Melo Villareal
Five must-haves in your carry-on luggage
Boarding a plane for travel is always exciting, but it can also be tiresome and exhausting especially if it’s a long international flight. To prepare for a trip, it’s important to have a carry-on bag or luggage that contains the essentials – whether keeping you entertained during the flight, or saving you from an unforeseen circumstance. Here are five things you must always have in your carry on:
1. Important travel documents
Passport by Lucas via Flickr
This seems like a no-brainer, but you’ll be surprised at the number of people who forget the essentials – their passport, their travel itinerary, or their plane ticket. Also keep in handy old passports, especially if you’re using a recently renewed passport. Immigration in other countries sometimes asks for this to see travel history.
2. A jacket or a shawl
Bring a jacket or a shawl
Airports and planes can get pretty cold, so it’s good to have something that keeps you warm the entire duration of the flight. For ladies, a shawl is a great travel must-have! It doubles as a blanket but at the same time is a good way to accessorize your outfit.
3. A light snack
Bring a light snack
Packing a snack helps you on those unfortunate days when you have to wait at the airport, or during long flights when you need to fill your tummy with something. This is most helpful when traveling with kids – give them a snack to calm them down when they start becoming rowdy or bad-tempered.
4. A toothbrush and a change of clothes
Bring Extra Clothes
You never really know what can happen during a flight: flight delays that leave you waiting at the airport, or worse, (and I hope this never happens!) your luggage somehow being misplaced when you get to your destination. Having some essentials in your carry-on prevents you from being a hopeless lost cause when you’re in a sticky situation. And even if nothing unfortunate happens, an extra set of clothes allows you to freshen up when you arrive after a long trip.
5. A book or music player
Music Player onboard
It’s always nice to have something that keeps you busy during long travels. A music player also doubles as noise eliminator for when a baby in your flight wouldn’t stop crying. A book is also a good way to pass the time; before you know it, you’ll be at your destination by the time you get to the last chapter!
