Going traveling is always exciting, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it is your first trip but there are always the travel essentials you may need when on holiday. That you will only miss when you need it. That should be packed no matter what. What essentials largely depends on the type of holiday it is and where you are going. What are the best travel essentials?
This largely depends on the type of holiday and where you are going. Starting off you will need travel insurance and get any vaccinations if needed. Followed by suncream as this is expensive, particularly in tropical countries, and can be hard to get.
In this post, we will go through the best travel essentials. Let’s get started!
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Important Travel Essentials
While budgets for travelers can vary from traveler to traveler, here is a list of travel essentials that should be considered to pack, these can depend on where you are going and the type of trip.
- Get Your Vaccinations.
- Travel Insurance.
- Good Quality Backpack.
- Wash Bag.
- Toilet Roll.
- Good Quality Shoes.
- Unlocked Mobile Phone.
- Universal Plug Adapter.
- Power Bank.
- Good Quality Towel.
- Sun Screen.
- Diarrhea Treatment.
- Pen.
- Locks For Your Luggage.
Get Your Vaccinations
When traveling to Southeast Asia, Africa, South America, or somewhere exotic, check with your local doctor if there are any injections required before you go.
For example, if you are planning on going to Laos or Thailand there are vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, typhoid, and maybe rabies, plus maybe malaria tablets are required.
It is important to check with your local doctor if you need vaccinations. And that you do NOT leave this till the last minute. Go to your local doctor at least 2 months before you leave.
Travel Insurance
This is useful if something goes wrong such as bags going missing, flight delays, or medical expenses. Make sure you get travel insurance that covers your full range of activities. Activities like scuba diving are not covered by standard travel insurance, it costs extra.
Check that it does cover your phone being stolen as most do NOT cover this in the standard travel insurance.
Good Quality Backpack
Invest in a good quality backpack especially if you are going to be traveling for a few months. I used the above backpack I got from Amazon and it lasted me 5 months backpacking and is still in good shape.
You need to make sure the harness on the pack is going to support the weight you are carrying. The weight should be supported on your hips rather than your shoulders.
Amazon sells bargain-priced backpacks but it could be better to go to your local store and actually try on the backpacks, to see how it fits.
Wash Bag
Bringing a decent waterproof wash bag for all your toiletries is invaluable.
That is durable enough to stop any leakage from getting into the rest of your luggage if your shampoo or soap breaks or explodes while in transit.
Toilet Paper
The toilets are not always the best when traveling. The public toilets are used by everyone and there are not regularly maintained.
Expect to be shocked. Remember, to always begin a toilet roll with you everywhere. Put one in your backpack or travel bag, in case of emergency.
Good Quality Shoes
Bring the right shoes for travel. Anyone who has walked in poor-quality shoes can relate to this. Especially If planning on doing a lot of walking or hiking, a pair of durable closed-toe shoes will ensure that your feet remain blister-free and protected from the elements.
Unlocked Mobile phone
Bring an unlocked phone, there are tourist SIM cards available in most countries, and are generally cheap in countries like Thailand or Cambodia.
This is much cheaper for data when using Google Maps, and making calls home than using your personal phone and it’s your home network.
Universal Plug Adapter
Bringing a good quality universal plug on your travels is definitely on the travel essentials checklist. Buying one plug adapter that can be used worldwide just makes sense.
I got a universal adaptor from eBay and it burned out during my trip.
Invest in a good quality universal plug before you go rather than trying to find a store along the way. You can it a good-quality adapter on Amazon for about $8. It’s surprisingly difficult to find one when abroad.
Power Bank
When traveling, I use my phone a lot for taking photos and most importantly Google Maps. I have been stuck with my phone running out of power.
Power banks have become an essential travel item. You can get excellent cheap power banks from Amazon. Some countries are strict on bringing in power banks so you will need to check with the airline.
Good Quality Towel
Bring a towel as not all hotels or hostels will provide towels free of charge. So a super lightweight and non-bulky option is a good idea.
Bring a quick-dry travel towel which is getting for is drying off.
Sun Screen
I am stating the obvious here but I am guilty of this. Buying sunscreen abroad is a lot more expensive than buying before you go and in many places, it is hard to find suncream. There’s nothing worse than getting sunburned.
Diarrhea Treatment
This is something you are more than likely you are going to experience. This can happen from drinking non-bottled water or simply eating something you are not used to.
It’s worthwhile to bring along travel remedies to speed up the recovery process.
Mosquito Repellent
From experience mosquito repellent is essential. Mosquito bites affect everyone differently, for some people a bite has no real effect but for others like me, a bite is usually puffy and severely itchy.
This can make your holiday miserable if you get a few bites and then you have to contend with the scratching and general irritation for up to a week.
Spray yourself liberally in mossy spray every day.
Pen
This comes in useful when filling out immigration forms on the plane before you land, which saves you time doing it when you get into the airport.
Noting that most of these pens are in the airport where the immigration forms do not work. Keep a pen on hand, in your carry-on bag.
Locks For Your Luggage
I consider locks for your luggage a must.
While it is important to keep your bags firmly zipped shut but also having them locked stops you have been robbed by an opportunistic robber.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, this largely depends on the type of holiday and where you are going. Starting off you will need travel insurance and get any vaccinations if needed. Followed by suncream as this is expensive, particularly in tropical countries, and can be hard to get.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if what are the best travel essentials have helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.