Women Travel Essentials: 8 Must Haves for a Smooth-sailing Trip

Packing for a trip, regardless of how long you may be away for, is oftentimes frustrating and bothersome. Even frequent travellers can forget the essentials and it can take a few years to learn what kinds of items work best for you and your travel needs. While every traveller is different, this travel must-have list is tailored for smart female travellers who want to tote around products that save space and maximize comfort and fun.

Essential Travel Items for Women

1. A really good moisturizer

Whether you’re travelling on a long-haul flight or not, the air inside the aeroplane can dry you out – both inside and out. In addition to drinking lots of water, do carry around a really good multi-purpose moisturizer to ensure that you keep your skin supple and hydrated. It’s certainly one of our travel must-haves for long flights. We recommend Weleda’s Skin Food, an extra rich and emollient moisturizer made from natural ingredients that can be used on your body, hands, feet, face and lips! Other must-have travel beauty products include a great sunblock and lip balm.

2. A universal travel adapter

One of the main items that travellers forget to pack is a universal travel adapter. While many four and five-star hotels, such as Bali’s Bisma Eight and Berlin’s Sir Savigny offer USB ports in their hotel rooms where you can easily charge your phone without an adapter, many hotels and hostels only offer electrical sockets. Great options include Hyleton’s Worldwide Travel Adaptor and Bez’s Worldwide Travel Adapter – both must-have travel gadgets for 2019.

3. Noise-cancelling headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones can make all the difference when you’re travelling. If you’re travelling on your own, having a great playlist can keep you company while on the road. Furthermore, it can drown out chatter and noise while you’re passing time in airport lounges and make it easier to hear your friends and family while you’re video-calling them from your latest destination. Sennheiser’s HD 4.40 BT and Marshall’s Monitor Bluetooth are proven to score well amongst travellers.

4. Swiss Army Knife

If you’re a lady travelling on your own, you’ll need to rely on yourself more than you might be used to. That’s why it’s a good idea to carry an all-round useful tool to make things easier. From cutting off tags from your newly bought dress to opening a bottle of wine or beer to little tweezers to get your brows in shape – a Swiss Army Knife can take care of it all.

5. A reusable water bottle

It’s always a good idea to stay hydrated with fresh, clean water while on the road – especially if you’re visiting countries with hot and humid climates. Play your part in reducing plastic waste and bring along your own reusable water bottle to refill at your hotels and restaurants. Do remember to bring along some easy cleaning supplies like a sponge, brush, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide to keep your bottle squeaky clean and ready to go.

 6. A well-stocked travel medicine kit

Always carry a well-stocked medicine kit with you when you travel. Must-haves include painkillers, cold and flu tablets, antihistamines, antiseptic lotion, plasters, motion sickness pills, insect repellent, diarrhoea medicine, antacids, antibacterial cream, electrolyte replacements, vitamins, and your health insurance card. As this is not an exhaustive list, do consult your doctor regarding specific medicines for your journey if needed.

7. A warm scarf

Searching for must-have travel clothes? Investing in a high-quality scarf can go a long way. A warm cotton, linen, or wool scarf is lovely for layering in cold climates or air-conditioned environments. It can also be used to cover your eyes when you’re trying to sleep on the plane, or it can be rolled up and used as a pillow on a long car ride. It can also be used to cover your head when entering cultural sites.

8. A sturdy travel bag

Now that you have all of your travel essentials sorted, you’ll need a great bag to put it all in. However, many travel backpacks are designed without women in mind. Make sure to do your research and try on the backpack before you buy it as many are larger and do not have the weight distributed at the hip. North Face Terra 40 is an excellent top-loading option that comes in several fun colours and it comes with loads of pockets for organization. It’s the perfect size for most cabin bags as well. Another winner with women is the Racini Rolling Backpack which is also designed for a woman’s frame. It has comfortable shoulder straps as well as wheels if you want to take the pressure off your back.

For women who like to travel alone, it’s always best to be prepared. Make sure you have everything you need to ensure a smooth trip, wherever you go!