No time or money for a two-week tour of Europe or an Arctic cruise? Then why not turn a long weekend into an equally memorable and far less demanding trip? Pick a destination, put together the perfect itinerary, and be sure to bring the following essentials so everything runs smoothly!
The Right (Amount of) Clothing
Giving clothing advice even for short-term trips is tricky because so much depends on the time of year, destination, and the method of travel. While looking stylish is important, you really don’t want the hassle of too much luggage if you’re flying. Some general tips do apply, though.
Weather permitting, wear your bulkiest clothes during the drive or flight to free up space. Keep things simple – either go with one outfit per day or take a layered approach so you can bring fewer items yet pull off several stylish combos. Go with at least two pairs of underwear and socks while wearing a single pair of sturdy, season-appropriate shoes.
A Pillowcase
That Airbnb you’ll be staying at might have a boatload of 5-star reviews, but you never know if they’ve changed pillowcases between guests. Bring your own and you won’t need to wonder!
A pillowcase is an awesome travel hack tool, even if you don’t end up using it conventionally. It can double as a breathable container and separator for your dirty clothes. Just chuck it and its contents into the washer when you get home for hassle-free cleaning.
Digital Copies of Important Documents & Receipts
Getting all your documents in order for international trips is essential, even if you’re just going on a romp through Baja California, a stone’s throw from the border. Simple or not, you’ll still need your passport and a tourist permit. Bringing reservation confirmations won’t hurt, and neither will a list of any conditions and medications you can present in case of an emergency.
You’ll obviously want to take along physical copies. But just to be sure, it’s also a good idea to take pictures of everything and store them both on your phone and in the cloud.
An eSIM Data Plan
Speaking of cross-border getaways, don’t neglect your digital connectivity. Previously, you could choose between spotty Wi-Fi, fiddling with a temporary physical SIM, or paying more per megabyte in roaming charges than you would for printer ink.
Luckily, eSIM services make all this trivial and affordable. You choose a plan, and it becomes active when you reach your destination country. All the benefits of a physical SIM are there, meaning you can use local mobile networks to go online safely from practically anywhere. Best of all, the data plans are flexible and will set you back far less than roaming through your usual carrier would.
A Universal Travel Adapter & Charger
Taking loads of pictures and videos is murder on the battery, so your smartphone could die mid-trip even if you top it off the night before. A charger makes this a non-issue, especially if you combine it with a universal adapter when going abroad.
Bonus tip: a long USB cord might take up a little more space, but you’ll be glad you took it along if the outlet nearest to your nightstand happens to be six feet away.
A VPN
Most people think of maps, translation apps, and review aggregators when gearing their smartphones up for travel. While great for getting around, none of these apps can protect you from travel-specific digital dangers. For example, public Wi-Fi is available everywhere, easy to access — and easily exploited by hackers out to steal your data.
A reputable VPN will make sure no one can monitor, intercept, or alter your data, even if you use the Wi-Fi at that wonderful bistro you discovered. The best VPNs for PC and phones create a tunnel around the connection, encrypting all transferred data and ensuring snoops can’t see what you’re up to. Plus, being able to change your IP address lets you use location-specific services like banking or streaming apps even if you go abroad.
A Well-Stocked First-Aid Kit
Mishaps are sometimes part of the travel experience. Bringing along a portable yet well-rounded first-aid kit will ensure you can get patched up and won’t miss out on much of the fun.
The basics include bandages and sterile gauze, along with scissors to tailor them. Tweezers can pull out splinters, while alcohol and cotton swabs or antiseptic wipes prevent scrapes or punctures from getting infected.
Medication-wise, there’s your standard over-the-counter pain relief and anti-diarrheal pills, along with any prescribed meds you need to take. You might also want to bring something for motion sickness if any of your travel companions get queasy during long rides.
