Travelling is always exciting as you get to explore new places, cultures, and cuisines. What is not so enjoyable is packing your suitcase before the trip (and unpacking it later, but that’s another subject). You have to make a list of all the essentials you will need which usually includes the following:
- Clothes and shoes
- Personal documents
- Phone/Laptop chargers
- Cosmetics
- Underwear (yes, it has its own category as you will be surprised how many people forget about it)
So far so good, but do you know there are things that you probably don’t suspect you will be needing? We are not referring to extra clothing, more makeup, or bringing your set of tools. Check out our list of the 5 travel items you have to pack for your adventure and why you have to add them to your baggage.
Pack a mini steam iron
It might seem unnecessary at first but bear in mind that not all hotels offer this service or they will do it for a small fee. The mini steam iron is very compact and you could take it on board if travelling by plane. The steam iron is the better option than the dry iron as it is more delicate to different materials and won’t leave burned marks on your clothes.
This item is very useful if you are on a work trip and need to look presentable or if you are going on a summer vacation with a suitcase full of beautiful dresses. Another great thing about this iron is that it is quite cheap so it won’t break your budget.
Go for versatile clothing
When travelling people usually take with themselves their favourite clothes and it makes sense as you would want to look and feel at your best wherever you go. But what can happen is an overpacked suitcase and the well-known scenario “I have nothing to wear”.
Our next tip is to pack more versatile pieces of clothing. Take basics like a white blouse, black dress/shirt, and some denim jeans that you can combine in many ways. A good idea is to add a fun shirt with a cool design like these patriotic t-shirts so that you add some colour and make your outfit stand out.
Take a packable rain/wind jacket
Weather is unpredictable even if you are visiting a country with a hot climate. A smaller and better alternative to the umbrella is a foldable jacket. You can take one for rain or wind and thanks to the material it is made of, you can fit it in the palm of your hand when folded.
You could also take such a jacket everywhere you go: on museum tours, hikes, city walks, etc., and thus be always prepared for an unexpected storm or bad weather conditions.
Silk pillowcase
Why would you need a pillowcase when the hotel offers them? We will give a few reasons:
- You never know how often the hotel washes the sheets so if you are a bit squeamish it won’t be very pleasant;
- If you have sensitive skin it might get irritated by the chemicals hotels use to disinfect bed sheets after each guest;
- Sleeping on silk is very beneficial for your skin (and for not getting wrinkles) and your hair, especially if it’s curly;
Bringing a quality pillowcase of your own will also make you feel at home and help you sleep better. If your luggage allows it you could include the whole bedding set and our tip is to get a microfiber one as it is very soft, lightweight, and wrinkle-free which makes it perfect for all year-long usage.
Noise-cancelling headphones
We are certain you will bring headphones for the trip, but what you really need is noise-cancelling headphones. You will find them very useful if there is a crying baby or an annoying person on your flight or bus. Also if you need to have some quiet time with your thoughts while travelling these headphones are perfect for the goal.
Have in mind most hotel rooms are not soundproof and if you are “lucky” to get noisy neighbours, sleeping might become a problem. Once again, the noise-cancelling headphones will help you especially if you get the earbuds models that are more comfortable for sleeping.
Now you know why these items should be an integral part of your trip. Maybe you won’t use them all at the same time, but it’s always useful to have them on hand if needed. After all, you don’t want to ruin your getaway with wet clothes, lack of sleep, or skin allergies, when you could solve these problems by adding a few items to your suitcase.
No Comments