Packed and Ready – Why I Take These Five Items on Every Trip

Essential Travel Items

We all travel differently.  While we have similarities, no person does it exactly the same way.  Simply too many variables exist – transportation modes, destinations, speeds, styles, etc.  This diversity makes sharing about travel even more interesting.  Whether I adopt or ignore others’ strategies, I’m consistently enlightened by how individuals travel.  Certain conversations deal with the stuff people do or do not take on their trips.  Today, I’m sharing the essential travel items I take on each jaunt and why.

Versatile, Low-Profile Footwear

I tend to pack light, especially on solo travel.  I just find traveling this way easier.  And one of the simplest methods for space-saving is taking only one pair of shoes.  The challenge here is like many of you, I’m in a variety of environments on a given trip, often participating in a diverse set of activities.  I generally pick a dark-colored (most often black) pair of running sneakers.  I like to get in cardio on a hotel treadmill on most trips, generally only skipping if I’m doing some other substantial physical activity out and about.  On the other end, I need that footwear to complement a slightly dressier look for certain events.

I’m not going to name any specific brand here, as we all have our preferences.  I think it’s more important to find your favorite shoemaker and hone in on exact models and sizes you can repeatedly buy.  That way, you can continually identify the best deals while maintaining comfort, maybe even stylishly.

A Book

The next item may be counterproductive to packing light, but I deem it very necessary.  I take a book on each trip to satisfy much of my travel and leisure time.  Sure, this consumes space, but I’ll gladly forego that in exchange for the time not looking at a screen.  I’ve never enjoyed books on an e-reader, and I don’t need any more reasons to look at a phone.  I own plenty of audiobooks thanks to Audible, a previous Amex Platinum Digital Entertainment Credit partner.  Unsurprisingly, I’ve never finished one.  I get a tremendous, simple satisfaction out of the printed page.  With books, I can more easily maintain my focus and enjoy the feeling of progress.

Small Bills

Like many of you, I’m in many situations where I want to tip service providers during travel.  Beyond restaurants and rideshare/dining apps, I prefer tipping with cash money.  Otherwise, I avoid automated tipping mechanisms.  I generally like knowing that all of the gratuity is going directly to the human who provided the service.  No one else is getting a cut along the way.  I also know I may be tricking myself with this logic, but overall, it’s also a balance with how I’m more comfortable traveling.

Every Lounge Card

Myriad cards exist for granting airport lounge access.  It can get comical how many types of cards there are- admittedly, all which we opt into.  I could minimize the cards I take, knowing that I’ll probably only need a specific airline credit card or lounge membership card for a given trip.  Instead, I choose to bring them all.

That’s because plans change.  The airlines, airports, and lounges I plan to traverse don’t always turn out.  So I take every card which grants lounge access on each trip, and I don’t bother with virtual ones (for a reason I shared in the Book section).  This means instead of taking one or two cards, I’m carrying about half a dozen.  (That recently became one less.)  It’s a small amount of space lost for the peace of mind I obtain in return.

Plenty of Uber and DoorDash Balance

While intangible, I consider healthy Uber and DoorDash wallet balances one of my most essential travel items.  Some of this is thanks to various credit card benefits, but I often add more thanks to discounted gift card plays such as this.  I consider Uber and DoorDash wallet balances even more useful on trips than at home.  Throughout my travels, I know I’ll eventually, spontaneously need a ride or meal.  It’s easy to come economically prepared for those situations by preemptively piling on more wallet balance which I know I’ll use.

Conclusion

This may not have been the article you were expecting.  It doesn’t include a colorful photo of my bag interior packed with all of the stuff neatly organized.  I think it’s key to consider other items you can leverage to positively augment your travel.  Many of you probably won’t identify with the importance of any of the above items in your situation. Nonetheless, I’ve hopefully sparked thoughts on essential travel items beyond the obvious ones.

What are the unique items you travel with and why?