20 Things Most People Forget to Pack for a Trip

After traveling to more than 70 countries, I’ve learned that it’s rarely the big things that cause problems on a trip.

You remember your passport. You remember your clothes. You remember your charger.

It’s usually the tiny things you didn’t think to pack that become annoying once you’re already away from home.

Over the years, I’ve built up a small collection of travel essentials that live in my suitcase almost permanently. Most of them are inexpensive, take up barely any space, and have saved me from everything from stained outfits to overweight baggage fees.

These aren’t necessarily the most exciting things in my suitcase, but they are some of the most useful.

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1. Stain Remover Pen

If you have ever spilled something on an outfit five minutes before leaving your hotel room, you already know why this stays in my suitcase.

I especially love having one when I’m wearing white, which somehow always seems to be when spills happen.

A stain remover pen takes up almost no space and can save an outfit you were planning to wear again later in the trip.

2. Laundry Bag

I really do not like mixing worn clothes with clean clothes in my suitcase.

A lightweight laundry bag makes it easy to keep everything separate, especially on longer trips.

By the end of the trip, I can also pull the entire bag out of my suitcase and take it straight to the laundry room when I get home.

3. Wrinkle Release Spray

I own a travel steamer, but sometimes I simply cannot be bothered.

That is where wrinkle release spray comes in.

I spray it onto the item, smooth the fabric out with my hands and let it hang for a few minutes. It works especially well when something only needs a quick refresh rather than a full steaming.

It has become one of my favorite lazy travel hacks.

4. Mini Sewing Kit

You probably will not think about needing a sewing kit until the day a button pops off your favorite vacation outfit.

Mine has the basics like needles, thread, tiny scissors, safety pins and a few other emergency supplies.

It weighs almost nothing, so I would rather have it and never need it than be searching for a sewing kit in another country.

5. Foldable Tote Bag

A foldable tote is one of those things I somehow end up using on almost every trip.

It can become a beach bag, shopping bag, grocery bag or extra bag for all the things I mysteriously acquire while traveling.

The best ones fold down into a tiny pouch, so they barely take up any luggage space.

6. Luggage Scale

This has probably saved me the most money out of everything on this list.

Airline baggage fees can be expensive, and I would much rather find out my suitcase is overweight in my hotel room than at the check-in counter.

I usually weigh my luggage before leaving home and again before heading to the airport at the end of a trip.

That second weigh-in is especially important if I have been shopping.

7. Ziplock Bags

Not glamorous. Extremely useful.

I always travel with a few Ziplock bags in different sizes.

Wet swimsuits, leaking toiletries, snacks, leftover food, jewelry, small electronics and all the random little things you collect during a trip can end up in one.

You will always find a use for them.

8. Door Stopper

This is one I especially appreciate when I’m traveling solo.

A simple rubber door stopper can be placed on the inside of a hotel room door as an additional layer of security.

It is lightweight, inexpensive and takes up almost no room in my luggage.

For something so small, I like the extra peace of mind it gives me.

9. Portable Charger

There are few things worse than watching your phone hit 5% battery when you still need Google Maps, your boarding pass, your hotel address or a ride back to your accommodation.

A reliable portable charger stays in my personal item, not my checked luggage.

I charge it fully before every travel day.

10. Multi-Port USB Charger

Hotel rooms are getting better about outlets, but I still end up traveling with several things that need charging at once.

Phone. Watch. Camera batteries. AirPods. Portable charger.

Instead of carrying multiple charging blocks, I like traveling with one charger that can power several devices.

11. Universal Travel Adapter

This is one of the obvious items on the list, but after enough international travel, I would never leave home without one.

I prefer a universal adapter that works across several regions rather than buying a different adapter for every destination.

Just remember that an adapter changes the plug shape. It does not necessarily convert voltage, so always check whether your appliance can handle the voltage at your destination.

12. Small Extension Cord

This one sounds unnecessary until you stay in a hotel where the only convenient outlet is six feet away from the bed.

A compact extension cord can make charging multiple devices much easier, especially in older hotels.

Just make sure whatever you bring is appropriate for the voltage and electrical standards of your destination.

13. Reusable Water Bottle

I drink much more water when I actually have a bottle with me.

I usually carry an empty bottle through airport security and fill it afterwards.

It is also useful on excursions, long sightseeing days and anywhere I do not want to keep buying disposable bottles.

A collapsible one is even better if luggage space is tight.

14. Small Waterproof Pouch

I like having something specifically for wet items.

It is useful when you have one last swim before checking out of your hotel, your swimsuit has not dried, and you still have to pack your suitcase.

It can also hold damp clothes, toiletries or anything else you want separated from the rest of your luggage.

15. Detergent Sheets

For longer trips, detergent sheets are incredibly handy.

They take up almost no space, do not leak and make it easy to wash a few items in a sink or use a hotel washing machine.

I especially like them when I am trying to pack lighter and plan to rewear clothes.

16. Travel-Sized First Aid Kit

I do not travel with an entire pharmacy, but I like having a few basics nearby.

Bandages, antiseptic wipes and blister patches can come in very handy, particularly on trips where I am walking much more than usual.

Of course, anything medication-related should be packed according to your own needs and destination requirements.

17. Blister Patches

Technically these could go inside a first aid kit, but I think they deserve their own mention.

Travel has a funny way of convincing us to walk 20,000 steps in shoes we have barely broken in.

I have learned my lesson.

A few blister patches in my day bag can be the difference between enjoying the rest of the day and limping back to the hotel.

18. Carabiner Clips

I started carrying a couple of small carabiners because they are surprisingly useful.

I can attach a hat, water bottle, small pouch or other lightweight item to my backpack or personal item instead of trying to squeeze everything inside.

They are one of those tiny things you do not appreciate until you need one.

19. Small Empty Pouch

I always seem to accumulate random little things while traveling.

Coins. Receipts. SIM cards. Hotel key cards. Jewelry. Tickets.

A small zippered pouch gives all of those miscellaneous items somewhere to live instead of letting them disappear into the bottom of my handbag.

20. A Pen

Yes, a regular pen.

It is almost too basic to include, but I have been in enough airports and immigration halls where everyone suddenly needs one.

I keep one in my personal item so I never have to go searching for one when there is a form to fill out.

Sometimes the simplest travel essentials are the ones you appreciate the most.

The Travel Essentials I Actually Use

I am not a fan of buying travel gadgets just because they are marketed to travelers.

If something is going to take up space in my luggage, it needs to earn its place.

Most of the items on this list are inexpensive, small and useful across completely different types of trips, whether I’m heading somewhere for a weekend or traveling internationally for several weeks.

And after enough trips, I’ve learned that sometimes a $10 item can save you a $100 problem.

If you’re packing for an upcoming trip, bookmark this list and come back to it before you leave.

And I’d love to know: what is one random thing you always pack that most people forget?

You can also follow me on Instagram @theufuoma for more travel tips, destination guides and ideas for traveling smarter.