Billie’s travel essentials.
After two tough years being stuck at home, Kiwis are spreading their wings and finally flying off overseas.
I mean who doesn’t want a trip overseas to a tropical island or another far away destination right now!
Although travel is fun, like SO MUCH FUN, it can also be hard if you aren’t prepared.
After almost two months travelling abroad, I have found the must-haves that make travelling that little bit nicer and best of all, easier!
These are all genuinely things I found helpful or I know of friends or family who found them helpful.
So if you are headed overseas, make sure you are prepared!
Here is Billie’s ultimate travel essentials:
Luggage.
Suitcase
If you are planning on buying new suitcase(s) for your overseas trip, I’d highly recommend picking something other than black so it’s easy to spot. Although black will forever be chic, the rest of the world also had that same thought and you end up standing at the baggage claim trying to figure out which of the same 15 black suitcases belongs to you.
BUT if you already have existing luggage, don’t stress!
Find a bright, distinguishable ribbon to tie around the handle. It’s a simple trick that makes a world of difference when it comes time to pick up your bag.
Depending where you are off to and for how long, you may also want to get a small carry-on case too. Make sure you check your ticket’s baggage allowance but having a small case with wheels is great for long haul flights. This way you can pack a spare change of clothes, as well as any toiletries/medication etc JUST IN CASE your big case goes astray.
Backpack
When travelling, you absolutely need a backpack to hold your essentials while you are on the plane. But you also want something you can use on holiday when you need something a bit bigger than a handbag. Grab something cute like the PUMA Buzz Backpack that will fit stuff like your laptop, chargers, drink bottle and travel docs etc.
Packing Cubes
Believe the hype because packing cubes are WORTH IT. If you are travelling for longer than a couple of days and have a big check-in sized suitcase, it makes it so much easier to find things when they are all neatly seperated.
I had this six-piece set of travel organiser storage bags from OnceIt which helped keep me tidy and organised for over two months. Plus when you are moving from place to place, you don’t need to empty your suitcase out every single time to find something.
Technology.
Charging
What did we even do before power banks!?! There is nothing worse than getting halfway through a flight and running out of battery on your phone or tablet. I used my power bank almost daily due to how easy and portable it is.
If you are gone for a long time or take regular overseas trips, I’d recommend getting two different kinds.
The mophie Snap Plus Travel Charger Pack is great for when you’ve got a bunch of stuff to charge at the same time like your phone, a smart watch or ear-pods. However I also like to have a smaller power bank (like this mini mophie juice pack) to keep in my handbag in case i’m out all day and my battery runs low.
Don’t forget they use different plugs overseas too so it’s handy to pick up an adapter before you leave because that stuff gets marked up heavily in the airport!
Headphones
A good pair of headphones are essential for a long flight. It can get noisy and sometimes you just don’t want to hear other people snore for hours on end.
Get some noise-cancelling headphones like these Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones or cheaper-yet-still-great Jabra Elite 3 earbuds so you can enjoy your music in peace or block out the background noise.
Apps
When you are travelling in a foreign country, it can be difficult to get your head around things like the exchange rate, time differences, a language barrier or even navigating public transport. Luckily there are a tonne of apps that exist to make your life easy whilst travelling.
I’d recommend downloading these guys:
Citymapper - aka the King of all map apps. Simply enter your start and end points and it will show you the easiest, fastest, or cheapest way to get to your end destination. If it recommends you go by public transport, it will tell you exactly how much it will cost, where to catch it from and when to get off. It’s currently available in almost all major European and American cities, as well as select Asian cities.
XE - currency conversion (easily work out the current exchange rate between New Zealand Dollars and the currency of where ever you are. Particularly helpful in Asia where there are crazy exchange rates!)
Google Translate - many places across the world are set up well for English speaking tourists however it can be handy to have the Google Translate app downloaded just in case you need to communicate in another language. You can even take a photo of something you want to understand and it will translate it on the picture for you.
World Clock - you probably already have this but handy to remember that you can have all your destinations, including home, loaded right there.
Clothing.
Swimwear
If you are going somewhere hot, or even somewhere cold, you’ll want to take some cute swimwear with you. I’m obsessed with Aussie brand Infamous Swim that have a HUGE range of high-quality togs in every style imaginable. I have a Gia Bikini set and a Gwen One Piece and I just love the cute colours and prints that they come in. Make sure that if you are going to be in the sun that you grab a cute hat to match too!
Shoes
Footwear is something you’ll want to make sure you have the very best of when you head overseas. On holiday, you often end up walking miles so you better hope your shoes are comfy! I’d recommend getting a cute pair of sneakers like the Adidas NMD_R1 shoes. Even though they are technically more for exercise, they are still cute enough to wear with a dress. If you are searching for something a little more summery, I do have it on good authority that Birkenstock Arizona EVAs are fantastic alternatives to jandals. Although I personally haven’t got a pair, a few friends highly recommended these while they were travelling. They are comfier than the classic leather/suede style but far more supportive for your feet than a jandal.
Handbag
This guy is so important to get right as you want something not too big so it doesn’t feel like you’re lugging around bricks but also not too small so that you can’t fit your essentials in. I opted to buy a Saben Tilly's Big Sis Crossbody for my travels and I have ZERO REGRETS. This bag is the ultimate travel bag for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s crossbody which should be mandatory for all travel. This means it sits very securely across your body and less likely for a cheeky robber to grab and run off with. Secondly, it has a tonne of pockets and built in card holders for all your different bits and pieces, including passports! I still use this every single day in my normal life but if anyone asks, i’d tell them to get one of these.
Skincare.
Whilst skincare is important every day, it’s even more important when you are travelling.
Between the change in climates and the horrible nightmare that is pressurised cabin air, you need to look after yourself.
Firstly, where possible - ALWAYS pack travel minis to save space. You will almost never need a a full-sized bottle of anything and if you do run out, then you can just grab something from the local chemist or Sephora.
My day-to-day favourites included my Go-To Minis, particularly my mini Face Hero that is just like the ultimate moisture boost in a bottle. I also cannot recommend the Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ Face Lotion enough! You should be wearing SPF every single day but even more so when you are on holiday (usually in the sun). This stuff is lightweight and non-greasy and simply the best facial SPF i’ve tried. You should also be using SPF on your lips because sunburned lips = ouch! I love Blistex Lip Conditioning Balm SPF30 because it’s super cheap but is super nourishing and lasts for a long time.
Make sure you end everyday washing your face with a good cleanser. I chose to bring a small face cloth with me as often hotels don’t supply any. As the name suggests, these Manicare Erase-It Make Up Remover Cloths also remove makeup, making them far superior to a regular face cloth.
Now when it comes to flying, you absolutely need a mini beauty bag to take on board because plane air drys out your skin big time. I love La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Cream and Mario Badescu Facial Spray to keep my face feeling refreshed and moisturised and they both come in mini sizes (remember no liquids over 100ml on board!). The real MVP of the trip was Weleda Skin Food. I’d heard that this stuff was the ultimate in skin hydration and decided the best time to try it was whilst travelling and I can confirm it lived up to the hype. You can use it on your face or body but I used it predominantly to keep my hands from drying out, which on a plane is pretty regularly. Unfortunately, lips dry out massively on a plane too so get something extra nourishing like cult-classic Lanolips lip balm to stop the uncomfortable cracking.
Lastly, these are a few extras that you may want to consider for your travels. The JVN Hair Complete Air Dry Cream is a little gem. Hotel hairdryers are notoriously crappy and who wants to spend a life time blowdrying their hair on holiday. Simply pop on wet hair and let it air dry. It prevents frizz all while making your hair look natural and gorgeous.
This last one was an absolute essential as recommended by a Travel Agent friend. If you are also going somewhere exotic you might want to consider taking some Activated Charcoal Capsules. Upset tummies from water or food are super common overseas and can ruin a holiday. activated charcoal helps settle your stomach and get you back to your best self after Bali Belly.
Other important stuff.
Passport
Firstly, go and check you have a valid passport before booking any flights! It may seem like a no brainer but a lot of people didn’t realise their passports had expired in the two years of lockdown.
Secondly, has it got more than six months left on it? Some countries such as China and Thailand require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months after you intend to depart from that country.
If that’s all good then you sound like you are good to go on the passport front! Make sure to double check you have it on you when you leave the house for the airport.
Visas
Luckily Kiwis don’t need always need to apply for a visa to visit overseas countries. However it’s always smart to check the visa requirements for your destination(s) before you leave NZ (just google *country* visa requirements and check an official government page. Even if you have been somewhere before, make sure to check again. Some places have changed their visa rules since Covid and you don’t want to get caught out!
Money
Wise Card is by far the best option on the market when it comes to using money overseas. You simply make a bank transfer from your NZ account to your Wise card and you’re good to go. Wise automatically converts your purchases in to the local currency at the best rate on the market and a super small fee. It’s way cheaper than bank credit cards and easier than other travel card options on the market.
Local SIM Card
If you are going to a destination for longer than a week, it might be worth looking into a local SIM card.
Roaming data is outrageously priced and you get hardly anything for the price you pay. However if you are staying for longer than a week, most countries will have travel SIM card options that work out to be pretty cheap with a tonne of data. This means you don’t have to worry about scrolling Instagram on the train or even using maps to find your way home.
Travel Insurance
PLEASE no matter where in the world you are going, make sure you get travel insurance. Even if you are just off to Australia or the Pacific Islands, travel insurance is still hugely important. Accidents can happen anywhere and not everywhere is as lucky to have a heavily subsidised (if not free) healthcare system like New Zealand. It may not seem like it’s worth it but if you end up in hospital you’ll be wishing you’d paid for that versus the thousands in medical bills!
Covid stuff
Lastly, while a lot of the world seems to have moved on from the days of Covid restrictions, not all have.
Just like visas, make sure to check the local Covid requirements for your destination(s) country. To be safe, you can easily download your international My Covid Record here, just in case you need it.
Happy travels!
