Packing in Tips for travel in developing countries
For travel in developing countries, you may need to carry things you would not need nearer home:
A sarong is useful as a sheet, beach blanket, towel, and of course, sarong wrap.
A luggage lock: Expedition shops and airports sell these. Or if backpacking, consider a 3D flexible lock that wraps around your entire pack.
Money belt or passport pouch for your valuables. See pickpockets for more detail.
A little flashlight designed to hang on a keychain
Guidebook, phrasebook or Wikitravel printouts: These can be very helpful, and the more unfamilar your destination is, the more useful they are. Don't count on finding consistent Internet access once you arrive.
Map: often these can be bought cheaply in the destination country, but you should bring your own for countries such as China where you cannot expect to read the locally-printed map.
Toilet paper: Keep a roll or wad of paper in your luggage and a good wad in an easily accessible spot. Public toilets and guest-house toilets will often not provide any. If you're short on space, remove the cardboard tube and flatten the roll. Keeping it in a large zip-lock bag is another good idea.
Food: trail mix, granola bars or other sports snacks travel well. They can be very handy when airport food is ridiculously expensive, when nothing nearby looks sanitary, or when everything is closed for two days because of some festival or strike.
Medication, including personal supplies of medications that you are currently taking
Budget travellers will also need:
A sleep sheet (sheet sewn into a bag): the cheaper hostels do not provide bedding
A towel: Hotels and hostels may not provide one, or not clean ones. In cold weather areas, drying off quickly is much more important than on a tropical island. Making room in your pack for a good towel can keep you healthy and happy. Bath and beauty shops sell small super-absorbent towels for drying hair, but they work just as well for general use, and dry quicker than regular cotton. To save space, go with the smallest size you're comfortable with.
A padlock: Some hotels don't have door locks, but give you a padlock with which to close the door of your room. People who work at the hotel almost certainly have duplicate keys for that lock. Using your own lock is more secure.
A universal rubber plug, for use in sinks and tubs where no plug is provided
A clothesline
You might also need:
Sewing kit
duct tape (to save space, consider wrapping a few feet around a large marker or Sharpie, instead of bringing a whole roll)
pocket knife (only in checked baggage of course)
lighter or a waterproof container with matches (plastic photographic film boxes are perfect) (note that most airport restrictions prohibit the carrying of matches onboard)
For more suggestions, see Packing list.
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The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Tips for travel in developing countries
