Alex van Terheyden
- 5 min read

Essential items you need to pack when Travelling

Travelling can be an exciting experience, but it can also be stressful if you don't have everything you need. Whether you're going on a short weekend trip or a longer vacation, it's important to pack wisely. Here are some of the top things to pack for travelling.

Passport and travel documents.

Your passport is the most important document when travelling abroad, so make sure you pack it in a safe and easily accessible place. Don't forget to also bring any other travel documents you may need, such as visas, travel insurance, and flight tickets. The nice thing about the modern world your travel tickets, insurance documents and hotel bookings can now all be stored on your smartphone. Necessitating the need for carrying around a folder full of documents and tickets. Although to avoid your passport being damaged with all that travel I do reccomend you get a passport holder - many border agents don't take kindly to worn out passports.

Money and credit cards.

It's a good idea to bring a mix of cash and credit cards when travelling. Make sure to check the currency of the country you're visiting and have enough local currency on hand for small purchases. Personally, I’m a big fan of WISE - with this card I get to pay for all my transactions at the spot price with no fees. I highly recommend it!

Electronics and chargers.

If you're bringing any electronics, such as a phone, camera, or laptop, don't forget to pack their chargers. You may also want to bring a universal adapter if you're travelling to a country with different outlets. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to buy an adapter while at an airport because I forgot to pack one for the eighth time this year! In recent years plug adapters have got smarter. There is less of a need for 1 for the UK and 1 for Europe and 1 for Asia when all in 1's have it all covered.

Medications and first aid kit.

If you take any prescription medication, make sure you bring enough for your entire trip. It's also a good idea to pack a small first-aid kit with essentials like band-aids, pain relievers, and antihistamines. Personally, I always travel with a selection of vitamins. Taking multiple flights or long-haul flights can really run down the body. Boosting your immune system with all the essential vitamins can literally be a lifesaver. Do not leave home without them and if you forget - every country in the world has their own variants so don't be averse to picking them up when needed.

The Correct Clothing and Shoes.

The clothing and shoes you pack will depend on the weather and activities you have planned. It's always a good idea to bring comfortable walking shoes and a lightweight jacket or sweater, even if you're travelling to a warm destination. A real travel hack I've come to learn over the years is to generally pack neutral colours that can be combined, so you don't have to think of outfits. I tend to dress in black in the winter, that way everything goes together. In the summer - white T-shirts and comfortable shorts with secure pockets. Keep everything in one bag - laundry services are available all over the world so there is never a need to overpack. It's not fun lugging heavy bags around.

Toiletries.

As Chris Evans used to say “Don't forget your toothbrush!” - on top of that bring your Fluoride-free Toothpaste, Shampoo (if you have hair), and any other personal hygiene products you need. If you're flying, make sure they comply with airline regulations for liquids and gels. Although the maximum millilitre insanity will soon be coming to an end, as countries do away with their liquids maximum for flights.

Travel pillow and eye mask.

Long flights or train rides can be uncomfortable, so consider bringing a travel pillow and eye mask to help you sleep better. Now there are multiple types of pillows you could bring with you when travelling. Personally, I'm not a fan of lugging extra things around with me, but everyone is different. I did, however, get a lot of use out of an inflatable neck pillow. The benefit of this is it can be put back into your bag (taking up almost no space) when it's deflated. Whereas a soft neck pillow usually takes up a lot of space and is often seen tied to backpacks or stuffed into hand luggage taking up valuable space. However, for travel and to keep your neck in good order, these things are essential when travelling long and far. For those of you needing to look less puffy in the morning after a day of travelling - a Patrick Bateman eye mask can't go wrong!

Portable charger.

A portable charger can be a lifesaver if you're travelling and your phone or other devices run out of battery. Personally, I travel with at least 2 of these at all times. If I’m going to sunny climates I bring a solar-powered power bank. If I’m having a city break and I know I’ll be doing lots of walking - I carry smaller portable chargers. The worst thing would be to be boarding your flight last and then your phone dies because it's out of juice. You could possibly be denied boarding without that digital air ticket. Don't allow your phone to ever run out of battery.

Water bottle.

Bringing a reusable water bottle can save you money and reduce waste while travelling. Just make sure to empty it before going through security if you're flying. Although fill up from filtered and fresh spring sources only. Avoid London tap water at all costs! Studies have proven Alex Jones was right about the Frogs.

Entertainment.

Bring a book, magazine, or tablet to keep yourself entertained during downtime while travelling. Long journeys are the best places to digest some of the most outstanding books of our world. Those classics you have always wanted to read in my mind are best read while on the road. The words of the greatest authors can often inspire us more when we are travelling. The advantage of a book is it won't disturb your fellow travellers. Be mindful if you are listening to loud music with crappy headphones. The rest of the plane or train does not want to hear your beats no matter how good they are!

By packing these essentials, you'll be prepared for any situation that may arise while travelling. If you feel I've forgotten something from the list - leave a comment below and let me know what you would bring on that next trip. Thank you for reading, don't forget to double-check your packing list before leaving, and have a safe and enjoyable trip!

I have written this post as I enjoy travelling. Please do check out this blog for more independent travel ideas and my YouTube Channel. As always, videos can always be found on YouTube & Odysee. I use both, as sadly, YouTube is now censoring content whereas Odysee is for Free-Speech.