6 Essential Travel Items to Pack for Your First Solo Trip!
WHAT TO NOT FORGET TO PACK FOR YOUR FIRST
SOLO TRIP
Solo traveling means doing a lot of things solo, like checking out museums, eating at restaurants and maneuvering your suitcase all over the country on your own!
But packing light had never been my forte. That is until I learned that taking a big suitcase, up a busy flight of stairs at the subway in Madrid, was just not it.
And even though the days of struggling to carry my suitcase like a massive sack of potatoes are over, I STILL find myself struggling to downsize my packing list.
I spend hours going back-and-forth putting things in and out until my bed starts looking like a yard sale. EVERY 👏🏽 SINGLE 👏🏽 TIME 👏🏽
It’s mad chaos.
But by the grace of the travel angels, I actually learned something from this: There are just 6 things that I just can’t seem to be able to leave behind.
Card on the table my dear travelers, these are simple, inexpensive, easy-to-get things make my trips more enjoyable—And no, it doesn’t include a neck pillow (although that is nice too!)
So I thought it was worth sharing with you these 6 essential travel items that I feel you shouldn’t travel without from now on!
6 Essential Travel Items to Pack That Even Seasoned Travelers Often Forget About!
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Essential Travel Item No. 6:
Phone and camera – For literally everything!
Okay, okay, okay...you’re probably laughing like ‘yea, duh!’ but hey, think of it this way, there’s never too much information to help you prepare for your first solo trip or your next travel adventure!
(Speaking of solo trips, unsure if you’re ready for one? Read this!)
In the midst of planning and booking your flights and hostels, small details can be easily forgotten until it’s a little too late. For example, you may forget something when prepping your phone and your camera gear for travel!
The last thing you’d want when you’re abroad is to have a phone that doesn’t work properly or a camera card that doesn’t have enough memory.
I mean, where are all the cool photos and videos you’ll want to take going to go?
So, take your time to think ahead on how you would like your phone and camera to serve you.
What does that mean?
To give you an idea, your phone will not only be used for calling or texting. It will also be your entertainment (during those long rides on the train), your translator (thank goodness for technology), and even your city guide when you’re googling that cool rooftop bar you wanted to go to!
So make sure you set yourself up for success by being fully mindful on how your phone and camera are essential components of your travel packing list.
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Essential Travel Item No. 5:
Small Lock
I don’t know why but when I was typing this one, it made me feel old school AF. It might not really be a thing people do anymore but just bear with me.
You can purchase a lock and key in almost any store anywhere in the world. But I find it that I start my travels with peace of mind when I already have it before I set foot in the airport. It just feels great to be one step ahead of yourself!
A small lock can honestly be the real MVP when you find yourself having to leave your luggage somewhere where you didn’t expect to, like a communal locker room where anyone can come in and out as they please!
I mean sure, it won’t prevent someone from taking your whole bag if they really wanted to, but at least it will deter people from getting a little too curious and going through your things when no one is watching.
A small lock will come in handy in your hostel room lockers too. You will most likely always have the choice to rent one at the front desk but if you’re doing some budget-traveling, trust me, those few rentals will quickly add up!
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Essential Travel Item No. 4:
Journal or Notebook
Oh, you’re not really a writer? That’s okay, still take a journal or notebook with you!
In the age of technology, it’s actually pretty convenient to write and schedule everything on your phone or laptop. But there’s just something about pen and paper that will never get old!
When I had just started my long-term travel journey, I purchased a random notebook I found at a convenience store in Madrid. It was small and really cheap but honestly, I wished I had gotten something just slightly cuter, sturdier, and more memorable like this travel journal!
The old notebook - reliable but with a soft cover, easy to bend and to get wet 😟
What I use now! — And is also available on my shop!
But regardless of what your preference is, a small journal or notebook will come in handy when you want to ‘map out’ your travel plans for the month, track your expenses by hand, or even write entries for yourself to read later down the road!
I can’t tell you how many times I pulled out this baby to just write about my day or about an amazing meal I had for lunch. I read those entries now and I smile so hard because it instantly takes me back to those travel memories!
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Essential Travel Item No. 3:
Pain Relief Medicine
It might not cure everything but it will do its job when you’re suffering from over-tired legs!
Let’s be honest here, when we travel, we mean business! We are making plans to do as many things as possible in one day but we don’t really stop to think about the toll it will take on our bodies, especially our back and legs.
I’d be lying if I said that I listened to my own concerns though. After all, I always think I should go hard with exploring since it’s not an everyday thing that I get to do that!
But the reality is that yeah, your muscles will get sore, and even cramp, when you’re on the road. If you’re over 28 like me, you might know what I mean LOL
Taking over-the-counter pain relief medicine when you travel will feel heaven sent when you’re in the thick of it.
But don’t worry if you forget it, you’ll easily find pharmacies everywhere. Most of them are pretty easy to go to when you need medicine. I just feel that if you’re traveling alone and it’s the middle of the night, it might seem more like a nightmare.
If you rather take more a holistic approach to relieving pain, you should absolutely plan for that! Maybe you will need to book a room with a tub so you can soak in a warm bath, pay for a massage, create a plan to stretch every day, or bring a compact massager for your feet and legs!
Whichever method you prefer, don’t forget to put it at the top of your packing list. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you in return!
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Essential Travel Item No. 2:
Saline Nasal Spray
This one is kind on the same wavelength as No. 3. It’s a way to take care of your body when you’re traveling!
I first discovered the magic of nasal sprays when I was in the middle of a quick trip to Belgium. It was the beginning of Spring in Europe and, for some reason, my body decided it was the perfect time to get allergies...for the first time ever!
My nose felt on fire, like it had thorns inside, and I didn’t understand what was happening.
I immediately rushed to the pharmacy and they gave me some allergy pills. That was nice but my nose was still ON FIRE so I went back and asked the pharmacist to please sell me a nasal spray.
That changed my life forever-- It was the first I used one and it was so relieving.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to describe how amazing my nostrils felt in that moment. It was like they finally got to swim in crystal clear waters somewhere in a remote island after being left to dry in the sun LOL
But this little incident also made me realize that traveling dries up my nose a lot! The air-conditioning in airplanes and buses, the irritants from pollution, and the viruses I would catch just by breathing the air around me just made my nose go through so much.
So using a nasal spray once a day was my best solution to avoid the harshness of all that. Plus I truly believe it has also helped me stay away from getting colds!
If you feel that you can relate and would really like to give your nose a nice break then get yourself a saline spray and learn to use it properly.
On behalf of your nose: ‘Thank you’.
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Essential Travel Item No. 1:
Your favorite snack!
Yep. You read that right. That’s my Number 1!
Do you remember those commercials where someone isn’t acting like themselves because they haven’t eaten in a while, so another person hands them a chocolate bar?
That can actually happen! You leave the house to go do errands and suddenly your brain is like ‘wow, I’m really hungry right now’ & your patience starts plummeting little by little (or is that just me?).
But in all seriousness, being really hungry can start making your day feel a bit sourer than it actually is. And even worse, it can start affecting the people you interact with!
I don’t feel like we always have 100% control of our bodies and sometimes you really have no choice but to listen to it. So, if you get hungry unexpectedly you kind of have to follow through it.
I’ll admit that sometimes it can be a bit inconvenient.
My advice would simply be to carry a bag of your favorite candy or chips (preferably one that fits in your travel purse or backpack) so that you can snack on it when you need it the most.
Aside from making sure you nourish your body properly when traveling, I feel it’s SO important to still have a backup plan. Especially for situations when finding a place to eat a meal may not be completely feasible.
Like if you’ve been waiting in line for 30 minutes to get on the London Eye, for example, it might be frustrating and a lot more work to get out of the line, go find a restaurant, and then have to make it again later in the day when it’s even more crowded.
It can make you feel unnecessarily grumpy.
So prioritize nourishing your body in any way you can so that you are able to be your best self when traveling abroad.
If your snack is a healthier choice, then that’s even better!
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