Every seasoned traveler has that small but indispensable list of items they pack for every trip, no matter their destination. (Other than the obvious clothes, toiletries, IDs, cash, credit cards, etc.) For instance, I wear glasses. If they were to break, I’d be in big trouble, because I can’t see a thing without them. So I always bring a spare pair with me everywhere I go. Here’s a short list of other items I wouldn’t travel without:
- Earplugs – I couldn’t get a good night’s sleep in a hotel without them.
- My watch – When you have schedules to keep, planes to catch, etc., you need to know what time it is.
- Bandaids and Moleskin – God bless whoever invented moleskin. I pre-cut mine into small rectangles and squares so if a blister should arise while I’m on the road, I can just pick out the appropriate size and slap it on. No more pain when I walk.
- Comfy shoes – I do a lot of walking when I travel, so comfortable footwear is a must.
- Health supplements and Purell/antibacterial wipes – I don’t want to get sick while I’m traveling.
- Journal – I jot down notes as I travel so I can remember as many details of the trip as possible.
- Camera and accessories – The only souvenirs I usually come home with are my photos. That’s really all I need, and a whole lot cheaper than buying a bunch of stuff to clutter up my house with.
- Cell phone and charger
- Neck pillow – I just bought a great neck pillow on my last trip. I’ve always had a hard time napping on planes, and this makes it so much easier. Now I’ll always take this with me when I fly.
- Shirtjacket – I have this great brown polyester shirtjacket that feels like moleskin. It’s lightweight and long-sleeved and can be worn as either a second layer shirt or a jacket, depending on the temperature. It’s either casual or dressy, depending on what I wear with it, and I can stuff it in my knapsack without it wrinkling. It’s probably the most versatile article of clothing I own.
- Mp3 player – Just in case I need to amuse myself on the airplane or in the airport.
- Paperback – Ditto
- Empty water bottles – I fill these at water fountains and it saves me the cost of buying beverages all the time. I drink a lot of water, so the cost of that would add up during a trip.
- Notes – I always have notes on my destination, things I want to do there, restaurants, contact information, directions, etc.
- Travel mug – To mix up my supplements in, since I don’t trust the cleanliness of hotel room glasses any more.
- Ziploc bags – They have so many uses.
Those are my essentials. What are yours?
