22 Travel Essentials That Will Make Your Trips Better

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Over the course of my travels so far, I’ve tested various things in efforts to make my trips as smooth as possible. Because that’s one of my main goals when traveling: to become a better traveler with each trip I take.

I think I’m at the point where I have a good number of things that I simply can’t travel with. They all serve a specific purpose, and I can’t imagine going on a solo trip without them.

Allow me to share my top 22 travel essentials that make all my trips better. I pack and use these on all of my trips! By the end of this post, I hope you’ll get some ideas to add to your packing list.

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT TRAVEL ESSENTIALS.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

TRAVEL INSURANCE

I used to think travel insurance was only necessary for expensive international trips. But then I did more research on it and learned that you should purchase travel insurance for every single trip, no matter where you’re going or how long you’ll be there.

So now, I make sure each of my trips is covered. It gives me a piece of mind knowing that if something happens, none of the related expenses will have to come directly out of my pocket.

I use IMG Travel Insurance because it’s cost-effective and the setup process is extremely straightforward. They offer CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason) insurance, which is particularly nice for those times where I’m not 100% sure of my travel plans.

MARC JACOBS THE CANVAS SMALL TOTE BAG

I originally bought the Marc Jacobs Small Tote Bag to use on a daily basis — you know, to hold things like my wallet, keys, and hand sanitizer. But on my first solo trip, I decided to use it as my personal item on my flight. And since then, it’s been my go-to personal item.

Not only is it my personal item, but I also use it as my daily bag during my trip. I LOVE that I can use it for multiple purposes because as a minimalist packer, having this kind of item can help save space and reduce the number of things you have to pack.

I have the blue one and although I like it, I do think I’d opt for the dark gray if I had to buy it again. The blue doesn’t conceal dust too well, but it’s still a nice color!

Also, it’s the perfect size — not too big, but not too small. It fits everything I need, including my Lululemon wristlet, water bottle, and any souvenirs I pick up throughout the day (including tons of postcards, of course).

LULULEMON DUAL POUCH WRISTLET

This is another item that I originally bought to use at home, but ended up using for traveling also.

I like that it has two different pouches. I keep my ID in one pouch, and my debit card, credit card, cash and hotel keycard in the other. I also have a few things attached to the wristlet: my AirPods, hand sanitizer, chapstick, and a souvenir keychain I bought at the US Botanic Garden in Washington DC.

I have the sage color, and I honestly think it’s the perfect option. It looks nice, and does a good job at concealing dirt and scratches.

RFID-BLOCKING CARDS

I’m always afraid that my hotel keycard will get demagnetized with it being so close to my credit card, so I bought these RFID blocking cards to prevent that from happening.

I know it’s simple to just ask for another key card, but I figured it didn’t hurt to spend a few dollars on these cards for a peace of mind.

TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

I can’t travel without my favorite travel credit card, the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect. I love this thing because I get a whopping 4X points on all travel expenses, including taxis, Ubers, hotels, Airbnbs, trains, flights — you name it!

At 2X points per dollar, dining reward multiplier isn’t the best, but it’s still decent, especially considering this is the only credit card I’m using right now. And best of yet, there’s no annual fee!

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is another great travel credit card. 

I used to have it, but had to close it for personal reasons. When I was able to use it, I loved it. Unfortunately, the travel reward multiplier isn’t that high, at only 2X per dollar. It used to be 3X, but when the card got a refresh in 2025, they bumped it. The dining multiplier, on the other hand, is 3X, and the annual fee is $95.

That makes it an excellent choice for beginners!

The big boys — which I’m sure you’ve heard of and might even have — are the American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve. I’ve done a ton of research on these and I’m excited to get my hands on one — if not, both — of them.

I won’t tell you which is better because that heavily depends on your travel habits, financial situation, and other factors. But I think it’s safe to say they’re great options for people who travel fairly often.

NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES

Having noise-canceling headphones is a must for tuning out loud airports and taking long main character walks during your trip.

I have the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones and love them. They’re much lighter and cheaper than the AirPods Max — which I used to have — but still sound just as good.

BLUETOOTH AIRPLANE ADAPTER

I always take advantage of the in-flight entertainment screens when the aircraft has the. But the problem is that I often can’t use my bluetooth headphones with them because most don’t offer wireless connectivity.

I bought this bluetooth airplane adapter on Amazon so I could actually, you know, use the screens. This is much better than using those wired earphones they give you. At $35, the adapter costs a bit more than you’d expect, but it’s worth the money — especially for long flights where you’ll be using the screens even longer.

TRAVEL UMBRELLA

I usually travel during spring, which is the rainiest season of the year. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being wet, and I’m not one of those people who thinks using an umbrella is embarrassing.

To stay dry, I bring a small, compact travel umbrella with me on every trip. Even if the forecast doesn’t predict any rain, it still doesn’t hurt to bring it since it’s so small. You can also use it to block the sun, which is quite nifty.

I got mine from Target but there’s tons of options on Amazon and TikTok Shop also.

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

I try to stay on top of my water intake, but when traveling, that can be a bit difficult to do. So, I usually bring a reusable water bottle on every trip to stay hydrated.

I currently use this Owala FreeSip water bottle. It was only $30 and I love that it keeps my water cold and doesn’t spill.

I fill it once I pass security at the airport. Then, when I’m at my hotel, I head to the gym and fill it during my trip. It’s really nice not having to pay $3+ for a bottle of water every time I need one. And plus, you’re reducing your plastic usage!

POWER BANK

Between taking a million photos, checking my itinerary, and following transit directions, I use my phone a lot when traveling. Which means it dies quite fast — often before midday. So I like to keep this Anker power bank in my tote bag.

HAND SANITIZER

I wouldn’t consider myself a germaphobe or someone with OCD, but I have to keep my hands clean throughout the day — especially when traveling.

I touch all kinds of door handles, poles, and other things, so it’s crucial that I keep hand sanitizer on deck. Of course, this doesn’t completely replace washing your hands, but it’s a nice temporary cleanse until you can get to a sink and some soap.

I’ve been using Touchland hand sanitizers recently. I have this protective silicone case that I keep them in, and I attach it to my Marc Jacobs tote. Touchland hand sanitizers aren’t cheap, but I like that you can simply spray them instead of squeezing it onto your hand.

DISINFECTING WIPES

I’m a neat-freak and my environment has to stay clean and sterile, even when I’m traveling.

I always disinfect my phone and water bottle each time I return from my hotel. I also like to wipe down commonly touched surfaces like the hotel door handle, the TV remote, and the sink faucet.

Clorox, Member’s Mark, Lysol, Wet Ones and all have great disinfecting wipes. I don’t really have a preference — usually whatever pops up on Google or catches my eye first at the store is what I’ll buy!

AFRICAN NET SPONGE

Look, I’m fine with using whatever body wash the hotel has. But ever since I started using an African net sponge, I cannot and will not use a regular washcloth anymore.

The African net sponge is so much better! It’s much more sanitary, dries faster, gets sudsier, and exfoliates your skin every time you shower. I mean, what’s not to like about them?

As an alternative, you can use a loofah. I personally don’t use these anymore they aren’t as sanitary, but they’re still a good option!

ADDITIONAL PHONE

Let me say this: I don’t recommend that you shell out $1,000 on a shiny new iPhone. That just doesn’t make sense for you as a budget traveler.

But if you happen to have an extra phone lying around, I think it’s smart to use it as a backup phone. You never know what could happen — your phone could die, you could lose service, or worst of all, you might lose your phone.

So having a backup can be perfect to combat any of those problems. I use the iPhone 17 Pro Max as my backup phone and I couldn’t love it any more.

Pro Tip: try to have both phones on different carriers. For example, choose Verizon for your main phone and AT&T for your backup phone. This way, if there’s a nationwide service outage on one carrier, you can still use your other phone for transit directions and making phone calls.

TRAVEL DAY OUTFIT

I have a specific travel day outfit that I reach for every time I travel: a basic t-shirt, a zip-up hoodie, and some breathable joggers.

I feel like this is the perfect outfit because it looks like you put some effort into it, but it’s ultra-comfortable.

I’m obsessed with matching sets from American Eagle because they’re breathable and are VERY good quality. I literally spent $600 on basic clothes from there and I’m positive those items will last at least three years.

GOOD WALKING SHOES

I walk a lot when traveling. In fact, it’s my primary mode of transportation. I always consider walking before any other option. But with all that walking comes the risk of hurting your feet and getting those painful, ugly blisters.

There’s a lot of factors that go into a “good” pair of walking shoes. Of course, they need to be comfortable, but they also should last long and support long walks. I have the Hoka Bondi 9s and I haven’t had any problems with them. I use them on every trip, and there’s no way I could travel without ‘em!

COMPRESSION SOCKS

Along with good walking shoes, you need to pack some compression socks — especially if you walk a lot during your trips or will be on the plane for more than four hours.

These reduce the risk of blood clots and prevent foot pain, along with other great benefits. Ever since I got these, I rarely have any leg or foot pain, even after hours of walking through the city and museum-hopping.

SHOE INSOLES

At this point, it seems a little excessive, but you really don’t want your feet to hurt or get blisters.

I got these shoe insoles on Amazon and they work a LOT better than I expected. Paired with compression socks and some good walking shoes, I almost never have any foot pain after a long day of walking.

CARRY-ON SUITCASE

I always pack carry-on only, so my carry-on suitcase is a must-have for traveling. I eventually want to get a better one, but for right now, I use this Skyline carry-on from Target.

It’s done me no wrong so far, so I plan to use it until it inevitably does (because I feel like a $50 hardshell carry-on will only last me so long, you know?).

COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES

I’m afraid I joined the packing cube cult late. But you know what they say: better late than never, eh?

The first time I used these was on my 2026 East Coast Trip to Washington DC and Boston. And oh my goodness… I don’t know how I was traveling before I got them!

Not only do they keep everything super organized, but they also save space in your suitcase because they compress the contents inside them. I got mine from Amazon and they seem quite promising. I don’t see myself buying more any time soon.

WEEKENDER BAG

I don’t take weekend trips that often because I don’t live close to any cities that are “worth visiting.” But when I do need to pack extremely light (like my quick trips to Chicago via Amtrak), I like to use this weekender bag from Amazon.

I like all the compartments and zippers it has. They help to keep everything organized. I don’t love how the bag doesn’t have much structure to it, but it still works just fine.

TRAVEL LAUNDRY BAG

After just a few trips, I got tired of throwing my clothes on the floor in the bathroom of my hotel room. I’m so used to having an actual laundry hamper at home, so not having one while traveling felt, um, unfamiliar.

So I went on Amazon, looked for a travel laundry bag, and found exactly what I hoped for. These travel laundry bags are just the right size, and they zip back into place, which saves space in your suitcase.

It’s so nice not having to throw my clothes on the floor anymore — especially because I now pack a travel capsule wardrobe and rewear almost all of my clothing at least once.

FINAL THOUGHTS: TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

In this post, I talked about the top 22 travel essentials that I can’t live without. I’m always looking to become a better traveler, and these essentials help me do just that.

Now, friend it’s your turn. I’m opening the floor for you to start a conversation in the comments. Here are some discussion topics:

• What travel essentials can YOU not travel without?
• Are you going to try any of the essentials in this list?
• What’s the most recent travel essential you bought?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you feel more comfortable chatting with me directly, shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me at demarcus@thesolosolstice.com.

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.