Travelling can be stressful. Some dread planning and organising their travels. Meanwhile, others hate anticipating what they might need and packing accordingly. However, travelling can be simple if you know the key essentials that you need to pack.
This is where a simple checklist can really come in handy and help you plan what you need to buy, clean and pack for your travels.
No matter where you are off to, these essentials will be useful everywhere you go.
The basics to pack when travelling
Here are some of the basic things that should be on your checklist before you leave. These are the most important items and should therefore be first on your list:
Passport and a smaller carry-on
For obvious reasons, you want to make sure you have your passport with you when you travel. A good way to carry your passport when travelling is in a smaller bag or purse.
You want to keep that purse around you at all times to make sure you do not lose your precious travel documents. Having a smaller purse, bag or folder to carry your passport in is convenient for several reasons.
First of all, it is safer. You will be able to keep an eye on your passport and ensure that no one steals it from you at any time. If you can, opt for a folder, a purse or a pocket that is theft proof and therefore, not easily accessible to pickpockets.
Second of all, having it ready and accessible in a smaller bag will help you save time when passing through customs and border controls. You will not have to look for it and rummage through your backpack or larger items to find it.
It will make your entire travel experience smoother, quicker, and less stressful.
Boarding passes (physical and/or virtual boarding pass)
Another obvious one is the boarding pass. Nowadays, you can choose to bring a physical boarding pass that you will have printed out from your booking confirmation, or a virtual one on your mobile device.
If you are not too comfortable with technology and mobile devices, you should probably opt for a physical boarding pass. This will make it less stressful for you.
If you are scared that your mobile device might play up, do not worry. Worst comes to worst, the airport personnel should have your file in their system and should be able to find your booking confirmation easily. They can print out a physical boarding pass for you there if you have any issues.
Visa documents
Now that the United Kingdom is no longer part of Europe, you might need some visa documents to access certain countries. Make sure you check the visa requirements and possible restrictions in place before travelling.
Once you have all of the necessary visa documents, you can put them with your passport and boarding passes in a secure bag, pocket, or file.
Entertainment for the travel ahead
As you pack your bags and your backpack, do not forget to bring some entertainment with you. This entertainment will depend on your taste and preferences. You can bring books, tablets and other devices, notebooks and more. However, remember to download the films you want to watch and the music you want to listen to so you can view or listen off-line
There are even gaming apps you can try out for the first time such as online poker games can help you utilise that strategic mind of yours to the fullest extent, with a variety of different modes to try and players to socialise with.
Mobile devices and other electronic devices will need to be on airplane mode if you are flying to your destination. Some planes now have wifi onboard but not all of them do, so make sure you have other offline options to keep yourself entertained.
Charging adapters
Regarding electronic devices, remember to check whether you will need a charging adapter in the country of your destination. If so, you will find it cheaper to buy it before your trip than at the airport. Having the necessary charging adapters will also save you trouble down the line as you will not find yourself stranded in a foreign airport with no battery.
Appropriate clothes
Depending on where you are heading, you might find that some clothes might be more appropriate than others. Some countries, for example, frown upon clothes that are deemed too revealing.
We recommend that you check not only the weather at your travel destination but also the type of clothing that is considered culturally appropriate and acceptable.
Some essential items you might also need to bring
These essential items might vary from person to person. However, generally speaking they apply to the majority of individuals:
- Earplugs and a sleeping mask
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Contact lenses product, or other essential eye care products
- First aid products (painkillers and other basic products that might be harder to find at your travel destination)
- Regular medications
- Credit cards that do not charge you expensive fees abroad
Final thoughts: This article focused on some of the essential items that travellers need to pack before going abroad. With these items packed and ready to use, you will find that travelling is easier, quicker, and more carefree.