Things You Should Pack

1) Emergency Snack

There are hundreds of scenarios in which an emergency snack might come in handy. You arrive late at a hotel with no room service. You miss your plane. late-night connection is canceled and all the shops are closed at the airport. Protein bars, nuts, and other items that don’t get mushy or need to be refrigerated are perfect snacks to keep stashed in your bag.

2) Reusable Water Bottle

Throw your empty water bottle of choice into your carry-on, then fill it up post-security at the airport (if you prefer to avoid water fountains, just ask at a cafe or restaurant) and you won’t have to depend on the flight attendant to keep you hydrated. For travel, consider getting a aluminum, glass, stainless steel, and hard-plastic options in the 12-ounce range.

3) Laundry Bag

Suitcases are tight quarters. One dirty sock or wet bathing suit can turn an entire vacation wardrobe into mess. Don’t mix your clean clothes with your dirties—pack a small laundry bag that can contain wet, soiled, and smelly clothes. If you forget a bag, check the closet of your hotel room; many still stock a plastic bag for in-hotel dry-cleaning services.

4) Copies of Travel Documents

The last thing most people want to do when packing is scan and print or photocopy their passport and other important documents. However, in the unlikely but serious event that your passport or visa is lost or stolen, it’s a big help to have an extra copy on hand. Stash the copies in a separate place from the actual documents, so if you lose one, you’ll likely still have the other.