40 Travel Essentials Recommended By Flight Centre Experts

Whether you’re preparing a carry on bag for a weekend escape or loading up carry on luggage for an international trip, this is the packing list they swear by. Forty essential travel items. No fluff. Just the stuff that actually makes a difference. 

In-Flight Comfort: Survive the Long Haul in One Piece

Smart Packing: Stay Organised From Check-In to Check-Out

Travel Documents and Security: Don’t Leave Home Without These

Tech and Power: Stay Charged on the Road

Health, Hygiene and the Unexpected

The Wildcard Items Our Experts Won’t Travel Without

So... What Are The Most Important Travel Essentials?

Ready to Start Packing?

Long haul flights are their own special kind of endurance sport. These travel essentials make them infinitely more bearable. 

1. Noise Cancelling Headphones

If there’s one thing our Travel Experts are unanimous about, it’s this: noise cancelling headphones are non-negotiable. They’re brilliant for watching in flight entertainment, tuning into your own playlist, and — most importantly — blocking out the bloke in 34B who’s been snoring since Singapore.

“Noise cancelling headphones are great for drowning out the plane and the people around you and also allows you to enjoy your own entertainment.” — Robert Caldwell

2. Travel Pillow

Call it a neck pillow, call it a travel pillow — call it whatever you like, just don’t leave home without one. The difference between arriving overseas somewhere ready to explore and arriving somewhere ready to collapse is often a few hours of decent sleep. Good neck support makes that possible, especially on red-eye departures.

3. Eye Mask

Cabin lights, glowing screens, the sunrise at 10,000 metres — an eye mask blocks all of it. Pair with earplugs if noise is also your nemesis, and you’ve basically created a private sleep sanctuary at altitude. 

“An eye mask is great so I can make sure I get some slumber and arrive feeling energised.” — Matilda Williams 

4. Compression Socks 

Not the most glamorous travel accessory, but compression socks do a genuinely important job on long flights. They support blood flow, reduce swelling, and stop your feet going numb somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. Consider them an upgrade your economy seat can’t offer. 

5. Entertainment 

Don’t rely on in flight entertainment alone — pre-download before you board. Spotify playlists, a Netflix series (or six), a podcast backlog, or an actual book. Yes, a physical book. One of our team once got through the entire Tomorrow When The War Began series on a trip to Texas. Zero regrets. 

“Pre-downloaded Spotify playlists and Netflix series are a must on long haul international flights.” — Nick McGinley 

6. Moisturiser & Lip Balm

The dry air in a pressurised cabin is brutal on skin. Pack a good moisturiser and a lip balm — your face will thank you, and you’ll arrive looking like a person who chose to travel, not someone who was air-dried against their will. 

“Face masks are good for long-haul flights, but a great moisturiser can really save your skin on arrival. It also helps with jetlag!” — Vicki Fletcher

The difference between a chaotic suitcase and a satisfying one usually comes down to a few clever travel accessories. Here’s how to pack like someone who’s done this before. 

7. Packing Cubes 

Packing cubes are the single biggest upgrade you can make to your luggage game. They compress your clothes, keep everything organised, and mean you can actually find your socks without dismantling your entire bag. Compression packing cubes take it a step further — they save space and make it significantly harder to overpack. 

“Packing cubes help keep me super organised and also help with my life-long issue of overpacking.” — Donna Pearce 

8. Carry On Bag 

A good carry on bag is absolutely essential. It keeps your most important items — phone, passport, charger, boarding pass, headphones — close and accessible throughout your journey. Bonus: a well-chosen carry on bag doubles as a day bag once you’ve arrived, saving you from checking in extra luggage on your next trip. 

9. Toiletry Bag 

A proper toiletry bag does three important things: it keeps your liquids contained (so your clothes don’t fall victim to a rogue conditioner eruption), keeps your personal care products organised, and saves space in your main luggage. A hanging bag is especially useful in smaller hotel room bathrooms where bench space is at a premium. 

10. Laundry Bag 

Clean and dirty clothes should never share the same zip code inside your luggage. A lightweight laundry bag keeps them apart, prevents any grim odour transfer, and makes it a lot easier to figure out what actually needs washing when you’re back home. 

11. Shoe Bags 

Same logic as the laundry bag, but specifically for shoes. Muddy hiking boots and a clean white t-shirt do not belong in the same compartment. Trust us on this one, especially if you’re planning any serious walking or trekking. 

12. Spare Clothes (Easily Accessible) 

Pack a spare outfit somewhere you can actually reach it — not buried at the bottom of your checked luggage. Spills happen, turbulence happens, children happen. Having an easy-access change of clothes is the kind of preparation you’ll never regret. 

13. An Empty Space 

Intentionally leave some ample space in your luggage. Souvenirs are inevitable, markets are tempting, and “I’ll just buy one small thing” is the most optimistic lie every traveller tells themselves. 

“No matter where I go or for how long, I always return with more than I left with.” — Ben Weston 

Losing your travel documents is the kind of drama that turns a great trip into a nightmare. These travel essentials keep your important documents safe and your airport experience seamless. 

14. Travel Wallet 

A travel wallet or passport holder is one of those items that seems minor until you’re frantically rifling through a handbag at a busy check-in counter. It keeps your boarding pass, travel documents, passport, and cards in one organised spot — easy access when you need it most. 

15. Luggage Tags 

You would be surprised how many bags on a baggage carousel look identical. A luggage tag makes yours instantly recognisable and adds a bit of personality to an otherwise very beige piece of checked luggage. Customise it, make it weird, make it yours. 

16. Padlocks 

An often-overlooked piece of travel gear that earns its keep the moment you need it. Padlocks are especially useful when you’re storing luggage between hotel check-out and a late flight home, or stashing your bag at a hostel. 

17. Money Belt or Bra Pocket 

In some destinations, a wallet in a back pocket is practically an invitation. A money belt or bra pocket keeps your cash and personal belongings secure and invisible — particularly useful when travelling solo or in busier tourist areas. 

Your phone is your map, your ticket, your translator, and your camera. Keeping it alive is non-negotiable. 

18. Travel Adapter 

A universal adapter is one of the most important travel accessories you can pack for international travel. Different countries, different outlets — and without one, all your devices are effectively decorative. Look for one with USB-C ports and USB outlets built in so you can charge multiple devices at once. 

“Pack your adapter in your carry on luggage. It’ll be a real lifesaver if your checked luggage gets lost in transit.” — Luke Wilson 

19. Portable Charger (Battery Pack) 

A portable charger — or battery pack — is one of our most essential travel items, full stop. Between Google Maps, e-tickets, translation apps, and photographing every meal, your phone works hard on the road. A portable charger means it keeps working too. 

Top tip: Because portable chargers are a potential fire hazard, airlines will only let you to take them as carry on luggage only. 

“I take a battery pack everywhere because I rely on my phone so much for Google Maps and tickets. If it dies, I’m toast!” — Sarah Goosem 

20. Electronics Organiser 

Phone charger, laptop charger, earbuds, SD cards, cables — the list of electronic accessories we travel with keeps growing. An electronics organiser keeps them tangle-free, easy to find, and all in one place. Waterproof versions exist for the extra cautious. 

21. In-Destination SIM Card 

If you don’t have an affordable global data plan, an in-destination SIM card is a cost-effective way to stay connected on international trips. You can’t always rely on hotel room Wi-Fi when you need Google Translate in a hurry. 

“If you’re heading to the UK and Europe, get your SIM in London — it’s cheaper, easier and works across European countries.” — Amanda Zeleznik 

The glamorous stuff gets all the attention. But it’s the practical items at the bottom of your toiletry bag that save the trip when things go sideways. 

22. A Few Days’ Worth of Toiletries In Your Carry On 

If your checked luggage goes missing — and it does happen — having a travel toiletry bag with a few days of essentials in your carry on luggage is an absolute lifesaver. Toothbrush, deodorant, a small moisturiser. Enough to keep going until your bag catches up. 

23. Reusable Water Bottle 

A reusable water bottle is good for your wallet and good for the planet. In destinations where tap water is safe to drink, you’ll save money every single day. In places where it’s not, a water purifier bottle keeps you hydrated without relying on single-use plastic. 

24. Sunscreen 

This one’s for the beach lovers, the warm-climate explorers, and anyone who’s ever arrived at a tropical island sunscreen-free and paid dearly for it. 

“In places like tropical islands, sunscreen can be very expensive. Save money and your skin — bring some with you.” — Vicki Fletcher 

25. Hand Sanitiser 

The last thing you want is to spend your trip stuck in a hotel room with a mystery illness. Hand sanitiser is a small but effective travel essential that’s earned its permanent place in every carry on bag. 

26. Insect Repellent 

Non-negotiable for tropical destinations. Mosquito bites are uncomfortable at the best of times; in some countries, mosquitoes can carry disease. Pack the repellent. 

27. Biodegradable Wet Wipes 

Our Travel Expert Barbara Davidson is a passionate advocate for these, and she makes a compelling case. Biodegradable wet wipes are useful in more situations than you’d expect — from cleaning up on a long flight to wiping down tables before eating. 

“They fit easily into your day bag and are great for so many situations. Travelling with a baby — tick! Spill on the plane — tick! Clean the table before you eat — tick!” — Barbara Davidson 

Every seasoned traveller has a few items that raise eyebrows at first and earn converts by the end of the trip. Here are ours. 

28. Travel Insurance 

Travel insurance isn’t the most thrilling item on this packing list — but it might be the most important one. The unexpected happens, especially on international trips. Medical bills abroad, cancelled flights, lost luggage — having cover turns a potential disaster into a manageable inconvenience. 

29. Baby Carrier (For Parents) 

For parents travelling with infants, a baby carrier is genuinely transformative. Navigating airports, boarding planes, and getting around your destination is a very different (read: much easier) experience when your hands are free. 

“As a new parent, a baby carrier is essential for the airport, layovers, and the destination itself.” — Craig Gardiner 

30. Camera & Tripod 

A dedicated camera and tripod are worth the extra weight, especially if you’re travelling solo and don’t want to hand your expensive phone to a stranger for every shot. 

“A tripod is great for solo travel — you get the picture you want, without relying on other people.” — Liam Lavery 

31. Selfie Stick 

Judge if you must, but a selfie stick is a practical tool for group shots and solo travel photography alike. You get more of the background, you stay in control of your device, and you don’t have to ask strangers every five minutes. 

“My selfie stick came in super handy on the Great Wall of China — we got so much of the background in the shot without asking strangers the whole time.” — Skye McRae-Mitchell 

32. Jacket (Even for Warm Climates) 

Even the most tropical destinations can turn cold unexpectedly — think heavily air-conditioned restaurants, overnight buses, or a surprise downpour. A lightweight rain jacket or cosy wrap doesn’t take up much space and earns its place every single trip. 

“You might get cold. Bring a jacket.” — Mum 

33. Travel Credit Card 

Carrying large amounts of foreign cash is a risk most destinations don’t require you to take. A travel money card lets you load multiple currencies and use it wherever Mastercard is accepted — smarter, safer, and easier to replace if something goes wrong. 

34. Sunglasses 

Protect your eyes, look great doing it, and hide whatever state you’re in after a long haul. Sunglasses are doing a lot of heavy lifting. 

“They protect you from the sun, they hide those post-party eyes, and who doesn’t look better in a pair of cool shades?” — Kylie Johnson 

35. Deodorant 

Seems obvious. But an 18-hour long flight is a very unpleasant experience for everyone involved when someone on board didn’t pack theirs. Don’t be that person. 

36. Gaffa Tape 

Bear with us on this one. Gaffa tape fixes bags, secures doors, repairs headphones, and — in a genuine pinch — can apparently function as a waxing strip. Don’t ask questions. Just pack a small roll. 

“Gaffa tape is great for so many things! Fix bags, lock doors, repair headphones — and if you’re in a real pinch, it can wax!” — Clinton Hearne

37. Sleeping Devices (For Families) 

A long flight plus a child who can’t sleep is a recipe for a very long night. Many airlines permit sleeping aids such as inflatable pillows or flight hammocks for kids. Check with your airline before you fly, but if it’s allowed, it’s worth every gram of weight. 

38. Toothbrush 

Yes, it’s on the list. Because it’s worth knowing that toothbrushes aren’t universally available everywhere you might travel, and running out is a very specific kind of miserable. Pack it, keep it in your carry on toiletry bag, and sleep soundly knowing your dental hygiene is sorted.

39. An Empty Carry On Bag or Duffel Bag (Folded) 

A lightweight, foldable duffel bag or spare travel bag takes up almost no space and proves invaluable for day trips, beach runs, or overflow on the way home when your packing cubes are no longer quite enough. 

40. An Open Mind 

The most essential travel item of all, and the only one you can’t forget at home. Delays happen, plans change, borders take hours. An open mind turns those moments from disasters into stories. 

“When you travel to the places I travel to, you need it. I’ve been stuck at borders for hours — it’s out of your control. So you make the most of it, find the positive, and time flies. Nothing is an issue. You open yourself up to more adventures and great conversations.” — Katherine Benvenuti 

The non-negotiables are your travel documents (passport, visa if required, travel insurance), a universal travel adapter, noise cancelling headphones, a portable charger, packing cubes, a toiletry bag, and a solid carry on bag. Beyond that, it comes down to your destination and trip length — but those items make the shortlist every single time.

Whether you’re heading off on a quick domestic getaway or gearing up for a serious international trip, getting your essential travel items right makes every part of the journey easier. Our Travel Experts live and breathe this stuff — if you want help planning your next trip, we’re here for it.