After years of traveling full-time, here is a list of travel essentials we always carry to prevent or help with small health issues that can come up along the way. Though we’ve been lucky and never had any major emergencies, we always make sure to prepare ourselves for unforeseen circumstances ahead of time by always being careful and having a medicine bag with our travel essentials.
Because we’ve traveled extensively, our medicine bag has definitely evolved—but the basics have remained the same. We use it when absolutely necessary and prioritize proper hydration and rest when possible.
*This information is not medical advice, please consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
Travel Essentials in Our Medicine Bag
Basic Medications
These are your most used items, often easy to find (or a variation) in most places around world. We normally purchase it at home prior to traveling to ensure it’s the brand we are familiar with and don’t over pay. We normally keep them in a ziplock or a small zipper bag to carry with us in our daypack.
- Pain reliever (Tylenol, Advil)
- Anti-diarrheal (Imodium)
- Antihistamine (Benadryl or Zyrtec)
- Antacid (Tums or Pepcid)
- Inhaler (Albuterol for Asthma)
Kelvyn is highly allergic to shellfish, and surprisingly something in the ocean water in two opposite parts of the world triggered this twice. Having a fast acting allergy medicine on us at all times and knowing the signs of an allergic reaction has helped him prevent emergencies in these situations.
>> Want to know what we carry in our electronics bag? Click here to find out! <<
First Aid
These items aren’t used as often, but can be handy when encountering small incidents along the way.
- Band-aids
- Antiseptic and rubbing alcohol spray
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Tweezers and small scissors
- Gauze and medical tape
We were once in a light scooter/motorbike crash in Bali that left some cuts and bruises—nothing serious, but enough where our antiseptic sprays, wipes, and bandages made it easy to clean up and prevent an unnecessary visit to the doctors or pharmacy.
Extras Items We’ve Carried or Needed Before
- Electrolyte packets
- Motion sickness pills
- Essential oils
- Cold/flu tablets
- Eye drops
- Herbal Teas
Quick Safety Tips to Stay Prepared While Traveling
Besides carrying your medicine bag, here are a few things to keep in mind while traveling:
- Carry your travel insurance card digitally and/or physically
- Use Google Translate for medical terms in local language
- If you take prescription meds, bring extras and a note from your doctor
- Research the nearest clinic or hospital in a new country in case you need it
Note: If you visit a clinic and they prescribe you something, always ask for the price and the physical prescription so you can compare the prices in a pharmacy. They will often try to overcharge you at the clinic.
How We Try to Stay Healthy While Traveling
Packing a medicine bag is smart—but our real goal is to avoid needing it. Here are a few ways we try to stay ahead of common travel illnesses:
- We avoid street food or buffet-style food that looks like it’s been sitting out too long
- We try to eat at places that are either recommended, have decent ratings, or look busy (high turnover = fresher food)
- We carry a reusable filtered water bottle and stay hydrated daily
- We prioritize sleep, listen to our bodies, and don’t overbook ourselves
- If somewhere tropical we eat local fruits and drink “one coconut water a day, to keep the doctor away“
Kelvyn once had a bad ear infection while we were traveling that needed a visit to a local clinic. It was in a remote town and not the best experience. However, he was prescribed antibiotics and ear drops that worked within a few days. We were able to pay for the visit and have our travel insurance reimburse us after.
>> Here is the travel insurance we currently use <<
Staying healthy while traveling is a concern for most travelers, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve found that although sickness and/or emergencies occur, they are often less common than most think. Being careful and prepared ahead of time has worked well for us and most travelers we know. We hope that this packing guide will be useful on your next journey!
Did you know: You can book the best activities using our Get Your Guide link, at no additional cost to you! See what excursions you can find for your next trip here.
Disclaimer: All the information shared is based on our research and experiences. Please note that we are not travel consultants, tour guides, or financial advisors and are not held liable for any misinformation. We give suggestions, but advise each person to do their own research and make the decision that best suits them. This blog posts also contains affiliate links, by using the links we provide you are helping us at no additional cost to you.
