It’s thrilling to even imagine travelling. Everything is planned, the destination is prefixed, tickets and lodging houses are pre-booked, and shopping for essentials is completed.
Now, the packing part which is not that attractive proposition to many people needs to be completed with utmost care. I must admit that I am horrible at packing. Toothpaste and toothbrush are the most common things I tend to forget to carry all the time. Another terrible slip-up that I can clearly recollect – forgetting to carry my undergarments. When I realized my mistake, I went underclothing shopping in place of enjoying the sun and sand of my destination. To avoid such mishaps and embarrassments, keep a running list of travel essentials. I have one such list for domestic travel, and one for worldwide travel and I keep referring to them while packing.
To ensure I have packed all the essentials, I reach out to some of my friends and family members who‘re self-proclaimed travel experts to know more about their go-to travel necessities —and they had loads of them. Some recommendations are common but some involve too much DIY stuff. So, those are better to avoid especially if you‘re vacationing or traveling for business. But needless to say, your packing list will be lengthier after consultation.
Below are a few travel essentials that I should have while travelling –
- Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are always a good idea for me as these aid me in staying organized and structured. I always arrange my cubes according to their content: gym clothes in one, party wear in another, toiletries in some other cubes, and so on. They help me fit more stuff into my luggage bag, and they also make roving between destinations on the same tour a lot smoother. Also, thanks to packing cubes, things are always in place and it’s a big time saver.
- Carefully Considered Set of Outfits
Don’t shop and pack clothes haphazardly. I pack outfits keeping in mind the place I am about to visit. If I am visiting a beach, casual, light attires will do the job. If I am travelling somewhere cold, carry cardigans, sweaters, and other winter garments.
- Transportable Charger & Charging Cords
This is one of the most crucial items on your travel list. You wouldn’t want your tablet or laptop to die when you’re about to shoot off an important email or watch something entertaining. There can be pre-scheduled official meetings or travel information on your phone that can get hampered if suddenly the phone dies. Again, you won’t be able to take those beautiful pictures and document your travelling experience with a dead camera. So, to escape such unsavoury issues pack your chargers and charging cords without delay.
- A Handy Hotspot
I do a large part of my personal and professional work on my computer. Since it’s not possible to have unhindered Wi-Fi access while traveling, I make it a point to carry a portable broadband hotspot with me. This helps me to connect to the internet whenever I require attending to any urgent work.
- Toiletries
It’s always inconvenient to keep buying toiletries when you are traveling. I carry a small set of toiletries like my toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, moisturizer, and others in one of the packing cubes. This way I always have everything vis-à-vis toiletries within my reach and I also don’t need to unpack the well-organized suitcase in public just for toiletries.
- Medicines
Better safe than sorry! Ensure that you carry your prescription medicines if any. Also, bring along some other general medications for headaches, cough and cold, etc., as a precautionary measure. I always carry a small and portable first-aid box stocked with band-aids, antiseptics, a roll of cotton, etc., whenever I am travelling.
- Entertainment
This may sound very unnecessary to a certain section of the audience but very important for the millennial. Carry your tablet, laptop, book, etc. with you. Even I do that. Watch movies, listen to some music, or play the latest game as it keeps you engaged and entertained all along the journey. You don’t need to yawn while staring outside the train and get bored.
- Travel Pouch
This is a must travel accessory. While traveling or exploring different places in a trip I usually stuff my travel pouch with a sanitizer, sunscreen, moisturizer, lip balm, passport, medicines, etc. I avoid going to the cabin again and again by keeping certain things from my backpack in my travel pouch. I also keep some snacks to satisfy the sudden hunger pangs during my journey.
- Neck Pillow
Avoiding all kinds of physical discomfort during a long trip is always advisable, and if it’s neck pain then more so. For me, the neck pillow is a very comforting travel companion during those long flight and train journeys. So, quickly add it to your travel list as an essential item.
- Slippers
I dislike going around barefoot in hotel rooms, tourist lodges, on flights, and on trains, so I always take my slippers along in my bag. Also, if you‘re vacationing on a sea beach, wearing a slipper is more logical as you can slip in and out of it without much trouble.
- A Camera
I like to document places, people, streets, etc. on my trips. My camera is the finest gadget to perform this task. It also helps in striking a conversation. If you’re capturing the sights and sounds of an unknown environment, people around you generally lend a helping hand when you need it. Also, it’s practical to talk to the locals, if you’re searching to capture anything significant or indigenous.
The above-described essentials help me to travel in comfort both domestically and internationally. Hopefully, the audience will take cue and travel with ease by carrying these essentials too.
