What’s in Our Bags: Our Must-Have Travel Essentials

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Must-Have Travel Essentials: The Ultimate Packing Guide From Rachel & Rosa

Packing is the part of travel almost everyone dreads. Whether you’re a chronic overpacker who has to sit on your suitcase to close it or a last-minute scrambler throwing things in the night before your flight, getting it right makes a massive difference in how smoothly your trip goes. Rosa and Rachel, the hosts of Bon Voyage Besties, have traveled to enough destinations, and made enough packing mistakes, to know exactly what you should and shouldn’t be throwing in that bag. Here’s your definitive guide to the must-have travel essentials that belong on every packing list, no matter where you’re headed.

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1. A Universal Travel Adapter (Buy It Before You Go)

This is the number one must-have travel essential for any international trip, and it’s the one people forget most often. Europe runs on different voltage than the US, and outlets vary country to country. Plug in your straightening iron at the wrong voltage and you’ll trip the fuse — Rosa learned this the hard way in Ibiza, when the smell of burning iron filled the room right before everything shut down.

Invest in a high-quality multi-use adapter that handles different plug types and voltage conversion. Buy it before you leave: airport versions are overpriced and often poor quality. And a little hack if you do forget one: many hotel TVs have USB ports you can use to charge your phone in a pinch.

2. Portable Chargers (More Than One)

We rely on our phones for everything when we travel: boarding passes, attraction tickets, maps, itineraries, photos. The last thing you want is to be standing in front of the Acropolis with a dead battery. A portable charger is non-negotiable, and if you’re heading somewhere cold (batteries drain faster in the cold) or somewhere off-grid like a campsite, you’ll want more than one.

Look for a portable charger with both USB-C and USB-A ports, plus wireless charging if possible — that way you can charge multiple devices without juggling cables. Rachel once found herself wandering around Reykjavik at 3 a.m. in a snowstorm with a dead phone and no idea where she was. A stranger had to come outside and warn them to get indoors. The lesson: never underestimate how much you’ll need that charge.

3. Packing Cubes (and a Dryer Sheet Trick)

If you haven’t yet discovered packing cubes, consider this your sign. They keep your clothes organized, make it easy to separate clean from dirty, and turn unpacking at the hotel into a two-minute task. Rosa swears by them for multi-leg trips — dedicate one cube to beach gear, another to city clothes, and you always know exactly where everything is.

Bonus tip: tuck two dryer sheets into your packing cubes, especially on trips where you’ll be active and sweating. Your suitcase will smell fresh when you arrive home, and you can unzip the whole cube and toss it straight in the wash.

4. Toiletries — Strategic and TSA-Ready

This category requires more planning than people realize. The liquid restrictions are real, and they can be stricter outside the US. Rosa once watched her friend’s toiletries get confiscated at a Greek airport because the container said five ounces on the label — even though it was mostly empty. If it says five ounces, they’ll throw it out. Full stop. Stick to 3.4-ounce containers, keep everything in a clear zip bag that’s easy to pull out at security, and place it at the top of your bag for quick access.

Know your non-negotiables. Rachel has thick hair that needs a specific conditioner — that goes in the bag no matter what. But generic shampoo? She’ll use whatever the hotel has. Figure out what you truly can’t live without and prioritize those items. Rosa keeps two separate toiletry kits — one small one for short trips that’s always pre-packed and ready to grab, and a larger one for longer journeys. It’s a system that makes last-minute packing far less chaotic.

5. Medications. Don’t Count on Finding Them Abroad

Stock up on over-the-counter essentials before you leave: Benadryl, Imodium, Pepto-Bismol, pain relievers, and any prescription medications you take regularly. Traveler’s stomach is real, allergic reactions happen, and tracking down the right medication in a foreign pharmacy — in a language you don’t speak — is stressful and sometimes impossible. Rosa once had to take Samantha to a pharmacy in Thailand and had to trust that whatever they handed her was equivalent to what she’d give at home. It worked out, but it wasn’t fun.

Also important: research your destination before packing your prescriptions. Some medications that are standard in the US are controlled substances in other countries — Japan is a commonly cited example. Know what you’re bringing and whether you need paperwork to travel with it.

6. Noise-Canceling Headphones and Earplugs

Nobody should do a long-haul flight without noise-canceling headphones. They’re one of those must-have travel essentials that make a real, tangible difference in how exhausted you arrive. Don’t buy them at the airport — they’re marked up dramatically. Rosa also packs a lighter pair of earbuds as a backup for when the big headphones get heavy.

Earplugs serve a different purpose: a good night’s sleep when your room is facing a loud street or when you’re in a hostel dorm and someone is snoring through the wall. Rachel used them throughout a two-week camping trip in Canada. They travel well, weigh almost nothing, and cost almost nothing. No excuse not to pack them.

7. An Eye Mask

Related to sleep: an eye mask is a quiet hero of the packing list. In Iceland during summer, the sun barely sets — you need something to block it out. In a hotel where the curtains don’t quite close, it’s the difference between waking up at 5 a.m. and actually resting. Rosa doesn’t always end up using hers, but she always has it just in case.

8. A Crossbody Bag

For day-to-day exploring, a crossbody bag is one of the smartest things you can bring. It stays on your body, it’s harder to snatch than a tote or backpack, and it keeps the things you need most accessible — passport, chapstick, one credit card, some cash, hand sanitizer. Rosa won’t take hers off at the airport, not even in the bathroom.

Speaking of passports: keep a backup credit card locked in your luggage in case your primary card is lost or stolen. And leave the expensive jewelry and designer handbags at home — or save them for a dinner out rather than a full day of sightseeing. You don’t want to be drawing attention to yourself on a crowded metro.

9. Chapstick

It sounds small, but don’t skip it. Airplane cabins are brutally dry, and cold or windy destinations will destroy your lips fast. Rachel went to Paris without chapstick in the fall and ended up so chapped and raw that a Chanel counter employee physically sat her down and started applying balm without being asked. Pack it in your jacket pocket so it’s always within reach.

10. Comfortable Clothing and the Right Shoes

You will walk more on vacation than you walk at any other point in your life. Some travel days clock 20,000 to 30,000 steps. Wear comfortable, breathable clothing that layers well and doesn’t wrinkle easily. On long flights, skip the leggings if you can — tight spandex can restrict circulation, and nobody needs that discomfort on an eight-hour flight.

The shoes are where packing decisions get serious. Rachel once showed up to Quebec City in winter with rain boots and spent her second day limping through the cobblestone streets, eventually spending $100 on emergency boots from a Canadian shoe store. Wear shoes you’ve broken in, that are appropriate for the terrain and the weather, and that can carry you through a full day without complaint. It’s the detail that makes or breaks a trip.

A Few More Items Worth Mentioning

A collapsible reusable water bottle is great for destinations where you can drink tap water (Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia). Lighter than a Stanley, good for the environment, and easy to compress into your bag when not in use.

An eSIM card is worth looking into if your carrier charges steep roaming fees. It lets you stay connected for maps and digital tickets without paying for a full international data plan.

An extension cord sounds random until you’re in a rental apartment in Greece with one outlet tucked behind a piece of furniture and nowhere comfortable to work. Rosa learned this one the hard way.

And finally — pack what you actually wear. Try on every outfit before it goes in the suitcase. If you wouldn’t reach for it at home, you won’t reach for it on vacation. Leave room for what you’ll inevitably buy along the way. The memories you make — and the souvenirs you collect — are worth far more than a dress you never end up wearing.

Rosa and Rachel share travel tips, destination guides, and real talk about everything from packing fails to dream itineraries on Bon Voyage Besties. Follow along on social media at @BonVoyageBesties.