Solo Travel Essentials for 2026 -

Solo Travel Essentials for 2026

Welcome to the Solo Travel Club!

So you’ve decided to book your first solo-trip and are prepping to go explore the world–how exciting! If you’re anything like me, I was flooded with immediate joy, then worried about what to pack, how to figure out what to pack, how to avoid overpacking, etc.

Yes, it’s true there is a lot to consider when packing for a solo-trip, everything from the right hygiene and safety products, to what long flight essentials you need and all the little things that just make your experience that much more enjoyable.

Here are all of the solo travel essentials for 2026 that you must include in your packing list that cover all of those basics and still leave room for you to pack mementos from your trip.

Flight Essentials

Tech Essentials

Hygiene Products

Health Items

Safety & Security Items

Miscellaneous Items

Day Trip Tote
Money Belt
Photo Copies of Your Passport (in color)
Card with Emergency Contacts
Credit Card and Cash
Travel Apps

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. #ad

I know there are a plethora of lists insisting you must carry every little item leading you to fill every crook and cranny of your pack, but listen, every item you bring is extra weight you’re carrying or lugging between locations. Just keep in mind that typically (this is dependent on the country) you can purchase items you might have forgotten at a local pharmacy or shop.

Aside from packing the right attire, you just need to utilize this list as a guide for your next adventure. Less is more, and more is always too much. Let’s dive right in!

Shop my Solo Travel Essentials List on Amazon:

Flight Essentials

1. For your long flight ahead, I’d definitely recommend purchasing a Headrest Pillow with an Eyemask. Not only does the black out eye mask come incredibly handy when the cabin lights are on, but the velcro head features makes it so easy to fall asleep. This thrifty inexpensive little guy can pack into a small bag for traveling, it makes sure your neck isn’t be mangled, and it coddles your head like a baby–giving you the rest you deserve for your exciting trip ahead.

2. If you intend to backpack/ slow travel, seriously pack a quality Backpack Pack over luggage. I brought luggage on my first trip and it was so traumatic. Three countries in and the luggage stopped rolling and I was left lifting and lugging a heavy 45 lb luggage up stairs and down unpaved roads sweating and feeling miserable.

I did upgrade shortly after and purchased a Forclaz backpack pack which I could not recommend more. This pack is designed for women and has narrower straps and a smaller fit. I love the harness design because it evenly distributes the weight so it’s not all sitting on one point. I did link a more cost-effective option in my Amazon list that is very similar to mine and has a smaller fit, however this is the Forclaz backpack I have.

3. I’ve tried a few different personal item bags when flying and this Carryon Backpack is my favorite. It has so many compartments to organize your tech, clothes, hygiene, and truthfully whatever you need to pack and carry with you. My favorite feature is the bottom zipper compartment that allows you to separate shoes/dirty laundry, the sleek design and organization comes in handy. So many people have asked me where I bought it because it’s so efficiently designed, so this backpack goes with me on any and every trip I go on.

Tech Essentials

1. Please don’t forget to pack a Portable Charger, there are so many instances in which you’re out exploring and won’t be able to find means to charge your phone which can lead to a safety issues. Make sure your phone is charged!

I have two portable chargers, I have one that has is a Magnetic Charger and magnetically charges my phone while discreetly attaching (which is a fabulous design), and I also have a Solar- Charger Powered Bank. The Solar-Power Charger is a beautiful concept however, after the first few charges mine won’t solar-charge the way it’s intended. I recommend looking into reviews and options with that one, because again it’s a great idea in theory. Overall pack one (or two) reliable portable chargers that won’t fail you.

2. On the subject of charging phones, you’ll need to bring a Universal Travel Adapter. I’ve been the person that thought I just needed to purchase an adapter for the specific country I was visiting over purchasing a universal adapter, and it just makes more sense to spend a tad more money to have a Universal Adapter–you’ll get much more use out of it I promise.

3. I’d also recommend packing your second favorite Soundcore Earbuds. Again this is very dependent on the country you’re visiting and the type of trip you’re going on. However, I will say that as a solo traveler you really don’t want to bring too much attention to yourself, if you pack your Airpod Maxes or something adjacent, you might attract people who also love Airpod Maxes and want yours.

Additionally, if you happen to misplace them or they get lost, they’re your backups so it isn’t a massive deal. These are my favorite backpack Earbuds, they have great sound quality, hold a charge for what feels like forever, and are relatively inexpensive.

Hygiene Products

1. One of the best things I was gifted prior to my travels was a Travel Bottles for Toiletries that’s flat rather than round. I still use mine for all of my trips and takes up much less space than the round sets. This set helped me stay organized with everything from shampoo and lotion to hair gel and makeup facial mists–it comes with bottles for everything.

2. If you disregard nearly everything else on this list, don’t disregard the Microfiber Towel. Everyone has to have one at this point in the game because they dry incredible quick and take up virtually zero space. They also roll nicely into a small mesh bag and have a button strap so you can hang it on nearly anything.

Most hostels charge you to use their towels that have either: just been washed and used by how many others or get thrown out after you use them. Both realities are unfortunate so it’s best to just pack your own. I know it’s so simple but I would’ve been lost without my microfiber towel.

3. If you are planning to stay in a hostel or shared living space, don’t forget to pack your Flip Flops aka your Shower Shoes. You know those old cheapo flip flops you’ve had since high school (maybe even earlier) that hardly see the light of day? Those bad boys are finally getting some use because you do not want to catch a foot fungus or something adjacent because you were the nasty person without shoes. If you happened to misplace your flip flops, I linked some similar to my cheap plastic ones that will do just the job.

4. Ladies, when that time of the month rolls around you need to be using a OrganiCup (organic Diva Cup) while traveling. I switched a little before I began traveling and it was a huge life saver when I was on the road. The perks are that you won’t need to take up more space packing lots of feminine hygiene products, that you can leave it in for up to 12 hours in between changes, and it’s so much better for the environment and your body. Please try and ditch the bleached cotton trash that leaves little pieces of itself in your cervix. I personally use an organic form of the beloved Diva Cup which I’ve linked below.

Health Items

1. On the train of safety, please don’t travel without some form of a First Aid Kit. For obvious reasons, it’s important to carry first-aid supplies in the case that you or someone else gets injured or hurt, thankfully we live in a lovely age in which people have invented efficient and compact kits so the days of needing to pack the whole cabinet are far behind us. I love Welly items because you can efficiently store all of the emergency items you might need in one cute compact place. and their items have such fun designs).

2. As a reminder don’t forget your Personal Medication. It might be an easy thing to overlook but don’t, there are so many compact travel carriers that ensure you’re bringing everything you need without taking up too much space.

3. I’m someone who has an emotional attachment to my water bottles, so I tend to include two kinds in my packing list. The first I’d recommend is a Filtered Water Bottle because if you’re going to a country where the water isn’t potable, this is an easy additional packing gem that will make life so much easier. I’ve linked the Life Straw Water bottle in the color that I have, it filters out bacteria, parasites, microplastics and is essential for a country without drinkable water.

The second bottle I’d recommend is a Collapsible Water Bottle, these are wonderful for short day trips because they don’t take up much room. I’ve linked the more cost-effective option (which is they kind I have), and keep in mind that this is great for shorter excursions but I would get this in addition to a quality water bottle.

Safety & Security Items

1. You most definitely need to pack either a Security Alarm or Pepper Spray. Security alarms can be packed in your carry on, but pepper spray needs to be stowed away in your checked items and in its original package unopened. As a solo woman traveler it’s best to have some sort of safeguard just because you can never be too sure and it’s better to have some sort of defense than nothing.

2. On the topic of safety, I did purchase a Door Lock. I’d say it’s a hit or miss and truthfully it depends on what your accommodation looks like, because I stayed in all women’s rooms at hostels, I didn’t use it very much. However, as a house sitter and when staying solo in hostels, I definitely utilized it. It’s a wonderful safety measure if you can use it, but if you’re just planning to stay in a shared room situation there’s no need.

3. It’s a great idea to pack a Money Belt to discreetly hide your valuable items. I utilized my money belt a lot during the actual transportation part of traveling to my accommodation.

Miscellaneous Items

1. You’ll also need to bring a Day Bag. Personally I prefer to bring a simplistic tote bag because it’s easy to stow away and I have a few already, but choose to bring whichever works best for you. You can also purchase one as a little memento from wherever you’re visiting. Either way, you’ll want to ensure you have a place to hold your portable charger, book, water bottle, etc. while you’re exploring.

2. Additional items you need/ want to bring are:

Photo-Copies of Your Passport (in color) – I always pack two photo copies of my passport along with a photo-copy downloaded on my phone. In the case that you happen to lose your passport, having photo copies will help ensure that your information is correct in order to acquire other documentation to return home. Remember that it’s always a good idea to share an itinerary or rough idea of what you’re doing that day with loved ones back home.

A Card with Emergency Contacts – On a similar train, it’s a good idea to have a card or even a piece of paper that has your emergency contacts on them. In the case that you get sick or injured, it’s important that people around you can help out and know who to contact.

A Credit Card and Cash – I try to pack cash along with a credit card, there are lots of instances where public transport or other services abroad won’t accept credit cards so it’s good practice to carry some cash. Also a lot of people will negotiate on prices and bargain with you if you have cash and they don’t have to worry about conversions

Download Navigation Travel Apps – Great apps to download before a trip are Google Translate, an app for finding restaurants with options for dietary restrictive people (if you have food allergies), and public transit apps. I also like to ask locals which apps they recommend for public transit or just to see local events.