment on Jun 25, 2007 - 20 answers

Tips and advice for a long-distance move by car? [more inside]
posted by Alterscape on Jun 17, 2007 - 21 answers

Gym/Bag Lady filter: How do you minimize the crap you bring to the gym? [more inside]
posted by paddingtonb on Jun 7, 2007 - 26 answers

MovingFilter - Alright, Mefi, one last time. In about 24 hours, we need to load up our car with our worldy possesions and ship the rest for our move cross country. How best to ship about a dozen boxes of a standard size? [more inside]
posted by EatTheWeak on Sep 28, 2006 - 17 answers

Styrofoam packing peanuts - why pink? [more inside]
posted by thumpasor on Sep 26, 2006 - 7 answers

We move in just a couple weeks. We're stuffing all our belongings that will fit into the car and shoving of. Among these belongings will be two desktop computers. What is the safest way to transport these? [more inside]
posted by EatTheWeak on Sep 12, 2006 - 13 answers

My partner and I once saw a photographic phrasebook / dictionary while at the National Gallery in Canberra, Australia allowing the language impaired to point to an image. Does anyone know of the book we're referring to? (An Amazon ref would be grand) [more inside]
posted by pipstar on May 25, 2006 - 3 answers

What should you take into a tropical post-hurricane situation? [more inside]
posted by TrashyRambo on May 18, 2006 - 13 answers

How do you properly fold a sport jacket to store in a suitcase for 3 months? [more inside]
posted by beammeup4 on May 1, 2006 - 7 answers

How best to pack a suit? [more inside]
posted by cog_nate on Apr 5, 2006 - 14 answers

Should I be packing more for a year or more of teaching English in Indonesia? [more inside]
posted by mdonley on Feb 25, 2006 - 11 answers

PackagingFilter - Desperately seeking specialty packaging: Die-cut, corrugated plastic mailers? [more inside]
posted by bkdelong on Feb 6, 2006 - 6 answers

Hints on how to discard enormous pieces of styrofoam? [more inside]
posted by young_simba on Dec 19, 2005 - 20 answers

I am getting ready to fly out to be in my sister's wedding. How should I pack the bridesmaid dress so as to best prevent wrinkles and so on?
posted by jenfu on Oct 24, 2005 - 9 answers

How-To Pack Light for a Nine-Day BritRail Trip? [more inside]
posted by grabbingsand on Oct 5, 2005 - 13 answers

I'm packing a 26 ft. U-haul truck in a few hours. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on Sep 19, 2005 - 27 answers

Help me not look like a tourist in Copenhagen and Stockholm. [more inside]
posted by thomascrown on Aug 16, 2005 - 14 answers

I will soon be moving permanently from California to the UK. Besides the headaches of visa applications and plane tickets, I have an awful lot of crap I need to ship over. I'm looking for the cheapest, safest way to ship large amounts of clothing, books, etc. overseas. I don't mind if the cheapest option means it will take 3 months to arrive. Any advice on this matter is welcome. [more inside]
posted by circe on Jun 2, 2005 - 12 answers

I am running away to sea. What should I take for my personal comfort and entertainment (project ideas)? Any other tips for a first timer? [more inside]
posted by AnnaRat on Apr 12, 2005 - 29 answers

Moving mistakes? I'm looking for generalized moving advice, apartment to apartment. There are great threads (this one on moving to NY is really a classic) but what about the nuts and bolts of getting things into boxes and out again? What did you screw up last time? What do you know now that I don't yet?
posted by CunningLinguist on Dec 21, 2004 - 64 answers

Are there any precautions I should take when shipping a hard drive in regards to packing? I've heard that it's important to have a certain amount of padding around it, but I don't know what would be best.
posted by mindless progress on Oct 13, 2004 - 4 answers

Can I send a couple bottles of beer in the mail? Are there problems with potential carbonationexplosion? "I'll take my answer offline" --back tomorrow morning.
posted by Shane on Jun 14, 2004 - 14 answers

I'll be driving across a rather large portion of Canada with my girlfriend in a little over two weeks: Vancouver Island to the southern portion of Ontario, a trip that covers roughly 4200km and should take the better portion of four or five days depending on how frequently we stop. My question for you, oh great teeming mass of Metafilterians, is what we should bring for the trip?
[there is inevitably more inside, although not an inordinate amount] [more inside]
posted by The God Complex on Apr 14, 2004 - 28 answers