As a seasoned traveler, I used to think I had my packing routine down to a tee. A recent five-week holiday across Europe — that balanced everything from cycling through the Loire Valley to shopping in Milan — proved one thing: travel gear is getting ridiculously good and I had scope to improve my packing skills.
Of course, I needed to stay under the strict 23kg airline luggage limit, which meant every single item had to earn its keep. Interestingly, though, the real hero of the packing process was Amazon Prime's next-day delivery. Realising you're missing much needed adapters or travel essentials days before heading to the airport is a lot less stressful when it arrives at your doorstep within a day or so. If you’ve never tried Amazon Prime before, you can always give it a go by signing up now and get a 30-day free trial period — you can cancel any time.
Travelling for five weeks also meant I needed to be mindful of my laundry needs, and using hotel services always proves expensive. My solution: carry laundry sheets and a stain remover stick and they proved remarkably useful, being small, portable and, best of all, couldn’t leak. The mesh laundry bags I also packed served two purposes: to store underwear and socks, while keeping my dirty laundry separate. I also used them for my delicates whenever I was lucky enough to find a laundromat! The other standout was the Memobottle, which is conveniently shaped like a thin book and packs flat. It was light and kept me hydrated without relying on buying plastic water bottles. And being in the Europe heatwave, a handheld fan also proved invaluable.
That’s not all: what saved me as well was purchasing an Ubigi eSIM card and the NordVPN before the trip. Not only did I save on roaming fees, but I also had access to my home movie and tv streaming services on those long flights and train rides while even being able to pay my bills on time via a dedicated platform I use in Australia that can’t be accessed overseas.
Take a look at all my travel essentials below — I’m sure there’s something here that will make your next holiday as seamless as mine.
The best travel accessories for your carry-on bag
The best travel accessories for your check-in luggage
