I’ve taken solo trips to 22 different countries — here are the 9 things I never travel without
October 21, 20240
I’ve invested in several items, like a water filter and a satellite device, to keep me safe during my travels.
Nicole Jordan
I’ve traveled to 40 countries in the past decade and have explored 22 of them on my own.
I fit everything I need in a 55-liter backpack, which I can usually bring on planes as a carry-on.
Because I often travel alone, I always have a personalized first-aid kit and a satellite device.
Over the past 10 years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit 40 countries, 22 of which I’ve is a small satellite device that allows me to text and communicate without cellphone service.
Thanks to this device, I can contact friends and family who are back home, sending them safety updates and tagging my exact coordinates.
The device also has a feature that sends alerts to emergency-response coordination centers, which is one of the quickest ways to receive help when I can’t use my phone.
As a woman who often travels alone, this device has been a game changer on hikes, road trips, and international adventures.
Reusable water bottles and water filters are economical and more environmentally friendly than some other options.
My Kindle weighs significantly less than the paperback books I used to carry.
Nicole Jordan
I like to hold books and flip through their pages, so it took me a while to buy an e-reader.
The more trips I took with physical books in tow, the more I realized how heavy they were. And the faster I read my books, the more I had to buy.
After purchasing a Kindle, I wasn’t disappointed. I can buy a new book whenever I want, and the device weighs significantly less than the multiple books I used to carry.
A battery pack that can charge multiple devices more than once is essential.
This device can charge my phone, camera, and Kindle.
Nicole Jordan
Whether I’m riding a bus for a long time, sitting around an airport without the proper power adapter, or spending a day outside taking pictures on my phone, it’s nice to have a reliable power source.
I used to carry around a small battery pack that could charge my phone a couple of times. Now, I have a more powerful one that weighs about a pound.
It can refill my phone’s battery around 10 times before dying, and the device also charges my Kindle, water filter, and camera battery.
This story was originally published on March 13, 2023, and most recently updated on October 21, 2024.
