“Travel makes one modest.
You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”- Said the highly influential, French novelist Gustave Flaubert.
Traveling is the best way to bid adieu to your routine of running faster than the clock on the wall. Vacations are the best time in one’s life for a reason after all! A vacation is a time to take a break and seize the day. It lets you relax and have a moment to yourself and ponder over the path that you’ve chosen for yourself.
Various studies have proven the fact that traveling helps in reducing the risk of heart disease, improves brain health, brings down stress levels, and even renews intimacy in relationships. It is said that money spent on travel creates a lot more satisfaction and joy in your life as opposed to the dollars spent on material good.
Despite all the joy and glory sparked by vacations, there is one thing that bothers everyone. Packing! Regardless of the number of lists and double-checks, forgetting something essential is inevitable. The chaos of packing often leaves people to buy the most popular products at a premium price in foreign locations.
Whether you are on a road trip or leaving for an international flight, here is a list of the first items that people tend to forget on their local and foreign travels. But these travel essentials are critical too.
- Documents
The first thing that comes in mind on the mention of travel is the necessary documents. The flight itinerary and passport, driver’s license, and other materials that you could need should be in an easy to access place in your luggage.
When you have finalized the location, hours of travel, and plan of action, remember to sort through the documents that you will need. Make sure that you can use soft copies of your tickets and get a print out if you are not sure.
- Wallet
There is no doubt in the fact that you need money to travel, shop, eat, and survive. Forgetting foreign currency or your cards at home would become a mistake that you won’t be able to forget.
Imagine coming to the tropical islands and wanting to buy the pretty souvenirs from the Philippines. What would happen when you realize that you have forgotten your MasterCard at home? We suggest that you carry your money in different spots. A few dollars in your carry on, some in your suitcase, a few in your shoe even.
You never know what circumstances you can come across.
- Medicines
There have been multiple instances where a friend forgets their medication in a rush to leave on time. Imagine being on a road trip without your allergy pills or without a pack of Dramamine on your 12-hour flight? These scenarios can easily be avoided if you pack all of your necessary medicines with a small first aid kit and store it in your bag beforehand.
- Phone chargers
The age of digitalization has made us dependent on our smartphones, tabs, and iPad. The entire world is within one’s grasp when they hold a handheld computer connected to the internet. Since these devices play such a significant role in our everyday lives, it is a critical responsibility on our shoulders to carry a charger or battery pack for them. You might not be able to find a compatible charger in a foreign country; it’s better to be prepared!
- Earphones and camera
Whether you use the old-school wired headsets or prefer the futuristic Beats headphones, you must understand the need of these devices. You could need these on an emergency call from work or a general chit-chat with a friend. Alternatively, even to listen to your favorite podcast on the road. Earphones have a similar tendency like chargers.
We would suggest you pack a case or pouch of all the necessary devices such as memory cards, cords, and other camera equipment separately. Photos are often the reason to relive fond memories. We believe that vacations deserve a few images to be kept as mementos for the beautiful time spent in discovering yourself. So make sure you don’t forget your camera at home.
- Sunglasses
Spending a weekend on beaches or going on a hike to the mountains, both the scenarios require you to carry a pair of sunglasses with you. The need for this everyday item arises inevitably.
- Jacket
Raise your hand if you have imagined yourself going on a long bike ride wearing a custom leather jacket with the wind in your hair and the sun kissing your cheeks. It is the ideal advertisement for Harley Davidson sold to millions of people all over the world! Checking the weather conditions of your destination would help you decide which jacket to pack. Whether you would need a leather jacket or a mere sweatshirt would suffice for keeping you warm? Don’t try to predict the weather while packing, refer to the works of meteorologists, please!
- Slippers, hat & a bathing suit
While we are still speaking on the subject of clothing and accessories, sandals, hat, and bathing suits are a shortlist of things that set the spirit for vacations. These things may seem like the typical packings for a tropical vacation, but you can make use of these things on an indoorsy spa resort vacation as well.
Other things that you could need include:
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Hand sanitizer
- Books
Carrying books on your vacations is the best way to relax and recreate. Look for a book that suits your taste. Whether you like reading Paulo Coelho and his spiritual works or want to indulge in the fantasy world of Game of Thrones and Harry Potter, the choice is up to you.
Decide a medium between paperback and eBook and read the book to make your vacation worthwhile. You can carry a notebook to scribble your thoughts and sketching to your heart’s content. Mandala coloring books would make a world of difference in your life.
Final thoughts
We hope that this article will help you have the best vacation ever. You can also share your ideas about lifestyle and traveling in the comments section below.
Author Bio:
About Michelle Joe: Michelle Joe is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences, and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
