Looking for travel essentials for an upcoming trip? Look no further!
After multiple international and domestic flights over the past two years, I believe I’ve finally got things down to a science when it comes to travel.
So here are the top travel essentials from someone who learned the hard way what she does and does not need when traveling.
Tech
Portable charger
Whether you’re taking a million photos are using your phone to navigate your way to your next destination, it’s incredibly handy to have a portable charger with you. I have an older version of this power bank and it holds enough charge to refill an iPhone twice–good for your phone and one friend’s phone, or your phone twice over!
Get the portable charger on Amazon
Multi-USB Port Charging Block
These plugs have been a Godsend when I share a hotel with my friends, because there are NEVER enough outlets for all of us. Using this charging brick, I was successfully able to charge all of my devices at once on my last trip out of town. Useful for airports as well, you and your friends can occupy one plug instead of hunting for multiple!
Get the Multi-USB port charging block on Amazon
Extended Charging Cables
When sharing a hotel room there just never seems to be a good outlet for the person on the one side of the bed that doesn’t have a nightstand. These are especially useful when the outlet is randomly near the ground away from the bed, so you can still scroll away to your heart’s content while charging your phone. They also make them for USB to USB C for those who need them! I bring a mix of lightning and USB C cables depending on the devices I have with me.
Get the charging cables on Amazon
Toiletries
Hanging Makeup Case
If you’ve ever had to fight for countertop space for your makeup or skincare on a trip, this one is for you. You hang it on the towel rack and voila! Everything you need is visible and available at once, without having to dig through your makeup bag to find your eyeliner or contact solution. This is hands-down one of my favorite travel essentials I’ve purchased in the past year.
Get the makeup case on Amazon
Travel Perfume Atomizer
This was an item I didn’t know I needed until I went to Europe for the first time. I am a carry-on-only girlie, and realized pretty quickly that meant maximizing the space for my liquids in the TSA-friendly bag. Enter: This beautiful little atomizer.
I originally tried one that had the connector hole right at the bottom of the container, but I found that it leaked horribly every single trip I brought it on, soaking everything else in perfume. I highly recommend this one instead, it hasn’t leaked once on any of the trips I’ve brought it on!
Get the perfume atomizer on Amazon
Mini Magnetic Closure Pill Case
On my first trip to Europe with EF Ultimate Break a girl from my trip had one of these in Austria that held a mini emergency kit of sorts. I bought one immediately upon my return to the States. I usually fill the compartments with Tums, Pepto Bismol tablets, Ibuprofen, and a laxative chew. Gross? Yes, but VERY necessary, not just for those of us with digestive issues, but also for those who have a hard time using the bathroom on vacation.
Get the pill case on Amazon
Comfort
EverSnug Travel Blanket
Do you freeze at night in hotel rooms and Airbnb? I sure do. This blanket is perfect for those AC-filled frozen nights. Or if you don’t get cold, it makes for a great extra pillow when the hotel/Airbnb ones are too flat for your liking.
I bought this after attempting to haul a camping blanket in my carry-on across Europe for ten days (which I do NOT recommend). This blanket compresses nicely and fits in my backpack compared to the bulk the camping blanket added to my suitcase.
Get the blanket on Amazon
Supportive Neck Pillow
This is for those travelers who like good, supportive pillows over the flat squish ones hotels seem to be plagued with. Normally used on flights, this pillow is also useful for when the pancake-flat pillows at your lodging just aren’t getting the job done.
This pillow most recently saved me at hostels in both London and Edinburgh, as while the locations were fantastic, I may have well been sleeping with my head directly on the mattress without this pillow.
Get the pillow on Amazon
Health
- A water bottle that fits in your purse/daily bag you’ll be using
- Liquid IV or other electrolyte mix
- Snacks
These go together, as when you’re traveling you never know when you’ll be able to stop for food or water.
I’m not exaggerating when I say I literally never travel without Liquid IV pouches shoved in my purse and makeup case. As someone who has been to the ER for dehydration before, I meant it when I say it is INCREDIBLY important to stay hydrated, especially when traveling!!
In a similar vein, Pack snacks in your everyday bag. Sometimes things take longer than expected, or there are delays, and snacks will keep you from being hangry (or being so hungry you hit the point of nauseousness).
Bags
The brown purse is the bag I use most often for international travel as each of the pockets spans the entire depth of the bag (which is incredibly handy when hauling a water bottle, umbrella, and selfie stick along with the usual wallet, sunglasses, etc).
Get the brown crossbody here.
For domestic travel, I always pack my trusty Baggu medium Nylon Crescent bag. It holds all my usual items, as well as a 32oz water bottle.
Get the Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent here.
Travel Essentials from a Travel-Obsessed Girlie
While there are many items I consider to be travel essentials, these are the ones I believe everyone could benefit from using. In my next blog post, I’ll go over my airplane essentials, as those cover a different range of needs compared to these, in my opinion.
Want to read more about my first Euro Trip with EF Ultimate Break? Click here!
If you enjoy this article let me know in the comments, and let me know what item you never travel without! If you’d like more content like this, head over to my TikTok, Instagram, or Pinterest, all @ HannahFictionista.