Travel can be stressful. You want to give yourself adequate time to get to the airport, but you don’t want to arrive so early that you’re left sitting at the gate for hours.
And, you want to make sure you have everything you need, but nothing more than that because you are the one that has to move your suitcase and carry-on from door to door.
Below is a list of all of the things that you may want (or need) to have at your fingertips during the course of your trip.
These are items that will save you hassle (and some will even save you money) if you pack them in your carry-on the next time you head out of town.
Airline tickets
Of course you’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t have your airline ticket with you. And, you can print it out at the airport if you’d like, but you will save yourself a lot of time if you check in at home (most allow you to complete the check in process up to 24 hours in advance).
Then you don’t have to wait in line at the kiosks at the airport. You can go straight to security and head to your gate. When I travel, I have a folder that contains all of my tickets, car rental and hotel information so that it is all at my fingertips.
Currency
Even if you’re travelling on a budget, it never hurts to have some extra cash on hand in case you need it. Whether it’s singles to tip the cab driver or a few dollars for a snack if your sugar gets low, it’s better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.
You’ll also want to have a credit card on hand just in case. Most car rental agencies and hotels require one to hold a room and although you hope to have no unforeseen expenses, there’s sometimes you can’t get past it. At least if you have access to plastic, you’re left with options.
Empty water bottle
If you’ve traveled at all, then you know how expensive it can be to purchase a bottle of water at the airport. And, you can’t bring any with you through security, so you’re stuck right? Wrong.
Pack an empty water bottle in your carry-on and you can fill it at the drinking fountain after you’ve made it through the pat down and x-rays. That way, you can drink as much as you like for free. (Travelers have the tendency to get dehydrated, so the more water you consume, the better.)
Snacks
Just as drinks are costly when you travel, so too are snacks. If you wait to purchase your snacks while en route to your destination, you’ll likely end up spending $5-$10 on a little bag of munchies that doesn’t really satisfy your hunger.
Instead of paying top dollar for these items, plan in advance and pack them yourself. Even if you purchase the same exact thing at your local grocery store, chances are good that you’re going to pay a lot less for them.
Try to choose a snack that has proteins and carbohydrates so that it keeps your hunger at bay for longer. A good example of this would be crackers with cheese or peanut butter. You could also go with beef jerky and pretzels if that suits your taste buds more.
Aspirin
If you’re prone to headaches, then you’re going to want to keep some aspirin or ibuprofen on hand. Not only could the stress of travel bring on some head pain, so too can the changing pressures of take-off and landing. Be proactive and keep some pain relievers with you so you can stop the pain before it gets real bad.
Headphones
Some airlines give you headphones for free, but others will charge you a couple bucks to be able to listen to their television shows or music channels. However, if you take your own then you don’t have to worry about this issue at all (and they’ll likely be more comfortable).
Fragrance
Unfortunately, you may not always be seated next to someone with the best of hygiene. That can make an awful long flight if you’re nauseous due to the smell.
One trick I learned from my years in law enforcement is to take a fragrance, spray it on your finger and wipe it on your upper lip (right under your nose). This keeps you smelling only that scent and doesn’t overpower those around you. Hopefully you never need it, but if you do then at least you have it.
Mints
Just as you don’t want to be offended by anyone else’s body odor, you don’t want to offend them either. So, keep some mints on hand for those moments when you’re chatting and want your breath to be clean and smelling great.
These are also helpful when your mouth gets dry and you crave something with some taste. Choose the sugar-free option so you can save your teeth, but don’t eat too many of them as they can have a laxative effect if you do (which isn’t a good thing when you’re stuck on an airplane).
Media
Of course, the final thing you’ll want in your carry-on is something to occupy your time. Perhaps this would be a good time to catch up on work material you need to read. Or, maybe you downloaded a movie that you haven’t taken the couple of hours necessary to watch.
Although you may be tempted to lighten your load by leaving your magazines, books or laptop out of your carry-on, it can make a very long flight if you do. Don’t count on the TV’s working on the plane (if it even has them) because they don’t always function the way they should.
As long as you have these nine items at your side, your travel should be smooth and easy. Well, that is ultimately up to the pilot, but at least you did your part.
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