4 Things You Should Always Travel With

We all know how annoying it can be to find that you don’t have what you need when you’re traveling. Whether it’s something you really need (hi, underwear), or just something that makes your life more convenient – who wants to go out and spend the money to buy something while you’re traveling that you already have lying around at home? Whether you’re an avid traveler, a weekend road tripper, or a once a year family vacationer, this list is for you. These are four travel must haves (that you may not have thought of) to help make sure your trip is seamless!

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Extra Forms of Payment

I know it’s 2020 and most people have at least two forms of payment at all times, whether that be in the form of debit cards, credit cards, cash, etc. However, this isn’t an obvious “must have” for everyone. I know this because I spent my first year as a travel nurse without any second form of payment to keep with me at all times.

This is SO important when you travel because you NEVER KNOW what could happen. Maybe you lose your card, maybe it gets cracked, maybe it gets stolen. Or, if you’re like me, maybe your bank puts a hold on your card every time you leave the state and then you find yourself awkwardly standing in the store with a declined card wondering why you keep doing this to yourself. Whatever it is, you don’t want to get caught in an unfamiliar place and end up stranded with no backup form of payment.

Trust me on this one. I ended up applying for a credit card about a year into my travel journey. I don’t carry a huge balance on it whatsoever. It does offer great rewards, and now I always have a second form of payment on me just incase.

Power Strip

I have to admit, I never did this until my boyfriend told me it was a thing. We were packing for a trip home and I look over and he’s putting a power strip in his bag. I’m like, “what the fuck are you doing my mom’s house has plugs”? He just laughs at me and goes on about his packing. This was an actual life saver. We bring them to hotels, airBNBs, wherever we’re going. Think about it: we have SO MUCH STUFF to plug in. We have a setup that works for us at home, but how often do you go to a hotel or an airBNB and find that there are only two plugs, or you have to crawl under the bed to find the one plug that’s anywhere near the bed. I’m a millennial, I don’t like my shit halfway across the room. My watch is my clock, my phone is my alarm, and I’m probably watching Netflix on my computer in bed before I pass out. I need all the outlets. I need the power strip.

Plastic Bags

I have to admit, this is another weird thing my boyfriend likes to travel with. Again, packing for a music festival and he just shoves a bunch of baggies into my bag. He says, “you never know when you’re going to need these”. I’m like k weirdo thanks, and then I obviously use them all. I don’t even know how to tell you what you’re going to need them for, I’m just saying you’ll almost always find a way to use them. Used your bathing suit the night before coming home and it’s not dry yet? Plastic bag. Washed your face with Related: 5 Reasons You NEED TSA Pre Check

Portable Phone Charger

Do I even need to tell you that this is a must? Maybe you’re traveling by car and the other person wants the plug in to play music from their phone. Maybe you’re traveling on a flight that doesn’t have power outlets. Whatever the case, you will be glad you have a way to charge your phone.

I got a portable charger that was also solar powered a few years back at a music festival and it was probably one of the best purchases ever. I ended up taking the thing with me everywhere I went because it was so nice to be able to charge my phone without being plugged into a wall. It’s great for long flights because you can charge on the plane and avoid having a dead phone when you land. I also love it for concerts and festivals because there’s never anywhere to charge, so having this on hand gives me a quick and easy way to keep it from dying. I love mine because it has a solar recharge component AND the ability to plug into an outlet to recharge the pack. The solar is amazing for festivals, but I can also charge it up at home the night before I leave for a trip. I couldn’t find my exact charger on Amazon, but

There you have it! My running list of must haves for EVERY trip. Do you have things you never travel without? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to sign up for to receive my Ultimate Packing List below! Just drop your email and I’ll send it over right away!