Essential Travel Items & Tips for a Hassle-Free Trip
by Lana Ball
There’s nothing worse than realizing you forgot something important once you're already on the road. Whether you're heading on a quick weekend getaway or a multi-day adventure, packing the right essentials can make or break your trip. To keep your travels smooth and stress-free, I've put together a list of my top essential items & tips you won’t want to leave home without!
1. A Reliable Travel Bag
Your bag sets the tone for your trip. Whether it’s a carry-on suitcase, a sturdy backpack, or a duffel, choose one that’s lightweight, spacious, and easy to maneuver. Bonus points if it has multiple compartments to keep your items organized!
2. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are a game-changer for staying organized. They help you neatly separate clothes, toiletries, and accessories so you’re not rummaging through your bag every time you need something.
3. Travel-Sized Toiletries
Save space and avoid TSA headaches by packing travel-sized toiletries. Invest in refillable bottles for your favorite products, and don’t forget essentials like toothpaste, shampoo, and skincare items. I don't always pack enough for my trip if I know I can purchase these basic necessities at some point during the trip. Ladies, this is not the time to pack every single skin care item or makeup brush or eyeshadow you own. Lots of products can serve multi duties for the short duration of a holiday. I find it fun to find those products and to challenge myself to utilize what I have packed. It will save you so much space.
4. Portable Charger
A dead phone is the last thing you want while traveling. A portable charger ensures your devices stay powered up for navigation, photos, and entertainment during long journeys.
5. Universal Travel Adapter
If you're traveling internationally, a universal adapter is a must. It allows you to plug in your electronics no matter where you go, saving you from the hassle of finding country-specific plugs.
6. Reusable Water Bottle
Staying hydrated while traveling is key! A reusable, collapsible water bottle is a great space-saver and eco-friendly option. Many airports and destinations now have refill stations, so you can skip the overpriced bottled water. Fill up after security and before you board. Flights, especially the long ones, are very dehydrating and it is so convenient to have your own filled water bottle when you board and then refill at the back of the plane (or in the middle depending on the size of your jet) where they keep the extra snacks and drinks during the flight.
7. First-Aid Kit & Medications
From minor cuts to unexpected headaches, a small first-aid kit can be a lifesaver. Pack basics like bandages, pain relievers, blister pads, motion sickness tablets, eye drops, and any prescription medications you may need. If traveling to a foreign country where you will only be able to drink bottled or filtered water, I highly recommend visiting your family doctor here in the States to get a prescription of an antibiotic in case you get "Montezuma's revenge" or "Delhi belly". It's often caused by consuming contaminated food or water, or by exposure to new bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Believe me, I have had this a couple of times (Amazon, Africa), no matter how careful you try to be and it can ruin your holiday if not treated quickly and properly.
8. Comfort Items for the Journey
Long flights, road trips, or train rides can be exhausting, boring (if there is no view or good company) and not always comfortable. I never leave home without my all natural jet lag medicine (just when crossing multiple time zones), travel scarf, eye mask, eye drops, my prescription eyeglasses (my contacts get taken out on long flights with a fresh pair put in prior to landing), neck pillow, noise-canceling headphones/ear buds, cozy socks, book/ipad/entertainment and moisturizers to stay comfortable while enroute. Oh, and don't forget those snacks and water!
9. Important Travel Documents & Digital Copies
Always keep your passport, ID, travel insurance, and necessary tickets in a secure, easy-to-access place. Always get in the habit of leaving them in the same exact place so you know exactly where to look in your bag and you will avoid having a mild heart attack thinking you lost it every time you need to pull it out. It’s also smart to have digital copies stored in your email or a cloud service in case of emergencies.
10. A Small Daypack
Once you reach your destination, you’ll want a smaller bag for daily adventures. A lightweight, secure daypack is perfect for carrying essentials like your wallet, phone, charger, snacks (did I already mention snacks! ;-)), and layering pieces while exploring.
11. Bring Lots of Small Bills for Tipping
Not just in the United States but in many countries, tipping is customary and expected for services like transportation, dining, and hotel assistance. Carry plenty of small bills in the local currency (if you have it, but many gladly take the US dollar) to ensure you can tip appropriately without overpaying. Be very careful of ATM's....if it looks like it has been tampered with, it is not worth the risk, move on and find a secure one inside a bank vestibule if possible and when the ATM asks if you want to be charged in the local currency.....Yes, you do. Otherwise, the owner of the ATM can set fees/percentages that could cost you ALOT!
Final Tips for Stress-Free Travel
- Make a checklist before packing to ensure you don’t forget anything.
-
Pack light, this is not a drill, PACK LIGHT! and stick to clothing items that can be mixed and matched for different types of events or weather (layers and dressing them up or down). I usually pick a color for the trip and build a trip wardrobe around it and expand it by adding accessories like scarves or light weight jewelry. It truly depends on where I am going. I will often times put in a few pieces that I plan on donating at some point during the trip usually to the hotel staff. I will leave items on the bed with a note, so they know I left it there on purpose along with my usual monetary tip for housekeeping. This helps those women that may not have the funds to buy extra clothes, and it opens up space in my suitcase for travel mementoes. I also do this for any items at the end of the trip that I know they will appreciate, extra or leftover makeup, moisturizers, etc.
-
Check weather forecasts for your destination to pack accordingly.
-
Keep essentials in your carry-on in case your checked luggage gets delayed. I think we all know this, but I also keep a special packing cube I can quickly grab out of my carry-on suitcase (if it's not already in my backpack/tote) if I get to the airport and the airplane is so small they demand all carry-on luggage be "Gate Checked" unbeknownst to you. That way in case you happen to get stranded on the runway or just need those "emergency" items, you have them. Believe me, those bags of M&M's just might save you in hour 2 on the runway when you are "hangry" and sitting next to a crying baby who is not having his best day either.
With these travel essentials and tips, you’ll be well-prepared for a hassle-free trip! What are your must-have travel items? Let us know in the comments!
Check out our shop for top-quality travel accessories!