Separates or all in one?

I am holidaying in SE Asia at the moment for just under a month and I like my electronic goods:


Clockwise from the left 10" (rather old) netbook, Sony ereader, Android phone (one of two) MP3 player and a bluetooth mouse.

Now the point is the Android phone could do the job of all these devices It is a reasonable camera, an MP3 player and a small tablet. However I really only use it as a phone and to put occasional photos and updates on Facebook, I prefer the ereader as my reading matter but it also has manuals and address books etc and the MP3 player for my music. While this message is being entered on my Netbook.

I should add that I don't carry the PC everywhere and the mouse is a bit of an indulgence; when I went to Cambodia for a week it was left behind at a friend's house in Malaysia while the other three devices were concealed about my person (I travelled light, carry on luggage only). Naturally there are the various chargers and connectors but they fit easily in a sandwich bag,

How about you? are you a minimilist and try to carry an all in one device like a tablet? or do you prefer a number of specialist devices? or do you leave the lot at home?

Re: Separates or all in one?

When I travel for 2 weeks or less I take a roaming mobile phone a tooth brush/paste , change of clothes a towel and a book as I hate carrying luggage. my money belt has all my money and paper work. I figure if I really need any thing else I can get it on route. I can swop the book or lose it when finished, lose the towel on the last day and im left with plenty of room to bring things back with me.

Re: Separates or all in one?

Great! Thats about my method too except I don't bother with the towel and what does for one week does for a month also. Roaming phones are too expensive I just buy a SIM whereever I am (hence two phones) so far my trip's three weeks phone and internet has cost me RM25 ($7) and I still have heaps of credit left.

I use this brilliant jacket from the USA that has pockets for just about anything including a netbook computer and all the items in my photo. They don't seem to sell this particular jacket any more (I've had it a few years now) but they probably have something similar. It is very light weight material for the tropics, all the pockets have zips and the sleeves zip off. It enables me to keep my bag to well under the 7kg for carry on luggage and you just take it off roll it up to put in a tray for security clearance. Once you are on the plane you just shove it all in the bag.

My bag cost a fair bit too but again was worth every cent it is lightweight and designed to be carry on luggage it has built in shoulder straps so you are not carrying about all that weight of wheels and metal handles. Again it comes from the USA (mine is red). They just help make flying much more pleasurable. No hanging about at carousels waiting for bags.


Like you I only take at most a couple of changes of clothes and buy where I am, I bought three cheap tshirts this trip but will dump them before I return. I just wash clothes every night in my hotel room or use their laundry service.

Re: Separates or all in one?

Good for you Bruce, you seem to have it down to a fine art.
Enjoy your holiday.

Re: Separates or all in one?

Alas, this one is nearly over Jem, only another week and I shall be home again (and planning the next one ).

I have to say the jacket and the bag were two of the best travelling aids I ever bought. Both those companies have regular special offers so if you want to travel light they are worth keeping an eye on.

I found out about the bag in an article in a travel section of a newspaper. I thought at the time that if a young woman could travel that light then it should be even easier for me, it was and I have been doing it ever since.