7 Important Things You Can’t Forget to Bring When Travelling

Earlier this week, I wrote a post about 10 things you shouldn’t take on your day travels. I put particular emphasis on not taking certain items to protect them from damage or theft. But now you are probably left wondering which items you should take with you. Here, I have listed 7 items you should take with you.

Backpack

A backpack such as this Modoker canvas backpack from Amazon is great for carrying your possessions. It has two main zip compartments, a small pouch on the front, and two water bottle compartments on the sides. Inside, there is a small pouch to put your power bank in, to make charging your phone easier. Because it is made of canvas, its washable too (see instructions inside the bag). Buy your own Modoker backpack using the link below:

Smartphone

Probably one of the most important things on my list. It is essentially like an all in one. Instead of taking paper maps, you can use Google Maps; you can buy train tickets online; and use the camera for taking photos. It can also act as a wallet too, thanks to phone apps such as Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay.

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Water Bottle/ Flask

Save money on hot drinks and bottled water by taking your own water bottle or cup instead. Some coffee shops and cafés offer incentives for bringing your own reusable cups:

• Costa and Starbucks are giving up to 25p off
• Pret A Manger is offering up to 50p off

As well as saving money, you are also saving the environment too by creating less plastic waste.

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Wallet

Read my guide on what things you should keep in your wallet here.

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Watch

Instead of constantly using your phone to tell the time, give your eyes a rest by wearing a watch to tell the time instead. Plus, you can take some great pictures of your watch with scenery in the background! Ideally you want a robust watch that you can wash easily. I would love to hear in the comments to find out which watches you recommend for travel.

Power Bank and Charging Cable

You never know when you might need this, as your phone could die on you in the middle of day. This has happened to me quite a few times when I’ve forgotten to charge my phone the night before. Therefore, it’s better to keep a power bank in your backpack with a charging cable too so you don’t have to purchase one when out.

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I don’t advise you to buy power banks impulsively, as you could end up being ripped off like I did once. When I went to the London Designer Outlet once, my phone battery was really low and I couldn’t find anywhere to charge my phone. I ended up being ripped off when I bought a 5000mAh power bank for £25.

Items You Need Depending on the Weather

When going out for the day, don’t forget to check the weather forecast!! UK weather is unpredictable, as we’ve learnt many times when it rains spontaneously on a sunny day…

• For hot and sunny days, don’t forget to bring sun cream with an SPF 50 rating. Make sure you keep out of the sun between 11am-3pm as this is the hottest part of the day. Try to stay in shaded areas. This NY Times article has a list of the best sun creams you can find.
• For rainy days, bring an umbrella with you. Mini umbrellas are really good as they don’t take up a lot of space in your coat pocket or backpack.
• On cold days, bring a wooly hat, gloves, and scarf to keep warm.