(Hey Rockonliving friends! Look who has joined the fun? This post is a share from Quinn!)

contains affiliate links

I am passionate about travel. I am passionate about new experiences. As a result, I am often on the go and away from the every day life lived in my home. Regardless, if I am traveling for weeks at a time in a foreign country or for just a weekend away, there are 10 items that I travel with always!  The women in my family may have a different top ten, however, as the only dude here, these are my top 10 Essential Travel Items!

1. My ID. Either a passport or driver’s license. This is probably a pretty obvious one. It’s great to have on you in the event you forget who you are. 😊
2. Money. I will always carry a credit card and cash. I typically use my credit card as often as I can so I can easily track expenses and also accumulate more miles which supports our future travels. I will also bring a debit card to withdraw money from an ATM. Internationally, you will receive the money in the foreign currency and the exchange rate is often better than at a foreign currency exchange vendor. When traveling, especially to a foreign county, be sure to call your bank and credit card companies and let them know your travel dates. Often with international travel, I will talk with my local bank and try to get a small amount of the foreign currency that I will be heading to. It is good to have usable money in the foreign country before I can make it to an ATM. Not all foreign currency is quickly available at my bank and they may need advanced notice to acquire the funds.
3. Toiletries. I always have a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, lotion, razor, contacts and glasses.  I actually have a separate small travel toiletries bag that I grab and go. This way I know I always have all the necessities.
4. Clothes. Duh. Of course. However, I am very selective with my choice of clothes that I travel with. My clothing selection is of course varied based on where I am heading. If I am heading to a hot tropical location or snowboarding, there are 2 criteria that my clothes must meet. First, I plan to layer my clothing. To be honest, I have a narrow comfort margin for temperatures. I don’t like being too hot, and I don’t like being too cold…just call me baby bear. Layers allow me to dial in on the perfect comfort level. Layer up if you are cold or remove layers if you are warm. Second, I love pants, shirts, and jackets with pockets. I am very pragmatic and with pockets, I can carry more items. I have a style of pants that I love so much I bought two of them. I use this style of pants with all travel, especially international, because they have many pockets and some with zippers. These allow me to carry passports, boarding passes, my wallet, at times toiletries, ear buds, and whatever else I need. The pockets with zippers are an extra defense against pick pockets commonly found in foreign countries.  

I have a pair of shorts which have come to be known as my “Period Pants”.  We enjoy amusement parks and big roller coasters! Many parks do not allow lose items on rides and require you to rent a locker. This is highly inconvenient, and we find visiting amusement parks without a backpack or purse makes life so much easier. As a result, I get to carry all my family’s accouterments like their money, IDs, lipstick… and tampons and pads.  Lucky me. My “Period Pants” are shorts with multiple pockets which have repeatedly been stuffed with feminine hygiene items. Yes, pockets are good.

5. Hats. I shave my head. As a result, I need something on my head to keep in warmth and/or avoid too much contact with the sun. Baseball caps, beanies, bandannas, buffs… whatever it is, I need something that I can put on my head. During the summer I am more partial to a light weight, washable, fold-able ball cap.  The other seasons I will usually wear a light-weight beanie hat. 

6. Money Belt.  I have had the same money belt since I went to China about 25 years ago. This money belt has a secret pocket with a zipper on the inside where I will carry large increments of money. The money is always on me, secure and safe. In addition to serving as secure bank, this belt also holds up my pants! Who knew! 

7. Back packs. My family and I are big fans of traveling light. Putting everything you need in a backpack allows you to be hands free during travel and forces you to pack smart and get really clear on what is important and what is not. People are frequently asking us about how a family of five travels internationally for weeks with only 1 backpack each.  This is a great question and a great topic. We will post more on this topic soon.

Often, I will also travel with a small light weight, collapsible backpack.  This doesn’t take up much room and can really come in handy. I will often use this small pack to carry items I want quickly accessible on the airplane too.

8. Water bottle. I always travel with a steel water bottle. I drink a lot of water and want access to water at all times. A refillable water bottle allows this, as well as reduces the use of disposable plastic and paper cups…#winning. 

9. Supplements that keep me healthy.  Typically, I take a variety of supplements every day to support me in optimal health (more on this later). When I travel. I often will not take all my usually daily products with me, however there a few items I travel with always.  One is called BioVegetarian.  This is a wonderful supplement that is has anti-viral, anti-microbial and immune boosting botanicals.  The next is a product called Reboost.  This is a blend of homeopathic remedies in tablet form taken sublingually.  These two products have saved me time and time again form getting sick.  I will also travel with Vitamin C. C is a classic antioxidant that boosts immunity.  I take these products with me, always.

10. A pocketknife. Usually I travel with a Leatherman Skeletool. This pocketknife has a knife, bottle opener, pliers, flat and philips head screwdrivers, and wire cutters. This has come in hand so many times. Of course, I don’t travel with this when flying because we now carry on our backpacks and do not check any baggage. Depending on the nature of an adventure we are having, I may even purchase an inexpensive pocketknife once I arrive at my location. For example, when we went to Yellowstone, I purchased a pocketknife once we got off the plane, picked up our rental car and then did some shopping for supplies. A knife and tools easily accessible (your pocket) have been hugely convenient and helpful.

There it is! My list of the top 10 Essential Travel items! I hope this helps you in planning and living your best adventure. Please offer up any other items that are essential to you when you travel. I would love to learn from your experiences!

Rockonliving friends! Quinn