More and more people are traveling as the pandemic is slowing down. Recently, my American friends have been talking about traveling to Japan, especially since Japan announced the reopening of its border! Soon, you’ll be able to enter a few more countries without needing to take the PCR test and/or quarantine. I know some of you are craving international travel and have plans to go abroad. Let me help you prepare for your trip! I’ll show you some amazing finds that have made my travels a piece of cake!

1) Laundry Bag

YOU. NEED. THIS. LAUNDRY. BAG. No questions. I mean, who doesn’t accumulate dirty clothes when they travel? Every time I travel and I’m done with the day, I always sigh realizing that I need to put my worn clothes somewhere away from my clean clothes. I would look around my accommodation for a plastic bag if I forgot to bring one from home. However, you will not forget this laundry bag because it is reusable and comes with a handle. So, when you are done using the bag, it can be collapsed, folded, zipped up, and hooked onto your travel baggage.

2) Foldable Toiletry Bag

This foldable toiletry bag is all you need to carry all your self-care needs across the land and ocean! I love that this bag by BAGSMART comes with a separate transparent cosmetic bag. This is perfect to carry in your carry-on as it follows the TSA restrictions if you travel by plane. The sizes that it comes in are medium and large with multiple color choices. I bought the large baby pink one and it looks just like the advertised photo. The quality is durable with a soft material. The zipper opens and closes so smoothly and comes with double zippers that make zipping easy. I packed it with me for a two-month move to South Africa and it fitted all my makeup, skincare, and hair products. With full-size liquid bottles, the bag has to be packed in my checked-in bag.
A new version of the toiletry bag was released! The new one has another zippered compartment in the front. Yay for more pockets!

3) Luggage Weight Scale

You absolutely need a luggage weight scale before you head to the airport. It can prevent you from paying extra for baggage at the airport. Having a luggage weight scale has saved me time and effort when I’m packing for a flight. It’s difficult for me to pack for a week-long trip when each airline has strict carry-on weight limits. I use the scale every time I’m done packing to check if I can fit more weight. I always think ahead of the souvenirs I would like to take back home. In order to do that, I need to leave enough space and weight in my bags. This fits perfectly with the rest of the electronics that I carry in my backpack. Even when I was moving home from South Korea, I was able to make the necessary decision to buy more weight for my bags before heading to the airport. My belongings from the period I lived in South Korea were way over the standard weight limit for checked bags. I saved so much money not having to pay extra at the airport.

4) Power Adapters

I would recommend bringing along the correct power adapter for the country you are visiting. This is very important when you travel internationally as the country you are visiting probably uses different power outlets than your home country. For my recent international trip to South Africa, I used this power adapter and I highly recommend it. This one is for the US to South Africa. It worked so well to charge my watch, camera, phone, tablet, and laptop. I love that it has three outlets and two USB ports! Double-check and do a quick search for what power outlet (type) your destination country uses. South Africa uses Type M, whereas other countries like the UK and Ireland use Type G. When I lived in South Korea, I used Type F. These adapters are so handy to have. Most hotels, hostels, and other accommodations will have adapters for purchase, but I always think it is better to have one before you leave for your destination. If you don’t want to collect so many plugs, then this all-in-one universal is a great option. The only setback is sometimes the plug can be a little loose when plugged into the wall, making it not a perfect fit.

5) Portable Battery Charger

The scariest part about travel for me is not knowing where I’m going in a local area in a small suburban town as a female solo traveler. Even scarier is when it is dark and I look like a lost tourist. That is an image that could put you in a dangerous situation. So, having a working phone with data or wifi connection is extremely important. When I am out and about in a new place, I tend to take more photos and videos to capture memories. Of course, having some kind of navigation too. To make sure my phone doesn’t run out before I get back to my accommodation, I bring a portable battery charger (power bank) in my backpack or sling bag. Make sure to fully charge the power bank for the day before you head out on your adventures!

6) Noise-canceling headphones

I LOVE my Sony WH-1000XM4! The headphones are industry-standard in the professional audio world. When I am in the airport or on the plane, sometimes I need some quiet time to myself or go into my own world. The noise-canceling feature on these headphones works so well. The audio is clear and the bass and treble are just right. The music and voices come through fantastically. You can also adjust the audio settings in the Sony Headphones app. The headphones last up to 30 hours on a full charge. It is comfortable to wear and has a Bluetooth feature. It’s so convenient that I can walk around without the cord dangling or accidentally pulling it out of the headphones. LOVE!
The newest one in the series, Sony WH-1000XM5, is currently on sale and is the same price as the previous version! Jump on it!

7) Waterproof Phone Case

Will you be trekking out into a jungle in Thailand to see the elephants? Or water rafting through a river in the mountains of South Korea? Or a tropical beach in Hawaii? You don’t want to miss taking photos or videos of memories in these adventures. The first time I used a waterproof phone case, my mind was put to rest about how to take photos when I was riding a boat into a cave in Thailand. I was super impressed with how the cases held up. It was very convenient to wear it around my neck as well. I was happy that I could save the delightful memories that I made.

Remember, the most important item you should pack is your passport! It’s always safe to have some kind of identification on you. Happy travels everyone!

Sincerely,
Amy♡