10 essential items for long trips

When planning a trip, the first things that usually come to mind are: a phone, keys, passport, wallet, and a good pair of walking shoes. These are truly essential items. However, bad luck can strike at any time. For example, your phone might suddenly stop working, your passport might disappear, or your suitcase might be full but you don't want to buy extra baggage...

Here is a list of 10 essential items to pack for your next vacation, helping you prepare for any unexpected situations.

Vacuum bags

You want to bring lots of outfits to capture diverse travel moments, or plan on shopping sprees during your vacation but want to avoid checked baggage fees. Use compression bags. Simply roll or fold your clothes and place them in the compression bag, then squeeze out all the excess air before zipping it up. It's like a vacuum seal.

Instant coffee

If you're a coffee addict and can't start your day without a cup of coffee, imagine you're in a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb, wake up, and find the coffee shop isn't open or there's no coffee maker in your room. That's a real nightmare! Bring a few packets of instant coffee, and as long as you have water, you'll never have to worry about starting your day, even if you're booked for a 4 AM tour.

Toilet paper

Some places in the world offer fewer things that Americans and Westerners in general take for granted. Toilet paper might top that list. It's never a bad idea to bring some tissues or toilet paper, especially when traveling abroad. How many times have you sat in a restroom for hours only to realize there's no toilet paper? Never let that happen again by being prepared.

Insect spray

What could be more annoying than being attacked by creatures like mosquitoes and ants? Remember that mosquitoes carry some of the world's most dangerous diseases. While this rule applies everywhere, it's especially useful for trips to the tropics. A good, small insect repellent that fits easily on a plane will keep you from mosquito and ant bites throughout your vacation. You can buy insect repellent anywhere in the world, but it will be much more expensive.

Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot or SIM card

Nothing is worse than arriving at a tourist destination and realizing your phone isn't connected to the local internet. Even more frustrating is leaving after just a few days of relaxing and using the internet to find yourself with a huge mobile phone bill.

One sure way to save money and avoid Wi-Fi headaches is to buy a SIM card as soon as you land at the airport or bring a portable Wi-Fi hotspot to ensure you're always within internet coverage. Wi-Fi hotspots can be a bit complicated, and sometimes you need to ensure the device works internationally, such as Solis. SIM cards are a great, low-cost option, but don't forget to keep your original SIM card safe.

Cash and a universal charger

Does it sound silly to add cash to this list? Maybe, but it's really necessary in case, for some reason, your ATM/VISA card stops working abroad. Similar to cash, you need to consider and research what type of charger your device will need, especially if traveling overseas. To avoid headaches, buy a universal charger.

Snacks

Imagine boarding a 10-hour flight, being served a snack, landing at your destination, standing in long lines at customs, then waiting endlessly at your hotel, going through further procedures, and any mishaps that could occur along the way. You can "save" your stomach by bringing along some non-perishable snacks. Snacks like dried fruit, nuts, or chocolate are great to bring abroad.

Passport copy

Can you imagine a scenario even more painful than losing your passport abroad? It's not uncommon, but it does happen to many travelers. Sometimes you might even have your passport expire while you're on your trip. As long as you're in a place with your country's embassy, ​​you'll have an alternative. But, it never hurts to always carry a copy of your passport with you to prove your identity.

The journey of handwriting

We're living in 2022 – a world that's digitally focused. This can be great until something unexpected happens to our phones, tablets, or laptops. Imagine you're in a taxi, the driver asks for directions, and when you try to open your phone, it just won't light up. So you don't have the hotel address or your destination. Write down everything, from flight numbers, departure times, hotel addresses, contact numbers, to almost anything else relevant to your trip.

Anh Thi