Travel Essentials for Beginners: My Must-Haves for Stress-Free Adventures
Hello and welcome to my first blog post 🌍✨
I’m here today to talk to you about travel. Travel, to me, is the best reason for living — you only die once but you get to live every day, and that’s exactly what travel reinforces and instills in you.
However magical the experience is, if you’re anything like me (a high-maintenance autistic girly who thrives on some sense of security and routine), then travelling isn’t always the easiest. Or maybe you just want some basics and tips to make travel more convenient for yourself. Either way, keep reading — I promise to share my top essentials.
Just so you know, there are affiliate links within this post. They give me a little commission (heheh), but feel no pressure at all to buy from here.
For some quick credentials — I’ve been travelling and working on and off for about two years now, with plenty of experiences (and stories!) that I’ll be sharing with the grandkids one day. I started travelling as a freshly 18-year-old straight out of A-Levels and trust me, I was clueless. Everything I share here is something I learned the hard way.
So, let’s begin with my travel comfort must-haves…
🔋 Portable Charger
If you’re as directionless as me and love capturing every part of your travels, a portable charger is a lifesaver. I’ve literally been stopped in airports by people asking where I got mine — it always starts a conversation.
👉 Check out portable chargers here
💄 Hanging Makeup Bag (or Scrunch Bag)
A hanging pack/kit is essential. You can hang it in the shower and have all your products right there, making it so much easier to get ready — especially if you’re in hostels. I once got shouted at for blocking the sink with all my stuff, so trust me, this solves that problem!
The scrunch one is another option if you prefer keeping your makeup separate. It spreads everything out flat and then bundles it back up quickly.
👉 Shop hanging makeup bags here
👉 Scrunch makeup bags here
🧣 Travel Towel
Oh my goodness, game-changer. I remember lugging a big fluffy towel through Vietnam and it took up half my backpack — never again. Travel towels roll up small, dry quickly, and honestly work just as well as a normal one.
👉 See my favorite travel towel here
🌬️ Neck Fan
If you’re heading somewhere hot and humid, you need a fan. I used a neck fan in Thailand and honestly felt like the bougiest backpacker ever. It’s breezy without needing to hold it (lazy, I know), and it made sightseeing so much more bearable.
📓 Journals & Notebooks
I always bring two journals — one for recording adventures and another for inner thoughts and manifestations. It became my way to release emotions when crying in front of others wasn’t possible.
I also carried a tiny A5 notepad where new friends I met could write me advice, songs, or doodles. Some of my favorite travel memories are scribbled in there.
👉 Travel journals here
👉 Mini notepads here
📖 Kindle
As much as I love physical books, they’re just not practical when backpacking. A Kindle saved me so much space, and I could read anywhere — from night buses in Cambodia to beaches in Portugal.
🏋️♀️ Fitness Essentials
When I’m at home, I stick to a pretty rigorous workout routine, so while travelling, I sometimes feel a little out of shape. Luckily, all the walking you do exploring really adds up — but I also packed a few small fitness essentials for sanity.
⌚ Garmin Watch
This was my best friend. It tracked my runs, steps, and even swimming — plus it’s waterproof, which was handy in monsoon season. I loved seeing how active I was without even noticing.
👉 Check out Garmin watches here
🪢 Skipping Rope
So small, yet so effective. I’d pull this out in hostel courtyards or even by the beach for a quick 10-minute sweat. People always asked to join in, which made it social too!
👉 Lightweight skipping ropes here
🧘 Yoga Mat
I originally packed a yoga mat, but honestly, I ended up finding them at nearly every accommodation I stayed in across Southeast Asia. Still, if you’re someone who likes your own, foldable travel mats are perfect.
💧 Collapsible Water Bottle
Hydration is everything. I had a collapsible bottle with a key ring that clipped to my bag, and it was such a lifesaver on hikes. It folds down when empty, which saves so much space.
✨ Wrapping Up
And that’s it for my essential tips for beginners! These are the little things that made my travels smoother, more comfortable, and more fun.
I hope you enjoyed rummaging through my must-haves — and maybe picked up a tip or two for your own adventures. 💛