Travel Essentials List: 33+ MUST-HAVE Items For Your Personal Item Bag

Some are simple things that are easy to forget, like a pen, tissues, and lip balm. Compression socks earned a permanent spot on my list after I forgot them on a trip to Italy and ended up with swollen feet. Now I won’t fly internationally without them.

You probably won’t need every item here. These are the things that help make my travel days and flights a little easier.

Choosing the Right Personal Item Bag

When choosing a personal item bag, think about how you like to travel and how much you need to carry. A backpack, duffel, or small rolling bag can all work, as long as it fits your airline’s personal item size limits.

From experience, I switch between a backpack and duffel depending on the trip. If I’m checking luggage or expect a lot of walking, I take a backpack. On cruises, it keeps everything I need with me after I hand off my suitcase and before I can get into my cabin.

If I’m traveling carry-on only, I pair my suitcase with a duffel. It saves my back and gives me extra packing space.

I also travel with a small crossbody or belt bag for my wallet and other everyday essentials. Before boarding, I tuck it inside my backpack or duffel. Once we arrive, I can leave the larger bag at the hotel and head out with just the smaller one.

The right personal item really comes down to what makes travel easier for you.

What should you pack in your personal item bag? Start with the basics…

Travel Documents

1. Pack Your Passport and Government ID

This one’s nonnegotiable. Keep your passport or government-issued ID somewhere secure and easy to access during your trip.

For domestic flights in the U.S., travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted form of ID, such as a passport. If you’re traveling internationally, check your passport’s expiration date well before your trip. Some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, so check your destination’s requirements before you go.

Read more: Travel Mistakes Not to Make

2. Keep Printed Copies of Important Travel Documents

Most travel documents live on our phones now, but I still like having printed backups for the important stuff. Phones die, apps glitch, and Wi-Fi doesn’t always cooperate. I keep everything together in a folder or travel wallet.

• Flight details and boarding passes
• Hotel reservations
• Cruise documents
• Car rental reservations
• Tour or activity confirmations
• Travel insurance information
• Copies of your passport and ID
• Emergency contact information

3. A Pen!

A pen is one of those small things I had to add to my packing list because I kept forgetting one. Even with so much being digital now, you may still need it for a form, customs paperwork, or just to jot something down. Now I always keep one in my bag when I travel.

I’ll sometimes pack a Sharpie too. It comes in useful for luggage tags, quick labeling, or anytime a regular pen just won’t do.

Money and Travel Finances

4. Wallet

A wallet is one of those things you assume you’ll remember, but forgetting it can derail a trip fast. Before you leave, make sure you have your ID, credit cards, and some cash. I use a slim wallet when I travel, and it has a small hook that clips to the key leash inside my purse or backpack, which keeps it secure and easy to find.

5. Cash and Foreign Currency

It’s a good idea to have a small amount of cash on hand when you travel, even if you use credit cards most of the time for purchase protection and travel points. Cash can still come in useful for tips, small purchases, or places that don’t accept cards.

For international trips, you can get some local currency before you leave or withdraw cash from a bank ATM once you arrive. That’s usually a better option than exchanging money at an airport kiosk.

For international trips, you can get some local currency before you leave or withdraw cash from an ATM located at a reputable bank, rather than a standalone ATM in a tourist area. This is often a better option than exchanging money at an airport kiosk.

Toiletries, Health and Medications

7. Medication and Vitamins

Keep prescription medications, daily vitamins, and any over-the-counter basics you may need in your personal item or carry-on. We usually pack Advil or Tylenol, Imodium, and allergy medication in a pill organizer so everything stays together. I also like to bring a few packets of Airborne when I travel.

8. Lip balm

I can’t go anywhere without lip balm, so it always makes it into my travel bag. Plane air can be very drying, and I like having it close by throughout the flight.

9. Hand Lotion

Plane air can dry out your hands fast, so I like to keep a small tube of hand lotion with me during the flight. Keep it 3.4 ounces or less, and remember that TSA considers lotion a liquid, so it should go in your 3-1-1 bag when you go through security.

10. Travel-size Deodorant

I pack most of my toiletries in my luggage, but I always keep a travel-size deodorant with me. If delays or travel hiccups make the day longer than planned, I’m always glad I have it.

11. Disposable Travel Toothbrush or Listerine Strips

Disposable travel toothbrushes, like the mini pre-pasted kind, are great after a meal or nap when you actually want to brush your teeth. Listerine strips take up almost no room and are useful when brushing isn’t an option.

12. Gum or Mints

I almost always have gum or mints with me when I travel. They’re an easy grab after coffee or a snack, and gum can also be nice to have during takeoff and landing.

13. Eyeglass Cleaning Cloth

If you wear glasses, pack a cleaning cloth. I’m constantly digging through my bag looking for one, so I usually stash a few in different pockets. Somehow, I still manage to lose track of them.

14. First Aid Kit

A small first aid kit is one of those things you’re thankful to have when you suddenly need a Band-Aid. I usually pack a few basics like Band-Aids, alcohol swabs, and antibiotic ointment. It doesn’t need to be anything elaborate.

15. Tissues

I’m a little obsessed with having tissues when I travel. I’ll buy travel packs, but I also tuck a few from home into a Ziploc bag and stash them in different spots. They’re useful on the plane, and I also like having my own once we get to the hotel or cruise cabin since the tissues there are not always my favorite.

In-Flight Comfort and Essentials

16. Travel Pillow

For longer flights, I’ve been using the Bcozzy Neck Pillow. It gives me the support I need, even though I’m still not great at sleeping on planes. For shorter flights, I usually skip the travel pillow altogether.

Finding the right one may take some trial and error. My husband, for example, swears by his Brookstone tmemory foam travel neck pillow and has much better luck sleeping on planes than I do in general.

17. Shawl or Travel Blanket

A shawl or travel blanket is great to have on a long flight if the airline doesn’t provide one. I usually pack a shawl I bought while traveling in Italy. It’s easy to carry and works as a blanket or wrap when the cabin gets cold.

18. Eye Mask

An eye mask is great for blocking out cabin light when you’re trying to sleep. There’s always that one window shade left open or a reading light still on somewhere. Pair it with earplugs, and you may have a much better chance of actually falling asleep..

19. Ear Plugs

Airplane cabins are loud. Even when everyone is quiet, there’s still that constant hum. Add a crying baby or a chatty passenger, and sleep gets even harder. Earplugs take up almost no space and are worth keeping in your bag when you want a little more quiet.

20. Airplane Footrest

An airplane footrest hangs over the tray table and gives your feet a place to rest, which can make an economy seat more comfortable. I’ve tried one, and it does work, but I usually end up propping my feet on my bag under the seat in front of me.

Note: It may work better for shorter travelers, but it’s worth a try if you think it could make your seat more comfortable.

21. Compression Socks

We don’t skip compression socks when we fly. They can help with swelling and circulation, and I’ve noticed a big difference since I started wearing them. If I’m not already wearing mine when we board, I keep them in my bag and put them on once I’m settled. After one trip when I had calf pain and ended up at the doctor to rule out DVT, I don’t take chances anymore.

22. Collapsible or Reusable Water Bottle

Along with getting up and moving around, I make a point to stay hydrated when I fly. Bringing your own water bottle can save you the expense of buying one after security. I prefer a reusable bottle, but a collapsible one is a good option if you want to save space.

23. Easy Snacks

I usually pack a few easy snacks for the flight, like Chomps, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, and sometimes my favorite chocolate. Bringing snacks from home is usually cheaper than buying them at the airport, and I can pack healthier options I know I’ll actually eat.

Electronics and Tech Travel Essentials

25. Mobile Phone

Your phone does a lot of the heavy lifting when you travel. You’ll use it for boarding passes, maps, photos, reservations, and staying connected. I also make sure I download anything I may need offline before the trip.

26. Plan for Internet Access

Before an international trip, figure out how you’ll get online once you arrive. I don’t like relying only on hotel or public Wi-Fi.

27. Headphones or Earbuds

Bring your own headphones or earbuds when flying, and make sure you have at least one option for any flight. I travel with both my Beats earbuds and Bose QuietComfort headphones. My Beats sometimes double as earplugs when I just want to block out some noise, while my Bose headphones have been one of my best investments for work and travel. They’re comfortable, have great noise cancellation, and come with an audio cable that plugs directly into the plane’s entertainment system.

I also keep a cheap pair of wired headphones in my bag as a backup since they take up almost no room. If your Bluetooth headphones don’t have an audio jack option, you can also use a wireless transmitter that plugs into the plane’s audio jack.

28. Necessary Chargers and Adapters

Don’t forget the chargers and adapters you’ll need for your electronics. They’re easy to leave behind and can be expensive to replace while traveling.

29. Portable Backup Charger

A portable charger is one of those things I’m always glad to have with me. Between maps, boarding passes, photos, and travel apps, my phone battery can drain fast. I look for at least 10,000 mAh, which gives me enough capacity to fully recharge my phone without carrying something too bulky.

30. Laptop or Tablet

A tablet may be all you need for some trips, but I usually bring my laptop if I need to work or transfer photos and videos to an external hard drive. Keep laptops, tablets, and other valuable electronics with you in your personal item or carry-on, not in checked luggage where they can be lost or damaged.

31. Camera

Phones take great photos, but you may still want a separate camera for your trip. Keep it with you rather than in checked luggage, along with any extra batteries or memory cards.

32. External Hard Drive

If you take a lot of photos and videos, an external hard drive is useful for backing them up while you travel. I keep mine with me rather than in checked luggage. Before your trip, check the ports on your laptop and camera since you may need a USB-C adapter or hub or an SD/microSD card reader to transfer your files

33. Optional: A Change of Clothes

If you’re checking luggage, pack a change of clothes in your personal item in case your bag is delayed. A clean shirt, underwear, and something comfortable can make a big difference. I usually travel carry-on only, so everything stays with me, but if I check a bag, I make room for a backup outfit.

Create an In-Flight Pouch or Organizer

Before I board, I put everything I know I’ll want during the flight into one small pouch. Once I’m seated, I take it out before stowing my backpack or duffel under the seat. That way, I’m not constantly digging around for things like lip balm, wipes, a charging cable, headphones, an eye mask, or socks.

I also use travel pouches to organize the rest of my bag, such as first-aid items and electronics I won’t need during the flight.