Planning a trip and don’t know where to start? Here is a complete travel essentials list that will help you organize and better prepare yourself for your upcoming trip.
Traveling is amazing, and once you start is very hard to stop. That’s why I think it’s so important to purchase the right travel essentials because if you’re going to continue embarking on these epic journeys you’re going to want to have the right equipment along side you.
In this guide we will cover everything you need to keep you organized and comfortable in order to eliminate potential and avoidable stressors.
I will show you some of the best travel products to purchase from suitcases, to travel pillows to disposable toilet seat covers and everything in between.
You’ll feel ready and well prepared for your upcoming trip all while having the best and most needed travel items in hand.
This post is a Complete Travel Essentials List.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Travel Essentials List
1. Large & Medium Suitcase
Let’s first start off this travel essentials list with the most important item, and that is a suitcase. I prefer hard shell suitcases as they are extremely durable and light.
Purchasing a large and medium suitcase should be more than enough space for all your packing needs. I usually travel with a large suitcase, a carry on duffle bag and an electronics bag.
2. Packing Cubes
Please do not start packing without packing cubes, this is an absolute must buy. If you want to stay organized and know exactly where to look for your clothes then packing cubes is the way to go.
Trust me when I say that implementing this into your suitcase will make your life so much easier when you are living out of a suitcase.
3. Hanging Packing Cube Organizer
A hanging packing cube organizer is a great addition to regular packing cubes or can be used by itself. This organizer especially comes in handy when I’m staying at hotels with no drawers or shelves.
Clothes stays well organized, tidy and are easily accessible.
4. Shoe Packing Cube Organizer
Keeping your dirty shoes separate from your clothes or other items in our suitcase is a must. You do not want any of your clothes or toiletries any where near the bottom of your shoes for obvious reason.
This shoe cube is the perfect solution for that. Fits up to 3 pairs of shoes.
5. Travel Toiletry Bag Organizer
One of my favorite accessories is a hanging toiletry bag. I love keeping all our toiletries in one place and being able to access them quickly when we need them. When it’s time to pack up it folds up easily and fits perfectly inside any suitcase or luggage.
6. Carry On Bag
I always recommend a carry on bag with at least one change of clothes, your most important toiletries and medications. Unfortunately more often then not airlines delay or lose luggages and nothing is worse than being stuck in the same clothes you’ve been wearing at the airport and on the flight for an additional day.
7. Passport & Document Holder
Highly, highly recommend a passport and document holder. Having this organizer will give you peace of mind knowing you always know where your important paperwork is located.
Anytime you need to show your passport or important documents it’s easily available and organized. This will save you from lots of unneeded moments of panic.
8. Travel Organizers
Can you tell I love to be organized when traveling. When your living out of a suitcase keeping clean and organized is so important. I try and find organizers for almost everything. It keeps your suitcase looking fresh, clean and efficient. Plus storing your items properly keeps them from getting potentially damaged.
9. Travel Size Containers
TSA is super strict with the amount of liquids you are allowed on your carry on. These are great to keep you within those limit and also keeps your bag lighter.
If you are checking in a bag, traveling with full size bottles takes up so much of your allotted weight, by opting to use these travel sized containers you will significantly reduce several unnecessary pounds.
10. TSA Approved Toiletry Bag
These are some of my favorite TSA approved toiletry bags because they are sturdy and love that they are clear. This makes it very easy to see to find what you’re looking for.
They also work great as makeup bags, for hair accessories and even to keep my snacks from just being loose at the bottom of ones bag.
11. TSA Approved Makeup Bag
I recently purchased this and love it. It is the perfect size, is made really well and has two sides to store your makeup and skincare products.
One side includes an elastic to keep your brushes from moving around. Again, I love that this bag is clear as I like to easily find what I’m looking for.
12. Shockproof Carrying Case
We all travel with at least a couple electronics and this case will keep you cords and cables organized and tangle free. This case is shockproof and water resistant.
13. Luggage Scale
Too many times we were told to get out of line and rearrange our luggage to meet weight limit and it is so annoying.
We bought this portable travel luggage scale and it is seriously one go the best investments we have made. It’s compact and can easily fit in your carry on. Buy this, trust me!
14. Luggage Travel Cup Holder
Never did I ever think that a luggage travel cup holder was going to be a thing but man I’m so happy it is. Being at an airpot sucks and is super stressful, so any time I find travel products that will simplify my time and experience at the airport I am going to buy to.
This is one of those things that I couldn’t live without now. Store your water bottle and coffee on one side and your phone or other items you want to easily reach on the other side. Goes right onto the handles of any suitcase making you hands free when navigating through the airport. Genius.
15. Travel Pillow & Travel Blanket
Not only is a travel pillow and travel blanket essential for a flight but comes in handy at the airport too. Staying as comfortable as possible at an airport is no easy task but having these two items makes it just a little more tolerable.
16. Water Bottle
More and more airports are installing water bottle refill stations, which is amazing because purchasing an $8 bottle of water is ridiculous. Once on board never be shy to ask your flight attendant for a refill, they are more than happy to do so.
17. First Aid Kit
Always carry a small first aid kit with you. It hardly takes up any room in your bag and can really save you in a pinch. This one by Welly has everything you need, is compact and TSA approved. Adding other items you may think you need can easily fit within the kit as well.
18. Toilet Seat Covers
Oh my gosh talk about travel essentials must have! I could tell you horror stories of some of the restroom I’ve had to use. So gross, I will never ever travel without this toilet seat covers. You would think that every restroom would have these but that is rarely the case. Stock up on these.
19. Travel Adapter
Purchasing a travel adapter is really important item to have. A travel adapter works very well to keep electronics charged overseas. This particular adapter is great because of its size and the fact that it can be used in over 150 countries.
Remember this is not a voltage converter it is not meant for high voltage items like a hair dryer.
20. Portable Charger
Nothing is worse than running out of battery in the middle of snapping the most epic picture, capturing a once in a lifetime moment or right in middle of getting directions.
I usually never travel without at least two portable chargers. I take a lot of pictures and video and I’m constantly doing research so I like to have plenty of spare battery. These portable charges are compact and can almost give a full charge.
21. Handheld Steamer
Suitcases are definitely not wrinkle friendly. Actually you are almost guaranteed to pull out your clothes and find all your clothes in need of some de-wrinkling.
Traveling with a steamer is the perfect solution to having wrinkle free clothes and doesn’t take up much room in your carry on your checked bag.
22. Camera
Even though phones have come a long way and do an incredible job at capturing moments, nothing beats and actual camera.
I recommend a mirrorless camera and as Sony lovers I would whole hearty recommend a Sony camera, it will last you forever. Plus they are beginner friendly and offer some pretty amazing results.
23. Kindle
Finally we end our list with what Mathew says is his must have travel item. According to Mathew he would never be able to travel without his Kindle.
You can download over 2000 ebooks onto the Kindle and books can be easily purchased on Amazon or through the Kindle Store. Kindles are great to read at airports, flights, long bus rides, pool side and pretty much anywhere you have some downtime.
Hope that helps, that wraps up this post A Complete Travel Essentials List.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE:
- 17 Long Flight Essentials That Every Traveler Needs In Their Carry On
- Where to Travel -A Month by Month Guide
- Packing For A Long Trip No Matter The Season
Travel Resources
Here you can find all the travel site links that we personally use and recommend.
CAMPSITES/CAMPGROUNDS We like to use a couple apps for last minute campsite bookings. Our favorites are HipCamp, The Dyrt and Campendium.
ACCOMMODATION: We find the best deals with BOOKING.COM. The more you book the better the perks like free breakfast with your stay, room upgrades and even higher discounted room rates.
CAR RENTALS: We have always used RentalCars.com and find them to have the best deals, customer service and selection of locations.
FLIGHTS: Our go to for looking up flights is SKYSCANNER, but we try to always book directly with the airline.
TOURS/EXCURSIONS: GET YOUR GUIDE and VIATOR are two very reputable sites with easy and hassle free bookings.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: It’s so important to travel with insurance and for this we use SafetyWing. We are currently using them for our 1 year trip.
TRANSPORTATION: For all our bus, ferry and train transfer needs in Asia we use 12go.asia.
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