This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may receive a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.

Let’s Talk About the Essentials

There are the packing basics: pack light (we prefer carry-on only!), roll your clothes, bring a universal charging adaptor… but on the most recent episode of the Explore & Expand Podcast, we get into the good stuff! We chat about the items that have genuinely changed the way that we travel. The things that make long flights more bearable, keep us healthy on the road, and have us wondering how we managed without them.

This isn’t your average packing list. These are our tried-and-true, can’t-leave-home-without-them travel companions.

Diva Cup

If you’ve ever known the distress of trying to locate feminine hygiene products in an unfamiliar country, this one is a no-brainer. If that’s never happened to you, GREAT, and… maybe just go ahead and toss this one in your travel kit so you never have to experience that particular anguish.

Infinity Scarf

This one is not your average infinity scar, for sure! Not only does it serve to keep you cozy on the plane, shield you from the sun while you’re out and about all day, and cover shoulders for temples and other spaces that request modesty, BUT IT ALSO HAS A HIDDEN ZIPPER POCKET (!!!).

Toilet Paper Tablets

The first time traveling when we learned that just because there is a toilet, does not mean there is toilet paper… was unfortunate. The second time? There was no second time. Trust us on this one, and get yourself a pack of these tablets that take up zero weight and almost no space. They turn into a giant moist towelette with just a tablespoon or so of water.

Ear Plugs for Sleeping

We love other people’s babies. Promise. Kelly will smile at your baby, every single time. What we do not love is other people’s babies crying 8 hours into a 14 hour flight. Drop your ear plugs into your bag, and sleep like a… baby.

Portable Battery Pack

You know what’s the worst? When you’re out all day, having incredible, life-changing experiences on a bucket list trip, and you reach for your phone to take a picture to capture the moment, and… your battery has died. Or, when you step off the plane and reach for your phone to try to pull up the map of your hotel to share with your taxi driver, and… your battery has died. Or, you pull our your phone to use the translator app you downloaded just for this trip to communicate with a new friend, and… your battery has died. You get the drift. Spare yourself, and bring along this portable battery pack, and stay charged, instead.

Travelan

Take a tablet before every meal when traveling in areas where it’s not safe to drink the water. Trust us. Carrie swears by this to stay healthy while traveling.

LifeStraw

When you’re traveling in areas where tap water is not potable, even if you think you’ll have regular access to filtered water, it’s reassuring to have the option to filter your own water. Plus, we prefer to reduce our use of single use plastic when possible, particularly when traveling.

Under Eye Patches

Ok, so while this recommendation perhaps stretches the definition of “essential,” hear us out. Have you ever arrived at your destination sleep deprived and puffy, and longed for an easy pick me up (in addition to a double shot of espresso, of course!)? Drop these in your carry on and thank us later, when you feel and look refreshed and ready to explore your destination.

Facial Spray

Another small luxury that takes almost no space or weight, and is a welcome treat, one hundred percent of the time.

Deodorizing Wipes

How many times have these handy dandy wipes saved us in a pinch when there wasn’t an opportunity for a shower? After the “travel sweats” of running through the airport at full speed, trying to catch a flight… after strolling all day through lively city streets … when the AC in the taxi wasn’t working … we could go on.

Cute Compression Socks

Sexy? Nope. Helpful for keeping your circulation doing its job on long flights, and also as an effective cankle mediation strategy? Yup.

Hand Sanitizer Spray

These are teeny tiny, actually smell nice, and can attach right onto your backpack.

Viral Defense Nasal Spray

Kelly swears by this stuff for getting her through travels without getting sick. We know it’s anecdotal, but still, we’re not leaving home without it.

Travel Fan

Those of you who have experienced the particular hellfire that is a hot flash: you probably already have one of these travel sized portable fans. Everyone else: go ahead and get one. But we warned: everyone you’re traveling with who doesn’t have their own is going to want to use yours.

---

Look, we aren’t saying you need all these items for every quick, lil’ getaway. But if you’re planning something bigger: an international adventure, a big solo journey or an experience with us at Explore & Expand Retreats, for instance…these are some of the items worth knowing about. They’ve made travels smoother, healthier and honestly… sometimes even more fun! Download and print a FREE copy of our tried and true carry-on packing list HERE.

Want to hear us talk through these items (and more!) in additional detail? Tune into the full podcast episode where we get into the stories behind why each of these made our list.

Do you have a travel must-have that we missed? We love a good recommendation from our travel community, reach out and let us know the item(s) you absolutely can’t travel without.