IMPORTANT ITEMS TO CARRY WHEN TRAVELLING

I do not know about you, but I need a lot of help packing for a holiday. Whether it’s for a weekend, a week, or just for a night, I always seem to either under pack or over pack. Surely, I cannot be the only one who goes through this struggle. When packing, a list of items to carry is essential- not to me, though, because I always pack last minute when everyone is breathing down my neck.

With lists, you find that you have approximately everything you may need during the trip. There are many pros and cons of lists, but we are just going to focus on the pros. One is that you get to save on time that is spent packing and repacking to confirm whether you packed enough socks, for example. Second, you can always tick an item on the list after packing it. Third, no one will be ‘breathing down your neck’ because you packed late or forgot to carry your toothbrush and you have to make a stop just to buy it. All my examples easily translate to proper management of time and space.

On some occasions, I find myself having more than four sets of clothes on a weekend getaway- #overpacking at its finest. Enough with relatable examples; let us delve into ‘The List.’ When making a packing list, an order of importance is to be followed, from most important to least important. Must-haves like toiletries to extra clothes. So, what do you need when travelling?

Documents

• Passport. Imagine getting to the airport only to realize you left your passport on the coffee table, boarding is in half an hour, and the trip back home is also half an hour on each trip- Will you make it? When travelling outside the country, a passport is the most important; when travelling domestically, you can just leave it at home.
• Identification cards must-haves for any trip. (Original plus a copy)
• Health insurance
• Travel insurance. Especially when travelling to Schengen countries.
• Boarding passes
• Visa (especially for international trips)
• Tickets and confirmation receipts.

NOTE: It is advisable to carry a copy or two of your travelling documents plus the original.

Toiletries

Your travel essentials must include toiletries.

• Towels, tissues, and wet wipes.
• Dental care items.
• Skin care items like moisturizer and sunscreen.
• Cosmetics- Makeup and makeup brushes.
• Deodorant and body spray
• Perfume/Cologne
• Hygiene products like soap or body wash, shampoo, and conditioner

Clothes

The clothes you pack greatly depend on the destination. If you pick a warmer destination like coastal areas, make sure you pack light. Also, the main agenda of travel greatly influences the clothes you pack, for example, business trips and camping trips. Some items to be packed include;

• Tops- Blouses, t-shirts, button-ups, sweaters
• Bottoms- Dress pants, shorts, skirts, leggings
• Outerwear- Jackets, cardigans, trench coats, suit jackets
• Undergarments.
• Footwear- Socks, comfortable shoes, dress shoes, and sandals
• Swimwear.
• Accessories- Jewelry, sunglasses, belts, hats
• Activewear- Athletic clothes and shoes.

The 5 4 3 2 1 packing method can also be utilized. The numbers represent the number of certain articles of clothing: five tops, four bottoms, three shoes, two dresses and an accessory set, which can consist of sunglasses, a hat and a set of jewelry.

First aid and medication

Travelling is unpredictable. One thing can lead to another, and out of the blue, you need to get medical attention. Having a first aid kit with you helps disinfect the wound to reduce infection.

Many people sometimes forget their medication, so to avoid disasters, it is important to take note. Some items include;

• Painkillers
• Vitamins
• Fever reducers
• Personal prescriptions
• Sunscreen and sunburn relief
• Insect repellents
• Bandages
• Disinfectant
• Band-aids
• Sanitizers
• Gloves
• Little scissors

Financial Items

• Cash (both local and international for emergencies)
• Credit cards and debit cards
• Traveler’s checks
• Emergency contact information

Electronics

It’s a digital world we live in; phones, EarPods or headphones and chargers are essential.  

• Mobile devices, chargers, and charging cables
• Laptop or an iPad and charger
• Camera, Video camera, and chargers (optional)

Travelling extras

I love this category. Here, you can pack whatever you think you need for more comfort during the trip.

• Compression socks. They help with proper blood circulation. For long flights, consider them to prevent your feet from swelling.
• Travel pillows
• Books or e-books for entertainment
• Water bottle filters
• Electrical converters and adapters

Another key thing to packing is choosing the right travel bag for your trip- this does not apply to females in most cases… pun intended.

However, some hotels do provide personal care items like shampoo, lotion, bath soap, bath robes, and towels. In case you forget some of these items, it is good to know that we’ve got you. The Clarion Hotel Nairobi provides you with all of these; in other words, ‘we remember so you don’t have to.’