Travel is as unpredictable as it is exciting. Meticulous itineraries prepared over hours or days can go up in smoke with just a single flight delay. Ben Franklin said “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Nowhere is this quote more evident than when your travel plans unravel before your very eyes. It might not have happened yet, but give it time. Eventually we all will know that pain of a dead phone battery with your only boarding pass copies. A stolen wallet with all your money. An unexpected delay somewhere without water. Or an unruly neighbor, who’s room is the party location for all hours of the night. Not preparing your travel essential and assuming these events will not happen to you is asking for trouble and tempting fate.
Take the stress out of travel (or at least dial it down) with adequate preparation. No one wants to be the person toting around three bags in the airport, however, we all can stop for a moment and think about the items we will most need if calamity ensues. With a simple plan in place, you can ensure you always pack your top travel essentials. For me, I’m a baby with sleep. I keep everything important on my phone. And, I also prioritize personal safety and the safety of my fellow travelers. Think of your own travel stressors now. Keep thinking. Now, read on to learn the what and why regarding these top travel essentials.
LifeStraw, Waterbottle
It’s a no-brainer that your body needs water to survive. So it baffles me when I see countless people who don’t think about or prioritize water during their travels. Most destinations have water freely accessible. Many do not. We have all seen people going on long hikes holding a 16oz water bottle in their hand. We have been with friends and family who always seem to be asking for a sip of your water. And more critically, you may find yourself lost or stranded in a position where potable water is not available. I always bring a LifeStraw on any
trip to a destination with a concern about drinking water. It is also great for hiking. I just don’t want to feel sick. A lifestraw has come in handy for example when traveling through even more built up areas of Mexico and Costa Rica. I also bring a water bottle with me as well. Cut down on plastic, save time, and reduce the headache of travel by just bringing a refillable water bottle.
Combination Locks
I always try to look for the best in people but not all people are the best. The temptation to peak inside that backpack or snatch and grab that luggage is sometimes too great. And there goes your stuff. While not obviously fail proof, one simple impediment to this behavior is locking it up. I always bring small TSA friendly combination locks (don’t mess around with keys) when traveling. There is no hard research that I have read, however I think the housekeeper or the fellow a few rows back on your flight, are much less likely to snag your hard-earned valuables if they have to maneuver past locked luggage. There are always easier targets. You can also use certain combo locks to secure your backpack or luggage to solid structures as well. Don’t be a soft target, lock up your stuff!
Portable Charger
In today’s society, our phones are everything (I know that’s a sad statement). This is even more apparent when traveling. Our boarding passes, hotel reservations, and basically everything else of importance is now often stored on our phones. Few feelings compare with the frustration of a dead or dying phone without the ability to charge it. This is only further heightened when that phone is your lifeline to tickets and QR codes you need for the rest of your busy day. Always carrying a portable phone charger is a great way to mitigate the stress of travel, particularly when you were hoping to use your phone for pictures, entertainment, and basically everything else. I loaded up my family on Christmas with a well reviewed Anker Charger and they love them!
Knife
This recommendation is going to be hit or miss with people. Some types of travel lends itself to keeping a knife handy. Roughing it in the backcountry comes to mind. I contest that it is always a good idea to include a small fixed blade as a travel essential when adventuring. Make sure to keep in your CHECKED BAG. I find a knife handy when traveling anywhere that hiking is involved. I prefer keeping it next to our bed as well. We had a midnight break-in/robbery while a woman in our Medical Mission group was sleeping in her bed! This is obviously very rare, but I just feel more comfortable keeping a knife on my list of travel essentials.
Selfie Stick
This travel essential is only slightly in jest. You either know from our travels together or will eventually know by looking at my pictures, that I am a huge fan of the selfie stick. I find that particularly when sharing photos after group trips, everyone wants selfies. No matter how well you edit that perfect landscape photo, at the end of the day, people often want to see themselves and their friends in the shot. You could obviously solve this issue by having someone in your group take the photo of the others. It sucks to be the one left out
though. You could also find a stranger, and hand your phone over to them. You better find someone you can outrun. News stories are filled with tourists getting their phones or expensive cameras snatched by false do gooders. This is mainly a tongue in cheek addition to the list of travel essentials but still, just get yourself a selfie stick!
Two Wallets
By habit I typically will still always have my wallet on hand when traveling. Occasionally I will opt for a more secure front facing waist pack, but nonetheless, you will need to keep certain valuables and resources on hand at all times. A common finance mantra states to never keep all your eggs in one basket. This adage applies to your travel finances as well. I typically have my ID, cash, and two credit cards with me while traveling. Reasonable prudence suggests that you should not keep all of these resources in one place. I will always leave a credit card and some cash with other essential documents in a secure location (hotel safe) while enjoying the rest of the day exploring. Heaven forbid if my wallet is lost or stolen in a foreign land, I hopefully won’t be asking friends and family for a plane ticket home!
Earplugs, Eye Mask, and Pillow
Travel can be unpredictable. Everyone who has stayed the night on an airport floor due to an unforeseen layover can attest. The hostel, airport, or unexpectedly noisy hotel obviously is not going to provide the same restful sleep as your own bed; however, by staying prepared, you can at least maximize your odds of some (maybe) restful sleep. I always travel with earplugs and an eye mask. These travel essentials ensure that regardless of the circumstances, I might at least have some darkness, peace, and quiet. I find them particularly valuable with group travel, where the sleep schedules and priorities of your fellow travelers may defer from your own. Furthermore, I also always travel with a small but comfortable throw pillow. It is easy to store and pays dividends towards a restful night sleep.
Dry Sack
You can’t control mother nature, but you can prepare for her. Everyone’s worst vacation nightmare is drenching rains throughout your whole week in paradise. Inevitably, you will be traveling and caught in unexpected terrible weather. You will get soaked and it will suck. Your clothing may be a lost cause but your expensive electronics don’t need to be. I typically keep a small dry sack available when traveling, particularly when hiking. This travel essential is great for the beach and useful when doing any type of boating as well. Many float and you can find any size to fit your needs, such as for larger cameras. I’ve had great success using my EarthPak with hiking and stand up paddle boarding alike. In a pinch I have also simply kept a ziplock bag in my pocket for my phone should the need arise.
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