I can’t tell you how many times I’ve landed in a new country only to realize I left something behind usually something small but surprisingly important. Once it was my universal adapter in Rome (lesson learned after hunting for one at midnight), and another time I forgot my prescription meds on a road trip. Travel has a way of reminding us that the smallest items can make the biggest difference.
That’s why I’ve put together this checklist of forgotten travel essentials. These are the things I’ve either personally forgotten or seen fellow travelers scramble for along the way. By the end, you’ll have a foolproof list to double-check before you zip up your bag because nothing kills a trip faster than realizing your phone is dead, your head hurts, or you can’t lock your suitcase.
Carry-On Must-Haves
1. Phone Chargers & Cables
I used to toss my charger into checked luggage, assuming I could charge at my hotel later. Then my connecting flight was delayed six hours and my phone died before boarding. Since then, I’ve learned to always keep a charging cable in my carry-on or personal bag.
What works best for me is carrying two types of cables: a short, sturdy one that’s perfect for tight spaces like airplane seats, and a longer one (6ft) for when the only outlet in the hotel room is on the opposite wall.
Bring a multi-USB hub or short extension cord. Airports, coffee shops, and even hotel lobbies often have limited outlets. With a hub, I can charge my phone, Kindle, and camera batteries all at once instead of waiting turns.
2. Portable Power Bank
My power bank has probably saved me more than any other travel gadget. Overnight trains in Vietnam, long bus rides in Peru, even just navigating a city all day without stopping having backup power is a lifesaver.
Airlines require power banks in carry-on only, not checked luggage, and there are size restrictions: most airlines allow up to 20,000 mAh (sometimes 27,000 mAh). I’ve found slim, fast-charging models with USB-C ports work best they fit in my pocket and top up my phone to 100% more than twice.
Zee Tip: Charge your power bank overnight before travel days. There’s nothing worse than realizing your backup battery is as dead as your phone.
3. Universal Travel Adapter
If you travel internationally, a universal travel adapter is non-negotiable. My rookie mistake in Paris needing to borrow one from a hostel roommate taught me quickly.
Today, I carry a compact adapter with multiple plug types and built-in USB ports, so I can plug in my laptop and charge my phone at the same time. Look for one with surge protection, especially if you’re going to countries where power cuts or fluctuations are common.
Keep it in a small pouch in your carry-on. Adapters are often one of the first things people forget to pack back when leaving a hotel room.
4. eSIM or SIM Card Tool
Traveling connected has become so much easier thanks to eSIMs you can activate data plans online before you land. But not every phone supports them, and sometimes you’ll still need to pop in a local SIM.
That’s where the tiny SIM ejector tool comes in. It’s one of the most commonly forgotten travel items because it’s so small, and finding a replacement abroad can be surprisingly hard. I’ve used a paperclip in a pinch, but I now keep a SIM tool taped inside my wallet.
Download offline maps before your trip even if you think you’ll have service. They’ve saved me countless times in rural areas and subway systems with no signal.
Health & Hygiene
5. Medications & First Aid Basics
For me, this is the most important “don’t forget” item. Even simple painkillers like ibuprofen can be pricey or hard to find abroad, especially if you don’t know the local brand names. I carry a mini kit with pain relievers, allergy meds, motion sickness tablets, and rehydration salts.
If you take prescription medications, always keep them in the original packaging with a copy of your prescription. This avoids questions at customs. I also pack a small stash of band-aids and blister plasters because nothing ruins a walking tour faster than a blister.
Keep a few essentials in your personal bag, not just your suitcase. If your luggage gets delayed, at least you’ll have what you need for the first 24 hours.
6. Wet Wipes & Hand Sanitizer
Airplanes, buses, and public restrooms aren’t exactly the cleanest environments. I once landed in Marrakech after a long flight and realized I hadn’t had a chance to wash my hands properly in over 12 hours. Since then, I’ve made antibacterial wipes and sanitizer a non-negotiable.
Wipes are great for freshening up during long-haul flights when you can’t shower. They also double as quick cleaners for sticky tables, rental car dashboards, or even dirty hiking hands. Hand sanitizer, especially in travel-sized bottles, is essential for street food stops and crowded tourist sites.
7. Toothbrush & Toothpaste
It’s almost funny how often I forget this basic item until I’m forced to buy an overpriced toothbrush at an airport shop. Now I keep a spare travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste in my carry-on at all times, ready for overnight flights or long bus rides.
Having them on hand means you can freshen up before landing, which makes a huge difference when stepping off a red-eye. I also recommend solid toothpaste tablets if you want to skip liquids and save space.
Store them in a small waterproof pouch so nothing leaks into your bag.
8. Sunscreen & Insect Repellent
One of my biggest travel regrets was underestimating mosquitoes in Bali. I ended up with bites that kept me awake for nights. On another trip, I spent way too much money on sunscreen at a beachside shop in Spain because I forgot to pack my own.
Now, I always carry a reef-safe sunscreen (important in Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other eco-sensitive destinations) and a compact roll-on or wipe-style insect repellent. They take up little space but save you money, comfort, and health down the line.
Keep a small tube of sunscreen in your day bag for reapplication sunburn creeps up fast when sightseeing all day.
Comfort on the Move
9. Travel Pillow, Eye Mask & Earplugs
I used to think these were luxury extras until I tried to sleep on a 12-hour overnight flight without them. The head-bobbing alone convinced me to invest in a good neck pillow and it made all the difference.
Over the years, I’ve tried everything from inflatable pillows to memory foam. My favorite is a lightweight memory foam pillow that compresses into a pouch. It supports my neck properly without feeling bulky.
An eye mask is another must. Airplane cabins are rarely dark, and hotel curtains don’t always block out the morning sun. I prefer soft, padded masks that don’t press on the eyelids. And then there are earplugs tiny but powerful. They’ve helped me sleep through crying babies, honking scooters in Vietnam, and early-morning construction in Rome.
If you don’t love earplugs, try noise-canceling headphones. They double as entertainment and block out background noise for better rest.
10. Lightweight Jacket or Scarf
I learned this the hard way, flying from tropical Thailand to chilly Tokyo. I stepped off the plane in just a T-shirt, and the airport AC was blasting. Now I always carry a lightweight jacket or versatile scarf in my personal bag.
Scarves are my secret weapon they’re stylish, cozy, and endlessly practical. I’ve used mine as a blanket on night buses, a cover-up in temples, and even a pillow on beach days. A packable down jacket or thin fleece also works wonders if you’re traveling somewhere with big temperature swings.
Choose a neutral color that matches most outfits so you’re not lugging around extra clothes just for warmth.
11. Headphones or Earbuds
Music and podcasts are my sanity-savers on long journeys. Once, on a 7-hour train ride through Italy, my cheap earbuds broke, and I had nothing but the clatter of train wheels for company. Lesson learned.
Now I always pack two sets: my main noise-canceling headphones for flights and a small backup pair of wired earbuds. If your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack, don’t forget the adapter those can be surprisingly hard to replace abroad.
Download playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks offline before you go. Streaming isn’t always reliable when you’re abroad.
12. Snacks for the Road
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been stuck in transit with nothing but overpriced airport food. A $6 granola bar in New York once convinced me to always bring my own.
My go-to travel snacks are protein bars, nuts, and dried fruit anything non-perishable and easy to eat on the go. Crackers or rice cakes are also lifesavers for long bus rides or ferries.
Keep snacks in a resealable bag so you don’t end up with crumbs in your bag. If you’re traveling internationally, check customs rules some countries (like Australia and New Zealand) are strict about food items.
Pack-Smart Gear
13. Packing Cubes & Zip Bags
Packing cubes felt unnecessary until I tried them on a three-week trip through Europe. Instead of digging through my suitcase every morning, I just pulled out the cube labeled “shirts.” It cut packing time in half.
I use cubes to separate daywear, evening outfits, and workout clothes. They keep my bag organized and prevent overpacking. Zip bags are another essential. I use them for keeping electronics dry in tropical weather, storing dirty laundry, and separating toiletries.
Choose cubes with mesh tops so you can see what’s inside at a glance. For zip bags, I always carry a few gallon-sized and a couple of smaller ones they take up no space but always come in handy.
14. Stain-Remover Pen & Travel Laundry Sheets
On my first trip to Italy, I spilled espresso all over my favorite white dress. With no laundry in sight, I had to walk around with a giant stain all day. Since then, I never travel without a stain-remover pen.
They’re tiny, cheap, and incredibly effective for emergencies. Alongside that, I carry laundry detergent sheets or powder packs. They dissolve in water and let me wash a shirt or socks in a hotel sink, saving me from expensive laundry services.
Pair detergent sheets with a universal sink stopper, another item many forget but incredibly handy for washing clothes in hotel sinks.
15. Small Locks & AirTag/Tile Tracker
I always lock my checked luggage with a TSA-approved lock. It keeps things secure during transits and gives peace of mind. On overnight buses or hostels, I use the same locks for lockers or even to secure zippers on my backpack.
Recently, I added an AirTag (or Tile tracker) to my packing routine. When my suitcase got delayed flying into Paris, I could see exactly where it was in the luggage room at Charles de Gaulle. Having that visibility saved me hours of stress at the baggage counter.
If you’re traveling with multiple bags, drop a tracker in each one. It’s the best travel insurance you can buy for under $30.
Safety & Extras
16. Spare Cash & Backup Card
I’ll never forget the time an ATM in Mexico swallowed my debit card and left me stranded without cash for two days. Since then, I never travel without a backup credit or debit card tucked into a separate bag. I also carry around $100 in small bills, usually hidden in a money belt or inside a travel pouch.
Having both local currency and a widely accepted card (like Visa or Mastercard) means you’re covered even if a machine is down, the internet fails, or you lose access to your main wallet. I once used my backup card to pay for a last-minute train ticket in Spain when my primary card was inexplicably declined.
Tell your bank where you’re traveling so your card doesn’t get flagged for fraud. And don’t keep all your cash in one place; split it between your wallet and your luggage.
17. Pen & Travel Documents
A simple pen might be the most underestimated travel essential. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked to fill out customs forms on planes or immigration slips at borders and half the passengers are frantically asking flight attendants for a pen.
I keep one in my passport wallet, along with printed copies of important documents: passport photo page, visas, travel insurance, and my flight itinerary. Phones can die, apps can glitch, but paper copies always work.
Store a digital copy of your documents in the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, or even email them to yourself). That way, you can access them even if you lose everything else.
Conclusion
Travel has taught me that it’s often the smallest, easiest-to-forget items that have the biggest impact on your trip. From a simple pen to a universal adapter, these essentials can save you stress, money, and time.
Before you head out the door, take five minutes to run through this list. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
(CTA: Planning a trip? Explore my light packing guide for more tips.)
