Sir Michael Palin's secret to avoiding packing disasters

Sir Michael Palin is the UK's national travelling treasure, yet it was a TV series in 1989 which turned the comedian into an accidental traveller, when he took up the challenge to follow in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg, and attempt to travel Around the World in 80 Days.

The series became a ratings hit and sparked a whole new career for the Monty Python member.

Since then his journeys have included, going Full Circle around the globe, travelling from Pole to Pole and traversing the continents.

There And Back, the fourth volume of his diaries, is out now and his book about his latest travels in Venezuela is due out in September.

So who better to share packing and travelling tips with Saga Magazine?

His one tip for fellow travellers 

Well, I think it's all to do with packing. Know your luggage. The important thing is to know exactly where every everything you've got is and put it in the same place every time.

In Venezuela during my latest trip to film a series for Channel Five I think we had 30 different hotels. You keep unpacking and packing and you’ve got to be on top of the number of shirts you've got, the number of underpants and notice if anything is missing.

Just throwing things into the case and rushing out is absolutely fatal, because you will have to open that case some time later, and you won't know what is going on.

Wear light blue to look spry

David Attenborough always said he takes six blue shirts. Most television travellers do that. Camera men don't like you to wear a white shirt because it glares and you don't want to go around in dark green or something.

That’s good advice and not just for anyone who is on telly. If you want to look reasonably spry, light blue is the thing.

His essential travel item

The travel item I can't do without is my notebook. I have to write down what I'm seeing. It is quite small, I've got to be able to take it out of my pocket very quickly. It has to have ring binders, so I can get to the page easily.

I've got to have a pen that doesn't have a cap on it, because by the time I’ve taken the cap off it has all happened. So a press button biro is what I need.

I was touched because when I was writing about my Great Uncle Harry because I found his notebooks, which he kept during the First World War, during the Gallipoli campaign and all that.

He was doing the same thing as I do now.

They’re tiny books, because he had to take them with him in his uniform. Every single corner of them is scribbled. It took a long time to decipher, but it's brilliant stuff.

Mine are a bit like that. I write everywhere. They are vital.

Follow in Michael's footsteps with Saga

Michael's travels have taken him across the globe, but you can visit some of his most famous destinations with Saga Holidays.

Himalaya

In 2004 Michael spent six months travelling around the Himalaya mountain range, his journey covered 3,000 miles and he reached Everest Base Camp.

Travel with Saga In the Foothills of the Himalaya on a 13-day tour encompassing the iconic temples and hill stations of Northern India.

Learn more

Brazil

In 2012 Michael set out to discover the vast and diverse nation of Brazil, travelling from the rain forests, to the deep south and the buzzing city of Rio de Janeiro.

Saga Holidays offers two escorted tours that include Brazil. You can enjoy a 22-day Grand Tour of South America, or try a 20-day Antarctica Expedition Cruise which takes in Rio de Janiero. 

Learn more

Cuba

One hundred years after the death of author Earnest Hemingway, in 1999, Michael followed in his footsteps across Europe, America and the Caribbean on his Hemingway Adventure.

In Cuba Michael visits his former home and a hotel room he often stayed in. 

Get a taste of this island lost in time with Saga's Cuban Discovery 13-day tour, which starts in Havana before winding its way through the country.

Learn more