My Traveling "Must Haves"

#1: My travel credit card

This is a definite 100% must. Find a credit card that doesn't charge you foreign transaction fees, and gives back to you! You may think that a 3% charge for foreign transaction fees isn't much, but man it sure does rack up. Also, why pay the fees if you don't have to??

My personal favorite is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. I've had this card for 3 years now, and I absolutely love it. I pay for everything with this card, and I love the versatility of the Ultimate Rewards system. I can use my points towards virtually anything I like, including cash back. I've earned quite a few free flights using only my rewards points!

Look at the rewards that different credit cards have to offer, and see which one gives you the best benefits for your lifestyle.

#2: A great backpack

I used to think that traveling with a rolling suitcase was the way to go: you don't have much weight to carry, and they're easy to roll around, right? Wrong! My personal experience is that lugging rolling suitcases up three flights of stairs because your hostel doesn't have an elevator SUCKS. Getting on and off buses can be a pain in the ass with a big ol' roller case, and actually, just walking around town can even be a hassle if the streets are busy.

I have a Gregory Deva 70, and it's amazing. It's designed especially for us ladies, and it contours to our body. If you have never tried on a "backpacking" backpack, please do. They are revolutionary. Backpacks are designed to distribute the weight you're carrying properly so that more weight sits on your hips, rather than your back, making it so much easier to carry a heavy pack. This purchase has made my travel experience so much more pleasant. Go into your local REI to get fitted for a backpack!

#3: A great daypack

Just something that I can stick my phone, wallet, towel, water bottle, and camera in. This way, you can keep your hands free, and anything else you pick up along the way can go straight in there as well.

#3: A decent camera

It doesn't matter what kind of camera, just take one! For some of you, this may just be the camera on your phone. With the technology we have now, some smartphones take amazing photos.

Don't get lost behind the camera lens, but definitely take at least a few pictures so you can remember these moments! God knows I need to, I have the worst memory ever.

#4: Towel and bathing suit

It doesn't matter where I'm going; you will never find me without a bathing suit and towel. You just never know when you'll need it! Especially as someone that loves everything to go with water, these are a necessity.

#5: Packing cubes

I think packing cubes make it so much easier to keep things organized. I have a separate packing cube for all of my hygiene stuff, then for all my undies, and one big one that has all my tops on one side and bottoms on the other. I always know where to find everything, and it also makes it easier to squeeze everything into your luggage.

(eBags)

#5: A compact rain jacket

This is at the bottom of my list because I think it is necessary, but I haven't quite made it that far yet. I can admit it doesn't rain on me often, but every time it does, I swear to myself. If only I had listened to myself last time it rained on me and got a proper rain jacket to carry with me, I wouldn't be in a situation where I'm buying an overpriced one-time-use poncho from some souvenir store.