Let’s be honest… When we go out of town, even if it’s just for the weekend, we end up packing too little, or too much. One thing I have learned over the last few years is to travel light, is to travel right. My next stop on my wonderful adventure is South America, and I’ll definitely have mastered this by then! Take a peek at the essentials I cannot travel without. Keep these in mind for the next time you decide to make a weekend getaway or jet set around the globe.
1. Make up wipes – You never know when you’re going to be able to wash the grime and slime off of you. After an extensive car or plane ride, there’s no better feeling than being able to revive yourself. They are simple and lightweight!
2. Headphones/portable speaker – Make a playlist at least 3 hours long (50-60 songs), that way when it repeats it won’t drive you insane. Find your most prized music blog or go on SoundCloud, test out songs and find some new favorites!
3. SNACKS – I know it seems mental, but when you’re in a faraway place, it helps to have something a little familiar with you. I always pack my favorite snacks in case it’s inaccessible on the road, it’s like bringing a little piece of home with me!
4. Disposable/Polaroid camera – Yes, we have our phones, BUT there’s something romantic about having one chance to snap a picture and then putting it away to view down the road. As time passes, it’s thrilling to look back and let the nostalgia kick in.
5. A lighter – Even if you’re not a smoker, a lighter will almost ALWAYS come in handy. It can be used as a bottle opener, to start a camp fire, or even break the ice when you offer someone a light.
6. We all know to bring our chargers, but what we really need to bring is a mophie or a ‘back-up’ charging device. When we are on the go and charging is limited, there’s nothing scarier than a dead phone in foreign territory!
7. Bring a journal – You will thank me later for this one, trust me. Even if you aren’t a ‘writer,’ you can log what you did that day – all of the activities, excursions, favorite restaurants, whether it was good, or bad. The next time you travel to that environment, you can revisit the location you went to previously, or know the area’s avoid. It’s unbelievable to have the opportunity to look back one day and see how you truly felt at that exact time and place (not just by what you posted to social media). I have traveled all around the world and have grown to appreciate my journal for all the little details inside and for holding the best kept secrets.
What I’ve learned over the past couple of years is – don’t bring more than you, yourself are willing to carry. Always have a backpack and a carry on. If you end up needing more, get it on the road. Remember, it’s about the adventure and letting go. So leave your heavy baggage at home and enjoy yourself on your unforeseen ventures this summer.
Michele Maturo Photographed By Martin Murillo