(Washington Insider Magazine) -Packing a carry-on bag or a checked bag can be a challenge to some. On top of the anxiety of feeling like you forgot to pack something important, you also must stay on top of checked baggage weight requirements, TSA guidelines, and much more to consider. Whether it’s an item that will make your flight more enjoyable or a way to save space in your suitcase, we’ve compiled a list of five absolutely must-haves for your next adventure. With these items, you will be prepared to travel stress-free and effortlessly.
COVID-19 Survival Kit
We’re living in a “new normal” as we continue to grapple with COVID-19 and its impacts. To protect yourself and others (and to ensure you follow local, state, and country mandates), pack yourself a COVID-19 survival kit. Purchase a small pouch and stock it with extra masks, hand-sanitizer, wipes, and whatever else has made you feel safer in this day and age. These kits even come pre-prepared!
Travel Adapter
Not all outlets are made the same. In fact, international travelers should know that many countries have different outlet structures than what they’re used to seeing in the United States. We recommend purchasing a universal travel adapter (like this one) and keeping it in your carry-on bag. You never know when you’ll need to charge a phone, tablets, etc., and there is always the slightest possibility of losing checked luggage. Trust us on this one.
Lightweight, waterproof jacket
Weather can be unpredictable. Even if you’re headed to somewhere tropical, sometimes it can rain unexpectedly. Be prepared by packing a lightweight, waterproof jacket in your carry-on bag. Something light like this jacket is easy to roll-up and place in the bottom of your carry-on bag. Nothing feels worse than getting rained on after a long-flight or when you’re out on an excursion, so pack the jacket!
Digital Copies of Important Documents
Passport holders and travel wallets are useful items to have, but no one is immune from petty theft or simple bad luck. Make sure you make digital copies of your passport information page, credit cards and identification cards (front and back); you can email them to someone you trust back home and store them on a USB drive. You will thank yourself when you accidentally leave your passport in the back of a cab or find that your wallet has gone missing (knock on wood).
Entertainment
If you’re making a long-haul flight, a nervous flyer, or simply get bored easily, it is essential that you pack some of your favorite ways to entertain yourself in your carry-on bag. This can include noise cancelling headphones, tablets for reading or watching movies, maybe even a book that you’ve been meaning to finish. Regardless, you will need something to help you pass the time on the plane, in the car, or on the train while in route to your destination. When you’re not sleeping, tap into what makes you happy.