Top Seven Travel Essentials for Your Next Trip Abroad: Part One

Planning a trip overseas can be fun, while at the same time, be intimidating. Especially for those who don’t do it often. 

What should you bring? Some things are obvious like a passport (which is why you won’t see that on this list). But some of the other travel essentials aren’t so obvious. I mean, can you use the same credit cards you use in the states? How do I set up my phone for international travel? The wall plugs are different?! What does that mean? The list of questions can be nearly endless.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to try to answer those questions and more. In a five part series, I’ll break down what the top seven travel essentials are for that next trip abroad. That way, the next time you board that flight for overseas, you won’t be nervous about the unknown, but comfortable knowing you have everything you need.


Tablet and/or smartphone

This almost goes without saying, but some sort of tablet and/or a smartphone is all but essential when traveling anywhere, let alone abroad.

Where to begin??

• You can use either one of these devices to help navigate your way through cities you don’t know.
• ​You can easily access the internet to research places to go during your trip.
• They can also help you document your travels. I love taking pictures with my iPhone.
• During long plane, bus, or train rides, you can use your tablet or phone to read.
• You can download podcasts to listen to. Here are some that I recommend (which reminds me, I need to update that one…)

​Adapters for charging

Along with the actual devices, you’ll need to make sure you pack the appropriate adapters for where you’re going. Because that charger you use at home probably won’t work fit into the wall socket overseas. There are plenty of good choices on Amazon.com. If you get an adapter that doesn’t change/convert the voltage, you’ll want to make sure your device is a dual voltage device (which means it can accept both 110-120V and 220-240V).

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Portable batteries

I would also recommend bringing some sort of portable battery charger because you never know how often you’ll be on that smartphone of yours and whether or not you’ll have easy access to power.


To be continued...

Okay, so you’re now planning on bringing that smartphone of yours. But can you just hop off the plane in Europe and start using it? Well, you can, but that would be expensive. However, there is a cheap and easy way for you to get all the data you want without going broke in the process. I’ll tell you how in my next post on the Top Five Travel Essentials for Your Next Trip Abroad.


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