So, you’ll soon be on your way to one of the biggest events taking place in the tech world. And, if you’re like us, you’ll want to arrive prepared.
Photo by STIL on Unsplash
We’ll be travelling from Europe and so we decided to include items on our list that all foreign travelers will likely find themselves in need of – but really, most of the things we included will come in handy to just about anyone getting ready for AWS re:Invent 2017.
First Time on American Soil
If you’re arriving from outside the Unites States, you should definitely consider taking this device lifesaver.
Photo by StopExtreme on Flickr
*Extra tip:* Hotels aren’t especially famous for their abundant outlets. If you plan to use many devices, you might also want to take one of these:
Photo by Steven Lek on Wikimedia Commons
We live in a device-driven world and we’re already imagining everyone huddled up in all the charger port corners. Forget lounges and meeting rooms, we’re betting the port will be the place to be!
Photo by FelixMittermeier on Pixabay
Make sure to bring a few lightning cables to ensure you don’t miss out on all the port fun everyone else will be having 😉
You know Jetlag? He’s not your friend. But we’ve got something to help send him on his way 😉
Photo by Murrur on Wikimedia Commons
This natural sleep aid isn’t a sleeping pill – it’s a hormone that your body already naturally produces.
When you travel through several time zones, your circadian rhythm gets disrupted and this little guy will help you adjust more easily.
Americans say that everything is bigger in Texas.
Well, for foreigners, everything in the United States is bigger. Seriously bigger.
Food portion sizes are huge and the distances between destination points are much farther than they look.
You might want to get acquainted with the differences between the Metric & the Imperial system.
Source: Pixabay
*Extra tip:* If you plan on buying clothes, take note that American sizes are different than European sizes. In that, an EU size 38 won’t always be a size 8. Also, a size Small in the US is, in most cases, a EU size Medium. You can easily avoid standing in line for a refund if you simply try stuff on.
If you’re flying in from across either Ocean, you’ll want make the many hours you’ll be spending on a plane (or many planes, for that matter) bearable.
Photo by Rch14 on Wikimedia Commons
This creature comfort is a win-win for everyone because it not only helps you fall asleep but also prevents you from getting awkwardly acquainted with your seat neighbour’s shoulder… If you know what we mean 😉
Your Skin Will Thank You
Chapped lips are an epidemic in aggressively air conditioned spaces with no natural humidity.
Photo by Consumerist.com on Flickr
You will need chapstick – no ifs, ands, or buts; boy, girl – no excuses.
We’re assuming you’ll want to network – and you might want to be able to open your mouth without the fiery pain of super dry lips holding you back.
Luckily for you, in case you forget or run out, we’ve got you covered at booth K38 🙂
Okay, so you’ve prepared for dry lips but the rest of your body needs a little love too so don’t forget to bring some moisturizer.
Photo by K. B. R. on Flickr
Rough, dry, and cracked hands don’t make the best material for the many handshakes we hope you’ll be giving.
A bit of hand cream will go a long way.
Guess how germs spread?! You’ll be touching many people’s hands during the event. And you probably won’t have time to wash them too often – that’s why we recommend you bring some hand sanitizer.
This humble Germinator will help you stay cootie-free throughout the event.
Photo by Germ-X on Wikimedia Commons
Note: If you want to take a bottle of this stuff with you in your cabin luggage, please remember that it cannot exceed 100 ml or else airport staff will just toss it out.
As we all know from taking public transport during summertime, everyone’s hygiene needs vary.
For some, hand sanitizer might be enough – whereas others may want to step their freshening up game up a notch.
Photo by Your Best Digs on Flickr
Being on the go all day can make you work up a sweat so these are really worth considering. They’ll give you that fresh out of the shower feeling in like zero seconds flat.
Again this one’s a win-win for everyone – no explanation needed 😉
Mens Sana In Corpore Sano
Let’s start from the ground up – you’ll be doing a lot of walking. A LOT.
Source: re:Invent Website
Don’t let Google Maps fool you – a mile, my friend, is nearly double the distance of a kilometre.
Everything is far. Bring your fave pair of comfy sneakers to help you get there 🙂
Photo by Lindsay Henwood on Unsplash
We’re assuming you wear socks with your sneaks – and if you don’t, you might want to consider giving it a try during this event. Otherwise you might be battling some serious blisters considering all the walking you’ll be doing.
Photo by tookapic on Pixabay
Make sure to bring lots of soft, comfy socks and carry a pair with you during the event just in case your feet give up on the pair you slid on them in the morning.
Vegas weather in late November might not be what you’re used to – it is a desert climate after all.
Outside weather will change drastically between day and night – oscillating between 15 °C to -1 °C. Is it spring? Is it winter? No. Nevada weather is a spectrum 😉
Bring a variety of clothing items. Think of an onion and its many layers and then become that onion 😀
Photo by Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash
To make matters worse, Americans love their AC (air conditioning)… Oh boy do they ever. We recommend you grab a hoodie on your way to The Expo.
We’ve all heard (thanks Mom!) that exercise is a crucial part of staying happy and healthy.
We’re also all adults now and have had many opportunities to realize that a day only has so many hours in it…
Sometimes that afternoon run gets opted out for a nap.
And that’s okay. We’ve got your back. But hear us out on this one.
Photo by Andri Koolme on Flickr
You’ll be attending a super fast-paced, dynamic, and exciting tech conference. You’re planning to attend as many sessions as possible. To meet as many new people as you can. To go dancing with them after-hours. Rinse & repeat for a week.
In a word, you’ll be very active. Why not record all the fun you’ll be having on an Activity Tracker?
That way you’ll be able to see just how healthy of a decision going to AWS re:Invent really was 😉
After spending an entire day with approx. 40,000 people, you might be a bit overwhelmed by all the exciting sights and sounds.
Earplugs are a great way to buy yourself a little quiet time. They also come in handy during flights.
Photo by Your Best Digs on Flickr
Whether or not you’re prone to headaches or colds, it’s still a good idea to take some medication with you so you won’t have to waste time standing in line at the nearest pharmacy in case you need it.
Source: pixabay.com
You’ll probably be doing a bit (or a lot) of partying in the evenings during AWS re:Invent so that Aspirin just might become your best friend in the mornings.
Networking & Swag
Sure, it’s 2017 and you’re attending one of the most revolutionary tech conferences around but a good ol’ business card is still the most popular ticket to successful networking.
We suggest bringing plenty of them and keeping them in a holder to maintain their mint condition.
However, taking into consideration that there’ll be roughly 40,000 attendees, your pockets might not accommodate all your business cards.
But, you can always keep them handy in a throwback, custom, Vegas-themed fanny pack. Where will I find such treasures you ask? Stop by booth K38 and we might just be able to help you out 😉
Speaking of mint! Nothing gives a good impression like a great smile and fresh breath!
Photo by Rob ga jahav 74 on Wikimedia Commons
Don’t be that guy or girl whose awesomeness is eclipsed by the overly attached coffee you had in the morning.
Cut ties with that coffee for good – we promise you won’t regret it.
Always a good idea to keep your mouth in mint condition too 🙂
So your stunning smile has won you lots of swag! Great! But what now? Where should you keep it?
Source: negativespace.co
We recommend bringing an empty backpack to The Expo to store all your new goodies!
And yes, yes, we hear you. Carrying a backpack all day may sound like the opposite of fun but would you rather a.) loose out on all the amazing swag everyone will be handing out or b.) carry all of the swag on your body and resemble a badly decorated Christmas tree?
We thought so 😉
On-site Supplies
Okay, so you’ve read our awesome AWS re:Invent Travel Guide and you’ve arrived prepared and ready to rock.
But, since we’re all human, you probably forgot something.
If you find yourself in need of supplies while in Vegas, we recommend stopping by the nearest Walgreens.
Photo by Phillip Pessar on Flickr
You can also stock up on snacks and water, which will keep ‘hanger’ and dehydration from knocking on your door.
Let’s be honest, the world is literally in the palm of your hand.
You’ll need a phone plan while on location – especially if you’d like to have high speed internet round the clock.
And we all know that is exactly what you want 😉
Photo by Ahmed Aqtai on Pexels.com
We’ve conducted some research and found out that the T-Mobile Tourist Plan is likely the best option.
It gives you 3 weeks of talk, text, and data for only $30! You get 1,000 minutes of talk, unlimited domestic & international texts and data (up to 2GB of 4G LTE data!) with no strings attached.
To get this plan activated you’ll need to:
- Have an unlocked, GSM-compatible phone
- Find a T-Mobile retail store
- Ask their representative to activate the plan for you
It’s as easy as that!
And there you have it folks! Our AWS re:Invent Travel Guide is now complete.
Happy travels everyone and see you at AWS re:Invent 2017!
