Ten Travel Essentials.

By Marilyn Machlowitz

There are many styles of travel. Cruise or Land? Hotel or AirBnb? Solo or Group?

No matter which style you favor, there may be some essential take-alongs to make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Rather than take the word of 20-something influencers, here are
tried, true and tested suggestions from those of our vintage I polled. With one exception, these essentials take up minimal space and don’t weigh you down.

1. A plastic rain poncho. It won’t win style awards but it protects from sudden downpours. Best yet, it takes up no space in luggage or purse.
2. Nail polish remover pads. These don’t count as liquids and don’t spill in your suitcase. Unless you wear gel polish, a trip is going to destroy your manicure and you’ll be glad you have one on hand, so to speak. (Insect repellent is also available as a packaged wipe.)
3. A 3-in-1 cordless charger. You can leave your cords (and the plug adaptors) home and rest your phone, Airpods and watch or ipad on this, overnight. (A portable power bank is also handy to charge your phone on the go when Google maps drains its battery.)
4. Printed reading matter. Of course, you will have downloaded plenty. But think about a 10-hour flight when your e-reader refuses to work.
5. Scarf/Shawl. If you tire of wearing the same outfit on repeat, a scarf may freshen it up. It’s also useful as a head covering to enter a mosque. A shawl can add warmth on a plane or elsewhere. Our expert advises that it not be slippery and that it coordinate with at least two tops plus all the black clothing you’re bringing.
6. Compression packing cubes. These allow you to pack more in less space and keep items organized.
7. Covid tests and masks. If you can finagle a prescription, Paxlovid.
8. Eyeglass and dental repair kits. Do you really want to find an emergency dentist mid-Safari? (A spare pair of glasses or readers is never a bad idea.)
9. Clamp or clip. Useful to keep room curtains firmly closed so the sun does not wake you.
10. Kitchen-a-go-go. This is the invention of a couple who rent apartments and do much more in the kitchen than make coffee. Despite questioning prospective hosts, they’ve been burned by previous kitchens, but have always found a corkscrew. Their kit contains:

•  Spices and herbs in tiny, labeled plastic bags
• Emergency coffee supplies such as instant coffee, a coffee measure, artificial sweetener, powdered creamer
• Mustard, mayo, soy sauce, anchovy paste, tomato paste
• Oil
• Three vinegars (balsamic, red wine, white wine)
• Knives, wooden spoons, spatula, vegetable peeler, folding colander, flat grater, measuring cups and spoons
• Oyster shucking knife and gloves
• Dry cereal-hot and cold cereals
• Raisins, pistachios
• Apron, potholders, sponges
• Sealable plastic bags, twist ties, Scotch tape
• Dishwasher and laundry pods

What would you add?

Marilyn Machlowitz writes, works, volunteers and travels from NYC.