Passport, wallet, mobile phone, keys, and clothes. These items are top of mind when travelling. But there are other ones which aren’t required but make life way easier. 

Some entail an upfront investment. But oftentimes, not getting them will lead to unnecessary and unreliable purchases. They also help avoid sacrificing an hour or two of precious travel time.

Here are five items I bring that make travel cheap and convenient:

Universal adaptor (with USB charging capabilities)

I invest in a universal adaptor that has USB charging capabilities. Because of its multiple functions, I also bring and use them in my everyday work and local travels. 

This saves me the effort of researching what plug each country uses. I also have less things on my bag with only wires for charging my phone, watch, and power bank. 

The best I bought lasted for close to 5 years. And unfortunately, I could not find them again in Europe. 

It was a McGear that I bought at Changi Airport in Singapore. I’ve now settled for Skross, a Swiss variant that isn’t half bad. 

Refillable water bottle

Hydration is essential. And what better way to satisfy that human need than to bring a water bottle?

A lot of cities, airports, and establishments have potable water or drinking fountain. So, why spend for H2O when access is free? 

Not to mention, this alternative is more environmentally friendly. Yes, post-consumer recycled bottles have started to pop up. But no usage is better than recycled usage. 

And if I found myself in a relatively isolated area, shops and kiosks are hard to come by. So… what is it going to be? 

Sunglasses

If there is sun for half a year, I guess it makes sense to have sunglasses. I’ve had so many pictures where I’m squinting. But in reality, I forgot my sunglasses and I’m fighting against the solar rays. 

For context, I do not like to wear them. They distort the beauty of natural colours. But my eyes beg me not to get into an argument with the sun. 

If the intent is functional instead of aesthetic, I suggest getting one that is suitable for water. Again, this saves me the hassle of calibrating or changing glasses depending on the location. Or worse, getting the cheapest available that easily breaks in the nearest souvenir store.

I’ve been using my Oakley for years. And no, this isn’t a paid advertisement, unfortunately.

Umbrella

Weather isn’t exactly within my control. And I’ve made peace with the fact that I’m not going to stop traveling just because rain decides to show up. 

I distinctly remember a decade ago when umbrellas were banned from carry-on luggages. Times have changed and there’s little excuse not to carry one. 

I still occasionally forget. I end up taking Ubers, buying from kiosks or relying on hope and waiting for the situation change – all impractical options in my view.

Power Bank

I’m guilty of staying connected and taking thousands of photos when traveling. So imagine my frustration when I have to start holding back my activities to preserve phone battery. And that frustration easily turns into worry when I rely on my phone to go home. Apps like Google Maps and Uber are my best friends.

I usually get a 5,000mAH power bank. That normally charges my iPhone 12 twice. And if I need more power than that, maybe I should rethink how I travel.

Considering I occasionally put my power bank in my pocket, the less bulky the design is, the better. Although that generally means a lengthier vertical design. But that is one tradeoff I make. 

Not all areas have charging stations. And not all charging stations are free. Why would I bother risking it?

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