Apart from essential travel documents, a camera and of course cash and cards, there are a few essential items I always make sure I have before any trip. In no particular order, here are some of the things I never travel without;
Medicine
Most importantly, malaria medicine. I would normally avoid drugs as best as I can while Iโm home but when I travel, this is absolutely essential to pack. The risk of a semi-immune person having malaria greatly increases when you leave the country and a lot of cases end in fatality. The symptoms of malaria are very much like that of a fever and can be easily overlooked in malaria free countries.
Where possible, a malaria kit is the best option to travel with. A kit would typically contain a thermometer, a set of test strips and a malaria drug.
Earpieces and Plugs
More like Ear โPeaceโ. You canโt over emphasize the need for these. Whether youโre using them to block out road noise threatening to keep you awake all night you while you lay in your hostel or listen to music to while away time on that 14hr train/bus ride, youโll find that big things often come in small packages.
Wipes and Hand Sanitizers
Both needed to keep your hands clean and free of germs to a large extent.
Smaller Bag
Small bags are perfect for in-between trips and weekend getaways. Also, when I travel, I take this in as a hand luggage and pack in some clothes to last a day or two just in case my main luggage gets missing in transit.
Waterproof Seal Bags
These may come in handy for your important documents and gadgets.
Universal Adapters and Power Strips
Apart from the obvious reason why you need these, how cool would it be for your spouse to respond to the question โhow did you both meet?โ with the answer โwell, I saw him/her sitting alone at the airport with an empty power strip and I walked up to ask if I could plug in my phone, the rest is history!โ
Haha! No seriously, these are essential for travel.
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
So, this one is not really necessary for everyone but I have an unhealthy addiction to Vaseline. No, I donโt eat it. I just like to smell it and rub it when my hands and feet get dry.
Makeup Bag
Or what you can call a utility bag. Here, I keep handy items like safety pins, needle & threads, et cetera. Might be useful for something!
Ijebu Garri & Groundnut
So, Iโm not really a foodie. In fact, I only recently got into trying out new foods in the places I visit. To stay safe, I always carry the life-saving combo of ijebu garri and groundnut for my longer trips but I suspect that this would come off the list soon as I am now beginning to enjoy eating local foods.
A Journal and a Pen (duh!)
Travel with a Pen, get it? LOL, okay, well travel journals are wonderful. They make a good read later on and help you relive the wonderful moments of your trip. There is no right or wrong way to keep a journal. I write in a book and on my phone and Iโm limited to just words for now. But I like the idea of making some form of scrap book out of them. Like pasting boarding passes and post cards, dining receipts and so on.
So, there you have it, my list of essential travel items. What are some of the things you never travel without?
