I’m not sure about you, but I somehow always end up packing way more than I need when I travel. Whether it’s packing 4 extra outfits (that I’m almost positive I won’t wear) or an excessive amount of first aid kits/products. And though some things I can live without and might not even miss, there are a few things that I just will not travel without. So, here are my 8 travel essentials I never travel without — hopefully you’ll find them useful for your future trips, too!
Tsa locks
This one’s pretty self-explanatory. I actually didn’t start using tsa locks until I started traveling solo. I guess knowing that I wouldn’t have a friend or partner by my side while traveling (and the fact that I’m a serial airport napper) made me a little more cognizant of the possibility of theft. Now, regardless of whether I’m traveling solo or with a friend I always take at least one to lock up my suitcase or bag while traveling. Just make sure when you are shopping for one, it specifically says “tsa-approved” so that in the case that tsa officers “need” to open your luggage, they won’t damage it.
Gaining more and more popularity these days are luggages with tsa locks built into them. If you’re like me and are no stranger to misplacing things, I’d definitely recommend you invest in one of these! I recently purchased a set from Coolife and I absolutely love them!!
Universal adapter
This is an absolute must when traveling overseas because you never know what kind of outlet you’re going to have. And while some hotels will accommodate foreigners and have adapters available for you to use, you shouldn’t count on that being the case. That was the case for me only twice during all of my travels: once at a hotel in Busan, South Korea and once at an Airbnb in Mykonos, Greece. Plus, you’ll want something that you can use not only at your hotel, but at cafes and even at the airport.
I’ve used other universal adapter, but so far, this one has impressed me most. This universal adapter will fit any outlet you might need while traveling abroad. Plus, it has 2 usb charging ports so it’s perfect if you need to charge more than one device. It’s also compact and lightweight, which I love because it doesn’t take up much space or weight.
Passport holder
I never used to use passport holders, but a friend of ours got these for me as a gift, and now I know why people use them. Not only can you keep your passport in it, but I also use it to keep my vaccination card, global entry card, and anything else important. And especially if you travel often, it just makes sense to protect your passport from normal wear and tear. The one pictured above is the one I have, but you can always opt for just the passport holder and no extras!
Packing cubes
Again, never used to use these—didn’t even know they existed until recently. But they are a true life saver if you’re a naturally disorganized person like me. It doesn’t matter how big or how little the trip is—my anxiety always heightens when I’m packing for a trip. Now, after using these packing cubes, I actually kind of look forward to packing. They are certainly not magic and you still have to actually do the packing. But they honestly help with organization so much. I just focus on one category at a time, set it aside, and move on to the next. This specific set that I bought comes with 6 bags, including 4 bags of varying sizes, one shoe bag, and one bag for laundry. They’re a huge space saver and my bedroom no longer looks like a warzone when I pack.
Digital luggage scale
A fricken lifesaver if you tend to overpack. No more having to redistribute or throw things away at the airport to avoid extra fees because you overpacked. Before you head to the airport, just attach this digital luggage scale to your luggage and lift up!
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
Planes are basically flying dehydrators, and nothing is worse than dry, cracked lips at the end of your flight. This lip mask is thick, buttery, and leaves you waking up (or landing) with your lips actually soft instead of wrecked. A tiny jar goes a long way, and it’s the secret to looking fresh even after a red-eye.
LMNT Electrolytes
Speaking of dehydration, between the recycled air and tiny water cups, it’s way too easy to get dehydrated before you even land. LMNT packets are my go-to fix. Just add one to your water bottle mid-flight and you’ll actually feel hydrated instead of groggy and drained when you land. Plus, they taste good, which makes drinking water on a long flight way less of a chore.
Portable Charger
The ultimate lifesaver when your phone is hanging on by 2% and you still need to pull up your boarding pass, directions to your Airbnb, or translate a menu. A portable charger saves you from the mini heart attacks of watching your battery drain mid-trip. Toss it in your bag, charge on the go, and never stress about hunting down outlets in random cafés again.
I hope my list of top 8 travel essentials helped give you a headstart on packing for your next trip! Have you tried any of these items? What are your travel must-haves? Let me know in the comments below!
*I will always and only recommend services and products that I have personally used and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on this site at no additional cost to you. Win-win, right? ( ; Thank you for being here!
