Travelling Essentials: What to bring and what not to bring when travelling

First of all, those biiiiiig backpacks are only necessary if you´re actually going into the wild! Otherwise, bring a nice suitcase with wheels (trust me, you don´t want to be lugging around a massive backpack when you could have a nice easy wheelie suitcase!)

Toiletries

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Deodorant
• Tampons/Pads
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Sun cream (if going to a hot country/in the mountains) BEWARE: this can be really expensive in hot countries
• Hairbrush
• Moisturiser
• Insect repellant

Clothes

Even if you´re going for months on end YOU DON´T NEED MORE THAN THIS (other countries also have the ability to wash clothes…)  

• 7 pairs of underwear (pants, bras, boxers, whatever else you may wear)
• Socks
• 7 outfits (check out the weather in the country/countries that you´re going to and base your choices on that)
• 1 pair of trainers
• 1 pair of flip flops
• 1 Jumper (if you´re going somewhere cold you may want to bring a few more)
• A ´mac in a pac´ style lightweight raincoat
• 1 x pyjamas
• Swimsuit/bikini/trunks

Electronics

• Portable Charger
• Phone + Charger (preferably an old phone that you don´t mind getting lost/damaged/stolen)
• Electronic converters/adaptors
• Flashlight/headlamp (remove the batteries when they´re in your bag so that they don´t turn on and waste the batteries)

Documents/Essentials

• Visa/s
• Passport
• Photocopy of Passport (this makes it easier to get a new one if you lose it)
• Money
• Credit/Debit Cards (I would recommend getting a currency card too. It´ll give you cheaper conversion rates, and you´ll be less fussed if it gets stolen)
• Health/Travel insurance info
• Tickets
• Emergency contacts

Other

• Waterproof fanny pack/bag (so you don´t have to leave your valuables on the beach when you go in the sea – these are soooo cheap off amazon and sooooo worth it!)
• A fanny pack/travel belt to put your money in – preferably with a knife proof belt (yes I know they´re not the most fashionable things ever but they´re a hands-free easy way to safely carry your valuables)
• An umbrella-ella-ella…
• Pens x2 + paper
• Playing cards (they´re lightweight and great for meeting people/drinking games)
• Glasses/contact lenses
• Towel (if you can get a lightweight, quick dry one, even better!)
• Any medication you may need
• Waterproof first aid kit (don´t go too mad, but a little one is always a good idea)
• Water bottle (you can take an empty one through security and then save lots of money on drinking water whilst in the airport)
• Pillow case (You can put clothes in it and make a pillow if you don´t have one)
• Duvet cover (if they don´t have a duvet/cover where you´re going this could come in handy. It will be small, lightweight, and can be filled with clothes for warmth).

What NOT to bring

• Heels – honestly, flip flops or ´fancy trainers´(i.e. Primark’s version of VANs) are perfect clubbing gear when travelling
• Laptops and computers – if you´re travelling from place to place, the likelihood of it getting lost/stolen/broken is pretty high plus, most hostels and hotels have computers with internet access
• Too much – if you´re travelling around you don´t want to have to lug it all with you each time
• Jewelry – it´ll most likely get stolen
• Your whole make-up drawer (bring the basics if you must but you won´t have time to cake on a full face because you´ll be too busy doing things!)

Written by: Olivia Taylor-Firth