Carry-On Travel Essentials Guide
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We have successfully welcomed the new year and we have taken on the mantra of New year, new lease of life, haven’t we? Give yourself a round of applause for making that decision. In addition to the long list of professional and personal goals that we wish to achieve this year, there’s always that secret list of travel goals that we hold close to our hearts. We’re sure one of the things on the to-do list for the year is to travel more. Please excuse us, as we hate to be the bearer of the bad news, but 2019 is short of long weekends, so if you’re looking to travel more, you have to plan early. From booking cheap tickets, getting the best accommodation at affordable prices, to packing your bags, you have to plan your trips efficiently to make the most of it.
The size and the contents of the bags that one carries while traveling, differs from one person to another. While some travel light, others ensure that they’ve got everything — from the hair dryer to the fire extinguisher. Just in case, you know? That said, whether it’s a short two-day trip or a four-week-long vacation, there’s a list of carry-on essentials that you simply can’t travel without. Understandably, carry-on essentials are completely based on personal choice, and necessity, but there are certain things that are universally essential for traveling. Here’s a list of carry-on travel essentials that you should never miss —
1. Important Documents
Let’s start with the most important requisite to get you aboard the plane (or train, or ship, or a horse, if you like that) — your travel documents. You need to keep your boarding pass and passport handy. Thanks to technology, you can keep your boarding pass on your phone. But, other documents like hotel vouchers, tickets, travel insurance documents, credit cards and a copy of your passport and visa (if traveling abroad) need to be handy. Additionally, you should keep a couple of your passport-sized photographs too. You never know what adventure awaits you. It’s better to be prepared, isn’t it?
2. Two Days’ Worth Of Clothes
If you have traveled in any of the low-budget airlines in India, there must have been at least one instance when your check-in baggage was misplaced or sent to another city. If not you, you must know of at least one friend, relative or an acquaintance who was the victim of this tragedy. And we know how irked and helpless this situation can make you feel. We hope that you never experience this baggage problem, but if you like to be cautious, just pack a couple of clothes in your carry-on. For all you know, your co-passenger could just throw up on you, or your pants could tear, you know, the likes of it. You can keep a simple t-shirt and pants or something that is easy to wear.
3. Important Medicines
Never pack your important medicines in the main luggage. Say it with us, never pack the daily prescribed medicines and your go-to painkillers in the bag that you’re checking in. What if you have a miserable headache when you’re on the plane, mid-air, or when you’re traveling by bus? Nobody’s going to stop the plane or the bus for you unless of course, it’s a life-threatening emergency. Be it your ibuprofen, analgesics, or regular medicines that your doctor has prescribed for you, keep it in your carry-on.
4. Valuables, Gadgets, And Chargers
If you’re packing gold, diamond, or expensive jewelry, make sure you keep it with you in the carry-on. It’ll save you from being worried about losing them in transit. All other electronic gadgets like camera, iPads, phones, power banks, etc., should stay in your cabin bag. When you put these in the main luggage, the gadgets might explode or break due to high pressure and reckless handling. Since you are carrying these gadgets, make sure you have their chargers too, because how else will you use them if the battery runs out, right?
5. Travel Wipes And Sanitizers
When traveling, our face and hands get a little grimy and oily. Now, that can make you look quite dull and grumpy. Buy yourself a pack of travel wipes, or wet wipes. You can quickly wipe your face with these to feel fresh in an instant. Also, sanitizers keep your hands clean and hygienic. For all you know, you have been touching germs all through your journey, so this is an absolute essential. You don’t want to fall sick, do you?
In addition to these, the comfort kit must-haves like the eye mask, a book, earphones, travel pillow, jacket, a quick snack, and moisturizers can be packed too. Keep in mind the baggage limit and pack smart. Care should be taken to not stuff the bag with too many things, you might just end up tearing or breaking your valuable bag and also end up scattering all your essentials on the floor.
Do you have any other tips that will help us pack smart? Let us know in the comments below.
