My Packing Essentials - Here With Dia

After being on the road for nearly 2 years. I have had quite the experience with switching luggages, bags as well as figuring out what are some of the must-have packing essentials for traveling. I’ve had to leave things behind often, and pick up others that have now become stable items. This travel packing essential list will help you with your upcoming adventures!

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Travel Packing Essentials

Chester Minima Carry-On

If you have any back issues or are not comfortable carrying heavy weight, I’d highly recommend this hardshell carry-on. It’s made with military grade material, with super durable handles plus the WHEELS – 360 spinner wheels are a game changer. I used my Chester luggage when I came to Mexico, because I was staying in the historic center, the roads were very BUMPY. Luckily I didn’t need to worry, this sturdy carry-on carried on with no issues.

They offers high quality luggage but at an unbeatable price. Make sure to use my discount code ‘dia10‘ to take an additional 20$ off your purchase!

There’s also FREE 2-day shipping plus 100 days trial period – which means you can return and get full refund within 100 days if you’re not happy with the product.

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eBags TLS Weekender

This is the bag I’ve used since I got on the road in 2017. It’s a little bit like magic how much you can fit inside. I love that it’s got a sturdy structure and I never worry about it breaking or ripping even when I *overpack* it a bit. It’s fairly lightweight and after using it for 2 years, I’m still happy with the decision. It’s also got a built in area safe & near your back to store a laptop.

Keepgo International Wifi hotspot / sim card

Traveling long term means I’ve ditched my expensive U.S mobile carrier plan, and buy local sim card + data as I go. However, in some places it’s a bit more difficult to buy a sim card as soon as you arrive. This meant I was prone to getting lost or unable to get in contact with people. I also love having Google search accessible at all times in case i need to find train or bus schedules, call a business, etc… This Keepgo traveling wifi hotspot has saved my life in Los Angeles, China, and Mexico. I would recommend using it from time to time for emergency situations when you have no data or cannot access wifi. It truly comes in handy and makes traveling so much easier. Plus you can just reload more data online wherever you are in the world.

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Packing cubes

This one is on every traveler’s list for a GOOD reason. I organize not only my clothes but also small knickknacks, medicine, and so much more with these cubes. They are an absolute life-saver for keeping things organized if you’re on the road long or short term. My current favorite is the Tripped Compression Packing Cubes, It works like magic to maximize space.

Kindle

Trust me, as much as I love holding a fresh or vintage paperback in my hands, the days of carrying heavy books are over. I have been using my Kindle for YEARS and haven’t looked back. I can literally have hundreds of books in this beautiful little device, and the screen is friendly for any lighting and will not hurt your eyes like an iPad would. Also I love that the battery life lasts forever, perfect for entertainment on long travel journeys.

Headphones

I packed two extra back up headphones and ended up using both. I accidentally cut one during a grapevine pruning incident in New Zealand. (I’ll save that story for another time) Whether you prefer the in-ear ones or the noise-cancelling big boys, headphones are a MUST-HAVE for any kind of trips. If you need to zone out, take a nap, get in the mood for your adventure, or just ignoring the chaos that happen sometimes during a trip.

Microfiber Towel

These light weight babies are fast drying and super useful. In fact, I’ve used it as a pillow, as a blanket, and of course as a towel. If you’re ever traveling on a tight budget and find yourself staying in hostels, not all of them provide towels or sometimes with a price. Not only that, traditional towels are just too heavy and takes way too long to dry. When I was traveling in Indonesia and went to the beach nearly everyday, this towel would dry even in the humid weather and ready for next day use.

Anker PowerCore Battery

I absolutely love and stand by Anker power banks. It’s been such a life saver for long journeys and keeping all my devices powered. You can plug in multiple devices to charge at once, it’s got amazing battery life and easy to recharge. Never get lost again due to a dead cellphone battery!

Camelbak reusable water bottle

I used to buy bottles of water right after TSA check. Until one day, I bought 4 bottles of expensive ass airport water after passing TSA to find out that I still couldn’t take liquids on the plane. Depending on the country and the airport you’re in, it’s never a guarantee that you can take liquids on your flight. This is a life saver as some airports have filtered water you can fill up with, or give your bottle to a flight attendant once you’ve made it on the plane and ask them to fill it up for you. We all know how drying it is to even be on a plane for a few hours, carrying a reusable water bottle should be mandatory for surviving flights.

USB multi-charger + adapter

Another essential on my list. This comes with interchangeable wall adapters that allows you to charge pretty much most places in the world. It also charges up to 4 devices at a time so it’s a time saver! I use this to charge my phones, iPad, and kindle + more.

GoPro

I don’t recommend everyone to buy a GoPro. However, I highly suggest it for those of you that are adventure/adrenaline seekers, or you do a lot of water sports like snorkeling or diving. I traveled 2 years without a GoPro, and missed so much good footage. I finally bought one this year, and I’m excited to capture some underwater footage as soon as I get to an ocean!

Comfy sandals

Yes I do travel with my Nike sneakers, however there comes instances where you’re island hopping and sneakers are just not a good options. I accidentally dipped mine in ocean water and it did not smell so great for days after. Sandals on the other hand could be the best solution. The thing is to find a pair that’s not only cute, versatile but also comfortable enough for walking in long distances and different terrains.

Scarf

huh? you say? Let me explain. I always travel with at least 2 scarves even in hot climates. They are so versatile and can be used as a pillow case when you’re staying at slightly sketchy places. They can also be used to cover your shoulders, knees, or hair when traveling to certain destinations where modesty is good practice. I’ve also used it as a blanket on planes, waiting for trains, and throw it over my face for a better sleep on the bus. Have you ever walked through some place stinky? I spray a tiny bit of perfume on my scarf and voila, problem solved!

Eye Mask

Eye masks are great for getting rest on the plane, or if you’re just really sensitive to light and your accommodation may not have great curtains. It can also be used for naps, or adjusting timezone differences.

Useful Apps for Traveling

1. TransferWise If you’re planning to travel or work abroad for any length of time, TransferWise is a must have app. I’ve used it for sending money from my New Zealand bank account to my U.S account with minimal fees. The reason for this is when you do a bank to bank transfer, the sending AND receiving banks take a chunk of fees. For example if I wanted to send money from a foreign account into my Chase account, I would’ve incurred 15-30$ of fees, but with TransferWise, it was only 4.88$ It’s free to sign up and you can download the app onto your phone! Sign up with my link and get your first transfer for FREE.

2. XE Currency I use this app so frequently, you can add whatever currency you want and see what should be the approximate exchange rate you’re getting. Also it’s good to know how much you’re paying for translated in your own earning currency.

3. Spotify If you don’t already have it of course. I love Spotify for music, but it also has amazing podcasts, even language lessons! You have the option to download playlists and podcast episodes so even without internet connection, you’ll never be without entertainment.

4. Maps.me This comes in handy when you know where you’re headed next and can download the offline map. It’s my travel policy to get a local sim card as soon as I arrive some place. However, sometimes you still need to get to places before that happens. This map also shows popular tourist destinations, sometimes strangely more accurate than Google Maps.

5. Airbnb It’s great for finding cheaper accommodation that are not as pricy as hotels but nicer than hostels. Depending on your travel destination, sometimes it’s quite worth it to check out the Airbnb options! Click here to get 40$ off your first booking!

6. Skyscanner I can confidently say that I am now a pro at researching the cheapest and best flights, I have cross checked a variety of search engines and booking sites, and found that Skyscanner is always the winner. 90% of the time I find my flight on there, or Skyscanner directs me to the cheapest/best option on another third party website. I would highly recommend trying it out if you haven’t yet!

7. ExpressVPN I would say this is especially important if you’re traveling to China where a lot of the apps you’re used to are blocked by the firewalls. Or if you’re like me, and Netflix REALLY helps you wind down after a long day of exploring. Having a reliable VPN service on your devices help you stream wherever you are. It can also help you find CHEAP FLIGHTS! I’ve used and tested ExpressVPN numerous times along with other companies, and it is still the only one I trust and can vouch for. If you’re curious about how it works, make sure to read my how to guide on using VPN.