Ultimate Packing List

I know packing for trips and ensuring you’ve got everything you need can be incredibly overwhelming and stressful… especially when you’re like me and tend to wait to pack until the last minute — oops! 😅

That said, I’ve been slowly perfecting my ultimate packing list trip by trip to help me out whenever I inevitably start panicking because I’ve procrastinated 🤦🏽‍♀️…

And by some miracle, on my last trip, I managed to remember everything — woot! woot! 🥳 So in hopes of helping you out and making traveling just a little bit easier on you, I’ve decided to share my ultimate packing list!

Below are links to the non-obvious items for the products I use if you’d like to see what I’m talking about or purchase them yourself. Simply click the name of the item.

🧳 NOTE: If you’ve found this post from my travel resources page, fill out the form at the bottom of this page to have a full version of my ultimate packing checklist in PDF form sent conveniently to your email inbox!

Toiletries

• Travel Size Sunscreen — This is a must no matter where you’re traveling! I can confidently say that no one wants skin cancer or enjoys being sunburnt, so always bring a bit of sunscreen with yah when you travel. I know how easy it is to forget… 🫠

• Reusable Travel Bottles — If you aren’t using these already, they are a game changer. I hate running to the convenience store and buying all-new little bottles of shampoo and conditioner every time I travel.
  
  And with these, I don’t have to. What’s even better is that you can put your preferred shampoo, conditioners, acne wash, facial cleansers, etc inside instead of having to use whatever brands are available in-store. Plus, you’re saving the planet — which we always support 🌎💚

• Basic First Aid Kit — I learned the hard way the importance of carrying a first aid kit as you never know when misfortune will strike. For me, it was while I was surfing in Tahiti and I slammed my face against a rock when I wiped out… or the time I fell on the train tracks in Krakow and left a massive gash on my kneecap. Yah. Even if you don’t think you need one, you should definitely pack a basic first-aid kit!

Helpful Technology

• Universal Adaptor — This is pretty self-explanatory, but for those who don’t know, different countries have different outlets. Instead of getting a specific country adaptor, I would just invest in a nice universal adaptor that can work for several countries. I personally travel with two since I’m terrified of losing one and being unable to charge my devices, but that’s just me lol.

• Noise-Canceling Headphones — This may seem like it’s for vanity, but after being trapped between two screaming children for 10 hours, I refuse to ever travel without noise-canceling headphones.

• Portable Charger — No matter the duration of your trip, traveling with an external battery charger is crucial! Sometimes outlets don’t work, sometimes transportation is delayed, and sometimes the world is just working against you. Make sure you don’t end up stranded (Like I’ve been) without a working phone by bringing at least one portable charger with you. Again, I typically travel with two, but if you haven’t realized, I like to be on the extra safe side 😅

• Airtag — For those concerned about safety while traveling, I suggest using an Airtag. Most people know to stick one in their checked bag to help retrieve it faster if it gets lost in transit. But, most people don’t realize they should also put one in their purse or backpack. Especially for my fellow solo travelers, this is a great way to ensure someone you trust knows where you are at all times because phones get stolen or lost all the time. And it never hurts to have an extra layer of security.

• Esim Card — If you’re traveling abroad and don’t have a cheap international phone plan, you’ll want to look into getting an Esim card to avoid ridiculously high international data fees. An eSIM allows you to tap into a foreign country’s network without having to remove your physical SIM card. The two companies I recommend and have personal experience using multiple times (without issues) are SimOptions and Airalo.

Miscellaneous

• Travel Umbrella — Unless you’re positive it’s not going to rain, I recommend always carrying a compact umbrella with you! The first time I solo traveled, I told my mom I would just use a rain jacket for my entire 5.5-week trip. Let me tell you, that was a BIG mistake lol. It poured probably 33% of the time during my trip and I was a sopping wet dog…
  
  As a result, I made sure to bring this lovely umbrella on my most recent trip and it was fantastic! It rained a lot, but I got to stay dry 🙂

• Spikey Ball — Spikey balls are something you won’t find on probably 99% of packing lists… but they should be on EVERY list. They look like dog chew toys but are essentially used to alleviate the soreness on your feet!
  
  For example, when I travel, I’ll easily walk 13+ miles a day since I’m always out exploring. By the end of the night, my feet are usually dead. One way I help rejuvenate my feet is by rolling the bottom of my feet over this spikey ball. It helps increase the blood flow to your foot, which in turn tremendously helps with the soreness. So, if you don’t pack a spikey ball while traveling, you’re missing out!

• One-Line A Day Journal — Something I like to bring with me when I’m traveling is a One-Line A Day Journal. Contrary to the name, you write 3-5 sentences per entry. But, it’s just nice to reflect for a few minutes and make a super short entry about something fun or crazy that happened each day of your travels! And years later you’ll be able to smile fondly at all the memories!

• Portable Luggage Scale — If you plan on flying with several budget airlines during a single trip, I highly recommend bringing a portable luggage scale! With the airline industry rapidly changing its rules and regulations more often than we change clothes these days, you’ll want to make sure your suitcase complies with airlines’ weight limits. If you don’t have one of these scales, you may end up having to leave some items behind or pay extra for an overweight bag.

• Travel Pillow — Whether you’re on a long flight or just want an extra pillow in your hostel room, I suggest bringing a comfortable travel pillow. No one likes waking up after a long flight to a painful crick in their neck. Also, they come in handy for train travel too!

Essentials for Every Hostel Stay

• Lock for your locker — Most hostels will provide you with a locker for your personal items, but they don’t always include a lock. As such, you want to invest in your own padlock. I usually bring two and will opt to use my personal one even if they do give me one just because I’ve heard of some pretty bad horror stories of stuff being stolen.

• Microfiber Towel — Most hostels won’t provide you with a towel for free. They normally will make you rent one from them for $4 – $8. I’ve even seen hostels charge you per night. Save yourself money by just investing in a microfiber towel from the get-go. They are lightweight, compact, odorless, and dry super fast. Plus, they can double as a beach towel.

• Metal Spork — I like to pack a metal spork for eating leftovers because not all hostels provide you with eating utensils. Additionally, I recommend packing a little thing of salt and pepper! You would be surprised how much a life-savor these items can be when you’re staying in hostels and want some tasty food lol.

• Dissolvable Laundry Sheets — These are great if you’re traveling for a longer period of time and don’t know if you’ll have access to a proper laundry machine. I’ve used them to do laundry in sinks of hostels or in Airbnbs/VRBOs that don’t have laundry detergent but do have a laundry machine available.

• Ear plugs — Another absolute must-bring, unless you’re just a deep sleeper, is ear plugs! In most hostels, people are going in and out of the room at all hours of the night. Not to mention, if you’re in a room with multiple beds people could be snoring or talking in their sleep. Ear plugs will ensure that you catch some well-deserved shut eye!

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