When you travel, what do you take with you? Are you a light packer and take just the bare minimum? Or are you the kind of traveler who can't bear leaving the house without your own hair dryer, toiletries, etc.? With me, I think I'm somewhat in the middle. I have some items that I must have whenever I travel, but I can work with whatever toiletries are provided at the hotel. Plus, I'd rather save room in my luggage for local souvenirs!I always have my iPod video, books and magazines to keep me entertained while I'm on the road or on a plane. In case something happens, I make sure to have my travel documentations in both original and copies so I can pack them in multiple places. Also, anything related to health such as sunscreen, insect repellent, bandages, aspirin and antacids are must-haves for me -- in travel size, of course!
Another must-have for me is my carry-on luggage when I travel by air. My checked-in luggage was left behind in Narita Airport in Tokyo once. Good thing I had my carry-on with me, so the next two days without my big luggage weren't so bad. Oh, and now, I always make sure to have travel insurance when I travel. An airplane company (sorry, I'm not naming any names) lost my luggage on my way to Curacao, but one quick call to my travel insurance company put my vacation back on the happiness track. I got a $1,000 shopping spree from my insurance company to replace my missing items. Nice!Anyway, traveling is fun, but not when you have to deal with missing luggage or sickness. So for today, I thought I'd list top searched travel essentials for safety to give you some ideas on what to take with you on your trip. Is there anything else that you think should've made the list?
AOL's top searched travel essentials for safety from this month:
1. Travel insurance
2. Sunscreen
3. Money belts
4. First aid kits
5. Traveler's Checks
6. Vaccination
7. TSA locks
8. Insect repellent
9. Car rental insurance
10. Travel wallet
To find your travel needs, check out AOL Travel for travel deals, AOL Shopping for travel essential items and search on AOL Search for travel essentials, such as travel insurance and traveler's checks.
See sponsored links for: travel insurance, cheap airfares, discount hotels.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1. After years of traveling and over packing, I finally learned the secret to packing light and being prepared for anything. It all comes down to 3 basic colors that can be mixed and matched to form different outfits. This helps keep the number of shoes and matching bags down. But then again, how much do you need to pack for a fabulous spa vacation. If you are looking for a great spa deal or spa resorts http://www.spavelous.com is the answer. Just don't forget to bring your stress and tight muscles then leave them on vacation.
Posted at 10:59AM on Jul 20th 2007 by Spavelous
2. It doesn't get any better:
http://www.fakebuddy.com/
Travels well with others, ha ha!
Posted at 1:32AM on Jul 23rd 2007 by Jackie
3. get real. why add weight with first-aid kitinsect repellant and sunscreen when you can buy that stuff wherever you're going; unless you're thinking of 'Lost' and then you will need that stuff.
Posted at 2:33PM on Jul 25th 2007 by msf
4. Always take your passport! And having a copy of it on hand is a good idea for some oversees ports, like St. Petersburg. Another photo id isn't a bad idea either.
We always travel with an emergency contact list just in case it is needed.
Posted at 2:34PM on Jul 25th 2007 by karensonya
5. Yes, after a recent internation trip; I have to revist the concept of travel insurance.
Posted at 2:45PM on Jul 25th 2007 by carlo
6. I was surprized that you did not include two photo copies of every piece of ID, iteneraries, all plane and other transportation tickets, passports, usefull phone numbers, copies of perscriptions ancd ect. I leave one copy with a relative and keep the other copy in a suitcase seperate from the real stuff.
This has saved us from disaster.
Posted at 2:58PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Magaret Carr
7. ALWAYS CARRY A LIST FLIGHTS,CARRIER,DEPART TIME, ARRIVAL TIME,HOTEL NAME,ADDRESS,& PHONE# AND CONFIRMATION # ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER OR 3X5 CARD YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR POCKET AWAY FROM TICKETS AND BOARDING PASSES. WHEN YOU NEED IT IS BETTER THAN HAVING TO SORT THRU ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS AND EXPOSING YOURSELF TO PICK POCKETS ETC.
Posted at 2:59PM on Jul 25th 2007 by TRADER51
8. Beware of Traveler's Checks. My A/E ones were stolen. That's when I learned that it would take four days to get FULL REPLACEMENT; they only give a minimal amount immediately. Bad news as I was scheduled to leave the next day for another destination! Had a wonderful, kind, and generous agent not helped, I would have really been in trouble as the entire process would have had to start over at the next stop. Get full replacement information for lost or stolen checks before you buy.
Posted at 3:00PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Ilene Bernik
9. The barest essentials:
* toothpaste and toothbrush
* deoderant
* comb and/or brush
Although these will be in any public facility, it's good to have a little soap and a towelette.
Posted at 3:04PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Yvonne
10. If you travel Amtrak bring a cover like a fleece throw. It gets chilly at night with the AC.
Posted at 3:16PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Janice
11. I bring one of those tablets that makes the water in the toilet fresh and blue after every flush; my mini travel size cocktail shaker -- add ice will travel! one or two night lights to avoid turning on brights lights in the middle of the night; a safety pin to secure closed black-out curtains; a tiny vase that holds only one stem to place on nighstand or desk once you arrive -- unexpected beauty that will last the entire trip. Mini-dvd player with cords that connect to hotel tv, beats ordering expensive flicks from the hotel every time.
Well thats all folks. Hope someone somewhere will find these tips useful.
Posted at 3:31PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Lisa Mallard
12. Another thing is I always bring personal wipes & Lysol wipes (Travel size) in my carry on. The air plane bathrooms are not so clean. And whe you have a lay over or land you can refreshen up. And wipe the seats in the bathrooms at the air ports too. Just think of all the 100's of people who use them each day...ugggg...lol...lol
Posted at 3:32PM on Jul 25th 2007 by DJ
13. I am a veteran traveler. My two most important items are a flashlight which doesn't need batteries, and a page of health history and list of medications and doses. I never travel without them. I also always takes a walkman (not up with the latest ipod).
Posted at 3:35PM on Jul 25th 2007 by KathyS
14. If u r going on a cruise and have an inside cabin absolutely bring a couple night lights! If u need to get up in the night it will be pitch dark in your cabin. Until I got smart enough to do that I kept the bath light on and had to brace the bathroom door partly open between 2 wastebaskets so it wouldn't bump in the night!
Posted at 3:41PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Robert Edwards
15. If u travel Amtrak get a sleeper!
Posted at 3:42PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Robert Edwards
16. Travelers checks are no longer accepted in many countires, especially in the small towns & markets, especially the large denomination ones. I take only a few hundred cash, keep it in more than one place, and use credit cards or atm cards to get more cash as needed.
Posted at 3:45PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Judy Wright
17. HOW CAN WE HAVE A SAFE TRIP IF LUGGAGE MUST TRAVEL OPEN? WHAT HAPPEN IF SOMEBODY AT THE AIRPORT ADD OR SUSTRACT SOMETHING FROM MY LUGGAGE?
MANY TIMES AIRPORT WORKERS HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR DRUG RELATED TOPICS.
Posted at 3:59PM on Jul 25th 2007 by RAUL OYUELA
18. Forget travelers cheques! AAA and Visa are doing "Travel money cards" You load them up with a set amount of USD and then use them in any country, getting cash from ATMs or paying for goods like a debit card! Safer than using your own bank debit card, and reloadable. I have used them on 5 trips now and they are great!
Posted at 4:02PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Harriet
19. As a military family of 5, we travelled frequently. Early on, I would pack a suitcase for each family member. This required 5 cases in and out of the car at every motel stop. I soon learned that even tho we would need 5 cases to hold all of our clothing, it was best to pack a fresh outfit for each member in each suitcase. That way, we only had to take one case into the motel when we would stop for the night. Live & learn.
Posted at 4:05PM on Jul 25th 2007 by Janice
20. I have done a LOT of traveling, including frequent international, and have had my share of lost luggage, always recovered within two days. But I have never used travel insurance. And I certainly would not take sunscreen, first aid kits, and the like to weigh me down.
I agree re the copies of passports, documents, and I also include front and back of ALL credit cards and other documents in my wallet (it was stolen once in Paris and th elist was crucial to quick reporting) with one copy in hotel safe and one with neighbors or relatives to include full itinerary or emergency numbers for contact (came in especially handy once in France when storm damaged my home and I was able to arrange for temp repairs til I got home.
I have sleep apnea and require a number of meds so those are always in my carryon. Plus a change or so of underwear and bare grooming essentials (in regulation sizes), so I can survive nicely for a couple of days. Then I can buy anything else I need.
Posted at 4:07PM on Jul 25th 2007 by intexa2