Backpacking and Beyond · Female Travel Hack · Hacks For Wanderlust · Stuff I Love · Travel Listicle

10 Things You’re Not Packing That You Definitely Should

Girl, Unspotted

Packing smart is a skill to be acquired. I personally think it’s not something you can master overnight. It takes years of travel and a number of trials and errors before perfecting the art. But whether you’re the most gifted packer or not, there are some items laying around at home that you tend to overlook. Little do you know, they might just be the best hack in your travel game. Here’s 10 of those things that you refuse to give attention to when getting ready for a trip, that in reality, you should definitely prioritize your space for.(READ: A Beach Bum’s Guide To Packing Smartly)

1.) Melatonin pills

Save your NyQuil for its actual purpose. Melatonin pills not only puts your body clock in its place, but they’re so natural and healthy that it should be the obvious choice. Unless drinking is your preference of getting some zzz’s on the plane, Melatonin will not only help you get some rest up in the air, but would also hook you up with your jet lag and your Circadian Rhythm.

2.) Muscle Rub

Girl, Unspotted -- Tiger Balm muscle rub
via

Besides the obvious First Aid kits and emergency over the counter drugs, a good ole’ muscle rub is perfect for after a long day of walking. Relieve post-hike jello legs, post Disneyland sore feet, and even a minor sprain with a simple self massage on your affected area. There are a variety of brands and versions, from Tiger Balm to Bengay, that smelling like a grandma shouldn’t be a worry.

3.) Silica Gels

Girl, Unspotted -- silica gel
via

I JUST recently discovered about the actual purpose of this annoying little packets that usually comes when you buy new shoes or bags, and trust me, it’s LIFE CHANGING! I live in a tropical country so the climate can be such a  big pain in the ass. The humidity can be pretty crucial with the materials of certain items especially leather. But apparently, silica gels absorb all moisture so it’s quick to dry things up, eliminating your chances of mold and mildew. Toss one in your backpack or luggage, your laundry bag and wet bikinis that didn’t have enough time to dry up, and even with your wet electronics, or to just simply fight condensation. Yup, it works better than rice! So think twice before you toss them away.

4.) Wipes/Tissue

If you’ve been to Asia, then you understand that toilet paper is a luxury. Keep some tissue or wet wipes in your purse or day pack because your chances of coming across a public restroom with actual toilet paper is pretty slim. Oh, and toilet seat covers does not exist in some places too. But whether you’re headed to a first world country with an abundance of the said luxury or not, having your own will nonetheless be a smart move.

5.) Lightweight fabric

Girl, Unspotted -- Packing Guide

Having a lightweight fabric can go a long way especially for long plane or bus rides. Replace beach towels with microfibre travel towel. Find something in your closet that can serve multi purposes such as a beach or picnic blanket, actual blanket, or a shade paraphernalia. Sarong, infinity scarves, or in my case, a handmade Thai skirt that I got from my first trip in Bangkok. Try to opt for multipurpose travel gear.

6.) Photocopy of your documentations

In case of emergency or if you ever lose your passport or have any drama run ins, it will be a great relief to have a photocopy of your documentations. You can also scan them instead and send it to your email so you can easily access it in times of trouble.

7.) A box of energy bars

This is for those days when time is of the essence and you need to just ease your hunger until you come across some legit food stalls/restaurant. When you’ve spent an all nighter and missed breakfast before your day tour, it’ll keep you satisfied enough without getting low blood sugar. It’s a great way to hack your budget too, just don’t miss out on actual local food because of this– that would be a shame.

8.) A tote

Any foldable lightweight tote that you can stick in your backpack or suitcase will be of great use for a day at the beach, lunch, or a walk around downtown. That’s what purses are for, you might say. But space savvy no-check-in pros know that a purse for a carry on won’t cut it.

9.) Face mask

Girl, Unspotted face mask
via

The weather change from one hemisphere to another can be crucial to your skin so stick one of these remedies when you pack. Face masks are awesome if your skin needs hydration from being under the sun too long or if you just have dry skin period.  If you want to look fresh after a flight, just put it on right before landing for 15 minutes and voila, you’ll have that fresh I-woke-up-like-this glow. Face masks are inexpensive and can now be found in many beauty/cosmetic stores. You no longer need to find the nearest Asian store because they’ve become quite ubiquitous nowadays.

10.) Coconut oil

Girl, unspotted coconut oil
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Coconut oil is like the holy grail of female travel hacks. On top of its multipurposes in the kitchen, it also works as a makeup remover, moisturizer, shaving lotion, body lotion, lip balm, body or facial scrub, tanning oil, massage oil, and many more. Not convinced? People also swear by its sexual lubricant capacities too.

Girl, Unspotted

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43 thoughts on “10 Things You’re Not Packing That You Definitely Should”

  2. These tips are spot on! A friend turned me on to melatonin a few years ago and it’s been extremely helpful to me – I have a hard time falling asleep even when I’m not traveling. Silica packets is ingenious too, btw.
    Everything you listed was useful, great job.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. I pack most of these things in my bag whenever I travel. Great list. It’s really helpful to always have things handy in case you need them while in a foreign place.

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  5. Thank you for this list. Silica gel I have recently learned of its benefits. Photocopies of passports can really be so important when travelling.I will take you up on that suggestion about the pain lotions.

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  6. It’s the first time for me to know the use of the Silica gels though it make sense on being an absorber of moisture. It’s also important to have a duplicate of your key documents in case of emergencies.

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  8. So far, I pack everything in your list except the silica gels (I just recently discovered this too!) and the coconut oil. I always carry my handy-dandy Omega Pain Killer! I feel so bad for my travel companions because I start to smell like an “old lady” hours into the flight. Blame the hard and small recline on the seats!

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  11. Interesting fact, in Canada, a jar of cocnut oil costs about 5 CAD, in Germany – because it is a regulated fat – it costs about 35-80 EUR. Now if you know anything about exchange rates these days, you’ll see the price difference is insane.

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  14. I understand the others, but not 7. If I needed energy bars, I’d buy them in the destination. As it is, I’d much rather have a good excuse to stop to a nice cafe (in Europe) or try some local street food (Asia). 🙂

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  15. I didn’t know about the melatonin until now, that’s perfect if you’re traveling across the globe and the time difference is just way off. I can never go on without lighweight clothing and wipes, those are essentials when traveling.

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  16. Seriously? You learned about silica gel just recently? Teehee. I always buy a bag from the hardware stores to keep my leather goods in tiptop shape! It’s such a waste if your favorite pair of boots succumbs to the humidity in our country.

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