When it comes to long-term travel, I always try to keep in mind two things: space and practicality. I’m a budget traveller, which means I travel with economic airlines and I can’t really afford the cost of extra luggage. So I have to keep it light. Therefore, I need to find items that serve multiple purposes and don’t take that much space. However, I’m also a bit of a romantic traveller, so of course that I had to add a few unpractical, yet necessary items on the list. In any case, these are the absolute packing essentials of The DreamPacker. If you share some of these or have other must-have in mind, make sure to leave it in the comments.
1. Coconut Oil
This is my personal favourite. I can’t begin to express how much of a lifesaver this little thing is. Coconut oil is not only an amazing product for your health and beauty routine, but also incredible practical for a traveller with limited luggage space. One bottle of this baby will save you from packing at least five other toiletries. You can use it as a make-up remover, shaving cream and skin moisturizer. But it is also a miraculous treatment to prevent dry hair and just a few drops of it in your toothbrush will even help you to whiten your teeth!
2. A Journal
Photos are great, but there is no better way of preserving a thought than writing it. After years of keeping travel journals, it still amazes me to read passages and remember who I was back then. It helps to understand me a little better and to relieve the entire experience once more (OK, sometimes it is a little embarrassing, but I guess it’s part of the fun). Besides, long flights are the best place to write uninterruptedly for hours to go. I mean, when I’m not busy falling asleep.
My parents gave me this gorgeous Christian Lacroix London inspired journal last Christmas and I really like the feel of it. But, essentially, anything with blank pages will work.
3. A Printed Book
Is not that I’m a purist (though I kind of am). But, although I’ve come to terms with the advantages of e-books, the truth is that printed books still have a few perks of their own.
Don’t get me wrong, even when I always travel with a well-equipped online library in my iPad, I firmly recommend to carry with you at least one paperback. Let’s get real, batteries drain fast and there are still some places with strict electronics policies. Besides, when I’m getting into a not-so-nice part of a city, I prefer to leave most of my tech gear back in my lodging, but I still hate to wait in lines and buses without something to read.
I want a comfort book, so right now, I’m debating between my Peter Pan copy or a Mansfield Park edition I found in a second-hand book shop. I’ll let you know my choice soon enough.
4. Headphones
For a quick jog in the local park, a quiet evening watching Netflix in the bunk bed of your hostel room or even as earplugs for that crying baby on the plane.
Headphones are an absolute must. Also, I always try to bring a spare, because I tend to give them a hard time on the road and occasionally soak them on my morning tea…
5. Travel Sewing Kit
It may surprise you how many times buttons fell down when you have a limited wardrobe. If you are living out of a suitcase, you will tend to use and reuse the same pieces over and over again (doesn’t mean you have to wear the same outfit, though. You can get creative).
The obvious consequence is that clothes will unavoidably wear out.
Some seams will begin to subside, holes might appear in a sock or two or you may even find a cool applique in an antique shop that would go perfect with your sweater. You never know. Anyways, a small sewing kit is a budget traveller’s best friend.
6. A LBD
It is kind of hard to anticipate what kind of formal events you are going to have abroad (or even if you are going to have any), but a Little Black Dress is fool-proof.
You can wear it in evening affairs and special occasions and make it look totally different with the right accessories. But, also, you can even rock it during daytime if you mix it up with a cardigan and a belt and a nice pair of flats.
7. Copies of your documentation
We travellers get robbed. It is blunt, but we tend to be a tempting target for pickpocketers. And although sometimes they may just take your dirty gym clothes and old make-up (I still hate them), sometimes they can mess your entire itinerary by stealing your passport and/or ID’s.
So it is better if you carry with you a copy of your documents at all time in case of an emergency. You can leave them locked in your hostel/lodging, or carry them with you in a travel pouch underneath your close. Depends on how paranoid you are.
8. Travel Locks
I don’t think I need to explain this one much. Whether is your luggage, your hostel lockers or the carry-on you leave on the overhead compartments (am I the only one who gets paranoid that someone else is going to steal my carry-on while I’m asleep during the flight?), travel locks are a must. I really like the ones with combination, mainly because I don’t have to worry about losing the keys. But any kind of lock will make any trip safer.
8. Portable Battery Charger
I don’t know where I had been living, but I didn’t know about the existence of these thingies until my father gave me one a few weeks ago. Back home, I used to recharge my mobile in my car, if I ever ran unexpectedly out of battery. But, turns out that I don’t have a car anymore, since I sold it, so I’d be able to travel. Ergo, a plan B seemed necessary. However, I’ve been using this portable charger lately and I must say it is a lifesaver. We travellers need to keep connected in case of an emergency and/or a funny meme.
So, there you go. I am not a light packer, so it really took me a while to narrow it down, but I think these are my absolute must-haves. Do you have any other packing essentials for your trips? Don’t forget to mention it in the comments!
I guess I’ll see you on the road.
Love,
