15 Travel Essentials That Should Be On Your Vacay Checklist

A small cousin of duffel bags, you should always have a weekender bag, especially when you are planning a trip for more than a weekend. You can’t be carrying a fancy sling, there's so much to carry, a water bottle, things you might shop for, a cap, snacks (many), a wallet, a phone, sanitiser, and so much more. You need something big enough to carry everything but compact enough not to restrict your movement. We feel this Forever New bag with a detachable and adjustable sling perfectly fits the bill!

Pro-Tip: Still want more room in your backpacks? Go check out these duffle bags.

Don’t wear your casual lifestyle shoes for long walking hours! Don’t. Do. It. Opt for something more comfortable made for walking/running. New Balance 574s are a comfortable and simple choice. They look decent and would match most outfits too. 

Pro-Tip: Want some more budget-friendly options? We've gotcha! Check out these indie brands that do awesome sneakers at affordable prices. 

Be it chilling on the beach, on road trips, exploring a new city or on small treks near the city, sunglasses are essential. This case makes it easy to carry and store multiple pairs at once, so you have one for each day or 'fit.

Pro-Tip: Looking for trendy sunglasses? Check out these brands.

Compression cubes make it so much easier to create more space when packing. You basically put all your clothes in this and compress it by closing a zip on the side. These do tend to be on the pricey side but are life-changing once you start using them. You can also opt for normal packing cubes that make packing and finding things easy, while they don’t compress, they do then to save space because of how organised everything becomes. 

With the number of gizmos we travel with —phones, wireless earphones, smart watches —a power bank needs no description. We like this 24,000 mAh one from UltraProlink because (a) it has an in-built 10W wireless charging pad (b) has four charging points.

We personally don’t like when our clothes are crinkled, and an iron press almost always is a struggle, which is why a portable steamer makes things A LOT easier. You just have to hang your clothes and run this steamer a few times to make your clothes crisp and creaseless! 

Pro-Tip: 12 Best-Rated Steam Irons 

Well, whether this is essential or not depends on the type of trip you're about to take. If you're planning to go for a trek or camping, then we'd say it is. While it says it's for new mommies, we think it would make life so much easier during travel as well. It has two nozzles, holds up to 500ml, and comes with a cap and reusable bag for easy storage. 

We were searching for foldable bags when we came across this amazing find. It's a folding bag that retracts like a measuring tape, so it's super easy to use and store without you having to fold it perfectly. It also comes with a clasp to hang it on your bag, so it doesn’t take up any extra space. It's great to carry for shopping days on trips when you don’t want to carry too many bags around, or when you need an extra bag to keep your shoes, or you just need to carry something to the beach, you get us, there are many uses. 

Travel essential? You wouldn't catch us without a mist on a daily! It's a no-brainer; everyone likes to smell nice, and unless you think otherwise, you know what we're talking about. This mist from Sol de Janeiro can be used from head to toe (yes, it can be used on your hair too). The top notes are caramelised vanilla and sea salt, with mild notes of toasted macadamia nut and white chocolate and base notes of tonka bean and coconut blossom; overall, making you smell delicious, sweet, and warm.

Pro-Tip: Love Sol de Janeiro? Here Are 8 Best Budget-Friendly Dupes You Need To Try Out!

An absolute essential, especially if you're planning a road trip! This product has saved us from UTIs many times and we're more than grateful. It's easy to use, comes with disposable bags and doesn’t take up too much space. However, we'd recommend carrying toilet seat sanitisers and intimate wipes too.

There are two types of people, one who feels neck pillows are suffocating and the other who can't travel without one. If you happen to be a part of the latter, then check out this memory foam one from Travel Blue. Memory foam has the ability to easily mould into your head's shape and provide good support to your head.

Pro-Tip: Need to know more about pillows? Read here.

Investing in a dedicated bag for your teeny-tiny toiletries is a total travel game-changer. Let’s be real, having everything scattered in one big pouch feels like reliving the frustration of a claw machine. That’s why we like this FabIndia toiletry bag. It features multiple compartments in various sizes to keep your essentials perfectly organised. Plus, it comes with a handy carry handle and a hook so you can easily hang it in the bathroom. 

You might not need this much during winter, unless you're feeling suffocated, but come summer, it’s an absolute essential. This pocket-sized gem from Gaiatop is a standout for several reasons. First, it’s incredibly portable, so compact, it can fit right into your pocket. Second, it offers three cooling speeds to suit your needs. And third, on a full charge, it delivers up to 24 hours of refreshing coolness. 

Goes without saying that carrying a first aid kit is as important as carrying your clothes because you never know when you or someone else around you need one. We often don't carry it, do we? But we most certainly should. That’s why we highly recommend this compact kit from Apollo Pharmacy. It’s stocked with essentials like a crepe bandage, a digital thermometer, sterile swabs, a small scissor, and more. There’s even room to stash your meds in the box. 

One of our favourite online finds is this adorable foldable cup, a collapsible coffee cup you didn’t know you needed until now. While we’re not suggesting you swap out your trusty water bottle, this compact gem is a perfect add-on. Lightweight and designed to withstand extreme temperatures, it’s a handy travel companion for your coffee breaks or quick sips on the go.