Do you ever get that feeling when you are finished packing that there is something you have forgotten? It happens to me every time. That sense of worry that there must be something small that I forgot to throw into my bag that could derail my entire trip.

Once you hop in your car for the airport or to your destination, there is no turning back. Unless it is for something crucial like a passport. But even still in that drive to the airport and once I arrive at my destination, the thought of forgetting something still lingers.

It is not as bad anymore as I have learned to just let go and accept that whatever I have forgotten is forgotten. Luckily I do not have any medication to forget or anything serious that I would not be able to buy at my destination. However, with all of my camera gear and accessories my biggest thought is that I have forgotten something to help me charge my gear or take that photo.

Preparing for your trip is essential to having a smooth vacation. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the moment that we forget to bring a few items with us. That is why we created a list of things not to forget when packing. This is not a list of the simple things you should bring like clean underwear and your passport, but a list of things that may skip your mind while packing for your trip. They may come in handy at some point during your trip.

Common Things People Forget to Pack

Note: This is an all encompassing list of things people forget to pack on any trip. This includes overseas trips, road trips, and camping trips.

Click here for a travel packing checklist.

• Passport / Visas

First thing is first. The thing you need if you are going to another country. Do not forget that passport or visa. Do your research in advance to know what visa you are required to get. This has happened to one of us in the past.

• Hand Sanitizer

Sanitation levels in other countries may not be equal to the levels you are use to on a daily basis. This can be quite a shock to your system. Bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you to use when needed.





• Ibuprofen

If you plan on going on a long hike or a night out with alcoholic beverages on your trip, bring some ibuprofen. You will thank yourself the next day.

• Sunscreen

Do not forget that bottle of sunscreen. Sun damage is serious and sunscreen can get expensive. Pack a bottle so your prepared if you are planning to soak up the sun.





• Aloe Gel

Did you still get a burn in the sun or did you just forget to pack the sunscreen? Bring a bottle of this along to help soothe your skin from your burn. It will help.





• Insect Repellent

If you are going to a place where mosquitoes or other insect pests live, do not forget this. Bugs can carry very serious viruses. You do not want your trip to be cut short because you are showing symptoms of an infection or pay for something in the future. Be cautious and do not forget the bug spray.





• Toilet Paper / Tissues / Wet Naps

You never know when you are going to need to clean up a mess you have made. A small container of disinfectant wipes is always a great thing to have. On more than a couple of occasions I have wished they were packed.






• Traveler’s Diarrhea Medication

Yeah it made the list. You don’t want to waste some of your time on your vacation because of this. So plan ahead and ask your doctor about it. It hurts more to be unprepared for the worst.

• Sleeping / Anxiety Medication

If you have a long flight ahead of you and you are not able to sleep on airplanes or get anxiety, talk to your doctor about some medication ahead of time.

• Other Medication

If you have personal medication that you need to take, do not forget to pack this. If you are traveling with medication you should make sure that you include the prescription or doctors note with you and that the medication is clearly marked. That means not putting your medication into bags or containers but actually carrying the prescribed bottle.

• Universal Power Adapter

This is so easy to forget. Other countries use different outlets and power supplies. Make sure that you pack a universal power adapter with you on your next trip if you need to charge anything.





• Charging Cords

Especially if you have a lot of electronics to charge, make sure that you go through the list of things you have to know that you have packed all of the charging cords necessary.

• Packing Cubes

Likely you did not forget your packing cubes if you have already packed, but it is something useful to separate your clean clothes from dirty clothes. If you do not want to use your packing cubes for this, then make sure you have packed some extra bags.





• Toiletries

Everybody has different needs for toiletries when traveling. But it is necessary to always bring your tooth brush wherever you travel to. Do not ask to borrow somebody else’s…

• Snacks

It never hurts to throw some snacks into your bag for those times when you might get a little hangry on a trip. Especially if you are doing a road trip or camping trip, you want to make sure you pack some snacks and water.

• Journal

Especially if you are a blogger you want to have something handy that you can take notes on wherever you travel to.





• Appropriate Attire

It may be warm and sunny where you are, but where you are going may be cold and wet. Make sure to do your research in advance and pack the appropriate attire for the destination and season to which you are traveling to.

• Activity-Specific Equipment

Whether you are going snorkeling, fishing, climbing, or whatever it is that you do on your trips, it is always good to double check whether you have packed everything you need for these activities.

• Sunglasses

Not just for style, but also for protection against the sun. Your eyes are precious and you should protect them especially if you are going to be in the sun chilling on a beach all day or even walking through town every day.





• Travel Insurance

We forgot this once. Never will we ever go somewhere without it again. You can read more about our travel insurance experience here and why you should get it.

• Guide Books

If you are a guide book type person, it never hurts to bring it along with you for your trip.

• Itinerary

Having your itinerary planned and organized with the different stops and accommodations booked plotted out is great. But it is not so great if you leave it at home. Or if you have it on your phone and you lose it. Make sure to have a physical copy of this itinerary on you.

• Positive Attitude

This is really an understatement. Things can and will go wrong during your travels. Make sure that you have a positive attitude to battle negative things that come up otherwise your trip will not be worth it.

• Open Mind

It never hurts to have an open mind especially if you are visiting a place that has a completely different culture than the one that you are used to. Understanding that not everyone is the same as you or practices the same beliefs will take you a long way into your travels.

Conclusion

We hope this list helps you when preparing for your trip. Whether it is a camping trip, road trip, or overseas trip, we hope that this helps alleviate that fear of forgetting something after you are finished packing and helps you relax during that ride to the airport.

If you have anything you have forgotten in the past or something you think would be commonly forgotten, we would love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Have a comment or something to add to this article? Leave a comment below or send us a response by contacting us.

Happy travels!

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