Travel Products I’m Buying Before My Next Trip

My birthday is coming up soon and not too long before I set off on my bigger trips of the year. These include Malta, Singapore, and travelling around Australia. Although I travel quite often, there’s a few things I want to get for upcoming trips to make my life easier or that I just want to treat myself to, a few that have been on my list of wants for quite awhile. Here’s the travel products I’m planning to get before my next long trips:

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Packing cubes

Why haven’t I, someone who considers herself to be the queen of packing for a holiday in a small case, have packing cubes? I had convinced myself I can fit more stuff into a suitcase using my own packing methods. This involves rolling clothes and organising everything into my rolling suitcase. But then I was travelling around Vietnam with a backpack and moving around every other day. As a result, I found myself constantly repacking.  I was never able to find what I was looking for without dumping the entirety of my bag onto the floor. I think it’s time to get some packing cubes to make my life easier. I’ve put these ones on my wish list, but if anyone has recommendations for the best ones out there I’d love to know.

A new book

I can’t go on holiday without an unread book in my suitcase! Normal People by Sally Rooney had been on my reading list for some time. I’m a big fan of reading a classic paperback rather than on an electronic reader. But I also don’t like taking more than one as it weighs down my bag too much. For extra reading, I usually have a few backups in my Kindle library.

A universal adaptor

I have a set that converts between UK-EU-US plugs and a random Sri Lankan converter somewhere. But I’m now going to need yet another for Australia, and likely yet another one after that depending on whether we choose one of the destinations currently on the shortlist for the trip after that. I might as well buy an all-in-one gadget like this one.

An easy-to-carry tripod

As I wrote in my post reflecting on solo travel, it’s so hard to get pictures that I’m actually in that aren’t bad selfies. But I’m not going to have room to haul around a tripod obviously. But what about this mini tripod?

Tassel earplugs

This is the oddest item on my list, but as you may remember from long-flight essentials list, earplugs are a must for some needed sleep on planes. And definitely come in handy for hostels, traffic noise, and any other accommodation annoyances. I always have a pair of the normal squidgy ones, but I really want these ones inspired by my favourite film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. They’d go great with my eye mask!

Noise cancelling headphones

I always have my headphones on a flight but I don’t have noise cancelling headphones, which would be a must-have for my long flights ahead.

Reef-safe Sun Protection

I’m going to be facing a conundrum on my biggest trip of the year to Australia. On one hand, it’s one of the worst places for sunburns. And after about 8 years of living in the UK, my skin is far more used to British weather than my beachy hometown, so protecting against sunburns is going to be key.

On the other hand, I’m such a beach girl and love SUP boarding and really want to take a trip up to the Great Barrier Reef and go snorkelling. Most sunscreens contain chemicals that are damaging for coral reefs, and oceans in general. And I also have super sensitive skin that gets mega irritated and broken out if I put normal suncream on it. So I need to get one that won’t be mean to my skin for daily wear. But luckily, there are more and more companies offering ocean-safe, more natural sunscreen. So I’ll be picking up a bottle of one like this on from Thinksport before I go.

GoPro camera

I’ve wanted a GoPro for a long time and the HERO7 looks amazing. Anyone else tried it or have some recommendations?

Lifestraw Water Bottle

I won’t need this for my upcoming trips as the locations all have safe drinking water, however the Lifestraw water filter bottle is so handy for trips where that might not be the case.

A SUP board

An inflatable stand-up paddle board is on my long-term wish list. It’s one that would be hard to pack admittedly. But I’d love to be able to visit a seaside location and be able to go SUP boarding whenever I want rather than searching for a nearby rental place. And would actually save me money in the long run.

Dry Bag

I usually borrow Matt’s for SUP boarding or kayaking, so I think it’s time to get my own dry bag, especially if I’m going to buy my own SUP board! Also very useful for kayaking, other watersports and hiking in wetter climates.

The comfiest flip flops ever

I was wearing my favourite pair of flip flops yesterday, which are starting to show their age a bit and knew I had to find the exact same ones because honestly they are the best! I’m in love with Sanuk’s yoga mat flip flops. They come in loads of colours and last quite awhile (last ones are about 5 years old and haven’t broken).

A sand-free beach towel

I think it’s time to invest in a new beach towel since I’ll be spending a lot of time on the beach the remainder of my travels this year. But I also want to avoid sandy, soggy beach towels so I’m looking to get one like this where the sand easily falls off and dries quick.

What are your must-have packing items? What’s on your wish list before your next trip? Let me know in the comments!