Raingear. Unless you’re spending all your time in Chile’s Atacama Desert, you need a rain jacket and/or travel umbrella.
Medicine/first aid kit. Prescription drugs are difficult to find while abroad so be sure you have what you need for the length of your trip. I also bring a modest supply of over-the counter medicines such as Advil, Imodium (for diarrhea), antacid pills, Pepto Bismol, eye drops, and hand sanitizer. For cuts and scrapes, my first aid kit includes bandages of various sizes and a small tube of Neosporin.
Copies of critical documents. As a precaution, bring a printed copy of your passport photo page and pages containing visas for countries on your itinerary. Also, bring a copy of your vaccination document (i.e. your “yellow card”). Store these separately from where you keep originals such as in your checked luggage. It’s also useful to email photos of documents to yourself. As an added measure of security, give a copy of your itinerary (including where you will be staying) to a family member or friend.
Luggage locks: I never travel internationally without one or two TSA-approved luggage locks. The locks provide an added measure of security for storing valuables in hotel rooms that are without a room safe.
Electrical adapters: Most portable electrical devices such as phone chargers and hair dryers can be plugged into either 220 or 120 volt outlets (but check to be sure!). Note that plug configurations differ across countries so be sure you have the adapters needed for the places you’ll be visiting (click here for a list of countries and adapter types).
Travel insurance: Travel insurance provides reimbursement for medical emergencies and evacuations, lost or delayed baggage, and trip cancelation/interruption/delay. Before a recent trip to South America, I purchased rance through a company called World Nomads.
Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses: Sun protection is easily overlooked. I pack a lightweight nylon cap that dries quickly. For additional sun protection, I carry a small tube of SPF 50 sunscreen in my daypack and a larger container in checked luggage. My prescription sunglasses are useful for driving. I also carry clip-on sunglasses that attach to my regular glasses.
Spare prescription eyeglasses and/or contact lenses: Ever considered what would happen if you lost your prescription glasses or contacts while traveling? I bring a spare pair of glasses (an older prescription) and a tiny screwdriver for tightening eyeglass frames. If you don’t have older eyeglasses, consider purchasing inexpensive reading glasses as a backup.
Mobile phone, charger, navigation tools: Among indispensable travel tools are navigation apps I use on my iPhone. My favorite is CoPilot, distributed by Trimble. Although somewhat basic compared to Google Maps, CoPilot maps can be downloaded for offline use. I’ve used the app for navigating throughout the United Kingdom, Eastern and Western Europe, and South America. For hiking, I use Alltrails. Along with offline trail maps, the app offers information about the condition and difficulty of trails and recommendations/reviews written by users.
Comfortable footwear: The shoes you bring can be your most important asset or your biggest liability. Select shoes you can wear for an entire day of sightseeing. Be sure to break in new shoes by wearing them for at least a week before your trip.
Here are other items that are useful but not essential:
Extra camera batteries and data cards: I carry at least one extra camera battery and data card on international trips. In addition, I have an SD card adapter that allows me to transfer photos I’ve taken with my digital camera to my iPhone for sharing on social media.
Noise canceling headphones: Noise canceling headphones are useful for riding on aircraft with high ambient noise levels.
Portable USB battery: I use a potable USB battery to recharge my iPhone in airports and places where I can’t find other power sources.
Mosquito repellant and mosquito netting: I bring mosquito repellant when I’m traveling to counties located in the tropics. The most effective repellants contain between 30% and 50% DEET. I also carry mosquito netting to cover my bed in countries where malaria is prevalent.
Instant coffee: Can you survive a morning without coffee? I can’t, so I bring one or two boxes of Starbuck’s instant coffee. Each contains eight foil packets.
Laundry detergent: A small bottle of laundry soap and a portable clothesline are useful for washing clothes in hotel bathtubs or sinks. If you utilize a hotel laundry service, make sure your clothes will be ready in time for your departure.
Travel pillow and eye mask: A small blow-up pillow and face mask are useful for sleeping on long flights.
Airport terminal diagrams: I print copies of airport terminal diagrams to help with navigation in the event I have a tight connection.
Extra cash: I’ve never regretted bringing reserve cash to cover unanticipated expenses and for peace of mind. The amount depends on the length of my trip. For a two-week trip, I bring $300-$400 beyond my anticipated cash expenses.
