1) Money Matters:

i) Don’t forget about airport taxes. Make sure that you bring enough money to cover you at the airport as you don’t need any delays that might make you miss your plane.
ii) Bring a money belt (or two). Remember not to put all of your money, credit cards or passport in the same place - even the money belt - because if one is lost or stolen, they all are; be smart with your money and passport and hide it throughout your luggage.
iii) Take a carry-on bag that you can use for day trips; you do not want to be stuck carrying around your large backpack everywhere you go.
iv) Buy traveler’s checks. Make sure that when you get your checks, you immediately record the serial numbers somewhere safe in case they get lost or stolen.
v) Avoid taking jewelry or anything fancy that might direct attention your way.
vi) It is good to carry some cash on you, but not too much. $50 at a time should be enough to get you through your daily activities.
vii) Make sure you check the expiration date on your credit card before you leave; this will be the most important thing that you have, as your passport and travelers checks can be replaced; without your credit card, you will be stuck without any means of getting money if you need it immediately.

2) Packing Tips:

i) Buy a good backpack. Do not think that you can get away with traveling with a suitcase, as you will find that it will cause you more headaches than its worth. It is also best to spend a little more on a backpack so that it doesn’t fall apart on your while you are on the road. Most people who travel once get ‘the travel bug’, so look at it as an investment and spend a little extra money on it.
ii) Make sure you remove all of your old tags and replace them with your current contact information and address. Be sure to buy a lock (or locks) for the zippers on your bag; they don’t have to be heavy locks, but this will deter people from going through your stuff if they are given a chance
iii) Do not pack too much. Especially when you are on the road for a while, you do not need to bring clothes for each day of the week, for example. Bring fewer clothes and wash them more often. You will most likely be buying things along the way as well, so it is good to leave a little bit of room in your pack.
iv) Pack all of your toiletries and any breakables in plastic bags. Try and keep the fragile items in your carry-on.
v) Roll your clothes to avoid wrinkles and to save room – you will fit a lot more in your pack if you roll and don’t fold.
vi) Try to avoid bringing a towel – it takes up a lot of room in your pack and dries very slowly, which is not good if you are on the move every day. If you can, try to buy a sarong.