Take a peek into a frequent traveler’s bag! I’m always up for a trip, so I keep a bag ready to go, just in case.
I’ve even bought duplicate items specifically so I have some that never leave my travel backpack. You don’t need a lot of expensive gear to have a great time! You just need a few reliable items that always come in handy.
Let’s check out my top 12 travel bag essentials, and see what you would add to the list!
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Top 12 Items I Always Have in My Travel Bag
As a frequent traveler, I keep a travel bag semi-packed at all times. (Why, yes, I am a planner-type personality, thanks for noticing!)
Even when I was only traveling occasionally on weekends and 2 big trips per year, that travel backpack was always almost ready to go. All I had to do was throw in my charging cords and white noise machine, and I was ready to roll.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a frequent traveler, I still recommend keeping your travel backpack semi-ready.
You’re less likely to forget something, and more likely to be pleasantly prepared when something comes up on the road, like a rental car that doesn’t have the right charging port for your phone…
Here are my top 12 travel bag essentials that I keep in my pack that have saved me more times than I can count!
- USB & USB-C Car Adapter
- Phone Charger
- Feeling poorly kit
- Hand sanitizer & masks
- Ladies’ supplies
- Extra hair ties
- Gum
- A working pen
- Chapstick
- Tissues
- Eye mask
- White noise machine
I’m not going to go over all of these. Some are obvious and self-explanatory.
But before you dismiss this list (“Gum? A pen? Really…”), let me tell you how some of these innocuous items have saved me on a trip at one time or another.
Cords, Cables, & Chargers, oh my!
Most of us have multiple devices that we never travel without: phone, watch, wireless headphones, etc. And, naturally, they all use different charging cables.
I highly recommend a cable organizer. I use this one in purple.
It keeps all your cords in one place, so you don’t lose them, and organized so you’re not untying knots every time you use one.
It’s easier and faster to remember to throw this organizer in my bag than it is to figure out which cords I’ll need and bring only those.
It’s also an obvious enough omission that I’ll notice if it’s not packed. If you pack cords individually, you’ll run through your list 2-3 times before you’re sure you’ve got them all packed.
A couple of lessons learned here:
USB and USB-C Car Adapter
Find these at the checkout area of CVS, Walgreens, or Staples. Sometimes gas stations have them, too. This is what I’m talking about.
I got mine from a CVS in Delaware when my rental car didn’t have the right connection for my charging cord. I only had a C to C cable with me, and the car only had USB outlets.
I recommend an adapter with a USB and a USB-C to cover all your bases. Not too many things use a micro USB anymore, but feel free to nab one of those if you need it.
Avoid the hassle of using your phone to navigate only for it to die halfway there in an area with no people or stores.
Phone Charger
Invest in a phone charging cord that never leaves your travel backpack.
This isn’t a huge investment money-wise but it will save your sanity many times over. (Yes, even if you use the cord organizer and have a phone charging cord in there.)
No more buying charging cables at the airport, for an exorbitant price, because you need that phone for your mobile ticket or else Allegiant will charge you $5 to print a paper copy. (Yes, they do that, and yes, it’s usually far cheaper to print the passes than buy the cable.)
Regardless of which airlines you fly, keeping a dedicated cord in your bag is a smart move. One less thing to worry about packing!
What’s a Feeling Poorly Kit?
For me, this means Advil at a minimum and a small travel first aid kit at best. Bring what works for you.
Your feeling poorly kit should save you when you need to fend off headaches and minor pains, when you cut yourself shaving, or when you eat something that doesn’t agree with you.
If you keep medication in your first aid kit, just make sure you’re staying on top of expiration dates.
Random Items that are Actually Super Useful for Travel
You might have read the last half of my top 12 travel items list and been like, “Seriously? These are not make-or-break items for traveling.”
So, let me tell you about how each one has made travel easier or better for me.
Gum
Having gum on hand is useful for many situations while traveling:
- Helps equalize the pressure in your ears during takeoff and landing in a plane*
- Freshens your breath
- Gives you something to chew besides your tongue when you’re trying to keep the peace but somebody else nearby is loudly expressing views you think are stupid/offensive/outrageous…
That last one works best in combination with headphones and your sassiest playlist.
*I’ve had inner ear issues since I was a kid. I love flying, but my ears don’t always appreciate it.
On the flight home from Germany, my ears didn’t pressurize right and I ended up hearing like I was under water for the better part of two weeks. Not ideal.
My personal experience is chewing gum can help, but it’s not a guarantee.
I’ve also used these ear plugs when I had one flight I was sure I was going to have ear problems on, and I thankfully had no issues. Lots of popping but no pain or loss of hearing. (Told you I have ear issues!)
I can’t say they work every time, but I use them on long flights now. I’m not a doctor, so feel free to ask one about them if you’re interested in using them but unsure if you trust them.
A Working Pen
This comes in handy so often.
- Signing the check at dinner when you are ready to leave but your server forgot a pen and you haven’t seen them in 10 minutes…
- Filling out customs forms when arriving in a new country.
- Writing down directions from the concierge.
- Leaving a note to tell your travel companion where you disappeared to temporarily so they don’t panic.
Chapstick
Another versatile item! Protection from the wind and/or sun. Mr. Means to Explore never leaves home without it.
If you’ve ever had chapped lips so bad they peel (gross, I know), then you’ll understand how essential this item can be!
Things I Bring to Help Me Sleep
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as finally getting to your hotel, exhausted after a long flight, and not being able to sleep because [insert reason your brain gives you here].
I personally need zero light, plenty of AC, and some white noise. I wasn’t always this high maintenance of a sleeper, but it’s just where I’m at now.
Forget the gap in the hotel curtains; the light from the microwave or the smoke alarm is enough to bother me.
✳️ I use this eye mask, but the key is one that’s comfortable, adjustable, and has the space over your eyes so it doesn’t smash your eyelashes.
Not for a beauty reason, but because you can open your eyes with the mask on. This is both hygienic (no eye goop in the morning) and helpful when your eyes need to see black to help your brain go to sleep.
✳️ This white noise machine was a game changer for me. I’m pretty sure I’m stuck with it for life, but I can actually fall asleep in about an hour now.
Before, I would toss and turn for hours before I’d eventually drift off into snoozing more than sleeping. I’m pretty jealous of my husband who can fall asleep in less than 5 minutes without even trying.
This white noise machine is small, doesn’t take up a lot of room on my nightstand, easily portable for travel, and has a variety of sounds to choose from. Not that I change the noise each night. I found the one that works, and I never change it!
I forgot my machine on a trip to Indianapolis, and I almost bought a replacement when I arrived. Luckily, we were visiting family to meet a new nephew and they had a spare I borrowed.
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure if a white noise machine will work for you, ask a friend that has a baby if you can borrow their spare one to try it. Trust me, they have multiple white noise machines if they have a baby.
What Else Do I Travel With?
This list is great but it’s just my travel bag essentials! I have other essential items, depending on the type of trip I’m taking, what season I’m traveling, and where I’m going.
I bet you thought I was crazy to not have a portable power bank or an international outlet adapter on this list. That’s because I only use those items on international trips. They’re not necessary for most of my domestic trips.
Here are a few more packing essential checklists to help you get ready for your next adventure!
- 10 Travel Essentials for Your First Flight
- My Hiking Day Pack Essentials: The 10 Essentials + Extras
- 13 River Float Trip Essentials & Packing List
Happy travels!
About the Author: Rachel Means
With six-figure student loan debt and only 10 PTO days per year, Rachel started traveling the world. A decade later, she’s paid off her loans, changed careers, and been to 38 US states and 17 countries. She’s an expert at planning and budgeting for travel and loves to help others do it, too! Read her full story here.
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