I’ve been asked a on a number of occasions how I travel so light when I’m on a trip, honestly? I really really don’t. It’s important to keep the number of items you take on a trip with you to a minimum, so I’ve given it my best and collated my list of the top 10 items when travelling.
1. Fitbit – yes, I’m a Fitbit addict and after over a years’ worth of ownership I swear by my fitness friend. My Fitbit tracks my steps taken/distance covered/calories burnt whilst on the road and is my number one pick for travelling. It also doubles up as a watch too!
2. Shades – it’s nice to have a number of sunglasses to pick between days to day but you do only really need the one pair! Pick a sturdy reliable pair and leave the others at home. I swear by my Raybans (and have done for 4 years I may add).
3. Comfortable shoes – depending where in the world you are visiting will determine you need for a stylish pair of shoes! For backpacking trips I take with me 1x Converse, 1x Flip Flops and 1x Sandals, you really don’t need any more than that!
4. Bumbag – or as the American’s call them ‘fanny packs’. Subtle and easy to stash, this bag can be hidden under your outer clothing concealing valuables and doubles up as a stylish night out bag for the evening.
5. Poncho – never underestimate the power of a poncho, when you get caught in the monsoon you’ll be so grateful you read this list.
6. Digital Camera – whilst I take a lot of photos with my iPhone it really is worth investing in a good quality camera for your travels. I take my Nikon D3100 everywhere I go, but cheaper, smaller cameras like the Olympus PEN camera do the job just fine.
7. Luggage Tag – not just because it looks pretty, but because it will hopefully aid in your collection of your bag at the end of a long flight. There’s nothing worse than someone else picking up your luggage and having to go through the process of getting it back, trust me on that.
8. Headphones – the kind that drown out the sound of screaming kids on a 16 hour flight.
9. Waterproof Pouch – these little beauty work wonders, especially if you find yourself venturing out to sea on a boat. Simply stash your paperwork, money and electronics to avoid damage. Mine was from Go Outdoors but they are available to pick up from Amazon and alternative retailers.
10. Notebook – take a nice notebook to scribble down your thought and experiences, something I love looking over and writing up when I get home. Also extremely handy for jotting down recommendations from the people you meet on your travels and hotel reservation numbers.
Have you any top picks that didn’t make my list? We would love to hear from you!
I love all these suggestions. One thing I would add, if you’re going to be doing a lot of sitting on planes or buses: one of those u-shaped pillows which can make the difference between being able to sleep sitting up or not. They are cheap except when you try to buy them in the airports, and they can snap easily onto your backpack.
Thanks Amy! Really good idea, I like the inflatable versions so I can stash it away when I don’t need it! Thanks for sharing x