It’s important to remember that it’s YOU that has to carry your backpack / suitcase. The more you pack, the heavier it’ll be for you. To help you decide what you should take with you, here’s a short guide of the absolute essentials.
Passport
The most important and obvious thing to pack with you is your passport! You won’t be getting very far without it! Some countries, especially in the EU, will allow you to travel with just your ID card but this depends on your airline, so I’d recommend having your passport with you just in case! Also, it’s crucial you check that your passport is valid. In a lot of countries you need to have at least six months on your passport before it expires so make sure you check this in good time in case you need to sort this out before your trip!
Having copies of all your important documents (photocopied and/or emailed to yourself) is essential when you're travelling. In the case that you lose your passport, phone, bank card or insurance information, then you have a good starting point.
Travel towel
Some hostels don’t provide towels so it’s important you bring one with you. Thick towels can take up a lot of room in your backpack so I’d recommend a microfibre towel. They are made from synthetic, quick drying materials and can fold up small.
Portable charger
Bring a portable phone charger so that you can charge your phone on the go. You don’t want your phone to die when you need it for directions or a great photo opportunity!
Flexible padlock
For your own peace of mind, it’s important to have a padlock. A flexible padlock is ideal as lockers come in all sizes so you’ll be able to lock your things away no matter where you are. It’s also key for when you're on a night bus / train, walking through crowded areas, or storing your bag somewhere that's not in a locker. A code padlock is also more useful than a key padlock, as you don’t want to be constantly searching for a tiny key to get into your things.
Security money belt
A money belt is normally worn under your clothes to keep your valuables safe. You could store your money, passport and/or your phone with the reassurance that no one can get to your valuables. These are perfect for when you’re out and about, on a night bus/ train or again when a locker isn’t available.
International adapter
An international adapter is perfect if you are travelling across a number of countries that use different sockets. They can also be quite expensive to buy at the airport, so I recommend getting one before you leave.
Reusable water bottle
It’s really important to keep hydrated wherever you go in the world. Having a reusable bottle is great for the environment and it can also save you a lot of money as you won’t need to keep buying plastic bottles.
Filtered bottles are also great for travelling as they will get rid of any impurities, viruses and bacteria (depending on the bottle) offering a safe water solution when you’re on the move. If not, water purification tablets will also do a similar job to this.
Flip flops
Not only will you be able to use flip flops or sliders when it’s hot, it’s key to have a pair of flip flops for hostel showers / rooms (even in the winter!)
First aid kit
A first aid kit is essential on your travels. You never know when you’ll need health care on the road.
Roll on deodorant
When it comes to deodorant, I would recommend taking a roll-on rather than a spray deodorant. It’s smaller and if you get a powdered deodorant (for example Mitchum) it won’t need to go in your liquids bag through airport security. A spray deodorant could also sometimes be harmful to asthmatics who may be sharing your hostel dorm.
Packing cubes
We want to keep our backpack light and save as much space as we can so my top tip is to fold your clothes efficiently. You can do this by rolling your clothes up rather than folding them and then putting them into packing cubes. You can even get packing cubes that have an extra compression zip to save space.
Have local currency
It’s not recommended to rely on an ATM to take your money out when you get to a country. The ATM might not be working for your card or simply may have run out of money. Budget how much money you need per day and then decide how much you want to take out with you.
To save a lot of money on the conversion costs, it’s recommended you have a travel card. Popular travel bank cards include Monzo, Post Office, Revolut and Starling.
Reusable bag
Having a reusable bag with you can make a huge difference in helping the planet. It can serve as a shopping bag, reducing the amount of plastic bags you’ll need. You could also use one as a laundry bag, to separate your dirty clothes.
Shampoo and conditioner
Shampoo and conditioner bottles can be bulky and take up a lot of room in your bag. Instead, you could fill up smaller sized bottles with your hair products to save space. Ideally, to support the zero waste movement and help the environment, you could buy some more sustainable shampoo or conditioner bars which last months!
Offline maps
When trying to navigate around an unfamiliar city, it’s ideal to have access to a GPS app that works offline. You could download your chosen city on Google Maps, download Maps.me or City Mapper. In the worst case scenario where you don’t have access to a device, you could pack a fold-up map or get one from your hostel if they provide free city maps on arrival.
Travel insurance
For security purposes and peace of mind when you're travelling, it’s a good idea to have travel insurance. You never know when something may happen and you may need emergency cover.