Go-to Travel Essentials
Follow along as Bethany Explores her favorite go-to travel essentials.
Over the past several years I have stepped up my travel game. I went from taking a trip every few years to now taking one or more larger international trips a year. Along the way I have found a few key travel essentials that I now ensure I bring on each new trip. Read below to see what I always bring with me.
Before the Trip
Passport and Visas
Depending on where you are traveling, you may or may not need a passport and/or visas. It is a great idea to check the requirements well ahead of time, to ensure you are fully prepared. As an American, I like to check Americans Traveling Abroad (state.gov) to see what the requirements are based on where I am going.
Travel Insurance
Another key item to secure before the trip is travel insurance. In these times of uncertainty, constant changes, and other interruptions, I consider travel insurance a requirement. It is, of course, an optional item. But I feel better knowing that I am covered! My trusty travel advisor helps me get a new travel insurance policy for each new trip I book.
Global Entry / TSA Pre-Check
Something else that helps immensely with international travel is Global Entry. Having Global Entry allows me to quickly pass through customs in the United States as I return home from an international destination. A bonus is that it also includes enrollment in TSA Pre-Check, which helps expedite my time at the security checkpoints at U.S. airports (even when not traveling internationally). It currently costs $100 for five years, which is a bargain for all of the time savings! For more information: Global Entry | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)
Packing
I discovered packing cubes several years ago, and now I never travel without them! There are many different brands, types, and sizes out there. I found these Eagle Creek ones at The Container Store several years ago. They are very light-weight, breathable, and water-resistant. There is also a compression feature, which can be zipped closed to compress the cube even smaller (as long as the cube isn’t fully packed!). I use the medium-size ones for the majority of my clothes – tops, pants, dresses, etc. I use the small-size ones for undergarments, socks, bathing suits, etc. Stay tuned for more details on exactly how I pack and use these in a future post focused on Packing.
On the Plane
Travel Kit
I always throw this small black travel kit in my carry-on. I happened to get it as an amenities kit on an Air Canada flight several years ago, but any small bag or pouch would work. The key here is to have some smaller items consolidated and easy to access while on a plane. The things I always have in my kit include: a small pack of tissues, a tube of lip balm to soothe dry lips during a long flight, and a pair of earplugs and an eye mask to help get some sleep on overnight flights. I love this particular eye mask (which I lovingly refer to as my face bra, due to its form!). The concave parts that cover the eyes are really quite comfortable…I always find that standard eye masks always feel like they are squishing my eyes. This eye mask also has a Velcro strap at the back, so it is fully customizable to the size needed. I also include a small pill bottle with a few key essentials for my flight: Melatonin to help me sleep, any prescription meds I need to take during the flight, and a couple of pain relievers.
Compression Socks
Another lifesaver (quite literally for some!) is a good pair of compression socks. This is something that I used to think was a bit frivolous and unnecessary, until I developed a blood clot in my right leg after a long flight where I did not get up and move as often as I should have. So now I always wear compression socks on each flight I take (and I ensure that I get up and do a couple of ‘laps’ throughout the plane during long flights!). Not only do they help prevent future clots, but they also keep my legs feeling energized during and after a long flight. As a cat-lover, I was thrilled to find these cat-print compression socks on Amazon last year!
Comfortable Clothing
The final essential for me on the plane is comfortable clothing. My plane “uniform” consists of comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. I typically wear a pair of black lounge pants, a loose tee-shirt, and a mid-weight wrap-style cardigan. Layers that are easy to add and remove are key as you move from home to the airport to the plane, with many different temperatures and humidity levels. Ladies…another key piece of clothing, especially when trying to sleep on a flight, is a sports bra. I learned long ago that wearing a traditional bra on long flights can get very uncomfortable! The bottom line for which clothes to wear on a plane is to wear things for comfort and convenience, and not to impress anyone!
Electronics
A portable charger can come in very handy while traveling, especially when relying on your cellphone to be a still camera, video camera, document storage, map, translator, television/movie theater/radio, and much more all rolled into one! Switching to Airplane mode (and keeping it in Airplane mode throughout the trip) will definitely help save battery life along the way. But I also always have a portable charger with me just in case I need it. I love this one, made by Charmast. It is small (about the same size as a cellphone) and has a convenient carry pouch. But I also love that it has built-in lightning cables so I do not need to bring extra cables!
Another key factor with international travel is whether or not you will need an adaptor to use with anything you bring that needs to be plugged in. I am finding more and more places, both hotels and cruise ships, have USB ports readily available which helps with keeping many devices charged. However, you may still have things that use a full plug, and for those you will need an adaptor. I found this multi-purpose one many years ago, and I throw it in my suitcase for every trip. This one has several different adaptors all nested together in a small, compact cube.
Throughout the Trip
While exploring the far corners of the globe, I always bring these items with me regardless of where I am going, or how I am traveling.
Laundry Care
My absolute favorite go-to travel item is a small bottle of Downy Wrinkle Releaser spray. This stuff is AMAZING! Just a few quick squirts and most wrinkles will fall out of your clothes. I use it while unpacking the first day, spritzing any items that may have gotten wrinkled in transit before hanging them up in the closet. This spray also has a light, fresh scent, so it is also wonderful for any items that may need a bit of a refreshing along the way but aren’t necessarily ready for a full laundry cycle just yet.
Another must-have in my travel kit is a small Tide To-Go stick. This is another great thing to bring along, as it will quickly take care of any small spills or drips you may have on your clothes along the way.
Medications
In addition to my prescription meds, I also bring along a small supply of the over-the-counter medications I use. While most places have relatively easy access to these things, I like knowing that I have my own supply (in the brands and doses that I am familiar with) instead of having to try to hunt them down if needed. Things I always bring with me include:
- Extra strength pain relievers, which help ease sore muscles after a long day of exploring
- Headache relievers, because I am prone to getting headaches while I travel
- Melatonin, which is great both on overnight flights to help get some shut-eye, but is also great when trying to adjust to a new time zone during the trip
- Digestive relievers, because, well, you know…
- Motion sickness relievers, but only when I am taking an ocean cruise
Watch
This may sound a bit silly and obvious, but hear me out on this one! I have recently switched back to wearing a simple, non-digital watch that is easy to read, easy to reset, doesn’t need to be recharged, and is not expensive or flashy. I like being able to easily set and reset the time as I travel from one time zone to another (pro tip: change your watch to your destination time zone the moment you get on the plane…it will help you mentally adjust to the new time zone more quickly!).
Hat
The other item I always bring with me is a large-brimmed hat. I love the one pictured below because I can fold or roll it up, stuff it into my day pack, and it never loses its shape. It is also ventilated so it breathes well and helps keep me cool. This hat also has an adjustable chin strap which helps keep it on in windy conditions. I use this hat in the sun and in the rain. It is one of those things that is easy to carry along and is wonderful to have when I need it. It may not be the most fashion-forward item of clothing I own, but it certainly does the trick when needed!
Conclusion
These are a few of my favorite, essential items that I always bring with me wherever my explorations take me. I have tried several other trendy or travel-specific items throughout the years, but I have learned that simple is better. While the items listed here are the physical ones that I take with me on each trip, I also be sure to pack some other items as well: patience, flexibility, and a good attitude. These last three things are invaluable no matter where I go, how I get there, or what I choose to do while I am there.
Links
Want to learn more about my explorations? Click the links below:
