International travel can be both exciting and enlightening, but it can also be stressful and challenging. Travel forces you to face unfamiliar places and situations and make quick decisions, which isn’t always easy to deal with, but it’s certainly a part of why people love to travel so much.
Thankfully, there are ways to make things easier and avoid undue stress. The number one piece of advice experienced travelers can tell you is quite simple: be prepared. Packing the right things can save you a lot of headaches down the line.
On the flip side, bag space is at a premium whenever you’re travelling. Unless you’re traipsing around the world in a private jet, you’ll need to carefully pick and choose what to bring with you.
Here are 6 often forgotten travel items which you should consider bringing on your trip, based on the opinions of seasoned travelers.
To be clear, the list deals with overlooked essentials, which means we won’t be discussing the basics like toiletries and rain coats. Instead, we’ll focus on items that most people don’t even think about, but which can make almost any trip significantly easier.
1. Universal Power Adapter
Anyone with a bit of worldly experience can tell you that power plugs aren’t universal. Different countries often use different plugs, sockets, and even voltages in their power outlets. The further away you are from home, the more likely you are to run into this issue.
At best, this can leave you stranded without a way to charge your electronics, which is a major setback in this day and age. At worst, plugging your devices into outlets with mismatched voltages can damage them.
With that in mind, a universal power adapter can be a true lifesaver. This simple and relatively affordable gadget allows you to plug your electronic devices into different types of power outlets around the world by providing the correct physical plug shape and a universal voltage range.
Universal power adapters are small, convenient, and an excellent addition to any traveler’s kit.
2. Virtual SIM Card
The humble phone is likely the most useful and ubiquitous tool for modern travelers. However, going to different countries means that you have to consider whether you’ll be able to use your phone without incurring massive roaming charges.
For most people, the answer is simple: get a SIM card from a local carrier or provider. Better yet, there are companies out there that provide SIM cards specifically designed for international travel, such as OneSimCard and GigSky. These are especially useful for people who frequently pass through international borders without sticking to one place for too long.
Enter virtual SIM cards, also known as an eSIM. These ‘cards’ are essentially software that functions like a traditional physical SIM card, allowing you to connect to cellular networks for calls and data. However, they don’t require you to actually swap any physical cards.
Not only does this save you time because you don’t have to fumble around swapping cards in your phone, but it also means you don’t have to worry about losing any tiny Nano SIMs. It’s a win-win and an incredibly convenient option.
3. VPN
Travelers often have to rely on public networks for their internet access. Airports, hotels, coffee shops – they’re all very helpful in that regard, but these public networks leave you exposed to hackers and other dangers.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a service that encrypts your data and protects it by routing it through a secure tunnel. It essentially masks your online activity.
Besides added safety, VPNs have other uses. For example, they can help you bypass geo-restrictions for specific online content. These restrictions sometimes exist due to censorship, but are often a matter of copyright issues.
Besides the obvious practical benefits, a VPN can also grant you access to entertainment from anywhere in the world. Services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime often offer different movies and shows in different countries due to licensing. VPNs allow you to sidestep these restrictions and enjoy these services’ entire libraries. They are also handy for other forms of geo-sensitive entertainment, such as using sites based offshore to play your favorite casino games seamlessly without any jurisdiction limitations.
4. Multitool
Multitools are versatile tools that combine multiple folding implements into one handy item. These typically include knives, can and bottle openers, scissors, screwdrivers, and a variety of other useful tools.
The most well-known example of a multitool is the famous Swiss Army Knife. It’s a perfect showcase of why you might want one: a large collection of handy things crammed into one tiny, foldable package.
While it seems like an obvious pick, most people these days don’t really consider that they might need a screwdriver or a can opener on the go. What are the chances that you’ll need any of this unless you’re hiking or camping?
Our answer? You’d be surprised. Most multitool implements fall into the category of “you don’t really need one until you really need one.”
However, keep in mind that you likely won’t be able to take a multitool into an aeroplane cabin. If you opt to pack one, leave it in your luggage while flying.
5. Water Bottle With a Filter
One of the first things people end up asking when they visit a new location is: Can I drink the tap water here?
The answer is sometimes ‘yes’, sometimes ‘no’, and sometimes ‘yes, but you probably shouldn’t.’
Either way, access to clean drinking water is absolutely crucial – we assume we don’t have to argue this point too much. That’s why a reusable water bottle is something no traveler should ever be without.
However, some reusable water bottles come with a built-in filter, and they can be a game-changer. These can filter most waterborne bacteria and parasites, letting you drink almost any water from almost any source without worry.
You’ll save a lot of energy, time, and money not having to worry about clean drinking water. Better yet, reusable bottles are great for the environment, so it’s another win-win situation.
6. Ziplock Bags
Ziplock bags can be incredibly useful for travel because they’re just so versatile, easy to pack, and can accomplish a lot of things. Let’s consider some possible travel use cases for ziplock bags.
For starters, they are handy for general packing purposes. They’re affordable, transparent, and come in different sizes, which can be used to categorize luggage.
Secondly, they are great for storing small, easily lost items such as jewellery or medicine. Not having to rummage through your luggage to find that little earring or vitamin pill will save you a lot of frustration.
Thirdly, ziplock bags are great for isolating certain items from others. For example, you can use them to prevent shampoos, lotions, and other liquids from leaking all over your clothes. You can also use them to separate dirty clothes from clean ones, or generally handle wet items.
We’re just getting started, too: you can also pack food and keep it fresh for longer; store liquids to comply with airport security; protect cameras and phones from moisture or dust, and a lot more.
In short, ziplocks are some of the handiest items to have in your travel bag.
Conclusion
Packing for international travel is all about efficiency: getting a lot of value while using as little space as possible.
Thankfully, travelling is literally a worldwide market, and many products have been developed specifically to cater to travelers, ranging from travel storage bags to collapsible furniture. Other times, common items such as ziplock bags or multitools stand out as being incredibly handy for travel.
Many overlooked essentials for travelers can help your next journey go a lot smoother. Hopefully, this article helped you pack smarter and plan better.
