My Top 7 Travel Essentials

My husband and I travel internationally several times a year. Last year we visited Tahiti, Germany, Prague, Rome and Sicily. This week we embark on our first trip of the year- Holland.

While I love exploring foreign lands and immersing myself in new cultures, there are certain items I like to bring to make traveling an even more enjoyable experience. Perhaps some of these suggestions will make your next adventure even better.

1. Kindle– Reading is my favorite hobby and there is nothing more satisfying than having ample reading material while traveling abroad. I typically load up my kindle with about six books so I have plenty of options. I am a capricious creature that prefers to choose books based on my mood. Some of the books I have downloaded for our current trip include: The Closers by Michael Connelly, Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater and E-Squared by Pam Grout.

2. {Bose} Noise Cancelling Headphones– While I have yet to master the art of sleeping on a plane, headphones increase the likelihood exponentially. Disruptive coughing, crying babies, and loudtalkers no longer faze me. Watching movies on the plane with these becomes a cinematic experience. I hardly ever go to the movie theater anymore so this is a win. Podcasts are another form of enjoyable entertainment that passes the time and provides me with ample inspiration for my own creations. Some of my favorites include: Dream Freedom Beauty, Medicine Stories, The Empath Podcast and Supersoul Sundays. I highly recommend any variety of noise-cancelling headphones for your travels.

3. Journal– I bring a journal everywhere I go. I never know when an idea will materialize in my brain. I find that travel is a wonderful muse, it always provokes my creativity. In addition I like to document my experiences, write my daily morning pages as well as blog and social media content. The moleskine brand is by far my favorite and beloved by many famous authors.

4. Ginger– I do not have a stomach of steel by any stretch of the imagination. I am prone to carsickness, seasickness, you name it. One of the ways I combat this naturally is by taking 2 capsules of powdered ginger a day while abroad to safeguard against nausea. I actually start this regimen one week before the trip to ensure it’s in my system. Ginger candy is a great alternative too, but I normally use it at home instead because it’s not as potent. I like to keep it in my purse.

5. Elderberry gummies– In the same vein as ginger, this herbal remedy comes with me on every trip. Elderberry helps support the immune system and combat colds and flus. You can take it in gummy, syrup, tea or tincture form. I prefer the gummies because they are extra portable and delicious. I usually take 2 a day if I am sick or as a preventative if I am around sick people. They are fast-acting and in my experience can cut the life of a cold/flu in half. Love these!

6. Athletic shoes- This sounds incredibly obvious, but one time I went to Germany and I only brought ankle boots and flats. I thought those would have sufficed, but my bloody toes suggested otherwise. Luckily, we were able to find a pair of Nikes after a little hunting and I had never been so grateful for appropriate footwear. Lesson learned: always bring athletic shoes.

7. Lotion– Not every hotel provides lotion, believe it or not, and I have found that when you’re in an unfamiliar environment, your skin may respond differently. In Europe my skin has a tendency towards major dryness and soaks up moisture like a sponge. Perhaps it is staging a rebellion, spoiled by the sunny California weather. I find that I go through much more lotion than usual and often the convenient travel-size bottles don’t quite cut it.

While this list certainly doesn’t encompass every essential item I pack for our trips abroad -notorious overpacker here- these are the ones I certainly can’t do without.

I may also do a separate post in the future about which snacks I bring because airplane food is notoriously unhealthy/unsatisfying.

Let me know what you think!

What are your go-to travel essentials?