You can’t take it with you, but you can sure as heck try.
One of the very best things you can do to cut costs while traveling is to eliminate paying for checked baggage on flights. If you’ve got status on an airline or have a co-branded credit card, that can take care of it. But if you’re like Andrew and you don’t have an airline-specific credit card, moooore often than not you’ll be stuck paying $25-$30 each way if you wanna check a bag. Sorry y’all. That ain’t happenin’. Packing light, however, doesn’t mean you won’t be able to bring everything you need. Here are the 15 international travel essentials we make sure we NEVER forget to pack, no matter how much or how little luggage we’re carrying:
World’s Best Neck Pillow
Screaming babies, seatmates with microscopic bladders, cooties in the coffee—there are a million ways to make your many-hour flight a misery. But this pillow, combined with the eye mask and earplugs that accompany it? It’ll tune out ALL that jazz to keep you flyin’ like a bird and sleepin’ like a rock en route to your next big adventure. It squishes into a teeny little case to make it even easier to transport, light to carry, and unbelievably comfortable to wear. Here’s to sweet dreams and wakin’ up in a new country!
RFID Blocking Passport Holder
Passport, credit cards, global entry card, international driving license, this baby carries alllll the goods and protects them from anyone who’d try to steal my information electronically. It’s also helpful at home to know that I’ve got all the documentation I need to travel internationally in one place, so that when I’m packing, I just toss this in my bag and know I’m good to go.
Travel Money Belt
Sometimes, though, you don’t want *EVERYTHING* in the same place. When traveling in certain parts of the world it can be smart to split up your valuables between a wallet, a money belt and your pockets. That way, should the worst happen and you fall victim to pick-pocketing, you won’t end up losing everything. We think the fear folks have about going overseas is often irrational, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cover your bases, just in case.
Universal Wall Adapter
Y’all KNOW you’ve got to keep your electronics juiced up to make sure you capture that perfect photo, video selfie that cliff dive, or share it all on the social meeds. This universal adapter makes sure no matter where you are, your battery stays full. Nothing worse than low-battery anxiety, right? Keep all your tech in full bars with this universal adapter. Be sure to read the instructions—some of those prongs look…dangerous.
Portable Phone Chargers
Jackery Portable Charger Bar – Smaller, more portable, holds about 2 to 3 full charges in my experience. Bonus flashlight included!
Jackery Portable Charger Giant+ – Double the size, (double the weight), double the power. I’ve gotten up to SEVEN full charges out of this beauty. Also a bonus flashlight.
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux – This is our USB-C device recommendation for those of you with fancy new phones and devices. It’ll hold 2 to 3 full charges.
GoPro HERO 8 Black
OOOOOOOOOOH, so SEXY (and waterproof!). Small, high-powered, long battery life, and inCREDible images, the GoPro Hero 8 will do stills, vids, and will connect to your computer or tablet to make for some unreal coverage of your adventure. Timers, voice activation, a million bells and whistles to make sure you have memories to last forever from all the awesome you see and experience just outside you comfort zone.
GoPro Accessory Bundle
You need ALL the toys to play with your new GoPro Hero 8, and with THIS kit? You can get it all for a SONG. Prehensile/articulated tripods, lenses for underwater color balance, straps for head and wrist mounting—this kit has it ALL. It even has a floating handle to make sure if you drop your GoPro, that sucker’ll float, not sink. Genius. And for this price? Why WOULDN’T you?
Osprey Dry Sack
On just about every adventure, there’s a chance to get wet and/or crud in your equipment. To keep it dry, clean, and functioning perfectly, we like to keep it bundled safe and warm in a dry sack like this one from Osprey. They come in several sizes, but this one is the perfect size for a camera and cell phone. Too small? You can’t protect your gear. Too large? It’ll look all “Mom purse.” We love snacks as much as the next guys, but we want our gear protected in a bag that’s juuuuuuuuust right.
Campsuds
This is literally the only thing I use nowadays to shower with, even at home! It’s small, compact, super concentrated, and it’s bio-degradable so you know you’re not damaging the environment. Whether camping or hostel-hopping, this is a must-have for all intrepid travelers looking to lessen their impact on the planet.
Microfiber Towel
“A towel, [The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal; you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.”
― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Biowipes
Sometimes you’re camping in Uganda and don’t have access to a warm, hot, steamy shower, so you gotta be prepared with the next best thing! These also put the spring back in my step after a really long plane flight, or any time I wanna freshen up a bit while traveling. And they’re biodegradable so you don’t have to worry about impacting your environment! I bring them on every adventure that involves a considerable amount of time outdoors.
Buff Headband
It’s just so dang versatile! Keep sweat out of your eyes, keep the sun off your head and neck, protect your face from dust, soak it in water and cool off in the middle of summer – the list of things you can do with a Buff is endless. It was a lifesaver while hurtling across the Sahara Desert in Mauritania. Just sayin’. Spring for the type with UV protection and insect shield if you can.
Bamboo and Charcoal Deodorizing Bags
Y’all. One of the BIGGEST hassles from travel can be…odor. Dampness is a close second. And the latter leads to the former, I fear. Keep your gear fresh and dry with these all-natural charcoal and bamboo fresheners/dehumidifiers. Featherweight and compact, they take up SO little room in your bag and keep your tackle from smelling like butt-crackle. I know. It was a stretch. But they work. And they’re ridiculously reasonably priced. Luggage, shoes, dresser drawers, you name it—they take care of odor and wetness like a BOSS.
Travel-Size Sunscreen
If you don’t already know, things like sunscreen and bug spray are *EXPENSIVE* overseas. I mean, this stuff’s overpriced in the US, but it’s a whole different level when you touch down in Kigali, Rwanda. So the point is, grab some ahead of time, and make sure they’re they small travel-sized kind. Bring a few and you won’t have to worry about gettin’ burnt to a crisp in that hot African sun.
Bug Repellent Wipes
Don’t let mosquitoes or tsetse flies keep you from having a grand time on your hike, trip, or trek. A quick rub-down with one of these handy dandy wipes will keep you insect-free for hours while you scale that mountain, ford that fjord, or plant that flag. If you cross that river, I’d recommend a reapplication right after. I don’t know how waterproof they are. Not a HUGE fan of the Deet, but there are some destinations that require it. AND you can pack it in your carry-on without concern, unlike sprays.
Nalgene Water Bottle
Not only is it a great idea for reducing your carbon footprint by filling and refilling this plastic bottle, it’s a BRILLIANT palette for your collection of destination stickers! The 32-oz. size is fantastic for packing either inside or strapped to the outside of your pack. The wide mouth makes it super easy to refill. And the BPA-free bottle provides containment without harmful chemicals seeping into your beverage. Incredibly durable and brightly colored, it’s easy to spot and hard to kill. And if there’s anything we’ve learned about traveling, it’s CRUCIAL to stay hydrated!
SO THAT’S IT FOLKS! 15 international travel essentials we never forget to take with us on a trip overseas. What are we missing? What’s your number one must-have item on a trip that we forgot? Comment below! And see ya next time!
Love y’all.