I have traveled to many countries with carry on luggage only and I have learned a lot along the way. So I try to stick to the travel essentials and liberate my life from unnecessary weight. My two-week long trip across the Baltic States in winter was one of those trips I decided to keep it simple. Here are the essentials.
The King of Travel Essentials: Adapters / One Charger fits all
Depending on your destination, you might need an adapter to charge your devices. Luckily, the EU regulation mandates that all devices are chargeable with USB-C. Perfect for the light-weight traveler. My international outlet adapter has some USB ports I easily converted with an USB to USB-C converter. I just inserted it and voilà: No more cable salad. This is the ultimate travel essential.
The Carry On Game Changer: Le Pliage by Longchamp
In my 20s, I had a love-hate relationship with this bag. Mostly because the girls in my area carried this bag as if it was a Louis Vuitton Cappucine. Except it wasn’t and it felt very pretentious. Well, women are allowed to change their minds. And I did so after I had passed security for my flight to Australia in 2022. TL;DR: I had only brought a carry-on suitcase and needed something to store the items in I wanted to have in reach of my seat. She bought a Pliage at Frankfurt Airport and has zero regrets.
Why is this on the list? Many reasons: you can fold the bag, it is light weight and takes up almost no space all while giving your travel outfit a bit more glam and maybe even divert the eye from the sweat pants you’re sporting on the plane.
Disinfectant Wipes
A no brainer! Have you ever been on an airplane? I have multiple times and planes are some of the least sanitary places. Sometimes, disinfectant Wipes can safe your wing shot from greasy window residue that I have encountered more often than I’d like to admit.
iPad / Book: Versatility meets Travel Essentials.
If you are like me, you opt out of on-board entertainment and prepare your journey with pre-downloaded content on your YouTube Premium app or books you’ve downloaded to read. As a book worm, I used to bring way too many books so I switched from physical books to e-Books and audio books whenever I travel. And yes, you read that correctly. I am one of the very few Premium users of YouTube.
Medicine & Cosmetics: Essentials not only for traveling!
Baz Luhrmann told us all: Wear sunscreen. Especially if you’re in a window seat! Because there are no clouds to protect you from the skin-damaging sun rays, you bet I make sure to apply an extra layer of sun screen when I’m flying during the day. SPF 30 should be the minimum!
Even when I’m at home in Germany, I always make sure to apply sunscreen. When I travel, my go to product is Fenty Skin Moisturiser that combines SPF and nourishing the skin.
Ziplock Bags
Do yourself a favour and bring a big ziplock bag for your dirty socks, underwear and shirts. Clean clothes can get really smelly quickly if they’re stuck next to the stinky socks or the shirt you wore in a smoker-friendly bar on a night out. This is Travel Essentials 101.
Ear plugs
They hardly take up any space and they can be a lifesaver if you want to get some rest or simply need to focus.
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