For soldiers stationed abroad, bicycling is both economical and a great way to experience a country instead of just seeing it. Then get rid of half the stuff you thought you were going to need. You'll find you actually need even less than that. Two national organizations, the League of American Bicyclists and Adventure Cycling, offer guides for members wanting to plan their own vacations. The guides provide places to call or write for cycling maps and publications.
General information is also available from state and country tourism offices.
That means different things to different people. For Clauson, the basic necessities are few. And that's more important to me than arriving at some place.