5 Unnecessarily Necessary Things to Have While Travelling

Wine opener. You could be sitting in the grass near the Eiffel Tower enjoying the company of you dialogue mates when you decide to head to the nearest grocery store to buy a bottle of never disappointing 3 euro wine. You maybe grab a baguette and some cheese to pair it nicely because after a month in France you’re basically a sommelier and you make your way back to the lawn for a nice relaxing time. You take out the bottle when alas, it’s not a cheap twist off but rather there’s a cork in the way of you enjoying the nectar of the gods. Are you prepared to deal with this situation? Did you think ahead and bring your bottle opener or will you be left to chance and broken French asking around for one. Be the former. Always be prepared.

Portable Charger. Mine’s the size of a brick and any time I go through any sort of security, the guards give me the stink eye. It’s heavy and uncomfortable in my pocket but it has gotten me and others in the dialogue out of could be sticky situations. Whether it’s an excursion and your phone didn’t charge the night before or you’re on your way back from the club mapping the trek home because the subway is already closed and your phone is at a meek 3 percent. The extra battery will come in handy when you most need it, if an emergency does come up, you’ll want to make sure you can map your way home or call anyone needed. Dead phones = no bueno. 

Packing Cubes. This is a fantastic way to force yourself to be organized while putting in next to no extra effort while packing. They are cheap and light which makes them negligible when planning for TSA weight restrictions. I use them to separate underwear and socks from shirts, pants and toiletries. If you’re moving from hostel to hostel, without them by day two your backpack is a mess and you have to fumble around every night and morning to find what you need. Why not make your life easier and know exactly where your last pair of underwear is and avoid laundry for yet another day. 

 A few trustee carabiners. Everything can be hung. No water pouch on your backpack? Throw a carabiner somewhere in there for your water bottle. Not enough hangers? Hang your shirts by the tag with a carabiner of course. I always carry a few with me when I travel, they’re small and incredibly versatile, I’ve used them in situations such as in hotel rooms to give myself extra space and in overnight trains to secure my bag and not have to worry about it getting it stolen while I sleep. It’s a great tool to keep track of your things and stay organized while remaining at all times incredibly small. 

The Eurorail Pass. Take a train here there and everywhere, no need for planes or buses. Although this option is only valid if you are also leaving Paris as part of your trip (and going to a minimum of three other places) the eurorail pass gives you the option to travel for a set amount of days in one month for a single price. This means that yes, you can take a train anywhere in Europe so long as it falls within a 31 day period. Generally if you buy your tickets individually you have to plan each one whereas with the eurorail you simply get on a train, write the date and train number and you are set to go, no need to worry about getting to a specific train or station on time. You travel at your own pace with room for a mistake or two (which from experience happens more than once or twice).