Traveling the world is one of the greatest joys in life. That’s because people aren’t meant to only live in one place their entire life; instead, they need to be able to leave their comfort zones, explore uncharted territories, and experience different cultures. People need to lean into and embrace their wanderlust.
But before you can truly enjoy being in a foreign country, you must first plan your travel. You can’t just up and at ‘em without so much as booking your flight if you don’t want to run into some trouble along the way. That said, you also won’t need to drown yourself in the details of your travel.
The whole point is that you find out enough about where you’re going without spoiling all the surprises. Leave some room for your imagination to wander and allow yourself to anticipate the activities that you’ll take part in when you get to your destination. This way, you’ll still feel the excitement of traveling.
However, you mustn’t skip any steps, such as giving yourself enough time to pack. You won’t want to do some last-minute packing because that’s just a disaster waiting to happen. And it will be harder to find out that you’ve forgotten about something important only when you arrive at your accommodation.
To eliminate any potential problems that will root from forgetting to bring the items you need, give yourself at least a week before your trip as a head start for packing. By having enough time to pack, you’ll have the time allowance to buy the items you don’t have at home. So, here are four things you must have every time you travel:
Must-have #1 Your Skin Care Pouch
Just because you’re taking a vacation from your regular responsibilities doesn’t mean you can take a vacation from your skincare routine. You’ve worked far too hard at being religiously consistent with your routine, so don’t let a few days or weeks of traveling make you break that habit.
If you have many skincare products, consider getting travel-sized portions for them so your luggage won’t be too bulky. Plus, don’t forget to purchase a brightening barrier serum online before your trip because all that sun exposure will surely dry out your skin. And you wouldn’t want to have your dry, flaky skin immortalized in all your travel photos.
Must-have #2 Extra Pocket Money
Your hometown may have already adapted to the age of mobile wallets and online banking, but the same cannot be said for other countries around the world. Additionally, you won’t know if there are ATMs in the vicinity of where you’re going to stay, so it might be better to come prepared with cash.
If you’re going to a country with a different currency than the one you have, consider getting them exchanged beforehand. This way, you won’t have to worry about not having access to ATMs or digital payment methods in your destination because you’ll have enough pocket money on hand. In worst-case scenarios, cash still reigns supreme.
Must-have #3 A Mini First-aid Kit
Traveling to a foreign country can be the adventure of a lifetime, especially if you allow yourself to enjoy all the activities and experiences you’ll have during it. However, it can be difficult if you can’t speak the language of the locals, particularly if you get sick and don’t know how to ask for the help you need.
That’s why it’s better to have your own first-aid kit. You know yourself best, which means you can preempt the situations you may find yourself in a while traveling. For example, if you often get headaches on long trips, you should have some paracetamol to counter them. Don’t let avoidable situations like that ruin what could be one of the most memorable trips of your life.
Must-have #4 Flexible Wardrobe Options
Lastly, you should always pack smart. The clothes you bring on your trip highly depend on the activities that you have planned. For instance, if you’re going to the beach, then you’ll need a swimsuit. But if it’s snowing in your destination, then, of course, you’ll need to pack long coats and comfy sweaters.
However, if you don’t have all your activities planned to the last detail, you should be prepared to dress for whatever the occasion. So, choose flexible wardrobe options that you can mix and match for a quiet dinner at a classy restaurant, a weekend brunch at a cafe, or even an afternoon at a food market.
You won’t prepare all these things if you’re too spontaneous about planning your travel. Save the spontaneity for when you’re at your destination and have a lot of spare time on your hands. But for now, try not to forget any of the travel essentials because you’re going to regret it if you wait until the last minute to start packing.
