10 International Travel-Must Haves I Never Fly Without

If you’re new to international travel, figuring out what to pack can feel completely overwhelming. I remember my first few big trips — I’d either bring way too much (half of it useless) or totally forget something important. Cue last-minute Amazon panic orders and overpriced airport purchases I never used again.

But after 10+ years of traveling abroad — sometimes for weeks, sometimes solo, and often to places where forgetting something really matters — I’ve finally narrowed down what I actually need.

Now, I’ve got my packing list down to a science.

This guide covers my top 10 international travel-must haves — the items I personally bring on every international trip. As a budget traveler, I don’t want you to waste your money on random things you won’t actually use — these are the things that I truly use, trust, and pack first.

If you’re prepping for a big trip and want to avoid the mistakes I’ve made, this list is for you.

Let’s make your next trip easier — and way less stressful.

The Travel Essentials I Always Pack

1. Luggage weight

Gone are the days of just hoping and praying your luggage isn’t overweight!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had to do some serious luggage-reshuffling at least once at the airport, but since my friend got me this digital luggage weight from Amazon a few years ago, it’s been a game-changer. It really made my packing process a million times easier, and has totally taken the guesswork out of it.

By the way: most airlines have a 50-pound weight limit on checked bags. But sometimes it varies (I’m looking at you, Spirit Airlines), so make sure to check specifically for your chosen airline.

2. Portable charger

I hate to admit that I’m one of those people who would be useless without my phone, but … I’m useless without my phone. Not being able to check my maps app or call an Uber? I will never find my way back to my hotel again.

With that said, a portable charger is definitely an international travel must-have for me.

Maybe it’s all in my head, but my phone battery seems to die so much faster when I’m traveling (maybe it’s the million and one photos I’m taking?), and carrying around a bulky international charger is just annoying. Or, I may not even have access to an outlet for the entire day.

Having a portable charger is just one of those things that makes me feel so much safer while traveling internationally, especially if I’m traveling alone.

I’ve tried a few different ones over the years, but check out this top-rated option that’s really lightweight and fast-charging. Just make sure to double-check compatible with your specific phone before purchasing.

3. International charger

Depending on where you’re traveling to, your regular chargers may not work, so you’ll need a way to charge your devices when away.

I’ve tried a few different ones over the years — one broke on me mid-trip, another I couldn’t manage to actually charge my camera.

But now, I love this adapter with nearly 30,000 ratings. I love that it can charge six different devices at once and can also work literally anywhere in the world, so you don’t need to waste your money buying individual chargers for different locations.

4. Kindle

While nothing beats physical books for me, having a Kindle or other E-Reader saves so much valuable space and weight when traveling.

I used to bring multiple books with me for longer trips, which would inevitably take up my entire backpack, and would also be ridiculously heavy.

Not to mention, they’d always come home in significantly worse shape than they started, with tattered covers, and paperbacks all bent out of shape.

A Kindle has solved all those problems for me.

Now, I travel so much lighter, and no books are harmed in the process. It easily fits in my bag during the day. and I can even easily borrow ebooks from my local library so I don’t need to worry about downloading everything I’ll possibly want to read during a trip.

The exact one I have is no longer available, but this one is pretty much the same. You can buy a used version to save even more money!

But, there are also fancier versions available depending on if you’d like it to be waterproof and have more storage.

5. Journal

Next on this list of travel must haves isn’t so much a necessity, but should definitely be a priority.

I constantly tell myself I’m going to journal more often then I just let months go by without even touching it. But especially when I’ve traveled solo, I’ve found myself reaching for my journal more often — both out of wanting something to do while at restaurants or cafes alone, but also just wanting to document my experiences.

Travel is such an amazing time for self-reflection and for having transformative experiences, and I love looking back on my old entries from my trips. I journaled a lot during my solo trip to Brazil where I ended up meeting my husband, and reading my entries from right before and after are so crazy to read now!

6. Packing cubes + one for laundry

My packing routine used to be complete chaos — I’d start off with everything nicely folded and organized, and by the end of the trip, it would be impossible to find the shirt I wanted to wear or any socks.

Nowadays, I organize everything into packing cubes (I use both these and these). It’s not a perfect system — throughout the trip, I definitely get a bit lazier with putting everything away in its proper cube, and things get a bit mixed up. But it’s definitely a major improvement.

The worst, however, is forgetting a laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate. Even if the rest of my clothes become a disorganized mess, I’m always relieved to at least have my laundry separated. Regardless of if I’m only traveling for a few days or a few weeks, both packing cubes and a laundry bag are a top priority.

7. A bag that securely closes + can fit your camera

Taking photos is one of my favorite parts of travel, but using a camera unfortunately requires keeping certain safety precautions in mind, especially in certain destinations like Rio de Janeiro.

When it comes to expensive electronics like cameras, and any valuables, to be honest, it’s always best to keep them hidden away when not in use. Personally, I only use my actual camera bag to keep my camera protected while flying.

On the day-to-day, store your camera in a cute bag that looks like just a normal bag. I use something similar to this leather one. I love how it’s cute, versatile, and has various pockets to protect your things. But it’s really up to personal preference, just make sure it closes securely. 

8. Carry-on toiletries and an extra pair of clothes in carry-on

Everyone who knows me knows that I have to always check a bag when I travel for more than a long weekend. It’s not so I can bring a bunch of extra clothing options (although that is an added bonus), but because I insist on always bringing my full-size hair and skin products.

But with that said, after struggling through a couple of long flights, I began collecting skincare samples to bring along in my backpack as well.

Especially for overnight flights or trips with long layovers, being able to wash and moisturize my face in the airport does wonders for my mood, and skin.

Either collect the free samples you get with other orders, or even better, just put your normal products into some reusable travel-sized containers like these. I try to focus on hydrating products (that are TSA-approved) to combat the super-dry air on flights. I also make sure to have a toothbrush, small toothpaste and a travel-sized deodorant. 

In that same vein, having a change of clothes is a great way to feel slightly less disgusting after traveling for hours. It’s also a backup in case anything happens to your checked bag, which is sadly even more common nowadays, and is probably my biggest fear every time I travel.

9. Towel

I love having my own towel to dry my hair with, since it’s curly and easily frizzes.

But even if you’re not as high-maintenance about your hair as I am, many hostels don’t offer complimentary towels and expect you to rent one, which is just annoying.

Plus, if you’re visiting a beach destination, this will really come in handy. I’ve had to use a sweatshirt or even my backpack to rest on at the beach (as you can imagine, the latter was NOT comfortable) so bringing a towel with me just really made life easier.

Plus, it doesn’t take up any room in your luggage! Check out this microfiber (aka curly hair-approved), travel-sized one.

10. Travel medicines

I recently had the unfortunate realization that I’ve gotten sick on literally every single international trip I’ve taken — from the change in schedule, lack of sleep from traveling, and exposure to new germs and food, it makes sense.

While you should be able to find a pharmacy pretty much anywhere, dragging yourself out of bed when you’re sick and struggling to explain how you feel with a language barrier, is just not ideal, and is something I’ve had to deal with on more than one occasion.

So with that said, even if you’re not as quite as sickness-prone as I am, having at least some emergency items are a good idea.

I always pack a basic kit with things like Advil, bandaids, decongestants, anything for travel sickness/stomach issues, and electrolyte powder.

When it comes to medicine, you just want to make sure that it’s not an issue for whatever country you’re traveling to. (Some countries have stricter requirements for what can be brought into their country, even when it comes to prescriptions or super basic medications)

Check out these guides next

I know that traveling internationally, especially if you’re new to travel, can be stressful, and it can feel like there are a million different logistics to deal with.

But with these international travel must-haves, you’ll be more than prepared for your next destination!

If you need a little more guidance though, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with these guides:

• Don’t forget anything you specifically want to keep in your carry-on with this Ultimate Carry-On Packing List
• Heading to the beach? These are the Beach Necessities I Always Pack as a Budget Traveler
• Planning your trip and starting to freak out about costs? Check out How to Travel on a Budget: 10 Best Tips

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