Top 10 Commonly Forgotten Travel Essentials You Should Always Pack

September 7, 2025
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Do you sometimes pack your bag and think you have forgotten something but can’t figure out what? Then this is the blog for you. Here are my top 10 most commonly forgotten travel items which you should add to your travel packing list right now.

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The 10 Most-Forgotten Travel Items (You’ll Thank Me Later)

1. A Day Bag

From experience, packing something to use on the day to day is too easily overlooked. We are so busy fitting everything into a suitcase that we sometimes forget to pack an extra bag.

For me, I tend to use the Uniqlo Crossbody bag as my airplane essentials bags, holding things such as my passport and phone. But I mean another bag on top of that.

This could be a small backpack, especially if you are planning hikes, or a tote bag (ideally with a zip like this one). It won’t add much weight or space and will safe you from having to find something to put your stuff in while abroad.

2. A Travel Adapter

Every time I visit a new place and check into my hostel, I meet someone who has forgotten their travel adapter. It’s almost like a rite of passage at this point.

So, to save you a ton of money of having to buy an overpriced one at the airport or abroad, make sure this has been added to your packing list. I personally love this one as I can use it worldwide and it’s really lightweight.

3. Medicine

Brining essential medicine as well as some travel specific items is crucial and easy to forget, as I have unfortunately experienced first-hand.

I found myself in Peru at 4000m in Cusco without altitude sickness medication and it was not fun. One hospital visit later and I had learned my lesson.

So, do your research on medication you may need for a specific destination and also don’t forget essentials like Ibuprofen, Imodium, Anti-nausea medication and antihistamines.

While not technically medicine, I will also add feminine hygiene products to this category. It’s often hard to find the ones you want while abroad, so make sure to pack some!

4. Earplugs and an eye mask

I have unfortunately forgotten earplugs on several of my trips and had to buy local ones in small packs for an extortionate price. Don’t make the same mistake!

You can get some on Amazon in huge packs super affordably, so make sure to add them to your packing list. Even if you aren’t staying in hostels, hotels can unfortunately be just as loud.

A good eye mask is also easily forgotten and one of my absolute essentials! I love satin ones like this one.

5. Rain Coat or Poncho

I often try to pack super light and take only the essentials, which has gotten me caught up in unexpected rain more times than I can count while travelling. Somehow it’s always the holidays with no rain forecast where I get caught in a full-blown rainstorm.

While there may not always be space for a full rain coat, a poncho is a great, lightweight alternative. I have one that I bought on the streets of Portugal for 10€ and have since dragged everywhere, but you can often find cheaper and better quality ones online (like this one).

6. Cash and Travel Credit Card

In some countries, like when I travelled to Chile for the first time, not exchanging currencies before travelling and bringing some local cash can be an expensive mistake. In Chile, it meant very high ATM fees to travel from the airport to the city by public transport.

Another thing that is too easy to forget is your travel credit card. When I am home, I take it out of my wallet so I have forgotten it before and the exchange rates were really unfortunate.

I use Revolut for all my trips abroad and have never had any issues (not sponsored).

7. Something to read

Books are somehow always the things that don’t make my packing list as they are too heavy, but I then end up deeply regretting that by the time I’m on the plane and bored.

Recently, I have downloaded the Kindle App on my phone and it has been a great way to have books on stand-by without the added weight. Just don’t forget to pre-download some books!

Check out my favourite travel reads here: My Top Beach and Plane Reads as a Solo Female Traveller

8. Copies of important documents

It’s easy to forget making copies of important documents or thinking you won’t need it, but trust me when I say they are an essential.

You never want things to go wrong, but if they ever do, you need to be prepared. Have copies of your passport, your travel insurance and emergency contact numbers in 1-2 places. This protects you in case anything gets stolen, but also if you need medical care and someone else is looking to contact your loved ones etc.