9 Essential Things to Carry While Travelling

While travelling, you do not want to feel disappointed in the middle of the road scrambling to find that important item (you forgot to pack) in the nearest store. Travellers often learn the hardest thing once they are out on a trip. And that’s none other than packing. The ultimate Indian hack as always would be to carry everything on you, right from food to eat during your flight to your medicines. 

So, are you a fervent traveller who loves making one or two yearly international trips? Strategic planning can turn your harried vacation into an organised one, whether it’s a honeymoon trip or a family vacation abroad. Mastering the packing art improves your travelling experience. From maximising your luggage space to minimising travelling jitters, you can find an organised self once you have a clear understanding of things to carry while travelling and have them packed inside your bag.

Trip essentials

1. Passport and Travel Documents

Your travel documents rank at number one on the travel essential list. You shouldn’t forget your passport home when heading on an international trip. Your passport is the proof of citizenship and identity in a foreign land. It ensures you have legal rights to visit the international city. Other important things to carry while travelling and are absolute travel must-haves are your Voter ID, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and visa. If you’re travelling for the first time on a flight, know some more of the trip essentials here: First Time Flight Travel for Indians: Safety Tips & More!

2. Wallet and Cash

Next comes the requirement for carrying your cash and a wallet. Although there are travel cards and cheques available, you cannot undermine the use of cash in local currencies that help you pay for essentials such as taxi fare, food and drinks, etc. What if your card does not work in a store? In such circumstances, your cash comes in handy and is essential for a seamless trip. Another useful tip for travellers is to split money around different wallets inside your bag. You can hide them inside your suitcase/backpack/carry-on for better access.

3. Medicines with Prescription

The next most essential item of your travel list is your medicines. Besides carrying the prescribed medicines, do not forget to include the travel must-haves: painkillers, motion sickness medicines, basic antibiotics, bandaids, antiseptic ointment/dusting powder, and antacids in your baggage to cope with unanticipated circumstances. Don’t forget a Doctor’s prescription if you are carrying any specific medication other than the typical paracetamol or mild antibiotics - Customs officials are usually very strict about medication brought into their countries.

Travel essentials for personal comfort

Travelling should be a comfortable experience; that means the clothes you take and the items on your travel toiletry bag. On that note, don’t forget these items:

1. Clothing

Packing a whole load of clothes that you may not even use, will just make your bags bulky and heavy! Instead, pack clothes that are suitable for the weather or destination you are going (depending on how conservative the culture is there). Suppose you are visiting a seaside area, you probably don’t need multiple jackets! Select only the clothing and footwear that are a travel necessity.

Expert Tip: If you have trouble with overpacking, this is the best way to reduce the baggage:

• Gather all the clothes that you think you will need for the trip
• Remove half of them by prioritising your comfort, weather, and cultural conservatism at the destination
• With the clothes that remain, see if you only have what you need—if not, perform the same action again and remove another half from the pile!

Most often, we don’t use all that we think we will use on our trips—instead make room to buy some new ones there and bring back more souvenirs!

2. Toiletries

Personal care items are must-have travel accessories no matter where you travel. Your travel toiletry bag should include a first aid kit, a basic bag with pain relief spray, a bandage, and more. Other important personal care items include travel shampoo bottles for convenience, conditioner, hair gel, cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. in travel bottles (of 100ml or less) that are compact and easy to carry. For ladies, don’t forget your makeup kit is also included in the toiletry items.

Electronic gadgets and accessories

1. Mobile Phone, Power Bank, Charger and a Univeral Plug Adaptor

A charged mobile phone is your lifeline and one of the most important things to carry while travelling. With it, you can access maps and navigation, look up critical information on the fly, contact emergency services if needed, or even translate a foreign language menu. A portable charger or power bank lets you juice up your phone anywhere without an outlet. It’s wise to have backup power for when you’re exploring off the grid or when your phone drains faster than expected from heavy use.

2. Camera and Accessories

A camera is a travel necessity and an important travel accessory for beautifully preserving memories far into the future. When you are back home from the trip, crisp photos help you vividly relive adventures, sights, new friends, and personal growth. Don’t settle for grainy shots that fail to stir emotions like being there did. Invest in a camera with enough megapixels, zoom, manual settings, and flexibility to properly capture each vista that leaves you breathless. Carry a tripod—that way you can get beautiful self-shots without having to wait for anyone to help click a photo! Also, if you’re using your phone’s camera, wipe the phone lens before clicking any pictures.

Trip essentials for health & safety

1. Hand sanitiser

Hand sanitiser is a trip essential to ensure hygiene without washing your hands, especially, now that we have experienced a pandemic. Frequent handwashing is difficult while on the go, but keeping hands clean is crucial for avoiding illness. Pack a small bottle of hand sanitiser to use on the go.

2. Earplugs/Eye Mask

Snoozing well on noisy red-eyes or hostel dorms is challenging. Packing earplugs and an eye mask is an essential travel item to pack for a trip—you’ll thank yourself later.

3. Sunscreen, Sunglasses, and Insect Repellent

Venturing to new environments calls for sunscreen, shades, and bug spray making them one of the important things to carry while travelling. Apply sunscreen liberally when outdoors on the beach to prevent painful sunburns. Sunglasses reduce eye strain and visibility issues while sightseeing or driving. And annoying mosquito bites can ruin beautiful evenings outdoors or transmit disease in some regions, so one of the important things to carry while travelling, is a reliable insect repellent.

4. Lip Balm, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Soap

Trip essentials that help you with fresh breath, clean teeth, odour control, and soft lips prevent feeling grungy on lengthy travel days far from home. Tuck in compact sizes of lip balm, deodorant, toothpaste, and soap in your pack to quickly refresh in airport bathrooms or hostels.

Comfort and entertainment

1. Travel Pillow and Blanket

A pillow is a travel must-have that ensures that you stay warm on your trip. You must choose a cosy, lightweight pillow that keeps you warm during the trip. Also, travel blankets are important for everyone who wishes to travel comfortably. They offer additional warmth, and you can use them as a pillow, too.

2. Books/Kindle, Music Player, or Podcasts

Books, e-readers, music, and podcasts are also among the things to carry while travelling as they engage minds during long and tiring transits and solo downtime, transforming restless hours into enjoyable opportunities for escape, education, or pleasant company.

Carry a journal - you might enjoy writing down memories from your day or use it like a planner (and if that interests you, here are some Top Travel Planning Apps

Important travel accessories

1. Travel Adapters

You cannot underestimate the need for charging electronic devices. That’s where the purpose of your travel adapter becomes evident. There are several perks of carrying a universal travel adapter. One of them is the opportunity to seamlessly connect electronic devices with just one plug.

2. Travel Locks

Travel locks are crucial for enhancing the security of luggage and personal belongings during travel. These locks provide a deterrent against theft and unauthorized access, offering peace of mind to travellers. By securing zippers and compartments, travel locks help safeguard valuables, ensuring a more secure and stress-free travel experience.

3. Daypack

The next most important thing to carry while you are travelling is a backpack for day trips. They are great for your shoulders and back as they distribute weight evenly.

Pack smart and carry a Travel Forex Card for hassle-free transactions. Simplify your travel. Learn more

Organisation and packing aids

1. Packing Cubes

When it comes to packing and organisation, the one thing that gets all the attention is the packing cube. It’s a must-have trip essential that helps streamline your packing process.  It lets you neatly organise things and keeps items easily accessible. It’s a travel essential for women who wish to carry quite a lot of stuff. In short, you don’t have to deal with the hassles associated with rummaging through the suitcase when you want to access items quickly. 

2. Airtight Waterproof Bags

Packing airtight, waterproof bags while travelling provides essential protection for valuables against weather, spills, or wet environments. Rain can suddenly soak unprotected bags and ruin cameras, electronics, passports, or clothing. Stashing cell phones, documents, batteries, or other essentials in these bags will bring you peace of mind against climate surprises, accidents, or drying time after your adventures.

Miscellaneous items

1. Reusable Water Bottle

Carrying a reusable bottle helps you easily keep track of the amount of water you drink. Not just that, it’s a top trip essential product as you won’t have to drink water from single-use plastic bottles. In fact, many hotels and accommodations encourage the use of your bottle and provide free drinking water refills. In addition, using a reusable water bottle is a sustainable and eco-friendly practice.

2. A Weather-Proof Coat or Jacket

Unexpected climatic changes may make you feel restless when you are at the destination. While on an international trip, you must have a weather-proof jacket - especially because you won’t always know how quickly the weather changes out there.

3. Slippers

Pack comfortable footwear while travelling. The type of slipper you are wearing also matters and it’s important to carry when you go camping, trekking or even at a hostel. Good travel slippers come in handy, especially for flights longer than 15 hours.

Travel-specific items

1. Travel Insurance

People lose their passports, important documents, and baggage more often than you can imagine. Travel insurance usually covers expenses that come with getting your lost luggage, passport, and other documentsThe prime benefit of travel insurance is compensating for expenses for medical and accident treatment, etc.

2. Strong, Lightweight, And Waterproof Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag that’s durable but also lightweight is a great investment as it ensures optimal comfort and protection in diverse conditions. Its durability facilitates extended use, while the lightweight design enhances portability.

Checklist of the things to carry when going on a:

1. Leisure City Vacation

• Lightweight Daypack or Tote Bag
• Travel Guidebook or Maps
• Portable Charger for Electronic Devices

2. Camping/Adventure Travel

• Quality Tent and Sleeping Bag
• Portable Cooking Gear and Utensils
• Map and Compass
• Multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife  
• Emergency Whistle
• Lightweight Camping Chair

3. Studying Abroad

• Laptop or Tablet
• Power Adapters for Electronic Devices
• Notebooks and Stationery
• Language Dictionary or Translator App
• Local SIM Card or International Phone Plan

4. Beach Vacation

• Swimsuits and Cover-ups
• Snorkel Gear
• Beach Chair or Portable Lounger
• Rash Guard for Water Sports
• Hydration Pack for Longer Stays

5. Road Tripping

• Vehicle Documents 
• Spare Tire and Jack
• Roadside Emergency Kit
• Music Playlist and Entertainment
• Camping Gear

Key takeaways

• No matter the type of travel, always carry a portable charger so you never run out of battery.
• If you’re into budget travelling, carrying a sleeping bag will not only help keep you warm, but will also allow you to wait through long hours in case there’s a delay, or during winters.
• If you liked reading this guide, check out:
• 14 International Trips From India: A Budget-Friendly Guide
• Travelling on a Budget from India: A Thrifty Travel Guide

Hope these insights on essential travel items help you have a comfortable journey. Bon Voyage!