Okay, I don’t know about you, but when I’m about to travel, I’m searching for all of the essentials that I’ll need. AND… if you’re anything like me, you pack last minute. And you have to write down everything that you’ll need or you’re going to forget it, and oftentimes…overpack. For me, clothes really does it. I actually hate planning outfits because my mind changes so much, I just know that I won’t feel like wearing something when the day comes! So I pack options, upon options, upon options.
On top of that, I pack last minute, every…single…time. Like starting at midnight and my flight is at 6AM. And it’s a conscious choice everytime as well. I just don’t like not putting everything together if that makes sense. Like, I know that I’ll need my skincare products so I can’t pack my toiletry bag until I use it in the morning. It’s a bad thinking process I know, but it makes me procrastinate packing. This is in deep contrast to my mom who packs 2 weeks in advance…no joke.
Packing the Essentials
There are so many things that I forget on a regular basis, the main one being pajamas. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve gone somewhere and not had pajamas, literally all the time. And my belt. And with that I’m always like, ‘oh I need my belt’, and then leave it still. Also lotion and toothpaste are things that I easily forget. But enough about the common items that I often forget, that was my shameless plug to remind you lol.
So, by the time I’m done packing all of my essentials, I oftentimes forget the miscellaneous things that I do not necessarily have to have, but makes any trip 10X easier. These are medications, extra tech, basically things that I do not use on a daily basis. So I made this list of things that I know I need on trips, especially more adventurous trips and that definitely saved me while traveling on a budget!
I will also include an overall packing list, one that I used, at the bottom if you oftentimes forget the essentials more!!
Disclaimer!!
A lot of these essentials are based on my solo trip for a month this summer. I stayed mostly in hostels except for one hotel, and I did a good bit of adventurous activities. So if you plan on taking a solo, adventurous, or backpacker type of trip, these are definitely some items that you may want! If not, still take a look and see if these could be beneficial to what you would be doing!
TECH
This one is a given, especially for solo traveling. You never want to be in a position where you wouldn’t have power in your phone. Whether that be because of directions, or you’re in a not great situation, you always want to be able to contact someone. Make sure that people have your location. But, this portable charger is a great one because it can be solar powered, has a long life, and has a flashlight. If you plan on doing hikes or any outdoor activities, this is a great piece of equipment to have. It’s also waterproof!
Kind of a given, especially if you’re going to do any water activities. I’ve gone snorkeling in the ocean and my phone didn’t get wet with this which is pretty cool.
Who else is going to take those bomb IG pics. And trust me, this takes another level of confidence, but it helps. You begin to truly not GAF about anyone around you, especially if you’re not in anyone’s way. If people give you dirty looks for taking pictures of yourself, that says a lot more about them than you. Don’t let the opinions of others keep you from savoring and gathering memories of great moments.
*This picture was taken using my tripod and I got so many encouraging looks and words from people walking by!
This is SOOO important. NOT ALL CONTRIES HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF PLUG!! Europe, Asia, North America, we all use different plugs. Don’t be surprised when you get to a new country, just go ahead and buy this
PERSONAL CARE
They are so compact when you pack them and they dry you up so quickly! I brought 2, one for beach and water days and another for the shower. It was such a great thing to have since many hostels do not offer towels.
This may be a part of “glampacking” but I love to smell good. Especially since you will have some nicer nights or activities on your trip! I didn’t trust myself to not break my perfume bottles, so these were a life saver. And I was able to have smell good options! For the month I was able to make it without running out of perfume with the use of only 3 bottles!
Another given, first, for TSA, but even if you’re checking a bag, too many products just take up space, especially when you can buy things wherever you go.
This is essential for longer trips! At a lot of hostels you have to pay to use the washer and dryer, and for detergent. This pack of three lasted me the whole month of my solo trip and it was a small cost that I didn’t have to worry about!
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
You’ve probably heard a lot about not drinking water in many locations, having this water bottle is a lifesaver. I felt fine drinking water out of this bottle, there are some people that even filled their bottles in the river and felt fine using the lifestraw.
- Medicine bag
I filled mine with ibuprofen, vitamin c tablets, Melatonin, cough drops, and other essentials
CLOTHING
*This section is based more on your personal style, but these are some wardrobe essentials that I constantly wear when traveling and pack with me for every trip*
These specific ones are so so comfortable, cute, and not too revealing. Especially with an oversized button up shirt over it (chef’s kiss). I wear these so much, especially during the summer months and in warmer locations. With these in, you’re always ready for adventure or a chill day! They’re also squat proof for my gym girlies!
I don’t know abut you, but I don’t like walking barefoot outside. So for those hikes throughout the jungle, swimming in natural ponds in the middle of the forest, and even walking on a boat, these shoes were so essential. Touching the slimy ground gives me the heebie jeebies!
(Side note would also be to bring shower shoes. Just a pair of flip flops while you’re showering in hostels)
When researching traveling solo in Europe, so many sources told me how big of a problem pickpocketing was, and having this to keep all of my belongings close to my body was great. And it’s also pretty cute and popular now.
MISCELLANEOUS ESSENTIALS
This is SO IMPORTANT!! A lot of hostels do not have locks so you need your own to keep your stuff on lock. My suitcase also did not fit in a lot of hostel lockers (I didn’t exactly pack like a backpacker) so locks (multiple) were key in making sure that my stuff was secure throughout my stays!
I luckily never had to use this, but it is so important to have something on you to alert/protect yourself. There were many times where I was walking alone and at night (would not recommend), but if something were to happen, this would be a good first method of defense. Then they might have to see these guns if they kept coming 💪🏾.
I know that pepper spray or a pocket knife are great options as well, but those do not go well through TSA and many parts of my trip involved flights, so keep that in mind.
Another essential especially for adventurous activities. I loved this backpack since it was so lightweight yet could hold so much without tearing, and not a single thing got wet!
Packing List!
Sooo, these are just a few things that I constantly used on my adventurous trip this summer and trips that I have taken since! I hope that this is helpful and that there are a few things that you’ll add to your packing list!
And as promised, here is a general packing list that I used to plan for travel. It’s pretty minimal so it’s great if you want to keep it light. I will also attach my messy little notes where I wrote the specific items of clothing so that I wouldn’t overpack!
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out my other posts to learn more about my trip experiences, and my Instagram and TikTok for some fun travel content!