Grace Lemley
Nov 6 · 4 min read

10 things I won’t travel without again

My friend and I are currently traveling in and around Southeast Asia for the next few months. Before we left we scoured blogs and books for the best packing lists and read countless reviews on each item. Below you will find a few things that I am so grateful I packed, and use nearly daily in our travels.

1. Water Filter: I purchased this at a local running store in Bellingham, Wa. They sell these at most REI stores as well though I think they are a few bucks more expensive there…. I brought the 1.0 L filter and feel like it’s just the right size. This allows me to filter the tap water (or any water really) and drink straight from the bottle bag. It filters 99.9% of bacteria and weighs only 59 g. When empty the bag folds up small. The one I use is called BeFree Water Filter by Katadyn.

2. Reusable silverware and straw: My cousin had forewarned me about all the plastic use here and boy is it true. This little case clips onto my bag with a small carabiner and holds everything I might need (including chopsticks!!) I stuck a stainless steel straw in mine that I had from home. I got this one from amazon.

3. 12 oz Stainless Steel Tumbler: I wasn’t sure about bringing this but it’s proven to be very useful. This allows me to say no to plastic to go cups and still get that yummy iced coffee and walk along the beach. (A must try in Thailand that contains some condensed milk). I got mine from a local coffee shop in Santa Barbara but check out MIIR for some cool designed options!

4. Sunscreen: It is pretty expensive here…and they don’t have many options. The brand I brought is reef safe and made for sensitive skin. A few brands to try are All Good which my friend has been loving, and Countersun Mineral Sunscreen which I bought through Beauty Counter. (Worth the money in my opinion).

5. Croakies: These are a lifesaver on the motorbike or when walking into and out of stores. They attach to your sunglasses and go around your neck. They scream tourist but I won’t travel anymore without them.

6. Hat: I have worn my Oiselle hat every day we’ve been here. It folds up in quarters so that I can stuff it in my sling bag and it won’t get smooshed. It tightens in the back so it eliminates me having to hold onto it on the speedboats. Oiselle is a female owned running company that makes great products.

7. Packing cubes: These have absolutely amazed me. My stuff condenses and makes for easy organization. I have three of them and keep my tops in one, my bottoms in another, and then my sports bras, socks, and underwear in another. I use the Eagle Creek Tech Compression Cube Set.

8. Sling bag: This has been a lifesaver and oh so practical. I don’t leave anywhere without it, but when it’s on I hardly notice it. It holds the perfect amount without feeling heavy. Phone pouch on the front strap for easy access and photo taking opportunities. I use the Patagonia Atom Sling Bag (8L).

9. Cotopaxi 35 L Alpha backpack: My friend and I both have this bag in different colors. We did quite a bit of research on what bag to bring and tried numerous brands at REI. This bag has proven to be a great decision so far. We have seen so many travelers walking around with HUGE packs where you reach in from the top to pack and unpack and commented how impractical it seems. This pack conveniently opens up like a suitcase. It is comfortable to carry and is small enough to be considered a carry on. Yay for minimal packing!

10. Travel debit+credit card: This has been highly important so far. I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit card. So far I bought my flight to Thailand and have booked 4 nights at hotels with points I’ve racked up. I also have no foreign transaction fees with this card. Right before I left I went into my local bank and talked with them about options for a checking account. Fortunately my bank has an account that reimburses any atm/foreign transaction fees up to $25/month. I must say-this is SO important. You use cash here for everything except for accommodations. Knowing I am saving about $7/every atm transaction I make is so comforting!


At the end of the day more than likely the place you are going will have everything you need. In our case, Southeast Asia is a developed area… there are in fact stores with things for sale, however…. these are a few things that I know moving forward that I won’t forget to pack on any trip I take.

Thanks for reading and happy galavanting!

Grace

Grace Lemley

Written by

GALAVANTING with Grace. Currently traveling throughout Thailand.

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