Fourteen travel essentials that we can't leave without- and after reading this, you shouldn't have to either!
1. Travel adaptors
Travel adaptors are a MUST have when going abroad. As must as we hate to admit it, society nowadays is totally dependant on technology- whether that be to use maps, for contact or to take beautiful photographs- we all completely rely on it! Therefore, you never want to be in a country you're not used to without any battery! We tend to use a worldwide travel adaptor with plenty of slots for different USB's (such as the BESTEK) so that when the inevitable happens and all of our devices run out at once, we are sorted!
2. Portable chargers
A portable charger is an ideal travel companion! Whether your adaptor breaks, you're on a long journey or your phone dies whilst you're out and about, it's an ideal thing to have with you to keep you safe and contactable. The one we use is the Yoobao but have a look around and find the best one for you!
3. A travel folder
This is absolutely mandatory for backpacking! It means that you have everything important in one place (flight info, passports, insurance info etc...). You can then put the entire thing in a safety box in your room. However, don't forget to keep extra copies of important documents and extra money in a different place to be safe.
4. Mini First Aid Kit
Hopefully you won't need it but...
Things we pack in ours include: Plasters, antiseptic wipes and cream, bandages and mini scissors, hydration sashays and pain killers.
5. GoPro (Or a good quality camera)
You don't know that you need a go-pro until you have one. Underwater shots are the BEST for instagram, or just showing your fam if you don't want to post them. Having a good quality camera just helps you take the best shots of the best moments that you can one day blow up and frame! You know what they say... "photographs are a time machine to a moment otherwise lost".
6. Comfy Backpack (preferably with steel rods)
We can't emphasise enough how much having a good backpack can benefit your trip. We prefer to get them with steal rods in the back for complete support. You don't have to fork out hundreds to get a good one either! We use Karimor and find they work great!
7. Mini Straighteners
Now... This might seem like a strange one but I promise you it has a logical explanation! Ladies! If you like to have nice hair but don't want to pack huge straighteners, these are ideal and compact and I think you can even get battery ones. HOWEVER, the real reason that we carry these with us is actually as an alternative to an iron! Whenever we want to wear clothes that have been scrunched up in the bottom of our bags for weeks/ months, we whip the mini straighteners out and whalla, ironed clothes! (super ideal when staying in a hostel with not much in terms of amenities.
8. Bag Dividers
These are ideal for separating items in your rucksack so you don't have to dive through all of your clothes to get to the one specific pair of shorts you want! (Zac disagrees with me on this one and persists to make a mess every time he looks for something in his backpack)
9. Maps. me
Those of you who have never used it, Maps.me is an app that allows you to download maps to use offline and get moving directions even when your phone is on aeroplane mode! This is a life saver for us since I always seem to get Zac and I lost!
10. Sleep mask and Ear Plugs
Staying in a hostel with up to 10 other people? Need I say more?
11. Headphones
These are probably the one thing we absolutely could not live without. Long journeys feel about 20x longer without them (we do love each-others company... we promise...).
12. Packable Clothesline
A packable clothes line is super compact and saves you money getting your clothes laundered whilst backpacking- and also saves the inevitable of all of your clothes ending up one colour after getting them laundered in a hostel. Just pack this and some travel clothes soap and you'll be on your way! Safe to say we started using these after all of my whites ended up pink when I paid to get my clothes washed in Bali!
13. Bug Repellant
The sad truth is that not every country is 100% malaria clear so if you're not going to take the tablets for your entire trip, it's always better to be safe than sorry and wear bug repellant. Our doctor also gave us a tip- if you're wearing suncream, ensure your bug repellant is over it rather than under it as the suncream blocks it! Even wearing this, we still get eaten alive... must have sweet blood!
14. Small/ quick dry towels
These are totally ideal when carrying light and although they're not the absolute best, you will almost always have a towel included in the room you book so they are mainly used just for the beach. These are the ones we use: