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There are items you know that you have to take on an international trip. Your passport and visa (if required), camera, weather-appropriate clothes, phone, etc. are just a few of those items. But, there are items you should take that you may have not thought about packing. Here is my list of the 10 must-have items for an international trip.
1/ on-the-go charger
If you’re like me, most days while you’re travelling you’ll be out exploring and doing things, rather than inside. On-the-go chargers are great when you’re going long periods of time without access to an outlet and charger. With new and advanced technology, you can charge your phone or tablet multiple times before it needs recharged.
There are so many different options of on-the-go phone chargers which can make it difficult to find the best one for you. Luckily, sites like TechRadar have great resources on the best and cheapest portable phone chargers, which makes narrowing your search down to a few on-the-go chargers easier.
2/ adapters and converters
Depending on what country you're travelling to, you may need an adapter or converter to be able to charge you phone, tablet, camera, etc. I’ve been to countries where I brought the wrong converter and ended up paying premium price in a foreign airport to buy the right one, and I’ve been to countries where I brought a converter and didn’t need one.
According to the International Electrotechnical Commission (EC), there are 14 different plugs used in countries around the world. The question is, how do you know what type of adapter or converter you need? Recently, I came across a blog article on REI’s website that outlines plug and electrical information for common destinations around the world. While it’s not a guide for all 196 countries, the list includes countries that are most commonly traveled.
Another great resource is the EC’s website. They have an interactive map that let’s you filter the by the country you are visiting and returns a result of what type of plugs are used in that particular country.
3/ waterproof cell phone bag
If your international trip is taking you a beach or a lake, the waterproof phone bag is great item to take along with you. These bags are popular around the world, so if you forget to take one, you can usually always purchase one at your destination. However, the bag that would cost you $5 on Amazon will cost you $15-$20 at your destination.
I used a waterproof phone bag for the first time on my recent trip to Thailand and I ended up using it more than I thought I would. It came in handy while snorkeling, swimming in Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, and may other times. The waterproof phone bag I used (and highly recommend) was the JOTO Universal Waterproof Pouch and it can be purchased on Amazon for $5.
4/ snacks
Yes, you can buy snacks in whatever country you are going to; however, you never know what train or airport you will get stuck in. If you've ever had to eat at an airport, you know how expensive a meal or snacks can be. So, it’s always good to have a few snacks on hand. My go to snacks when traveling are either Nature Valley or Fiber One granola bars. They’re easy to travel with, mess free, and are great for a quick breakfast too.
5/ walking shoes
You can almost guarantee that you will be walking more than you think. It’s always a good idea to pack one pair of walking shoes just in case. I usually pack shoes that I will leave behind at the end of the trip - that leaves one less item I have to bring back with me.
My favorite women's casual walking shoes for my most recent international trips has been A New Day Layla Lace Up Canvas Sneakers. You can find these at most Target locations or you can buy them online. They're perfect to wear with jeans, shorts, dresses, or skirts.
6./ sunscreen
This is an absolute must if you’re traveling somewhere warm. While you can buy sunscreen pretty much wherever you go, you will likely be paying a premium price for it.
I got burned twice (literally once) by not packing enough sunscreen or by not packing sunscreen at all. The first time I was in Thailand. I packed the sunscreen that I had leftover from the previous summer and figured I’d just buy some while I was over there if I needed it. Well, I needed it. And we happened to be on the Phi Phi Islands when I needed it. Everything has to be ferried in which means the sunscreen was extremely expensive. Not to mention, it was even more expensive because the majority of the sunscreen sold in Thailand has whitening in it. I should have learned my lesson with my $15 6oz bottle of sunscreen, but unfortunately, I didn’t.
The second time I didn’t pack sunscreen was when I went to Belize because I was only flying with a carry-on. I planned to buy sunscreen when I got there. When we got San Pedro in Belize, we went to one of grocery stores to pick up extra snacks and sunscreen. Like in Thailand, the sunscreen was expensive since we were on an island... everything had to be imported. We bought it anyway, went back to the hotel, and got ready to go to a bar over the ocean. We were out in the sun for less than two hours and got toasted… red like a lobster. We’re pretty sure the sunscreen was either expired or wasn't properly stored which would have messed with the chemicals.
So, learn from my mistakes and pack enough sunscreen to get you through your entire trip. It will save you money and your skin if you do.
7/ quick-dry towel
Whether you’re going on a beach vacation, staying in hostels, or unsure of the amenities of your hotels, packing a quick-dry towel is a must. They’re compact means they don’t take up much space or weight in your luggage and they’re easy to carry around with you. The fast drying technology makes them ideal for the beach or for drying off after a shower.
If you’re not sure which towel to buy, you can check out Sher She Goes to read reviews on some of the best travel towels on the market. You can also do some research on Amazon to find one that’s right for you.
8/ book bag or small day pack
One of the best purchases I made was a small book bag for travel. It will fit all your essentials that you need for whatever you’re doing on a given day. If you’re going to the beach, it comfortably fits your quick-dry towel, sunscreen, wallet, shoes, phone, etc. If you’re out walking around a town, it comfortably fits your wallet, water bottle, phone, and anything else you might need during the day.
Depending on the trip, I'll either take an actual book bag or a day pack. My favorite book bag is my North Face Jester Back Pack, which I've had for 8 years now. I take that on trips where I'll be hiking or exercising a lot because it can fit enough water, food, extra clothes and shoes, etc. If I'm not doing as much exercise on a trip, I'll normally take my leather day pack because it's smaller than my book bag but still has enough room to carry anything essential I might need throughout the days.
9/ baby wipes
The first time you're stuck in an airport, traveling for a 36+ hours to get home, or without a place to shower, you'll definitely regret not packing baby wipes. Baby wipes are great to clean your face of oils that build-up throughout the day or overnight. They're also great for the make-shift dry showers you may have to take if you get stuck in an airport for 20+ hours (yes, that's happened to me before).
10/ Emergen-C
Long days, little sleep, and stressful situations all take a toll on your body. 90% of the international trips I’ve been on, I’ve gotten sick at the end of the trip.
The day before we were flying back to the U.S. from Brazil, I could tell I was getting sick. When I woke up the next day, my glands were swollen, my throat was scratchy, my nosed was stuffed, and my head was pounding. My mom had aspirin with her, so I was able to take that, but I wasn’t able to buy any actual cold medicine until we landed in São Paulo. I had to pay premium price at the airport for cold medicine, cough drops, and tissues.
If you pack Emergen-C, you’ll avoid spending extra money on medicine at an airport, and you'll be able to fight your sickness before it completely takes you over.