In this post I want to highlight 5 travel essentials for any type of trip. I’ve spent the better portion of the last 8 years traveling the world. Most of my time has been spent as a backpacker, but I have also gotten to enjoy the pleasures of some luxury vacations as well. No matter what type of travel I am doing – indefinite or a one-week vacay – these 5 travel essentials are always a part of my trip.
Let me know in the comments what your 5 Travel Essentials are.
Cañon de la Zorra, Mexico
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Here are my Top 5 Travel Essentials:
1. Travel Insurance
Nothing is worse than getting sick or hurt while you are traveling! Travel Insurance takes out the fear/stress of paying for treatment so you can access the best care ASAP. I’ve gotten Bali Belly on holiday and parasites while backpacking in Peru. Both instances required a hospital visit, IV fluids, blood tests and antibiotics. Thankfully my travel insurance covered all the costs. In addition to covering medical expenses, most travel insurances cover stolen items as well as trip interruptions and cancelations. I was stoked when my travel insurance covered the cost to replace my stolen iPhone! Heymondo has been my go-to for a few years.
Heymondo – A super affordable and easy to navigate travel insurance. This is my current provider and I really appreciate their services because they cover me when I return home to the USA for visits (I’m an Australian resident). They have great coverage for adventure sports and equipment. Key highlights:
> Heymondo covers travelers from any country in the world
> COVID-19 coverage included
> Trip Cancellation included
> Plans available for long, short-term and annual multi-trip travel
> Heymondo assistance app. 24 hour medical chat, free emergency assistance calls and very easy claims management
Get 5% off your Travel Insurance with Heymondo
South Africa Safari
2. Travel Credit Card
The ultimate travel game changer! There are so many benefits to a good travel credit card and there are so many to choose from. In the past year we have stayed 10 nights at Hyatts for free, booked free airline tickets and got free Priority Pass memberships so we can enjoy the free food and drinks in the airport lounges. The two cards that I use are the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture X.
Here are some of the top benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Ultimate Rewards Points that you can use to book hotels, flights etc.
- 2 x points on travel purchases, 3 x points on restaurant purchases and 1 x points for every dollar spent
- Fantastic point transfer partners like United Airlines and World of Hyatt
- $50 annual travel credit
- $95 annual fee – this is really low compared to other cards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great entry level Travel Credit Card.
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you sign up and spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Find out more here.
Here are some of the top benefits of the Capital One Venture X:
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2 x points on all purchases
- Great transfer partners like Singapore Airlines, Flying Blue and more
- Free Priority Pass for Airport Lounge Access
- Free Global Entry or TSA pre-check membership
- $300 annual travel credit
- $395 annual fee – lower than most high end travel cards
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you sign up and spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Find out more here.
It is important to research which card will be the best option for you, and to only open a credit card if you can spend responsibly.
Valparaiso, Chile
3. Proper Luggage
Every trip is different and having a reliable and appropriate way to transport all your belongings is essential! There are so many options to choose from, but I have found these two to be the best for a variety of travel needs:
Osprey Backpacks: For extended trips where I am backpacking between countries/cities or when I am completing multi-day hiking adventures I always rely on Osprey Backpacks. They are industry leaders and provide awesome, durable backpacks. I used the Aerial 65 backpack when I was trekking around South America. I used the Fairview 70 Travel Pack when I was backpacking around Southeast Asia and Europe.
Coolife Luggage – If I am going on a quick holiday then I rely on my Cooli Luggage set. It comes with three sizes so I always have the correct option depending on the type of trip. I have been dragging my carry-on bag around the world and it is proving to be very durable. I also love how all three bags fit inside each other for easy storing.
3. Airpods
I can’t believe I was 28 years old before I started using Airpods. They are a game changer for travel! My favorite feature is the noise cancelling ability. This is so useful in noisy planes, buses or dorm rooms. I love being free from headphone cords so I can workout, explore around town or relax in bed. Airpods need to be on your travel essentials list!
Rottnest Island, WA
4. Kindle
I bring my Kindle on every trip! Nothing is better than having a relaxing day while traveling and diving into a great book. Kindle is amazing, and I never leave on a trip without it. My newest Kindle is also waterproof which is great for added durability. My Amazon Prime account allows me to rent a wide range of books for free, and I also signed up for Kindle Unlimited to get access to even more books!
