5 Things I’ll Never Travel Without
Power Strip
I don’t mean just any power strip, of course. There are power strips made specifically for travel. I’ve had mine for over two years and it’s the single most important item in my travel kit.
Many newer hotels are putting outlets on the nightstands or in the lamps so access is easier, but this is often just one outlet; there usually aren’t USB ports, and it’s still not readily available. My travel power strip solves all these problems in one reasonably small, lightweight accessory. It has a flat plug, allowing it to easily fit behind the nightstand in a hotel room. It includes 3 USB ports and two outlets so I can easily plug in all my electronics, batteries, etc. It also has a 6-foot cable, which has come in handy on many occasions while traveling when there’s an outlet available but not convenient. Although mine doesn’t include this feature, some even come with different plug configurations, so you can be assured you’ll always have the right kind of plug for the country you’re in. They only cost about $15, and many different varieties are available on Amazon.
Tablet
You can’t always guarantee you’ll be on an airplane within-flight entertainment, and you can’t download Netflix shows on a laptop! It seems like a minor reason to carry an extra couple of pounds in your travel bag, but if you’re taking a long flight or have a layover, it’s worth every ounce!
Because I travel for work, I travel with my laptop. My heavy-ass, 17-inch screen, brick of a laptop. I don’t recommend this… It’s heavy. It’s awkward. Its power brick weighs as much as an actual brick.
Back in the day, before I started traveling for work, however, I just took a tablet. Tablet operating systems allow for a ton of programs and can easily handle most on-the-go computer needs. I still use a tablet to write on the plane, and it’s great to have for light-duty work.
Battery Back Up
You should not spend your entire vacation on your phone. But. We all know you’re going to play Candy Crush on the airplane, text your friends, family, significant other, dog, etc. when you land, and take a ton of pictures, all with your cell phone. It’s become one of the most important devices we, as adults (and sometimes teens) own.
Because I’m always working on the go, I need my phone to work. I ALWAYS have AT LEAST two battery backups with me at all times. Someday, when my dreams come true, and a secret admirer buys me an Away Bag, I’ll have three. Now, my battery backup needs may be a bit extreme, but you know you’re going to use your phone a ton on vacation, and nothing is worse than not being able to capture that perfect sunset because your battery died. Take a backup, keep it charged, and keep it with you. I always throw it into my swim bag on the way to the beach or keep in handy in my backpack if I’m off to sit at a registration desk.
Bonus Must-have: Charging Cable Bracelet
These are the coolest things. I’m not going to try to describe exactly what it is because it’s difficult, and I’m lazy, so CLICK HERE to check it out! Once I discovered they existed, I always have one on me. It makes it even easier to use your battery backup to give your phone a quick boost anywhere without needing to worry about whether or not your charging cable is accessible. When ordering, just make sure you’re getting the correct one for your cell phone. It’s easy to accidentally order the wrong kind.
A Pen
Yeah, this one is pretty obvious, but I don’t just mean a generic pen. Make sure it’s a good pen, and make sure it is easily accessible when you’re on an airplane. If you haven’t done much international travel, you may not be familiar with all the paperwork required when you enter another country. Airlines will pass out your customs and immigration forms about an hour before you land in a new destination and then will attempt to get 146 adults to share 15 pens. Good luck. I’m not sure why your plane ticket can’t include a 50-cent pen as a freebie.
I’ve learned to always have my own, always have it accessible, and make sure it’s a reasonably high-quality one so I can rely on it. Better yet, get an erasable one. Having your paperwork filled out ahead of time can save serious time when you land. Be sure to read carefully and take your time. After all, you’ve got nothing better to do while you’re sitting on the plane. Unless you brought your tablet, of course.
Jacket
I spend more time in a hotel lobby than anyone should ever spend in a hotel lobby unless you work there. When I’m hosting a trip, I become a fixture in the hotel lobby and spend days at a time telling anyone and everyone where the nearest bathroom is. So, a lightweight, small, compressible jacket that I can always keep in my backpack is critical. That light extra layer is often all I need to take the edge off the air conditioning, which is often excessive in hotel lobbies, especially in the United States.
This jacket also comes in handy in airports, on airplanes, in taxis, on buses, and any other place where air conditioning tends to be a little bit too much.
Bonus Must-have: Umbrella/Rain Repellent Device
Many people disagree with me on this one, so I listed it as a bonus item, but it is absolutely something I never travel without. If I bothered devoting the seven whole minutes it takes to dry my hair in the morning, I want it to look decent all day! I don’t like the risk of my electronics getting wet in my bag. I prefer my clothing not to be covered in droplets, and I just generally don’t like to be wet when I didn’t make the choice to be. I always carry an umbrella, and I recommend you carry one or at least some sort of rain-repellent device. A super lightweight plastic poncho is completely adequate and can help out in a pinch. I’ll never miss out on seeing something amazing just because it was raining. Be prepared and commit to having a great time, even if it’s a little soggy.
Notice something that’s NOT on my list. A pillow. Repeat after me: “There will be pillows where I am going.”
Unless you are staying somewhere that specifically requires you to provide your own bedding, just leave the stupid pillow at home. They take up a ton of space, they get left at hotels way too often, they get dirty, and the stupidest thing about bringing a pillow is that your hotel will have one! Sure, a small travel pillow for the plane is reasonable, although I quickly lost the will to keep track of one of these. But I see so many people, even travel professionals, claim a pillow is their must-have. I have lost all respect for these people.
My hatred for full-sized traveling pillows aside, everyone’s travel kit is unique and caters to their specific needs. The items above are the things I’ve found to be the most useful, but I’d love to hear what go-to items are in your travel kit!
P.S. I’m not in any way sponsored by Amazon. They’re just convenient.
