If you’re like me, anxiety can get the best of you, even if you have checked through everything twice. As a safeguard, let’s make sure you have these things ready before you vacation – call it a third safety check 🙂
1. Travel Documents (Passport, License, etc.)
Obviously, you will need your travel documents whether or not you are flying, driving, or even hitchhiking. Make sure your passport is up to date if you are traveling internationally! Regardless of where or how you are traveling, having your license is also very important, if only for identification purposes. For special cases, make sure you have the appropriate travel documents with you!
Also just as important in terms of enjoying your stay – make sure all booking tickets/confirmations are either printed out or available quickly on your phone. These include flights, hotels, concerts, museums, etc.
2. Other Important Documents & Items
Other than documents specifically used for traveling, you will obviously need some of the following:
- Your house keys (you want to get back home at some point, right?)
- Wallet, and in it:
- License (I listed this earlier, but it’s that important)
- Credit cards
- One debit card (just in case)
- Any insurance cards)
- Some cash (just bring a few dollars, you never know when you’ll need it)
- Glasses + glasses case
If you have at least everything in this section and the above section, you can at the very least travel to your destination. You may not have the best time leaving the rest of the items below behind, but hey, at least you can make it there and back.
2. Clothing
Regardless if you are planning to shop for a new wardrobe or not at your destination(s), you will need some clothing to hold you until then. Make sure you bring at least one of each of the following:
- Shirts (bring at least one short-sleeve and at least one long-sleeve)
- Jackets (even if you think it’ll be warm the entire time you are there, bringing at least one jacket can be handy!)
- Pants (bring at least one pair of shorts and at least one pair of long pants)
- Undergarments (bring 1-2 more than you think you will need!)
- Socks (also bring 1-2 more than you think you will need!)
Those are the essentials, but obviously, only you will know whether or not you may need extra types of clothing (hats, suits, athletic clothing, etc.) Make sure to also check if laundry will be available in the place you are staying and how much it will cost.
3. Toiletries
This is absolutely a must for anyone with specific skin, teeth, hair, etc. issues or concerns that have special products that won’t be satisfied by a hotel (let’s be real here, who is satisfied by hotel toiletries?) Here is a short list of things to remember:
- Toothpaste (sensitive teeth, anyone? Colgate doesn’t work for everyone!)
- Toothbrush
- Body Wash/Soap
- Shampoo + Conditioner (for colored hair, dandruff, etc.)
- Contact Solution + Case
- Sunscreen (yes, you need it, now just pack it)
- Deodorant (if you think you don’t need it, you need it the most)
- Makeup + Remover
- Menstrual Products
That should cover the bases, but you may need extras depending on your preferences, such as shaving supplies, hand sanitizer, lotion, nail clippers, tweezers, insect repellent, nose trimmers, and possibly a first aid kit + any medicine you might need.
4. Tech
It’s 2023, and this needs to be a section. Here are some things you may need to bring:
- Your phone (duh)
- Phone charger (surprisingly easy to forget)
- Laptop/Tablet
- Laptop/Tablet charger (also surprisingly easy to forget)
- Adapter (for all purposes, especially when traveling internationally)
- Headphones/Earphones
- Watch
- Watch charger (get with the times)
- Camera
- SD/Memory Card
- Camera Batteries + Charger
I’m sure I could list a whole lot more, but you get the idea.
5. A Stress-Free Itinerary
Remember those trips with your parents back when you were a kid where you sat in the back seat with your siblings while your parents argued almost every second of the way? Was that just me? Well because of that trauma, we’ve created an AI-powered itinerary generator and trip planner called Orbt. Orbt can make a personalized itinerary in seconds with what times your activity/meal is, travel distance times, photos for your activity meal, and so much more. Traveling has never been this stress-free and easy.
6. Miscellaneous Items
If I listed more categories, we’d be here forever. So, I’ve compiled the rest of the items you may need to bring with you on your vacation into one last final list:
- Travel Pillow (did you know you’re supposed to put the pillow in front of you and not behind you against the seat?)
- Snacks (this is especially important on road trips – you could even bring some packed meals)
- Books or E-books
- Eyemask
- Earplugs (if you’re going on a trip with a friend you’ve never slept next to/near before, bring earplugs. Just trust me on this one)
- Tissues/Napkins (for any car mishaps)
- Plastic Bags (these will come in handy for many purposes, one of them being trash)
- Lipbalm (especially if you’re visiting Alaska)
- Sunglasses
- Empty Water Bottle (due to a dumb flight rule that really doesn’t prevent anything, liquids aren’t allowed past security. Bring an empty bottle to fill up later)
Of course, you can bring whatever you want. But if you’ve brought every item listed on this page, you have already outdone yourself and are ready to have the best vacation of your life. Just make sure you bring the most important thing of all – your happiness!