As a travel writer, I’m often taking off by myself — as often as 15 times a year.
Because I typically travel without a partner, I make sure to pack a few essential items to make my trips easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
Here are seven things I never leave for a solo trip without.
Having a tripod means I don’t have to rely on strangers to take pictures for me.
I like to take pictures of myself traveling, whether to post on social media or send to my boyfriend. I’m not into selfie sticks, and unfortunately, I can’t always rely on strangers to take photos for me. So, having a cell phone tripod is a good compromise.
I love my Toneof universal cell phone tripod because it easily slips into my carry-on luggage and expands when I need to snap a picture. It also includes a rechargeable remote control for the shutter.
A first-aid kit is a must-have when traveling alone.
When I get injured or start to come down with something while traveling alone, there’s no one to run out to the drugstore to get medicine or first-aid supplies for me.
Sometimes, I’m not even in an area with a drugstore nearby, so I make sure to bring along any items I may need.
My first-aid kit is stocked with bandages, cleansing wipes, gauze, tick removers, nosebleed plugs, sting relief, burn ointment, and a thermometer.
I also pack some over-the-counter medicine for pain, gastrointestinal issues, motion sickness, and congestion.
My portable speaker doubles as a white-noise machine.
When I’m traveling by myself, I always carry my LectroFan Bluetooth speaker with me. The sound is incredible considering its tiny size, and it has several white-noise settings to drown out noisy neighbors or street sounds.
When I’m feeling lonely, I also like to use it to have a solo dance party in my room.
A portable charger is always good to have on hand.
One of my biggest concerns when traveling alone is my cell phone battery running low.
After all, I need my phone to navigate cities, book Uber rides, make restaurant reservations, and research tourist attractions. That’s why I always carry a USB portable charger with me.
This lotion applicator helps me avoid getting sunburn in the areas I can’t reach.
Since I often travel to tropical places, I prefer to pack bottles of sunscreen lotion since the coverage is heavier than spray. But it’s tricky to apply the lotion to my own back and shoulders.
Foam-brush applicators are clunky to pack, but luckily, I found a cloth applicator from Steugo that folds up and doesn’t take up much room in my suitcase.
I pour some lotion onto the fabric and then use the handles to rub it onto my back as if I’m drying myself with a towel. I rinse or hand-wash it between uses and throw it in the washing machine once I return home.
Having a portable wash bag allows me to do my laundry.
I never check my luggage, and being a single traveler means I can bring only one carry-on with me. Even though I can fit a lot in my bag, I sometimes need to re-wear and freshen up my clothes.
Because hotel laundry service is often expensive, I bring my own Scrubba portable wash bag with me.
To use it, I fill the packable bag with socks, underwear, and T-shirts and then add water and a laundry sheet. Then, I deflate the bag and rub my clothes along the inner washboard before rinsing, wringing, and hanging my garments to dry.
This story was originally published on December 17, 2024, and most recently updated on October 6, 2026.
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