{"id":647336,"date":"2025-03-31T10:11:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T10:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=647336"},"modified":"2025-04-11T12:54:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T12:54:21","slug":"9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"9 essentials you probably shouldn\u2019t travel without"},"content":{"rendered":"

Want to live your best \u2013 and easiest \u2013 travel life? Hostelworld\u2019s Senior Copywriter, Jenny, has been to 48 countries and is a self-proclaimed packing and trip prep pro\ud83e\uddf3Here are the things she never travels without…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image
\nCredit: Photo by Anete <\/span>L\u016bsi<\/span>\u0146<\/span>a<\/span> on <\/span>Unsplash<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

1\ufe0f\u20e3 An eSIM<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve only recently started using eSIMs, but OMG are they a game-changer! My UK mobile data provider has a pretty generous overseas roaming package, but it doesn\u2019t extend to Morocco and Singapore, both of which I went to recently. Considering how much I use maps (zero sense of direction), the chat function in the Hostelworld app (I know I *have* to fly the Hostelworld flag but I genuinely do use it!) and Instagram (highlight reels = core memories) when I\u2019m out travelling, it was a no-brainer to spend a few pounds on an eSIM. It was beyond useful having access to everything as usual, and I\u2019d highly recommend them \ud83d\ude4c<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Get 10% off an Airalo eSIM with code HOSTEL10<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

2\ufe0f\u20e3 An *actually* decent maps app<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Google Maps has its perks, and most of the time it works pretty well. However, if you tend to walk a lot \u2013 whether that\u2019s exploring a city or getting out into nature \u2013 definitely download Organic Maps before you go. It\u2019s free, works offline, and knows all the shortcuts! \ud83d\udc63<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3\ufe0f\u20e3 A portable phone charger<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

We\u2019re all so reliant on our phones these days that running out of battery essentially classifies as an emergency. Do yourself a favour and buy a power bank that has lots of juice \u2013 at least 2 charges, more if possible (especially if there are multiple USB ports and more than one of you will be using it, or if you won\u2019t necessarily have access to a plug point every night to charge it) \ud83d\udcf1<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce2 Good to know:<\/strong> if you\u2019re flying, power banks must be carried in hand luggage due to fire risk. Some airlines impose limits on Wh capacity, so double check before you buy and bring onboard. Some airlines, like Scoot and Singapore Airlines among others, are banning the use of power banks onboard from 1 April 2025 (you can still pack them, you just can\u2019t use them in-flight). <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4\ufe0f\u20e3 Laundry colour catchers<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Colour catchers are white sheets that you put in the laundry with your clothes to stop colour bleeding. This is SO handy if you have a mix of whites and colours but don\u2019t want to spend money or time on running two separate loads \ud83e\udee7<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5\ufe0f\u20e3 Noise-cancelling headphones<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

And earplugs for dorms obvs, although some hostels provide them for free. But seriously, I could never go back to life before noise-cancelling headphones, especially when I fly. There\u2019s nothing better than drowning out the sound of roaring engines and bawling babies and enjoying a nice quiet journey. Protect your peace! \ud83c\udfa7<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6\ufe0f\u20e3 <\/span>Compression packing cubes<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When you cba to pay for checked baggage? Compression packing cubes. These have extra zips to smoosh everything down, and don\u2019t crumple your clothes like vacuum sealed bags (you\u2019d also need to pack a pump for these to suck all the air out).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7\ufe0f\u20e3 A neck pillow \u2013\u00a0with a twist<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

I highly recommend buying one of these \u2013 not just for the comfort aspect if you\u2019ve got a long plane\/train\/bus journey but because they double up as extra luggage space. Buy one with a zip, remove the foam and stuff it with t-shirts instead \ud83d\udc55 Sure, you\u2019ll have to carry it around with you but for me, it\u2019s worth it (although I live in fear of forgetting it and losing half my wardrobe!). <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca1 Bonus hand luggage hack:<\/strong> I\u2019ve found that I can get away with taking a backpack, neck pillow AND a bum bag onto flights, even with budget airlines. Bum bags are easy to hide under a jumper and are great for things like your phone, passport, boarding passes etc\ud83d\udc4d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

8\ufe0f\u20e3 A microfibre towel<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Free hostel towels are always the goal, but if not, microfibre towels are where it\u2019s at. They\u2019re lightweight, compact, quick-drying, and easy to shake sand off. PLUS, they double up as a curtain if your bunk doesn\u2019t have one!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9\ufe0f\u20e3 Zip-lock wet bags<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re going somewhere beachy or on any kind of water-based adventure, waterproof bags for your swimmers are all kinds of useful to stop the contents of your suitcase or backpack getting damp. Next time you order a swimwear haul from Shein, don\u2019t throw the bags away \u2013 keep them on standby for <\/span>your next trip<\/span><\/a> \ud83d\udc59 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Want to live your best \u2013 and easiest \u2013 travel life? Hostelworld\u2019s Senior Copywriter, Jenny, has been to 48 countries and is a self-proclaimed packing and trip prep pro\ud83e\uddf3Here are the things she never travels without…\u00a0 Credit: Photo by Anete L\u016bsi\u0146a on Unsplash\u00a0 1\ufe0f\u20e3 An eSIM\u00a0 I\u2019ve only recently started using eSIMs, but OMG are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":647337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9473],"tags":[4120,803],"class_list":["post-647336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips","tag-packing","tag-travel-tips","authors-jenny-maclean","wpbf-post"],"yoast_head":"\n9 essentials you probably shouldn\u2019t travel without - Hostelworld Travel Blog<\/title>\n\n\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/\" \/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jenny MacLean\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ce6a5c8d3e64ee605f91246fe5b76261\"},\"headline\":\"9 essentials you probably shouldn\u2019t travel without\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-31T10:11:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-11T12:54:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/\"},\"wordCount\":758,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/9-packing-essentials-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"packing\",\"travel tips\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Travel Tips\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/9-travel-essentials-packing-checklist\/\",\"name\":\"9 essentials you probably shouldn\u2019t travel without - 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