6 Weird Things I Always Travel With

I’m a frequent traveler—it’s unusual if a month goes by without an overnight trip. Trial and error have taught me what things are essential and what overpacking looks like: I’m thinking of you, that Caribbean cruise I took for my tenth wedding anniversary. FYI, you do NOT need two large suitcases for a 7-day cruise. Next time, I’ll pack a carry-on, wash some things in the sink, hang them to dry on the convenient line in my cabin, and wear them again, content in knowing I won’t be dragging too much luggage through the airport and cruise terminal.

Over the years, I’ve tried every travel hack in the book. I’ve gone ultralight with nothing but a backpack, used packing cubes and vacuum-packed bags, and swapped this-for-that in search of the perfect packing formula. But trip after trip, the following items make my list of travel essentials—even though they’re unusual enough to raise some eyebrows even among seasoned travelers.

Each one comes with a story of how it became indispensable. Really, isn’t that why we travel in the first place—to gain new insights to better ourselves and share with others?

Travel Packing Tip 1: Duct Tape Holds the Universe (and Your Travel Plans) Together

Some people say that duct tape fixes everything. As a frequent traveler, I’d have to agree with them. Ripped a hole in your pants? Duct tape. Broken suitcase handle? Duct tape. Slippery-soled dress shoes? A little duct tape on the bottom will provide grip on even slick flooring.

Perhaps the most useful it’s ever been was when I brought exactly one pair of fancy shoes for the dress-up dinners on the above-mentioned Caribbean cruise. The stitching that held the strap on the back of the sandal came loose as I graced the stairs to the dining room on the first night, but I was able to fix it with duct tape and use the shoes all week long.

In fact, sandal straps detaching from the soles have long been the bane of my existence, but a good, strong tape will make them last until a replacement is possible. Visible repairs are why I always select “decorative” patterned rolls of tape. The blue star pattern was hardly noticeable on my shoes when I placed a matching piece on the unbroken sandal.

Travel Packing Tip 2: All Sorts of Grocery Bags

I always keep at least two types of bags—zip-lock sandwich bags and plastic grocery bags—in my travel case. The larger bags are perfect for storing dirty clothes, especially wet ones, preventing odors and moisture from reaching everything else in the suitcase. You can also use them to wrangle all those souvenirs that won’t fit in the suitcase for the trip home.

The smaller bags are helpful for leftovers, taking lunch and snacks for the day, organizing small toiletry items (essential for carry-on liquids if you’re flying), or even collecting small souvenirs like seashells.

I’ve also taken to carrying expandable woven bilum-style market bags because they take up almost no room, and they’ll expand to hold a lot. A small collapsible rolling suitcase or a large fabric tote is also good. Every time I fly abroad, I think of my friends who packed their suitcases to the brim for their trip.  Then, they decided to purchase another suitcase en route to get their souvenirs home. I might have to pay a checked bag fee, but at least I won’t have to go luggage shopping!

Travel Packing Tip 3: Dishwashing Detergent

Last-minute packing can be a chore. That’s why I keep a toiletries bag in my bathroom closet, packed and ready to go. That way, I don’t have to empty my shelves and makeup bag every time I have a weekend away. One thing that always stays in that bag is a small bottle of dishwashing liquid.

After all, you never know when you’ll need to wash your travel mug or refresh those disposable plastic forks so you can reuse them.

But that detergent has so many other uses. You can spot-treat food spills on your clothes or even wash them in the hotel sink so you can pack lightly. Have you wondered why the sinks at some hotels and on cruise ships are rather deep? They make a convenient “washing machine.” Place your clothes in the sink, add detergent, and fill the sink with water. Let them soak, then use your hand to agitate them. Let the water out, fill again, and rinse. Wring your clothes out on a towel, then hang them to dry.

If you purchase fresh produce at a local market, it will need to be washed. The detergent can sanitize anything that comes in contact with something germy—including produce in certain regions. You can even use it in place of hand soap, body wash, or shampoo in a pinch.

Travel Packing Tip 4: An Over-the-Door Shoe Rack

A relative looked at me bug-eyed the first time I pulled a cloth shoe rack with metal door hangers and clear plastic pockets from my suitcase. It was one of the hacks I stumbled upon when preparing for my first cruise, and I’ve never looked back.

The cloth rack takes up virtually no space but provides a lot of convenience in a hotel bathroom. Instead of rummaging through my suitcase every morning, I place my most-used items—hairbrush, hairspray, deodorant, small clothing items, etc.—in their own little pockets. Because the pockets are see-through, items can be located quickly. And I won’t end up accidentally leaving them behind in hotel drawers.

Additionally, I keep a few magnetic hooks. Many hotel and cabin doors are made of metal; you can use the hooks to hold items weighing up to a few pounds, increasing storage capacity still more.

Travel Packing Tip 5: Toilet Paper and Spare Change

Traveling isn’t always a luxurious affair. The service station may not have a well-stocked restroom, the Airbnb might run out of toiletries, or you might find yourself hiking in the middle of nowhere. For these reasons, I also pack a roll of TP or at least a small package of tissues.

I also put a few quarters in my pocket when traveling in the Caribbean, Central America, and other parts of the world. For example, while touring Cozumel on foot, public restrooms were often challenging to find. When you did locate one, you’d be greeted by an attendant standing outside. Using the restroom requires a small fee. Coins were essential because credit cards could not be used in this situation!

Travel Packing Tip 6: A Mini-Go Bag

Most of the items on this list are things I travel with when I’m planning a trip. But sometimes travel happens unexpectedly—an emergency brings you away from home in a rush, a friend suggests an unanticipated activity, a day trip takes longer than expected, or you decide to hit the road on a whim.

I keep a go-bag in my car with a few essentials. It’s perfect for stress-less spur-of-the-moment travel or for bridging the gap when I forget to pack something important. My go-bag includes:

• Medicines, as these are easily forgotten, and you don’t want a headache or allergic reaction to ruin your day. Once you’ve spent your entire road trip trying to get your pharmacy to send your prescription to your destination location, you’ll see the value of keeping a pillbox with the essentials on hand.
• A first-aid kit, most often used to treat blisters from walking all day through museums and botanical gardens.
• One change of clothes (long sleeves and pants), so you can at least wash one set and wear the other if your trip is extended; they also come in handy if the weather turns cold or if you get caught in the rain.
• Swimwear, because I can’t count how many times an afternoon with friends has ended up kayaking or swimming. Some swimwear can also double as underwear or outerwear, depending on the design.
• Tennis shoes in case the day began in heels.
• A jacket, because restaurants and other indoor spaces are often chilly, even in warm weather.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste, because these are just the bare minimum for health and hygiene.
• Hairbrush so you can always look your best.
• Cleansing wipes and deodorant for freshening up, even if no shower is available.

I have truly come to rely on this travel bag. Once, a friend forgot to bring a post-swimming change of clothes, but I had extras in the go-bag. On another occasion, my family and I were stuck changing a tire in the pouring rain. Having a dry change of clothes made the rest of the trip home easier.

From packing cubes to UV umbrellas to water bottles with built-in filtration, I’m always looking for things to make my travels more enjoyable. These six items might strike you as weird, but you’ll no doubt find them useful the next time you travel.

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