gottacaseofwanderlust

Adventures around the world means comfort is sometimes a necessary sacrifice. 

There will be situations where you will wish that you had that one thing but forgot to bring it. 

I got you. 

As someone who’s been in many of these situations, I’ve learned to pack very specific items before any trip. 

The following list will not include obvious things like clothes or a toothbrush (though you should definitely come up with a system that helps you to remember to bring a toothbrush as I’ve definitely forgotten it before haha). But I can guarantee that these miscellaneous items will come in handy during your travels! 

The best part is that you can easily fit everything included below in a carry on and/or personal item. 

Here they are:

• zip lock baggies 
• hair ties 
• reef-friendly mineral body sunscreen 
• face sunscreen (I love this one for my acne-prone, sensitive skin)
• face wash (I swear by this one — just squeeze it in a travel-sized container)
• micellar cleansing water (this one is my favorite to get your face feeling clean and fresh)
• face lotion (this one is my favorite for traveling)
• chapstick sunscreen 
• backup chapstick 
• non-perishable food (snack bars, bag of nuts, tuna packs…etc)
• a pen (for your eco-friendly travel journal!)
• travel laundry bag
• emergency cash 
• back up credit/debit card 
• portable charger 
• backup charger 
• travel-sized hand lotion
• travel-sized hand sanitizer 
• stain remover (these have been life savers: Tide pens)
• gum/mints 
• travel-sized perfume 
• adjustable luggage lock (I love this one)
• earbuds (I love my wireless noise-cancelling ones)
• vitamins (I take a multivitamin & a vitamin C supplement for my immune system… do your own research to get the right one for you)
• group these items in a small bag: tweezers, nail clippers, nail file
• fast-drying towel
• waterproof shoes that you can use for showering (like flip flops or sandals — specifically if you’re staying in a hostel)
• travel hairbrush (the one that has a mirror and folds down)
• sunglasses (look for one that has UV 400 protection)

I hope this list makes your travels a little bit easier. Let me know if you guys have any travel essentials that you swear by! 

And if you’re looking for a more specific packing list, check out my recent article on Hostels Hacks!