Travel is back. What should be on your post-Covid travel shopping list?

by Giovanni

For most of us, the coronavirus crisis was frustrating. Plans we’ve carefully made vanished as travel ground to a halt. So it’s no surprise that now that travel is coming back, we’re wasting no time getting our travel shopping list together and getting ready for our next flights.

After all, why not fuel that wanderlust mood into ensuring that we maximize our time spent on vacation when we can fly back into the skies? If you’re anything like me, compulsively shopping online replaced some of the fun of compulsively booking travel during the coronavirus pandemic. So before we start checking items off our bucket list again, let’s make a list of items to buy.

A Travel Pillow

AirComfy Ease Inflatable Travel PillowI was a late convert to travel pillows but now it’s a must-have on my packing list.

While travel hacking with points cards and seeking out great deals means I’m often flying in the pointy end of the plane, I still frequently fly coach as well. There’s nothing worse than being unable to fall asleep on a long, economy flight.

Luckily, a solid pillow can help! My favorite is the AirComfy Ease Inflatable Travel Pillow which sells for $19.99 on Amazon.

These little pillows are super comfortable and can ensure you can adjust to a comfortable solution on your flight. Best of all, they don’t even take much space: the inflatable pillow comes with a little packsack to store it when you’re not using it.

Travel Shopping List: a comfortable travel pillow goes a long way on a long flight

A comfortable pillow can dramatically improve a long-haul economy flight.

Universal International Travel Power Adapter

Travel Packing list: Universal International Travel Power AdapterAn international power adapter is an absolute must for any traveler. My personal favorite is the SAUNROCH Universal International Travel Power Adapter which costs just $19.59 from Amazon.com (currently with an additional 20% off).

The compact five-in-one device comes with four USB ports. One of them is USB-C for super-fast smartphone or iPad charging while the other four are traditional USB ports. It also has a universal socket for charging anything else.

The adapter can be used pretty much anywhere (over 150 countries!) with plugs for the United States, Europe, UK, and Australia.

I love this adapter so much that I now own three of them (and have given two away as gifts). Do yourself a favor and order one for yourself. You’ll thank me on your next trip.

Travel Shopping List: a international adapter with USB-C for fast charging

Charge all your devices at once by ordering a universal power adapter for your packing list.

A Light Suit

Travel Shopping List: Good Looking Suit That FitsOkay, this one is for the gents out there! A suit —or at the very least, a blazer — is an essential item to have in your bag when you’re traveling.

You never know when you may need to put together a more formal look for a date or event on a trip. And there’s nothing worse than not having a fitted suit in your suitcase. Unless you’re in Antarctica wearing a penguin suit.

If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line suit, Hall Madden, the custom bespoke and made-to-measure menswear brand creates suits after multiple, in-person fittings with a trained fit specialist with prices to match. If that’s a little outside your budget, luckily, they’ve launched Lords of Wool for everyone else who needs a good-looking suit that fits. I’m personally a big fan of their tweed suits.

While not a true custom suit, Lords of Wool can shorten sleeves, lengths, and adjust the taper based on client feedback and photos and make the suit from scratch. A solid deal starting at $385 for a blazer and $500 for a basic suit!

Travel Shopping List: a light, well-fitted suit from Lords of Wool

Make sure you pack a light travel suit that fits well in your suitcase.

Noise Canceling Headphones

Travel Packing List: Sony's WH-1000XM3: Wireless Bluetooth HeadphonesIt’s no secret that noise-canceling headphones are an in-flight necessity. Who hasn’t been on board a flight when a crying baby made you wish you had brought along a quality pair?

My choice for noise-canceling headphones is Sony’s WH-1000XM3: Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, currently on sale for $162.99 at Amazon (a big discount).

Of course, some might claim that Apple’s over-ear AirPods Max are superior. But personally, I consider Sony’s top-of-the-line offerings are widely considered the industry leader in the noise-canceling headphone market.

Do yourself a favor and order yourself the WH-1000XM3 before your next trip.

Travel Packing List: a quality pair of noise-canceling heaadphones

Jam out on your next flight with a pair of high-quality, noise-canceling headphones.

First Aid Kit

Invalid request error occurred.Okay, I admit. I don’t follow my own advice here. There is no “first aid kit,” per se, on my travel packing list.

But while having a full kit may be less of a “need,” it’s definitely a good idea to bring at least some essential first aid items with you on trips.

Personally, I always pack Ibuprofen, Emergen-C, bandaids, and Neosporin when I travel.

You may want to put Hydrocortisone, Pedialyte powder, a blister care pack, or something else in your suitcase depending on your travel style.

Pro-tip: A friend tells me emergency contraception can also be hard to get in some countries abroad. 

Of course, wherever you’re traveling to, making sure you are properly protected with travel insurance and trip coverage is important.

Travel Shopping List: make sure you have some medicine like Ibuprofen or Advil

Ibuprofen or Advil can be a definite lifesaver after a long day or night out while traveling.

Passport Cover

Shopping list: Hermès passport cover for your next trip 😍A nice cover to carry your passport in is a nice touch for you as a frequent flyer who wants to protect your passport and express your personality.

And you’re definitely not starved for choice!

From this beautiful Hermès for $540, to less spendy options on Amazon, and even custom-made options printed with customs stamps of your choice for just $28.99.

Whatever you choose, a holder will protect your most important travel document and allow you to express your personal style on the road.

Travel Packing List: a passport cover is essential

Don’t just collect stamps in your passport, collect them on your passport holder as well!

Face Mask

Invalid request error occurred.We’re all responsible travelers here. That’s why we’re ordering all this stuff from home instead of heading to a store to buy. So, if we’re being honest, we probably don’t need to buy this for our next trip – we’re already wearing them.

Not to mention, masks are likely to be required to board the plane.

There are plenty of funky options out there, but I’m keeping it simple with this mask from the American Mask Project ordered on Amazon. It starts at just $3.75 for a pack of two.

While it might not be the fanciest mask out there, this expandable and machine washable black mask gets the job done.

Travel Shopping List: face mask to stop the spread of coronavirus

Stay safe, stay distanced, and wear a mask. Well be traveling again very soon.

Other Stuff

Packing Suitcase after checking everything off the travel shopping list

Whatever you have planned for your next escape, there are deals to score all over the internet. Now’s a great time to start stocking up! I hope this travel shopping list is helpful but maybe there’s something else you need to pack?

A top-of-the-line drone, or a more casual one?

A fancy camera like the Sony Alpha A7 III and some awesome lenses to match?

Filtering water bottle? Rain jacket?

A one-to-three adapter so you can always grab a charge at the airport?

A backup power bank?

Of course, if you’re planning a trip now, make sure you’re protected. American Express recently added additional travel insurance coverage to their feature-packed premium cards making them a great choice.

If you have other suggestions of travel essentials to pack, drop a comment and link in the comments to let us know!

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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