1. Bring sandwich-sized Ziploc bags to keep important items like phones and passports dry and organized.
You can also use them to help separate different currencies if you are traveling abroad.
2. Refill travel size bottles with your personal favorite products.
Using your own shampoo is much better than relying on the hotel stuff.
3. Plan ahead for airport security by wearing easily removable shoes, pants that don't need a belt, etc.
The more quickly you can get through the security line, the better.
4. Make sure your important travel documents are stored using an online service so that if you lose your physical copies, you'll still have a way to access the information.
And you won't have to worry about carrying around multiple paper printouts of those documents.
5. Put anything absolutely essential in your carry on, just in case your checked luggage gets lost.
You don't want all of your important medication lost for days. And put a change of clothes in your carry on, if you can fit it, just so you won't be wearing the same dirty stuff for days on end if the airline loses your bags.
6. If you're planning on bringing back souvenirs, take a small duffel bag that you can easily store on the way over and then use it to carry your new stuff on the way back.
7. Buy a set of universal power adaptors, because you never know what kinds of plugs you might run into traveling abroad.
8. Take some chapstick and a (small) tube of moisturizer to prevent dry skin on long flights.
Those cabins can get veeeerry dry. Just make sure to follow regulations about bringing liquids on planes so your gigantic bottle of moisturizer doesn't get confiscated.
9. Pack a lot of non-iron clothing — it's easier to pack and doesn't require you to bank on a hotel having adequate ironing materials.
Especially if you're traveling on the cheap and don't know if your hotel will even have an iron, let alone one that works well.
10. Bring along band-aids or moleskin, especially on trips where you plan to be walking a lot.
Your feet will hurt. Even if you don't start bleeding, it's nice to have some extra cushion.
11. A scarf can be useful for wearing or as a blanket on a cold flight — plus it can be put on a dirty seat if you need somewhere to sit.
12. Because you never know when a runny nose will hit, carry a few small packets of tissues.
13. Take an array of medications, especially something to deal with nausea/diarrhea...because no one wants that during their vacation.
14. If you wear glasses, bring a backup pair on the off chance that your main pair breaks or gets lost. (Or bring extra contacts if you use those instead of glasses.)
At the very least, bring a copy of your prescription so you can buy a new pair from a local optometrist if needed.
15. Take along a mini flashlight, because who knows when you'll find yourself in darkness with no electricity around.
Planning on hiking/camping during your trip? FLASHLIGHT.
16. Make sure to have a small sewing kit if you have any clothes that you *need* to wear and can't risk getting ruined.
Or, if you're in a pinch, just bring some duct tape as a last resort. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
17. Nailclippers are great for not only taking care of your nails, but working as makeshift scissors to open packages, cut thread, etc.
Nailclippers kill many birds with one stone.
18. A safety whistle, especially if you're traveling alone or are an adventure traveler, is always a smart idea.
Because you never know when you might find yourself in a sticky situation.
19. Or, if you're afraid of getting weighed down, just bring the absolute minimum amount you can survive with.
You won't have to check a bag at the airport, you'll be able to find your things more easily since there won't be as many of them, and you can always go to a local pharmacy or store to buy anything that becomes necessarily.
You do you.
