Miscellaneous Essential Items in Your Carry-On
Aside from the main essentials that you will be taking with you in your carry-on bag on your trip (i.e., passport, cash, credit card, cell phone, travel reservations and itineraries), here is a list of miscellaneous essentials to add in your carry-on when traveling outside the U.S.
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Prescription Medications and Bring Some Extra
Always take your prescription medications in your carry-on. Bring extra for just in case situations – i.e., delayed return flight.
Photo or Printout of your Medication List
Take a photo of your RX or bring printout of all your prescriptions you are taking with you on your trip. If your RX are dispensed by a retail pharmacy like CVS, you can ask the pharmacist for a print out or you can print it out yourself if you have a CVS.com online portal.
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Eye Glasses and/or Sun Glasses
Make sure that these items are within your reach and can be easily accessed.
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Flushable Wipes
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Cottonelle is a good brand of flushable wipes to bring. Avoid packing your flushable wipes right next to your electronic carry-on items – TSA might ask you to open your carry-on to check for safety. Some chemicals like glycerin can cause false positive for explosives during screening.
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Traveler's First Aid Kit and OTC Medications
Small traveler’s first aid kit and over the counter medications like Tylenol, cough drops, allergy meds (i.e., Benadryl), etc. Unlike in the U.S., other countries like for example in France and its territories (French Polynesia), you cannot buy these items in a regular convenience or grocery store. You need to go to a pharmacy.)
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Hand Sanitizer
Your hand sanitizer should be no more than 3.4 oz. Per TSA guidelines, no liquid or gel more than 3.4 oz. can be included in your carry-on.
Small Facial Tissue Pack or Face Towel
From nasty colds to seasonal allergies and everything, make sure to have a small pack of facial tissue handy. When incidents like water or food spills, too much sweating, it is always a good idea to also carry a small face towel.
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Pen and Small Notepad
When you need to fill out some forms or write a note to a very rude passenger after you deplaned (lol!) , it is always a good idea to carry a pen and a small notepad.
Toothbrush and traveler size toothpaste
When mint or gum will not work :D
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Cell phone charger
Do not leave home without your cell phone charger! It is not cheap to buy a replacement at the airport and sometimes the generic brand is not as good as the one that came with your cell phone.
Zippered pouches or Ziplock bags
Zippered pouches or ziplock bags are very handy to put snacks, little knick knacks, extra socks, earbuds, and other miscellaneous items and to keep your carry-on organized.
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Rechargeable Power Bank/Battery Pack
You need a power bank when your airplane seat does not have an outlet to charge your phone, and your battery bars are low. Note: Do NOT include this item in your checked-in luggage.)
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Snacks
You do not want to starve hungry while waiting when the snack or meal service will start on the plane. Having a good snack back-up is always a must. Power bars, granola bars, popcorn, trail mix are good snacks to bring.
Light Jacket
It could always get cold inside the airport and on the plane. A light jacket will not take a lot of space in your carry-on and you can even wear it or wrap it around your waist.
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Fresh Pair of Socks
Just in case your feet get sweaty or your socks get dirty from walking on the plane from your seat to the toilet, it is good to have an extra pair of fresh socks.
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Travel adapter/converter
If you need to plug in your electronic devices and the power plug outlet is not compatible to that one in the U.S. you need to have a power adapter handy with you.
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Eye Sleep Mask
A sleeping eye mask provides a darker environment no matter where you are, but especially on the plane when you have long flights and would like to sleep.
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Foldable Tote Bag
Foldable and packable totes are useful for carrying travel essentials without having to fully unpack your carry-on bag. It can also be used as extra space for unexpected purchases or food from the airport instead of carrying those in a plastic bag.
Reusable Water Bottle
Make sure to keep yourself hydrated at all times during your trip. Immediate access to water is helpful when you have a reusable water bottle that you can always refill.
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Eye Moisturizer
Just like your lips, your eyes can also be dry because of the low humidity and high altitude. Refresh lubricant eye drops relieve your tired eyes by giving it an immediate soothing relief.
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Tea Bags (if you drink tea)
If you drink tea, it is good idea to carry some tea bags with you. The airlines serve only the basic kind of boring tea.
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Ginger Chews
To prevent motion and plane sickness naturally, eat ginger chews. Research showed that ginger helps prevent and treat mild to moderate case of motion sickness. For longer trips, start consuming ginger 24-48 hours before your trip.
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Lip Moisturizer
To protect your lips from chapping and dry effect caused by low humidity and high altitude. Bring a lip balm and apply it often to hydrate your lips.
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Mask
Although most most airlines no longer require a mask while on the plane, CDC still recommends wearing one. Whether you like or do not like to wear one, having one handy will not hurt in case the requirements change.
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