Travel Essentials

Or, You Really DON’T Need To Take Everything!

So you saw in a previous post that I have been preparing for travel recently. I wanted to add a part 2 - the essential items. Of course, your clothes or shoes may vary, but there some items I take on every single trip. Here’s a rundown with the reasons why, plus some of my favorites:

Hello Kitty scarf

Everyone has an opinion about the scarf they use, but this lightweight black and white scarf with hello kitty print is whimsical and goes with everything. Also easy to squish into my bag.

Dollar bills

I am adding this to the list too…especially after recent experiences with the airport lounges, where the bartenders do accept cash tips, I will make sure to bring single dollar bills for tipping in bars or analog spaces. As we moved towards cashless payment as a society, I had stopped doing this, but realize in some spaces, cash is most effective.

Collapsible water bottle

After carrying around a plastic fold up bag for water, this Samsung popup water bottle is a huge improvement. I always take it on my trips. My most recent trip, the hotel did not provide water bottles, and I spent close to ten dollars on bottled water, until I got smart and brought my water bottle to the event luncheons and started filling it with water there.

Travel Umbrella

Having a small portable umbrella is very handy for when you encounter wet weather in many regional parts of the country (sometimes just for a few minutes each day), plus it doubles as a sun shade. My friend has a travel umbrella with SPF coverage(!), and that saved us on a hot day in Las Vegas this past spring.

Protein bars

This is the mom in me coming out, but I always bring a snack in case someone (myself or others I travel with) gets hangry. It’s no fun traveling on an empty stomach, but sometimes it can’t be helped if you are rushing from one location to another. Having a quick snack bar (preferably with protein) available helps at least make it to the next stop when you can get a bite to eat. I like the Barebells plant-based protein flavors.

Electronics

I always carry my iPhone and iPad - they fit in my Uniqlo bag, and are really all I need workwise, for the most part. And while I am not an Apple-phile, it IS helpful that they can “talk” and I can share docs or photos easily between devices. Plus, I just need one lightning cord and can alternate if I need to charge them.

Uniqlo bag - black

This bag is irreplaceable. Hubs and I each got one from the original Uniqlo store when we were in Japan twenty years ago, and I take it on EVERY air trip. We have a black one (technically “his”) and a taupe one (technically “hers”), but I find the black one (shown here) matches better with everything lol. I can carry my ipad and virtually every other essential on this list with plenty of room to spare.

Meds/first aid

Pain reliever, bandaids and ointment mostly. This usually is the extent of what I need. If I travel in a car, motion sickness pills as well.

Lip Balm

While I use this all year long, I particularly like Chapstick’s Total Hydration 3 in 1 or Mongo Kiss in the winter since they penetrate well, and my lips do feel more hydrated. I buy them in sets to carry with me everywhere.

Hand Cream - travel size

I am adding this to the list for cold weather trips. My hands were SO dry on a recent late fall trip. I used the hotel lotion but its not the same. Weleda Skin Food is a rich cream, so doesn’t come off easily, yet absorbs well.

Sunblock travel size

I find myself perpetually concerned about wearing enough SPF being from California, so have started carrying a travel size liquid sunblock with me. Sun Bum works well, with a decent SPF 30. I’m looking into a sunblock stick or travel sized spray as well, so leave me a comment if you know of any!

Anker battery

I have been lucky in not having to use this too much, but it’s handy. It charges my phone to the max two times, so it’s handy not only for me, but others whom I am traveling with who may need a charge as well. Has a USB port so can adapt to anyone’s charger.

Not pictured, but on the list:

TSA locks

I am adding this to the list as well after my last trip, when I was carrying items that I was particularly careful about that belonged to friends. I had a moment when I realized I did not have locks on my suitcases, and vowed to remedy that after.

Liquid IV or hydration packets

I started carrying these with me when a friend of mine got really dehydrated in Vegas (although she did have the SPF umbrella!). Fortunately, I carry a couple of packets everywhere with me, so gave her one and insisted she drink water mixed with it. She was good to go in about 20 minutes!

What are some of YOUR go-to travel items? Let me know in the comments!