Things We Always Forget to Pack

You feel nothing but sheer dread when you open your luggage while on holiday and realize that you forgot something important back home. Sometimes you buy an expensive but necessary replacement and other times you soldier through your trip without it. You are not alone in your forgetfulness – travelers all over the world are opening their luggage and having a “D’oh” moment as you read this. Check out our list of things that are most commonly forgotten while packing.

Chargers and/or adaptor for all your electronics
Phones, cameras, laptops – we usually travel with so many electronic devices wherever we go. And we take them because we want them with us, so imagine how awful it must feel to realize that you have taken the electronics but not the wires needed to charge them. What makes it worse is that cell phone chargers can be rather pricey and sometimes you aren’t even able to find the right charger for your laptop.

Passport and other travel documents
You will not believe how many people all over the world return home from airports because they forgot to take their passport or visa along for the ride. It’s crazy because you would imagine that it’s the very first thing they grab on their way to another country, but because passports are not used very often people tend to forget all about them. Also, domestic flights usually only require a driver’s license so travelers who usually stay stateside might not be aware of the law.

Back up documents and a print-out of emergency numbers
I don’t know about you but I can’t even remember my phone number sometimes. In an era of smartphones, it’s easy to never even think about memorizing numbers that are important to you. In case you happen to lose your phone, it could be devastating and could leave you stranded in an unknown place with no one to call. Take printed copies of emergency numbers and documents such as your passport, visa, etc. As an added precaution, email them to yourself so you can log in and access it from any computer.

First aid kit, medicines, and your prescriptions
You will most likely find first aid kits no matter where you go, but if you’re worried about the quality or prefer a certain brand, then we suggest taking a mini first aid kit with you. If you take medications regularly, the rule of thumb is to take enough for your entire trip and then an additional three days’ worth just in case. We also suggest keeping the extra meds in a different suitcase so that if you lose your main supply, you always have a back up until you can fill your prescription again. Speaking of which, always take a prescription and keep your doctor’s office on standby just in case it becomes necessary.

Bathing Suit
As much time as we spend trying on bathing suits to find the perfect one, a bathing suit is one of the most forgotten pieces of clothing by travelers. It’s fine if you’ve gone to the snowy escape of Alaska, but if you’re at a beachside resort with golden sand beaches and azure waters, you’re going to want to your bathing suit. One of three things will happen if you forget: you’ll spend an unnecessary amount of money buying one from the resort shop, you’ll venture out and look for one but by the time you find one you like it’ll be time to go back home, or you’ll spend your entire vacation out of the water.