The 8 Essentials for Any International Trip

Taking off on any international trip is overwhelming. In addition to having all the correct documentation and packing all your favorite outfits, missing the smallest of things such as a wall converter can add unnecessary stress to an already stressful travel day. Below I’ve listed the 8 essentials you should pack for any international trip, to help minimize the stress.

1. Neck Pillow: whether you’re flying first class or coach, any plane ride longer than 4 hours is painful for your neck. And face it, the plane pillows are almost as bad as the food, not to mention unsanitary. I read a study recently that said the pillows on planes are only cleaned about once a week. Gross.
   • My favorite kind of neck pillow is the inflatable U-Shaped Neck Pillow by Cocoon, that lets out air when you twist a button. This way when the pressure in the plane changes and your pillow gets really hard, you can adjust it without actually having to take it off your neck. A variety of retailers sell this pillow for $25.
2. Portable Phone Charger: the data roaming and constant checking of Google Maps while traveling can drain your battery in just a few hours. To avoid being stuck in a country without a phone where you don’t speak the local language, get a portable phone charger.
   • My favorite portable charger is by Mophie. I recommend a charger in the Integrated Series, as the charging cord is built inside of the battery pack so you don’t have to bring a power cable with you. There are 2 adaptors so the charger works with both Apple and Android. The charger is thin and light so it’s not a pain to carry around. The Powerstation Plus Mini has a price tag of $59.95 and on one charge, charges my iPhone X to full battery 3 times.
3. Space Saver Bags: the hardest part of packing is fitting all of your favorite things into your suitcase. Space saver bags compress your clothing into small bags that are easy to carry and even easier to pack.
   • My favorite space saver bags are by Eagle Creek. I can fit ~12 shirts or ~6 pants in one medium sized compression cube. A set of one medium bag and one small bag costs $40. On my recent 40 day trip to Asia, I fit all the clothes I needed (and all the clothes I didn’t wear) into 2 medium cubes and 2 small cubes.
4. Noise Cancelling Headphones: the worst part of flying is when you sit down in your seat, get comfortable, and then right behind you a baby starts screaming, which lasts for the next 2 hours. With noise cancelling headphones, everything goes quiet except for what you’re listening to.
   • My favorite noise cancelling headphones are by Bose. They are expensive ($249.95), but I take them on every single trip and they make flying so much more relaxing. When I have my headphones in, I can’t hear the person next to me talking, the kid behind me crying or the excessive PA announcements that wake me up when I’m sleeping. These headphones fit very comfortably in your ear, are rechargeable and last 16 hours on a full charge.
5. Copies of Your Passport: whenever I travel, I always carry 2 copies of my passport. I put one copy in my backpack or purse and the other copy in my suitcase. This way in case I lose my passport, I have a copy of the information page which makes it easier to get a new passport when you go to the embassy.
6. US Dollars: the US Dollar is the most accepted currency in the world. This means that any currency exchange you go to will be able to exchange US Dollars for the local currency. Some countries, such as Cambodia and Zimbabwe, even accept US Dollars in addition to their local currency. When traveling, I always carry an extra $50-$100 with me.
7. Clorox Wipes: flying is a great way to test your immune system. Being surround by people from around the world, using public bathrooms, and sitting in seats that have been sat in by several people before you that day, you are immersing yourself in the perfect environment for bacteria. CNN posted an article citing the results of an experiment that tested various places in the airport and on the plane for bacteria. Turns out that the tray table on your seat is the dirtiest place you encounter while traveling. Since I read that, I always carry a travel sized bag of Clorox Wipes to clean my tray table, head rest and arm rests before getting comfortable.
8. Snacks: plane food is the worst part of flying (for me). You’re trapped in a small space for hours only to get served a subpar meal guaranteed to be served with several things you don’t like. And while Delta serves Magnum bars part way through international flights, it’s not enough to hold you over on those 10+ hour travel days. If you’re picky like I am, my go to is to get an order of chicken tenders before flying. If you don’t mind plane food, I still recommend grabbing some protein bars ( Cliff Bars and Zone bars are my favorite) in case you get hangry during your 50 minute layover.