There are some items I always keep packed and ready to go. That way, I only need to concentrate on the clothes I need.
There is a small bag of electronic accessories which includes:
- A phone charger
- A USB charging cord for headphones, battery packs, etc.
- A small power strip which is dual voltage
Another bag has a comb, a round brush, a regular brush, hair ties, a headband, and hair clips in it.
Then there is my toiletry bag which is always ready to go with the necessities.
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Contact lens solution and case
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Lip balm
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Over-the-counter medications and antibiotic ointment
A lot of things you can buy when you arrive at your destination if you need them, but I have found two specific items can be difficult, tampons and deodorant. The kind of tampons you like might not be available, and in some countries, tampons are not available at all. Make sure you bring them, even if you aren’t expecting your monthly visit. Travel can mess up your system, leading to the unexpected.
As for deodorant, one friend I was visiting in Australia asked me to bring her the solid stick kind she liked from the USA because she said she could only find roll-on or spray deodorant.
I also pack a battery-powered tea light to keep in the bathroom to help light my way during the night and a clothing stain remover to clean up those accidental messes.
I have to admit, I'm a sleep snob, so a memory foam pillow goes everywhere with me. I have two identical pillows. One lives on my bed at home and the other travels the world.
What items do you make sure you take on every trip?
The back pack that I use as a carry on always has an extra pair of sunglasses, travel size toilet paper, travel size Kleenex, extra phone chargers, and 2 decks of cards (regular and uno). The cards are invaluable for entertaining my kids while waiting at restaurants and other down periods. All of our suitcases have trash bags in them to hold dirty clothes.
The trash bags are a great idea. They can also separate wet things if you need to.