I’m a huge fan of day trips. For me, one of my favorite parts of traveling is leaving the city for a day and heading either off to another city or town or heading into nature for a hike and then returning in the evening. I rarely like having to overnight in a different place if I don’t have to, so I often do day trips whenever I can.
Of course, when doing a day trip, it is always important to be prepared. In some cases, I’ve learned the hard way on what to bring and what not to bring.
Here is a list of 10 essential things to bring for a day trip when traveling!
1) Camera
This is probably one of the things you should never forget to bring. Whenever I go on a day trip, the camera is one of the first things that goes into my backpack. It is also recommended to bring a lens pen or cloth to clean the camera lens. In my case, the lens pen/cloth has become part and parcel of my essential items since I lost my camera’s lens cap somewhere in Nepal, and it is the only way to keep the camera lens clean.
2) Phone
A phone is very important to have. Not only might you need it in an emergency, but you will probably need it to take pictures since many smartphones nowadays have amazing photo capabilities. Admittedly, when I first started traveling, I was somewhat against bringing a phone with me, but I’ve since changed mind and always make sure to have my phone with me for photos. In fact, if I have to be honest, I tend to enjoy taking photos on the phone more than my DSLR.
The author with his trusty selfie stick in Kenya
3) Selfie Stick
If you’re traveling solo, and you don’t want to ask strangers to take photos of you, a selfie stick is a valuable travel tool. I know some people really hate them, but I am a proud owner of a selfie stick and have no problem using it, especially since I travel alone 98% of the time. If you bring a selfie stick on a day trip, just make sure to not annoy people and follow rules regarding their usage since some places have banned their use.
If you go on a day trip with a guide, it might not be needed since the guide will usually be happy to take photos for you, but it is not a guarantee that the guide is a good photographer, so it is a good thing to have a selfie stick just in case.
4) SD cards
For those who like using a DSLR, it is important to always bring SD cards when going on a day trip. There have been rare occasions when I brought my camera but forgot to put in SD cards. I would recommend having 2 SD cards. One card should stay in the camera and then keep an empty spare SD card in the backpack in the event you should run out of space.
5) Sunscreen
Ever since I had an experience with terrible sunburn and uncontrollable itching in South Africa, sunscreen has been one of my essential items that I never go on a day trip without. It can be incredibly easy to get bad sunburn in a relatively short amount of time even in cloudy weather, so it is important to always make sure to bring a bottle of sunscreen with you. If you choose not to bring sunscreen with you, then be sure to apply a generous amount prior to heading out.
6) Insect Repellent
Depending on the country and time of year, this might not be necessary. However, if you go to a place that is known for having a lot of mosquitoes or other bugs, or you go to a country in the middle of its rainy season, insect repellent is a must. Getting eaten alive in the hot and humid jungles of Belize without any protection emphasized the importance of bringing insect repellent to me.
7) Passport Copy
I hate traveling with my passport since there are too many dangers of losing it or damaging it. However, there are times when it is necessary to have, especially if you are crossing a border for a day. In that case, you don’t have a choice.
However, if you do not need to bring a passport, don’t. Instead, leave the original locked up in the hotel room and bring a copy instead. Whenever I’m out, I always make sure to carry a copy with me just in the event a police officer or soldier should ask for it.
Also, depending on the location, it is good to bring other relevant documents that might be needed. For instance, you might want to bring an International Driver’s License or Yellow Fever Vaccination Card or other pertinent documents since it might be required by authorities.
8) Cash and Credit Card
Depending on the country, you may not even need to bring a credit card. For me personally, I usually pay cash if I can but keep a credit card for emergencies. When you go on a day trip, I highly recommend bringing enough cash that you think you will need for the day. It might also be a good idea to bring a credit card just in case. However, in countries where cash is king, and card is rarely if ever used or accepted, you can leave the credit card locked up in the hotel room. It will be one less thing to worry about.
As a little side note, I would recommend budgeting in some money for bribes. Again, this is highly dependent on the country, but in places where government is weak or does not work, corruption often does (a sad but true fact). It is entirely possible a police officer might want a little something, so if you’re going on a day trip independently, it would not be a bad idea to have some small bills on hand in the event it is needed.
9) Toilet Paper
This is something I have only started to bring within the last couple years. While many places do supply toilet paper, it is certainly not guaranteed and should not be expected. There have been places I have been to where there was no toilet paper, and no attendant was nearby to give it to you. I can speak from personal example. A touch of stomach trouble in rural Kyrgyzstan left me no choice but to use an outhouse in a small village. Thankfully, I thought ahead and brought plenty of toilet paper with me, especially since none was present in the outhouse.
Rather than bringing an entire roll, just take enough toilet paper you think you will need if an emergency comes up. In my opinion, it is better to be prepared rather than be surprised and need to figure out an alternative plan.
10) Power bank
I will be honest, I actually do not own a power bank, but it is something I need to start to bring. If you decide to only use your phone to take photos or do other things, the power can run down quite quickly. However, if you have a power bank, that will definitely make the phone last longer, and you will not have to worry so much about your phone running out of power.
Even though these 10 items are things that I consider essential to bring on a day trip somewhere, it is also highly dependent on weather and location, so other things may or may not be needed. Ultimately it is up to you to make the call on what to bring according to your needs.
What kind of items do you consider essential for a day trip? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
