Everyone travels differently and for different reasons – no two travellers are alike.
Every traveller embarks on a unique adventure with their own distinct gear to make their travels more comfortable or easier. What is useful to one traveller may not be so useful to another.
However, there are some universal basic items that every traveller should have, no matter the country, landscape, season and climate; items that would make your travel adventures less stressful and more comfortable.
You know you want to be a smarter traveller, so here are top recommended essential items you should pack and have while on your travels.
A valid passport
You’ll be surprised at how often people forget to check if their passport is still valid!
Make sure your passport is valid beyond the duration of your travels, just in case you decide to travel a bit longer. It’s a good idea to keep your passport in a case or wallet to keep it in good condition as some passports can be voided if it looks worn or damaged.
Oh, and make sure you actually have it with you when rushing out the door to get to the airport!
It’s recommended to have more than six months of validity (from your date of arrival into a country) as some countries (such as the United States), require passport validity for six months beyond the date of your arrival. If you don’t, you may be denied a visa (if you need one to enter the country), being denied checking in at the airport, or barred from entering the country.
Hand Sanitiser & a mask
Having some hand sanitiser is vital in keeping our hands clean.
Having a mask (especially a re-usable and re-washable one to mimimise excess waste) is a precautionary measure to prevent the dispersion of respiratory droplets in the air. Masks don’t take up any luggage space at all and is a great addition to a first aid kit. It’s always better to have such items and not need them, rather than needing them but not have them.
Extra USB or lightning cable (or power adapter)
This is why having a spare cable or two is important while travelling (and at home), and even a spare power adapter for devices such as laptops (I’ve had a laptop adapter break on me, so I was glad I had a spare one!). They’re affordable and compact, and can contribute to the the difference between a stressful journey and a relaxed one when you need your important devices to be powered.
External battery pack
Life, especially while travelling, doesn’t stop – and neither should your electronic devices, especially smartphones.
Having a portable and compact external battery pack allows you to travel with back-up power supply for your smartphone and other electrical devices, especially if you’re travelling long periods without any local electricity available (such as hiking in the wilderness) – it can often make or break your travel adventures; you don’t want your smartphone to die on you while you’re running late and desperately looking for that bus stop on Google Maps for your departure journey!
External battery packs come in different power storage capacities, size, weight, and colour, some even have an inbuilt charging cable for your smartphone. Choose an external battery pack that best suits your level of item usage while travelling and to your device’s electricity usage.
Universal Travel adapter (with USB ports)
A good universal travel adapter should be compact, lightweight but durable, and has multiple plug type inputs that allows use across different countries where plug types may differ, such as UK plugs (plug type G) vs mainland European plug types (plug type C).
Look for a multi-travel adapter that also has multiple USB ports for charging your USB-powered devices, along with surge protection and fuse to safeguard against any electrical issues that may adversely affect your electrical devices, the immediate area, or yourself.
Always read the safety instructions of the travel adapter, bearing in mind the voltage capacity of the travel adapter and any other electrical restrictions (such as earthed vs unearthed) because not every electrical item (notably hairdryers) is suited to being used with a travel adapter.
It’s also a great idea to carry a spare travel adapter in case your main one stops working or gets lost.
Foreign currency
Having physical currency, that is widely valued and accepted, is a highly recommended idea, especially in emergencies where you bank/credit/travel cards don’t work with particular local ATMs. In some countries, physical cash is still in heavy use (especially in developing countries) so having it can be a must.
Widely valued currencies, that can be exchanged for local currency, include the US dollar, Euro, and British Pound Sterling.
US dollars are still currently and widely regarded as a preferred and accepted form of currency for payment in many countries and can sometimes be the only currency accepted for visa on arrival payments (and also bribes).
No matter which foreign currency exchange office you’ll go to, you’ll be always be screwed over the exchange rate but the level of screw-iness will differ! Often the further the foreign exchange office is away from the town centre or tourist hotspots, the better the rate. Avoid exchanging currency at airports as the rates here are often the worst (because FX companies here know you don’t really have an alternative choice here).
Multiple bank or credit cards
You should have more than one bank or credit card, just in case you lose one or it gets stolen.
Having multiple cards mitigates risk so you can continue your travels with less stress. Yeah sure, it may also increase the risk of a card getting lost or stolen but there are safeguards, such as online security options to disable your card and calling your bank to cancel the card.
The cards you have should also be valid during the period of travel – you don’t want your bank or credit cards to expire and stop working while you’re in the amidst of your travels!
First Aid kit
Your first aid kit should cover most common health issues (that can be easily treated) – headaches, diarrhoea, fever, nausea, minor cuts, bruises, insect bites, back pain, and dehydration.
If you have any other medical conditions, then you know it’s obvious to travel with your necessary medication and have enough of it for the duration of your travels.
Regardless of which country you go to, it’s recommended to keep the original packaging boxes housing pills (such as paracetamol) so border and customs officials know what the pills are to avoid potentially illicit drug-related questions and/or a more thorough search of your belongings!
Travel Insurance
While not an actual physical thing, travel insurance cover is a must for every smart traveller.
As a golden rule (and common sense), you should never travel without travel insurance.
Nothing is more stressful than having an injury or some other incident that ruins your plans (and potentially your life) with an insurmountable cost attached to it, a burden of debt that you may carry for the rest of your life.
Read the stories featured on World Nomads from different people who were thankful (and lucky) to have had travel insurance when the unexpected happened!
Not only will travel insurance cover medical costs, depending on the policy, you can also be covered for theft or loss of items (such as luggage), crime, cancelled flights, and natural disasters, for example.
Travel insurance costs differ in the level of coverage, duration of cover, and what country or countries or region you will travel to.
Do your due diligence in researching and selecting the travel insurance cover that is best for you. Don’t skip reading the fine print!
Special mention:
Take your jacket!
No matter the weather and your kind of adventure, it’s always best to pack an extra jacket or sweater for warmth and comfort, especially for those unexpected cold moments!
Every traveller has unique gear to suit their own kind of travel adventure.
It doesn’t matter what kind of traveller you are and the kind of globetrotting experience or holiday you’re embarking on – make sure you have these essential items to make your travels more comfortable and, ultimately, to be a smarter traveller:
- A valid passport: Don’t leave home without it!
- Hand sanitiser and a mask combo: Great things to have in a pandemic affected world.
- Extra power cable (such as USB or Lightning): Have a spare one in case you lose one or it breaks.
- External power pack: Have back-up power supply for those long journeys without a power source.
- Universal Travel adapter: Charge your electronic devices in countries with different plug types.
- Multiple bank or credit cards: Keep your travels going, even if you lose a card or had it stolen.
- First Aid kit: Be prepared and fix common and easily treatable health ailments on your travels.
- Travel Insurance: It’s better to have it and not use it, than to need it but not have it!
Have I missed something that you think is essential for every traveller?
Comment below to let others and myself know what other things you think are essential for travelling.
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