When hearing the term “hand luggage” most people automatically think of plane travel, but I find it handy to always have a small, more easily accessible bag, no matter how I’m travelling.

Writing this article kind of reminds me of that video trend “What’s in my bag?”, everyone has different objects for the same thing for the most part but there are smaller more personalised items in each bag that vary depending on the person and their priorities.  

For hand luggage when travelling there are several factors at play for example, where you are going and if you are only using hand luggage. This makes it especially apparent that there are essentials that will make the list regardless of these differences as well as the items that are quintessentially you being added to the mix.

Snacks

I’ll always make sure to have some kind of snack with me, particularly when flying or driving. For most modes of transport, this is because I get travel sick and find that having something to munch on can help combat this. For flying, it is boiled sweets primarily (pear drops or Fox’s Glacier Fruits are my favourites) to try to prevent my ears from popping.

Water Bottle or Drinks

When travelling it is so easy to become dehydrated, and you can spend a lot of money on buying drinks while you’re out and about, so it is important to always have a drink available to you. Whether it is water or not doesn’t matter so long as I have a drink. If we’re flying it can be a little bit more of a challenge as you can’t take liquid through security, however in this instance I take an empty water bottle and try to find a water fountain once we’re airside.

Portable Charger and Wires

With boarding passes, visas, directions and other important documents and information being largely digital it is essential to have access to them. Therefore, one of the essentials in your hand luggage (or at least mine) would have to be a portable charger and wires to charge all of my electronics, particularly if you plan to also use your phone as a source of entertainment.

Valuables

It may seem fairly obvious but a hand luggage essential for your own piece of mind (or you’d think it would be, I’m still constantly checking they’re still there!) are your valuables.

ID

If you’re travelling abroad this will definitely include your passport and your driver’s license (if you have one). You’ll need these items for custom, checking into your hotels as well as nights out.

Money

My purse is always accessible to me when I travel, I know that I need to be able to reach it quickly to purchase items or pay at the tolls on roads if needed.

If I’m travelling abroad, I will also make sure to have both pounds sterling and the currency of my destination, as well as my cards. I know that especially since the pandemic most places accept card, but having cash available to me is reassuring as a “just in case” precaution.

Laptop/Tablet

Having your laptop in your hand luggage is a precaution that provides you with peace of mind as it is less likely to get damaged if it is with you. You will also be able to use it as and when you are waiting to board or during a layover.

The tablet is a valuable that you will probably be thinking of carrying with you as a form of entertainment anyway, so it makes sense to have it in your hand luggage.

Mobile Phone

As I previously mentioned, your phone isn’t only a form of entertainment and method of communication when travelling, you will have almost all of your important documents on it as well such as your boarding pass.

Tissues

Is it just me who always has a pack of tissues handy? They are so useful, especially if you are accident prone like me, as they can be used for your nose, but also to mop up any spills or cleaning up if you accidentally get a paper cut or something.

Wipes or Hand Sanitiser

If this was a list of essentials for a music festival, hand sanitiser would be the first thing to make the list. However, I still think that having either that or the wipes in your hand luggage when travelling is essential for the same reason. It is just nice to have a way to clean your hands before eating or after touching something sticky.

Honestly, though, the wipes are probably more likely to make it into my hand luggage recently (mainly since America) as I find that they are more versatile. They don’t count as a liquid so you can take them past airport security without infringing on your already restricted toiletries, and you can use them to freshen up after long travel periods as well as wiping down surfaces and cleaning your hands.

Entertainment

Both Harry and I will always have something to do in our hand luggage when travelling (unless I’m driving!). This isn’t just for something to o when we’re on whichever method of transport but also if there are any delays or stops with longer waits (layovers) along the way.

For me, It is almost always my headphones and a book (more often multiple books…) while for Harry it is usually his headphones and phone or sketchbook. We managed to spend roughly 7 hours in an airport in Canada, in the middle of our two flights (one 9 hours long), with just these items to entertain us.

Conclusion

For the most part, it depends on where we’re travelling as to what is in my hand luggage, but the above items are always in my bag no matter where we’re going or how long the journey is.

Is there anything that hasn’t been mentioned here that you would consider a hand luggage essential?