Travelling solo and want to make sure you don’t forget to pack the necessities? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! I just travelled Europe, Asia and parts of the USA for the past 6 months and have compiled the perfect list! I’ve include the absolute necessities as well as some unique items you may not have thought of packing! I’ve included all of the best items to pack for your next trip, with links to my amazon favourites throughout the blog! So if you’re trip is quickly approaching, you can order most of these items overnight with Amazon Prime! Here’s the direct link to my Amazon storefront where I’ve included all these must-have travel items!
Want to get to know a bit more about me and how I started solo travelling? Check out this blog!
Don’t Forget to Pack These 21 Items
1. Eye Mask + Ear Plugs
Absolutely necessary for those long travel days or noisy nights at hostels! This is a great option as it comes with an eye mask + ear plugs!
2. Luggage and Travel Locks
These are the exact locks I brought with me! I definitely recommend bringing more than one! If you’re staying at a hostel, you’ll want to be able to secure your belongings in your locker at all times, with these reliable locks! Also great for securing the bag itself. Having more than one lock came in very handy while solo travelling!
3. Carabiners
Carabiners are SO handy! This is often overlooked and I only decided to add this to my packing list for my most recent trip and they were so useful! When your bag starts getting full, having the option to tie things to the outside is a game-changer!
4. Everyday Tote Bag
I always pack a tote bag on backpacking trips for the low key days when I visit coffee shops and need to carry a few things with me!
5. A Notebook
You’ll be ready to journal right when you arrive, or jot down direction when your phone is about to die! It’s very handy to have a notebook!
6. Electrolytes: Liquid IV
Great for those mornings when you’re hungover and need a quick cure or if you get dehydrated/sick while travelling!
7. Secure Travel Money Belt
A money belt is worn close to your body and provides extra security when travelling with your passport in crowded areas!
8. Energy Bars
Packing energy bars is great when you don’t have food while travelling and are very hungry! 10/10 recommend.
9. Lightweight Rain Poncho
I wish I would’ve brought this instead of a rain coat! So compact and easy to store in your backpack! Also great for covering your fanny pack. (Making the decision of bringing a poncho on your trip instead of a proper rain coat definitely depends on the destination you are travelling).
10. Deet Insect Repellant
Insect repellent with diet is very important in Southeast Asia, among other destinations.
11. Power Bank with USB + USB C
When travelling, I always make sure my phone is charged for safety purposes. This charger is a great option as it is powerful +has USB/USB C.
12. Quick Dry Microfibre Travel Towel
Not all hostels provide towels, so this is yet another must! If you’re unsure about which size to get, I’d honestly recommend getting the largest size offered- although not absolutely necessary and will take up a bit more space in your backpack, it will be so nice having a full size towel! Trust me.
13. Lightweight Day Backpack
This is a great day pack for your adventures. It’s very compact and easy to pack in your main bag on travel days. It’s the exact one I used and it came in very handy while solo travelling!
14. Fanny Pack w/ Multiple Zippers
Having a fanny pack is essential, when venturing out for the day with your passport and wallet! I love this one because it has many compartments and will help keep everything organized and separated.
15. A Solid Backpack
I have this bag and can’t recommend it enough! The clamshell design will keep you SO organized, regardless off how long you are travelling for! Although the dimensions are a bit larger than most airline-standards for carry-on bags, I’ve never had an issue with this, as long as you respect the weight limit! Again, I highly recommend this company and design!!
16. Inflatable Travel Pillow
More of a luxury than a necessity but this came in very handy on lengthy bus and train rides! Very compact and easy to pack.
Inflatable Travel Pillow for Airplane, Car, and Travel
17. Tampons
If you’re travelling to Southeast Asia, stock up on tampons because it is very hard to find them there!!
18. Toothbrush Travel Case
These came in so handy when living in hostels and wanting to keep my toothbrush clean!
19. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are going to save you so much space and help keep you organized when living out of a backpack! I love this set because it comes with extras like a laundry bag, toiletries bag, etc.
20. Universal Power Adapter
A universal travel adaptor is a must! This one is great since it has a wall charger, plus USB and USB-C ports! Make the investment in a universal adapter now so you don’t have to buy new ones on each trip!
21. Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
These are definitely a splurge but hear me out. These were a game-changer during every flight I took, long bus or train ride and even in hostels when people were loud! It helped me escape from whatever unpleasant situation I was in and literally block out all of the background noise! I highly recommend these Bose headphones. Yes, they are pricey but trust me, they will be a great investment!
Looking for tips on how to book accommodations when solo travelling? Read this quick blog with my top tips straight from a solo female traveller!
Thank you for reading this blog and I hope that you found it helpful! These are definitely the best things you might not think about packing for your next solo travels! Want to follow my adventures live? Check out my instagram!
