5 Items I Never Travel Without

There's no denying that packing tips have their uses. Although they can be dull to read at times, they can be handy - particularly if you're traveling to a destination you know next to nothing about. Or if you have to dress a certain way, which I did when I spent three months living in Doha in Qatar.

I ask you now - what items can you not travel without? Not the ones that you've been instructed to take with you. Instead, those that, through trial and error, automatically get placed into your backpack or suitcase immediately when you begin preparing for your next trip away. Here are five of mine.

Travel Items

1. A water bottle

A water bottle is the biggest no-brainer of all the items that help make plastic-free travel easy. Yet, I know plenty of people who are happy to turn up at the airport or train station or hop in their car, drink bottle free.

"Oh, I'll just buy one along the way," they'll casually say. I find this hard to comprehend for two reasons.

The first is what I thought was a well-known fact—that having your own bottle saves you money in the long run and reduces your plastic use. I also drink around three or four liters of water daily, so a water bottle is non-negotiable.

Cycling water bottles are great for traveling since they're designed to be carried and handled while on the move.

2. My travel pillow

I nearly always take my travel pillow with me. Not only for long haul flights, but even for a weekend trip away, especially if I'm taking public transport.

My particular pillow doubles as an eye mask, making sleeping anywhere easy. Any traveler will agree that any device that enables you to sleep fuller and better is worth having on hand.

3. A book or Kindle

I can't fathom not having a book on my person when traveling anywhere. What can I say - I'm a bookworm! Plus, travel involves a lot of waiting—in lines, on transport, etc. A book will prove invaluable in helping you pass the time.

I've stuck to tradition for a long time - either purchasing new books to take traveling or picking up new novels along the way, from secondhand bookstores and airport newsagents.

Having finally recently invested in a Kindle (and jumping on the bandwagon way after the fact), I have to admit that it has slightly revolutionized the way I travel. There are so many reads within such easy access!

I think I'll always buy books abroad—they make excellent souvenirs—but it's pretty special to know that I have an entire library essentially at my disposal in the form of one small, lightweight electronic device.

Related: Travel Packing List for Gen Y Women

4. Cold hard cash

Although many of us live in countries that are steadily moving towards being cash-free societies, this is not the case for many other places around the world.

When I'm in London or Australia, I tend to make nearly every purchase on plastic. Yet, I've been in other countries where I've had issues using a card and been shocked by it—and irritatingly caught out.

Many countries worldwide don't accept debit or credit cards. You can also risk losing your cards or having them fail when you stick them in a foreign ATM. That's why investing in the best wallet tracker on the market is a good idea.

No matter where I'm traveling, I always have some local currency on hand before I get to the country. I also always carry a backup debit card in case of a financial emergency.

5. My joggers

This one is admittedly a bit of a joke. Whenever I travel anywhere, even if it's only for a week, I tell myself that I will be good this time and keep up with my exercise regimen. And you know what I do to motivate myself to keep this promise? I pack my joggers.

There they are, staring at me from my suitcase day after day. And do you know how much exercise I end up doing? Usually, it is not very much at all unless you count walking around foreign cities, looking for restaurants that sell a surplus of carbs that I can gorge on at the end of the day, and exercising (you can't).

Staying healthy on the road isn't particularly difficult. I just happen to fail hardcore at it.

Get into the "Flow" with a good pair of headphones.

When traveling, you might not have the convenience of a gym where you can focus on your exercises and get into the "workout flow." Don't worry! All you need is a good pair of headphones and your workout music, and you're ready to go. However, not all headphones are suitable for workouts.

There are a few essential factors to take note of:

• Sweatproof with at least an IPX4 rating.
• Fit well and won't easily slip off your sweaty head.
• They should be comfortable enough to last through your workout session. Over-ear headphones should have a reasonable clamping force and thick cushioning on the ear pads.

Consider a pair of wireless workout headphones like the Jabra Elite 65t to meet these specifications. Because who wants to worry about wires getting in the way during a workout.

_____

This story was updated in partnership with Headphonesty.