Money isn’t the only thing you’ll need to take you around the world.
I like to think I know a thing or two about travelling (having been to 30 countries and 5 continents, I've only broken two minor bones and gotten pickpocketed once) and there are definitely some necessities that have sustained me while abroad that I just so happened to bring along (or stumble upon) that I never see listed on another "must-have" lists. You never know what could be a lifesaver so I try to be more prepared than not, even though some items tend to weigh down my carry-on an extra kilo or two; some things can't be done without (like baby wipes, surprisingly handy in nearly every sticky situation and while on the road those happen A LOT).
Here are some of the takeaways from my time wandering in the wild that you should consider tucking away into your luggage in case you haven't already. I promise they're all cabin-approved.
Travel Essential #1: As complete a first aid kit as you can manage to carry.
I'm talking about 100 mL bottles of rubbing alcohol, witch hazel and peroxide and sterile cotton pads with which to apply them, especially if you're planning on doing adventure-sports as I did in Southeast Asia. You wouldn't believe the amount of scrapes and wounds I cleaned in the week I ran away to a northern Thai circus hostel, where somehow I'd been dubbed the unofficial resident nurse after all the other guests had crashed their motorbike rentals, fallen down waterfalls and/or been stung by something awful. This is where anti-itch and numbing creams come in handy, along with painkillers for achy muscles (or hangovers) along with anti-inflammatory pills for swelling.
I like to pride myself on having a stomach of steel but in case you have a more sensitive digestive tract, don't forget to stock up on nausea pills for motion sickness (especially if you've never been on a boat before), diarrhea pills to stop defecation, constipation pills to start defecation, as well as heartburn and ulcer medication if you know you won't be able to handle the spiciness of the local cuisine. One of those broken bones I previously mentioned happened during my solo trip in southern Spain when I stubbed my toe really, REALLY hard into a corner my first night in my dorm room so, if you're as clumsy as I am (or as unfortunate), I'd also suggest bringing gauze to make yourself makeshift splints and soft-casts. These just happened to be in our first-aid kit and became really useful for me when I fractured my thumb in Thailand a week before the circus camp, leaving me basically a one-handed triage nurse the entire time I was there.
This is where some kick-ass travel insurance could also be beneficial (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) but keep in mind that urgent care will only be as good as normally provided by the local authorities and my best friend and I had a harrowing time trying to navigate the Thai medical system, even with insurance. She had been with me in the accident that had broken my thumb and resulted in an open cut on her face but the paramedics were laughing at our panic the entire ride to the emergency room and the doctors were cold and nurses unhelpful when we arrived. The nurses wouldn't even hold our bags so I could fill out our insurance forms despite my swollen writing hand and the only option the medical staff suggested was to sew my friend’s face closed with non-absorbable stitches (which would have led to permanent scars) so after all that I decided to just discharge us and take care of our injuries ourselves.
Thank God my mother is a nurse and always made sure I was properly trained for medical emergencies so I was able to set my own thumb and treat my friend's face after making sure it was adequately sterilized. At the time of this writing we're nearly three years later and her scar is barely noticeable while my thumb works just as good as ever so in case you ever have to DIY your medical treatment, make sure you have the appropriate supplies. Electrical tape and duct tape, besides fixing broken items, can also help patch any blisters you're bound to get from being on your feet all day.
Last but certainly not least is tiger balm, a magical concoction that can cure nearly any element (look into its mysticism if you don't believe me). Either way it's better to be safe than sorry so take what you can and plan accordingly. After you see what some of these travel insurance companies quote for deductibles, you'll thank me and so will your wallet.
Travel essential #2. Travel debit/credit card with PIN.
The latter part being the most important part.
In the modern day and age of being able to swipe charge cards without so much as a glance (especially if the transaction is under $20/20€/20£), it's best to set up a couple security restrictions while going abroad. Normally when I travel abroad I use a mixture of cash, prepaid or debit card, credit card and maybe an online payment system. It really depends on how long one will be traveling for and exactly how much of their budget they can afford to lose it a time if something wicked should befall their bank account, like it did to mine in Ecuador in summer 2018.
As I may have said before, I’m quite overly cautious when it comes to my cash-flow so on my first big trip, a 3-month excursion to western Europe in summer 2015, I took all the necessary precautions and then some. I’d heard pickpockets were rampant in some of the cities I was planning to visit (looking at you, Madrid, Paris and Rome), and I had been terrified of being stranded without a penny to my name so I separated my savings:
minimum 100 euros in cash (only for emergencies)
debit card with minimum 200 euros with the rest in a savings account (used whenever acceptable)
credit card with $1000CAD limit and ATM withdrawal capabilities (only to be used in an extreme case of emergency and to be left in the safe in my accommodation unless something happened to the debit card)
$300CAD transferred into my PayPal account (if all else failed)
Europe went smoothly, however, with only a hiccup or two that had had nothing to do with ne'er-do-wells, and so for Asia I let myself take less precautions, only taking the cash and the cards (though I did have one prepaid card that I usually kept separate loaded with $250CAD). Compared to Asia where cash is king, Europe is card-friendly in all major chains though many mom and pop shops aren’t (ahem, tax evasion), but the former continent can be just as accommodating in its larger cities. Just make sure your bank isn’t charging you exchange fees for every transaction done in a foreign currency, or consider obtaining a travel bank card, and go completely feeless.
Another 3-month trip in Southeast Asia passed by in a warm, crazy, hazy ride except for one incident where my bag was cut open with a knife (yikes) in the middle of a jungle party on an island in southern Thailand (I did not seem to have the best of luck in that country). They didn’t manage to get my wallet but that was the last I saw of my Korean Samsung mobile and eight months’ worth of pictures (RIP). Somehow despite that occurrence I felt no reservations when I went to South America with only a debit card, having grown sure of my spidey-sense when it came to purse-snatchers.
That was until I got to Baños, Ecuador when, three weeks into a 6-week voyage, the driver (yes, the driver!) of my day tour bus one afternoon stole that debit card and promptly proceeded to extract ALL the money from my bank account and left me with the overdraft fees. I guess I'd fallen into a false sense of security by country #27 without a major incident and therefore made the mistake of leaving my bag with the tour driver (a different person than our actual guide that day) while I went ziplining across a waterfall, a memorable experience for sure but maybe not worth the unforseen added price tag. It was the only time in that entire trip that I'd finally let my guard down enough to leave my bag (somewhat) unattended and it ended up costing me everything.
Never let your guard down.
I was stuck in Ecuador for another two weeks trying to sort out my life, missed out on going to Machu Picchu (I had tickets and everything *sobs*) and seeing the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia, which would've been the highlight of my trip. Learn from my mistakes, folks, and come prepared for the worst because as to this day my bank has still never ended up giving me a cent of that money back no matter how hard I tried.
Travel Essential #3: Convertible blanket to pillow.
This one of my favourite things to travel with so it's surprising that I didn't discover it sooner. Ask anyone I've ever traveled with and they could tell you that I can pretty much sleep under a rock, especially if it has wheels and a humming engine (like it's physically impossible for me to stay awake in any moving transport for longer than twenty minutes). What I can't put up with is being cold for prolonged periods of time, which is ironic as a Canadian, I know, so I always have to travel with a lightweight blanket for long-haul flights and buses because airports and bus terminals are notorious in Asia and South America for cranking down the thermostat.
This is more my MO.
At the height of summer 2016, I distinctly remember one five-hour layover in a Philippine airport which had had eight two-meter high AC units pumping away into a terminal the size of a small apartment to the point where I could see my breath yet all I'd had to protect me was a summer dress and shivers of regret. That's where the versatility of contraptions like this is especially useful, as it's able to adequately keep the user warm and snuggly during trips in cooler climates, or can be rolled-up into a comfy headrest in more temperate weather. Whatever the conditions, it’s bound to keep you cosy so I'd suggest investing in one as they're cheap, compact and often come with ties to strap them to the outside of your luggage bag to save space and for easy access. ‘Cause goosebumps don’t exactly make you feel like you’re full of sunshine and rainbows.
Travel Essential #4: Entertainment - music playlist, downloaded films, offline games, digital books, etc.
Any frequent traveler will tell you that a good chunk of any voyage is just killing time between destinations, waiting in bus or airport terminals or during trips on long-haul transport. Entertainment is key for those with short attention spans or people who have trouble sleeping in public places, especially during overnight journeys.
As stated before, however, I have no problem falling asleep even in the most cramped of seats as being only 154 cm tall (5’2”) definitely doesn’t hurt in that regard, but for long-legged, light sleepers, it might be better to insure that you have enough things to keep your mind occupied lest you go stir crazy from boredom. In this modern day age of technology it’s never been so easy to take your media on the go. For avid music-lovers a kickass road mix can make all the difference, but make sure to have more than one prepared as over long-term journeys the same songs could become repetitive. I like to have at least three playlists; one to get me pumped up on more active days, one to chill out or fall asleep to, and one of old favourites just for nostalgia’s sake.
If you’re more of a movie-watcher then there are numerous online streaming platforms that let their members download TV shows and movies for offline access, allowing for viewage even in the most remote destinations. If you’re the type who likes to get engrossed in a good summer-read instead then you’re in luck because there are more e-books available online than ever before and, although I prefer the feel and smell of paperbacks, the digital variety definitely takes up less space and weight in the long-run. If you get sleepy/nauseous reading in buses, and music and movies aren’t enough to sustain you, consider something a bit more interactive, such as looking into some downloadable mobile games to keep your mind stimulated.
Don’t go stir-crazy while on the road.
I’m into logic puzzles and educational apps so some of my favourites are this one or that one.
If you’re going to be in your current destination for an extended period of time then I would also suggest a language-learning app to help teach you the local dialect. DuoLingo is a great one to start off with and you’d be surprised how much friendlier locals can get when they can see that you’ve at least put some effort into learning part of their culture. Plus you get to learn a new skill while abroad which I think is a big bonus!
Moreover, unless you can spring for a large SD card, which can be a bit pricey, or are lucky enough to have a phone with nearly unlimited internal storage, a lot of this media can take a lot of memory space that I think could be better saved for pictures, especially if you’re like me when I can’t help but take WAY too many. I invested in a travel tablet; at first only as an in case of emergency gadget if something ever happened to my phone yet it came in super handy more often than not. If I ever needed to research something last-minute, staring at its screen was easier on the eyes than staring at a phone screen. Movies definitely looked better on a wider display and after each day I could transfer the pictures on my phone onto the device for editing.
Most importatnly, in the end I got the tablet for (practically) free. I bought this model from Amazon in March 2015 for $300CAD and it lasted me until about February 2017. The inside had gotten a bit water-damaged but I’d gotten it with a 2-year warranty sold as a complimentary component ($80CAD) which had covered all types of accidents, including one too many steamy showers (because your girl loves to sing in the shower to Spotify, what can I say?). I only had to send the tablet back to see if it could be repaired first, which it couldn’t, so graciously I was mailed back a $300 check a couple weeks later which helped pay for all the visa fees, police background checks, and consulate services that it took to move to Spain later that summer. All in all, I only ended up spening money on the insurance so while the tablet might’ve seemed like an extravagant purchase at the beginning, it entertained me across twenty countries before it finally kicked the bucket and then paid for itself. Don’t be afraid to invest in your own sanity.
Quick side note: A good backup system is always good to have in case anything happens to your gadgets; don't forget to get an online memory storage system to protect the data on your mobile and remember to see if your insurance will cover a phone replacement if it gets damaged a stolen.
Travel Essential #5: A decent camera.
If you couldn’t tell, I’m a girl who likes her travel gadgets and no list would be complete without this next one. My biggest travel regret is the fact that I really didn't take any quality photos during my first big backpacking trips to Europe and Asia as I had been too busy getting lost in the experiences. I tried to do better in South America but even then I got lazy and only really took pictures in our first destination, and now all I can do is stare when people post pics of places where I've been and reminisce. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and nothing jogs the memory more than a good picture.
Like this one I took in the Sahara Desert.
I could've had albums' worth of pictures from exotic destinations from all over the world but it wasn't until I settled down in Europe that I started taking my travel photography more seriously as there are so many places to go to just a short flight away. I’d recommend investing in a cheap camera model instead of going mobile for better quality shots. I’m sure your memory bank (both digital and mental) with thank you.
If you can't afford the extra gadget, consider getting a phone model with a better camera and then hone your editing skills after the fact. The more invested you are, the better results you'll get. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and 20MP is definitely a lot more to behold than the current 12MP mobile standard.
Travel Essential #6: Proper body gear.
The next most important thing besides packing weather-appropriate attire (an absolute must) is making sure to proquire any athletic accessories that you'll need to sustain your body such as joint guards. For example, I have a bad knee from an old football injury and now travel with a knee brace for trips where I'll be putting a lot of pressure on my legs, like hiking mountains across the South American Andes.
Speaking of hiking, even if you're a beginner it might be good to invest in decent shoes that are at least ankle-high to help protect your joints. For me I'm obsessed with combat boots like these because they're fashionable but hardy, and the sides are foldable, allowing for conversion between shin- and ankle-length, and most importantly there’s a side pocket to hide cards and money to make for easier toting and security.
Boots made for walking through the flowers.
Other things that can make for even comfier excursions would be getting some gel insoles and heel guards to ward off blisters common after long walks. Compression socks are also helpful for times when you'll be either standing or sitting for quite awhile as they help prevent against venous disorders like thrombosis or edemas.
As shoes end up taking a lot of room when packing, I often only travel with a couple pairs: the combat boots (which can be strapped by their laces to the outside of any backpack when not in use), canvas shoes for casual strolling, and of course the obligatory pair of shower flip flops. The latter can also double as beach footwear or, at the very minimum, be worn indoors during downtime because there's nothing sexy about catching foot fungus from a hostel bathroom.
All I'm saying is your body, particularly your feet, will be some of your most important resources while travelling, nurture it all you can.
Travel Essential #7: Adequate skincare.
Speaking of nurturing your body, it's important not to forget about taking care of your biggest organ, the epidermis, particularly with the rise in melanomas in recent years. As travel to sunny destinations because more accessible, many forget to adequately prepare for the differing intensity of the sun while abroad. My first international trip outside of continental North America was to Cuba and, even though it was already mid-September, I remember it being so hot that the sand felt like walking on lava by high noon. Even after having lived in Florida for a number of years that trip was the first time I ever needed sunscreen because there was nothing as strong as the Caribbean sun.
My Parisian friend who'd come along with me was a cooked lobster by the end of our week-long holiday, which for her was considered only a minor setback when her sunburn turned into a bronze glow within a couple days of our return to Montréal. I've thankfully never had a single sunburn in my life but from what I've heard from others they're nothing to risk suffering.
‘Cause this is not a good look on anyone.
I suggest taking along something with at least an SPF of 30 (though if you're very fair-skinned it might be wise to invest in the SPF 60 bottles usually marketed for children) which can be hard considering most bottles are sold in too large quantities to be carried into a plane cabin. Sunscreen abroad, especially in touristy places where it's a commodity not used by any of the locals, can be quite pricey (up to 15€ per bottle in Barcelona!) so I'd recommend preparing a few bottles for your toiletry bag.
If you have the sweet skin like I do, make sure to get bug spray with DEET as well since it offeres better protection, particularly in mosquito-infested jungles. Also consider taking along 2-in-1 body wash/shampoo if you're not feeling too particular as it's a great way to free up space. Make doubly sure to bring fresh razors (and possibly shaving cream) to save on the expense of purchasing them while on the road since before going abroad you probably have the homefield advantage of knowing where to get them for an affordable price outside of tourists traps. Even living in Madrid I noticed that pharmacies charged different rates depending on whether I was living in the suburbs or in the city center at the time; a 1-L bottle of rubbing alcohol could cost 3,50€ in one neighbourhood and 6,80€ in another (believe me, I've done the price comparison).
Gear up at home and don't forget to also stock up on aloe vera gel (in case you do get a nasty sunburn), hand sanitizer (to avoid Dehli Belly) and those ever-handy baby wipes (for those days when you can only basically shower in a sink). Your armpits will be fresh before you know it!
Travel Esssential #8: Waterproofing for your gear.
This essential step is usually the one I've begun to take more seriously as many of my recent destinations have been coastal or at least body-of-water-adjecent. I distinctly remember watching my best guy friend drop his phone into a waterfall in northern Thailand that a group of us were climbing up. He'd been the only one brave enough to have his phone out on the expedition (the rest of us too afraid to even leave ours in our pockets for this reason) and, while he did manage to jump into the water to ultimately find the device, it’s suffice to say that the gadget never recovered. Neither did his photo gallery because everything he hadn't backed up before the trip was lost to the water.
Don’t let this become you.
Ever since then I've taken more provisions against such slips. Plastic lanyards like these are a great option I discovered while living in South Korea and, while they might look dorky, they give a hands-free option to every adventure. The cases are pretty sturdy too, so if properly sealed the chances of water ever creeping in are next to none.
If they're still not your style, I'd suggest looking into getting a more heavy-duty case for your phone that offers the same advantage, and some recent high-end phones even coming with built-in waterproofing to certain depths.
If you still don't want to risk taking your phone with you into the sea, consider obtaining a sports camera, many of them offer waterproof containment gear as well as a ton of add-ons in the price. I bought this model for $40CAD, which I only have to charge about every 2-3 days of active use, and it came with two battery packs plus enough straps and widgets to attach this thing to nearly anything. Three years on and still works like a dream, taking decent wide-angle pics and videos with good audio, and all only for the cost of about $13CAD/year.
At the end of the day, anything is better than snapping pictures on some exotic beach only for an errant wave to wash your phone away forever (or worse, your precious pics). Don’t take any unnecessary risks, especially if travelling somewhere during the rainy/monsoon/tornado/hurricane season (so basically all summer).
Travel Essential #9: Foolproof baggage.
The luggage you take with you is going to be your lifeline when hitting the dusty trail so make sure you sufficiently gear up before your next adventure. I love a good, sturdy backpacking backpack with a lot of straps and plenty of space for my stuff. I’m not exactly the burliest person (some might even call me petite) though I like to think I’m pretty strong for my size if my solo move to South Korea can be a testament to that, when I made it toting a 65-lb bag (30-kilo) with NO wheels.
I learned my lesson then, however, so now I normally try to limit myself to a 50-75-L bag so I don´t strain my back over time. Pretty hard to do with all the necessitites already mentioned on this list, yet still definitely possible so long as one also has a decently-made pack. They say that you get what you pay for and that´s very much true when selecting an appropriate travel bag because the last thing you want when abroad is a broken zipper or a broken handle, which happened to my 100-L roller bag nearly the moment I arrived in London five days into 10-week Eurotrip. I really think it was that long, ardous trek from the airport into the city while dragging that behemoth that prepared me for that South Korea move just three months later.
Luckily for me someone just so happened to leave another one with identical proportions (but thankfully made of sturdier material) in the next hostel I was staying at so when the cleaning crew planned to throw it away I claimed it as my own and still have it to this day. All this to say that I’d invest in more reputable luggage brands because even though you’d be spending a little extra in the beginning, you could zip and unzip safely knowing the zipper won't pop off in your hand under too much pressure.
This is basically me on every trip.
If you must go wheeless, I prefer this backpack model, which is double-ended, allowing access to objects either at the top or bottom of the bag. This versatility is a godsend when you can’t be bothered to unload an entire backpack when you could just fish through it one-half at a time. This model also has an extra internal zipper to block off a small chamber at the bottom of the bag in its own pocket. This kind of pack also tends to come with many extra compartments outside of the main one, with some located even on the lid, hip straps, sides and front so all your knicknacks are sure to find a place. Comfy straps are another must so aim for a bag that comes with them padded and with good distribution of the weight between the chest- and the hip-straps as well as an internal support frame.
If your body isn’t just meant to carry a heavy backpack for long periods of time or maybe you just don’t want to, then spring for a suitcase, as large as you’re willing to pay baggage fees for. I’d suggest the carbon-shelled, omni-wheeled variety with built-in locks, preferably in a bright, distinctive colour to ward off thieves (I usually go for lime green or electric orange). Make sure to bring lots of padlocks, especially if you’ll be staying in hostels as many provide only the locker and often charge for lock rentals or sell overpriced goods. Besides two heavy padlocks, I usually carry two other locks such as these as they’re easy to operate and great for locking up my purse when wandering markets notorious for pickpockets.
To make your baggage even more theft-proof, I’d opt for an anti-theft day pack, like this one my mom bought me, a clandestine under-the-clothes money belt or even a stylish fannypack. Whatever gets you on the road, ready and packed to take on a new adventure day by day.
Travel Essential #10. A good sense of adventure (or at least direction).
By far the most important thing on this list, and the one probably taken most for granted by many, is a rocketing spirit of wonder when abroad because at the end of the day when you’re far from home in a place where you might know no one and may not be able to speak the language and anything could happen, it could be the only thing you have left.
A big part of traveling is immersing yourself in another culture and possibly new experiences so it’s always best to keep an open mind and be prepared to handle anything, including getting lost with no map (happened to me in near every place before I discovered this app), being cheated by nearly every merchant you meet (because tourism), or having even your dormmates steal from you (solved with the foolproof locks from #9).
If you’ve never left home before I know being abroad can be overwhelming at times, especially when everything is going wrong (ahem, South America) and it all seems to be spiraling out of your control. Just take a breath and try to remember as long as you’re not in any real trouble (criminal or violent), everything will be fine.
Stay positive.
It can take work but you’ll have to learn to rely on all your wits to get you out of certain sticky situations but you’ll have to believe that you’ve prepared sufficiently to get yourself past such times. Difficult moments are sure to happen while abroad but don’t let them outweigh all the other amazing things about travelling. With so much wonder promised around every corner, don’t forget to take a second and reflect how far you’ve come all on your own. The journey is what you make it.
May you get lost in the wonder,
M