14 Essential Travel Items For Every Trip + Packing List

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We all get that feeling as soon as you’re on the way to the airport, or thirty minutes into your car journey: what did I forget? Often you won’t remember until you’re getting ready for bed that first night, miles away from home and you go to brush your teeth with…crap, it was the toothbrush! The good news is that if you’re staying in a hotel they often provide things like this for forgetful travelers which will at least serve you until you can get to a store the next day. But some things aren’t as easy (or cheap) to just pick up along the way. You don’t want to be spending precious food money on the same things you have sat at home waiting to be packed. So here are some of the essential travel items you don’t want to forget when packing for ANY trip.

Passport

It’s a biggie, so I’m putting it first. Of all the essential travel items, forgetting this one will ruin your holiday quicker than a rain cloud at the beach. You don’t want to be that person. The one who either has to go back home for the passport, or even miss a flight because of it. Do yourself a favor, put it somewhere you won’t forget it.

I work in the travel industry and the number of times I’ve received a call the day before someone’s dream trip only to hear that their passport is in the safety deposit at the bank which is now closed. While we’re at it, make sure you’re passport is in date, I’ve heard that one a lot too! And always take a photocopy of your passport in case it gets lost/stolen on your travels. If you’re traveling domestically you might not want to take your passport, but make sure to pack other ID such as a driver’s license.

Foreign Currency

Going abroad? They probably don’t take your money there so plan in advance to get some local cash. I live in Canada and although in Vancouver people can spend US Dollars, it kind of irks me when people assume they can spend their own money instead of getting Canadian dollars. A lot of smaller places won’t take your foreign currency. We have our own, it’s pretty and many different colors. But watch out: some countries you cannot buy currency in advance, so plan for that too. As essential travel items go, money is pretty big!

A day pack

If you’re anything like me, you get up at the crack of dawn on your first day in a new city and want to go exploring. That means you’ll end up outdoors all day and often don’t want to keep going back to your hotel. So having a good day bag is a good idea. Depending on where I am going and how much stuff I will need I use either a canvas shopping bag, a purse or a small backpack if I want my hands free. Since I often now travel with my DSLR camera having a bag big enough for the lenses and camera are vital.

Sunglasses

This is usually the thing I forget. So to counter that problem I just bought a ton of pairs and put them all in different bags. No, but seriously, I always count sunglasses as one of my essential travel items. I was in Helsinki, Finland in December where there were only about 6 hours of sunlight a day and I still needed my sunglasses as the winter sun was still bright. Whether you travel in the height of summer or the middle of winter, it’s always good a good idea to have eye protection.

  

Comfortable shoes

Possibly the most important of all the essential travel items on this list after your passport. You will hate yourself if you are wearing the most uncomfortable shoes for your long day of exploring. I remember being in my early twenties and visiting Paris for the first time. Day one I put on heels because “that’s what French people wear”. I figured if I was to compete with the fancy, elegant Parisians I would need style. That day I visited the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. I walked for miles around that museum then walked to the Eiffel Tower. For those of you who know, that is a freakin’ long way. And despite all the walking, the Eiffel Tower never seems to get any closer. Anyway, lesson learned. I now dress for comfort as well as style. You don’t have to sacrifice either if you shop around.

     

A book

If you’re going on a trip, you will inevitably want some down time. Make sure you put time aside to just sit and do nothing. Whether it’s by a pool or in a cafe, relaxation is important. And I never leave home without a book, one of the most essential travel items for personal entertainment.

For one, if traveling alone it gives you something to do when dining out so you feel a little less self conscious. If traveling with someone else you’ll want time apart or at least some quiet time. A book is great for that too. Grab your guilty pleasure reading material and get lost in another world while you’re lost in another world. Books are also essential for airports, long train journeys or flights when you just can’t watch another Adam Sandler movie on a tiny screen 4 inches from your face.

Medication/First Aid Kit

Always remember to pack any medications you might need, and even take more than you need as you never know if you will be delayed. While you’re at it, don’t put them in your suitcase – keep in your hand luggage at all times. Even if you don’t take regular medications, I always carry the following:

• Tylenol or Aspirin for headaches
• Band-aids/plasters for minor injuries as well as Godforsaken bad choices in footwear
• Travel sickness medication
• Allergy medication
• Bug bite cream/medication if going somewhere you might need it. I swear by Tiger Balm ever since my first time to Thailand. It’s amazing!

Best to have these things and not need them than have to mime your ailments in a foreign pharmacy and hope for the best. Been there, done that.

Remember to take a reusable water bottle with you on your travels, like this one from FastTech

Sun protection

While we’re on medications, always remember to carry sun block and some after sun lotion. This is definitely high on the list of essential travel items for me: I’m English, incredibly pale and covered in freckles. The sun and me are a recipe for lobster-itis (don’t worry I made that one up). I never leave home to a sunny destination without my Factor 50 and a healthy supply of aloe vera. You can’t be too careful with the sun. Even if you’re not Casper’s long lost twin, you have to take care of your skin. Get a travel size pack of sunblock or individual packets of sunblock. Both fit nicely in your carry on bag and within your liquid restrictions on flights.

     

Hair ties

Sure, you’re hair is gonna be all flowing and tussled first thing in the morning. You’ll be ready for those amazing photos to make your friends at home in their office cubicles sick with envy. But after your Instagram shots you’re going to want to get practical. Hot weather, sunblock and humidity will not lead to anything good if you don’t tie up your hair, at least if you’re like me. Hermione Granger has nothing on me. Even if it’s not hot, my hair just gets in my way and annoys me after a while so hair ties are a lifesaver. If I could rock short hair I would.

Portable charger

You won’t always be lucky enough to be seated next to the one outlet in a restaurant, or be able to find a free charging station in the airport. Save the stress and pack your own battery pack. Some are very small and compact and hold at least enough of a charge to get your phone juiced up ready to go for a little while longer. Other portable chargers or battery packs are better quality and can keep topping up your phone or laptop to save your battery. Essential travel items doesn’t even begin to cover it if you miss that evening sunset shot. This is the one I recently bought and it charged multiple devices for 4 days on a camping trip and still had plenty of juice left!

A pen

I never travel without a pen. Anywhere. For one, I’m a writer so I have to count it as one of my essential travel items. I never go anywhere without a notebook either for when those ideas come to me. Bonus: when I’m alone in a restaurant writing about my day gives me something to do.

But then there are customs declarations, a new favorite restaurant or dish to write down, the phone number of the really cute guy you just me. All of a sudden a pen is not such a bad idea right? If you’re like me, your phone battery might be taking its last breath by the end of a long day of sightseeing and photo taking. A pen is always handy.

Headphones

Good ones that cancel noise or cheap ones to listen to a few songs or watch Netflix as you go. The choice is up to you. But you can bet you won’t want to forget some headphones either way. Jeff never leaves for a trip without his noise cancelling Beats headphones, they’re one of his top essential travel items. I’m a simpler human and just take my generic headphones with me for when I want to entertain myself for a while. Whatever you use, don’t leave home without them.

    

Camera

I love taking photos. Not just because I want to document everything for when I write about it. But because I love having a reminder of my trips and potential artwork for my home. So although all phones have pretty decent cameras on them now, I have always counted an actual camera as one of my essential travel items. It doesn’t have to be really expensive or a huge DSLR with lots of lenses. It can be a compact camera, but something that might capture the photos you want when you want them in a better way than your cell phone.

     

Data roaming plan

Going on a short trip abroad? You will likely want to check your data roaming plan before you leave. Sign up or at least check what you get for your money with the plan you have. You don’t want to be lost without data, this isn’t the Nineties anymore. We can’t cope with that! The last couple of bigger trips I’ve taken I found it easier to buy a SIM card at my destination with added minutes and data. And WAAYYYYYY cheaper too. I did it in upon arrival in Vietnam for my two week trip, and the UK for my European trip in December. And I barely put a dent in my 6GB of data for less than 2 days of roaming through my carrier at home. Just don’t forget to make sure your phone is not locked before you leave your home country.

Bonus item: a travel themed face mask

Face masks were always a popular choice for many when traveling, but after 2020 they’re mandatory on most, if not all transport. Just because you have to wear one doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Buy a fun travel themed version like my favorite plane mask. If anything is destined to be worn on a flight it’s this. Buy yours here.

Essential travel items for a smooth trip

These 14 things will help you be prepared for a much smoother, much easier and much more enjoyable, relaxing trip. Wherever you are going. Near, far, wherever you are. Getting a little too Celine isn’t it? I digress. But while everyone has their must take items, these are some of the best you can put on your list. Be prepared and have fun. And don’t forget your toothbrush passport.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What are your essential travel items? Have you ever forgotten anything and regretted it?