My Top 10 Travel Essentials

Travel has been a significant part of my life since I was young. I took my first flight on an airplane at 9 years old. My family & I flew down to Los Angeles then took a Carnival cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. In the years that followed, my parents also blessed my siblings & me with the opportunity to explore Hawaii, Germany, France, & the Philippines. As an adult, I’m grateful to have been able to revisit some of the places that I visited as a child as well as the Bahamas, China, England, Italy, Japan, Spain, & Thailand. If you’re a fellow travel addict, you’ll relate to my love of exploring a new place & immersing yourself in its culture & history. After years of travel mishaps without the basic necessities, I want to share my top 10 travel essentials!

My Top 10 Travel Essentials

#1: ban.do Passport Holder

You don’t ever want to forget or lose important documents while traveling, especially your passport. My ban.do passport holder is not only adorable but also very easy to spot when searching through my carry-on. I love to keep a close eye on where my passport is at all times.

#2: Sun Hat

Despite being born brown, my skin is very sensitive to sunlight. Ever since I was a little girl, I learned to always wear sunscreen with at least 30 SPF & wear a hat to limit exposure under the sun. This sun hat matches all of my outfits & works for so many different activities & occasions. I get compliments on it everywhere I go. My hat was first purchased for a 10 day trip to Thailand, but since then it’s also been to Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Napa, & San Diego.

#3: Travel Neck Pillow

Neck pillows get a lot of hate, but I love mine! Especially if you’re going to be on a flight for more than 3 hours, a neck pillow will be your best friend. Sleeping on an airplane is hard enough, so anything that can help your ability to nap more comfortably is needed in my book. My current travel neck pillow is also super cute & resembles a mermaid tail.

#4: Portable Charger

While I’m traveling, I use my phone to navigate as well as translate when I’m in a non-English speaking country. There’s nothing worse than having your phone’s battery die when you’re lost in an unfamiliar place & unable to communicate with people around you. Having a fully charged portable charger on hand will be your savior at the end of the day.

#5: Adidas Slides

First off, I LIVE in my Adidas slides! Sadly, my pug destroyed the original pair that I bought in New York City. 🙁 When traveling, they’re even more of a life-saver. They easily slip on & off when you’re going through airport security, & I love having my own slides to wear to the beach or around a hotel or resort.

#6: iPad Air

I always pack my gold iPad Air 2 in my carry-on. Sadly, not as many airlines offer built-in screens for long flights as before. So, to keep myself entertained, I use my iPad Air to read, practice drawing using my Apple pencil, listen to music, & watch movies.

#7: Apple AirPods

Most airlines require you to wear headphones. You’re not allowed to have your device’s volume blasting & disturbing other passengers during a flight. I love that my AirPods have no wires to get tangled up in my carry-on. It’s easy to quickly connect them with Bluetooth to my iPad then slip them into my ears. I also keep mine in this adorable dumpling case!

#8: Wipes

Give me ALL THE WIPES! I love wipes for my everyday life, but when traveling, wipes simply make my life easier. I use lens & screen wipes to clean my electronic devices & my glasses. Clorox wipes are great for surfaces on the airplane around my seat as well as in the bathroom. I use baby wipes for the foreign countries that don’t provide toilet paper in public bathrooms, & I use makeup wipes to remove any remaining makeup off of my face at the end of the day.

#9: Hanging Toiletry Bag

I travel with a toiletry bag with a hanging hook. This allows me to have easy access to all of my toiletries in one spot without taking up too much counter space. Sometimes, when you travel with a big group of people, you’ll want to ensure there’s enough space for everyone without hindering your own hygiene routine.

#10: Laundry Bag

There’s nothing I hate more than forgetting to pack a laundry bag! Growing up, I would settle for any plastic bag that my mom had lying around, but as I’ve gotten older, it’s become more important to me to ensure that I keep my dirty laundry completely separated from my clean clothes. This laundry bag is compact & easy to pack at the beginning of your trip but expands as needed as your trip progresses.

What are your Top 10 Travel Essentials? Do you share any of the same ones that I have? Let me know in a comment.

XO Denise