Travelling can be very stressful mentally and physically! However these 7 items truly saved me both when packing and travelling… as always it’s usually smartest to buy these beforehand rather than waiting until you get here.

1. Neck Pillow

There is nothing worse than getting off a train, bus, or plane ride with a stiff neck. I never thought I would need a neck pillow but after getting off a 10 hour bus ride and having a serious kink in my neck I knew I needed one ASAP. You can find them at practically any airport store, they also have them at the train station. This one I found on Amazon is also a great option as it features thermo-sensitive memory foam which will mold to your body’s natural contours for a custom fit.

2. Travel Size Shampoo and Conditioner Bottles

On my first trip I simply could not fit my shampoo and conditioner bottles in my bag so I decided I would just purchase them when I arrived at my destination – not the best idea! I bought this pack of travel size and TSA approved toiletry bottles that I used for the rest of my travels. They were a life saver – all I had to do was fill them with my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. before my trip. I saved time and money on not having to buy new bottles for each trip. The one I decided to get was awesome because of its pricing, leak-proof bottles, and clear zip-pouch.

3. TSA Approved Luggage Locks

There will be times when you have to leave your luggage unattended such as under a bus or in the luggage closet at a hostel/hotel. Luggage locks will make you feel so much better about having to leave your luggage where other people may have access to it.

4. Hand Sanitizer

If you are a germaphobe like me – carrying a small size hand sanitizer with you will help immensely. Especially with all the public transportation you will be going on and not always having access to a sink, hand sanitizer is the next best option. I chose these ones because they are compact and you can clip them onto your backpack or bag.

5. Melatonin

Skip the whole “I wish I had slept on the plane” and take melatonin right when you board – you seriously won’t regret it. Plus, sleeping while on transportation makes it go by so much faster! Also for those restless nights you can’t seem to fall asleep melatonin always seems to come to the rescue!

6. Passport Case

Seriously – always, always, always know where your passport is. Sometimes it can be hard when you and your friends passports all look the same. I recommend getting a passport case to keeps yours in throughout abroad. Not only will it keep it safe but it will also make it look SO much cuter!

7. Ziplock Bags

Yes, ziplock bags come in handy for two reasons actually. First, if you put all of your underwear and socks in a ziplock bag and then push all the air out of it you will save so much room. Second, when you are travelling you are going to want to separate your dirty clothes from your clean ones and ziplock bags are the perfect way to do so.

All of these products were chosen by Jane, who has interned at Campus Florence this Fall semester. Neither Jane nor Campus Florence have received any financial incentive to promote these specific products. All product images have been taken directly from Amazon.com where these products can be purchased. For prices and more information about each specific product you can click the product title or image.

Header Photo Credit: Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash