A travel expert has revealed the one everyday item all air passengers should keep in their carry-on – and it’s something most people already own.
Roberta Bernstein, a travel writer, shared that while she packs her bag with all kinds of practical items, from wool scarves to headphones, there’s one simple essential she never boards a plane without.
According to the avid traveller, a ballpoint pen is an often-overlooked necessity that especially makes international trips ‘a whole lot easier’.
Despite airports now favouring digital processes such as Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control over traditional paper forms, this isn’t the case in many destinations.
Having a pen at the ready can save time and stress when filling out these documents during a flight or upon arrival.
As reported by Reader’s Digest, travel industry expert, Eric Rosen, from The Points Guy, noted that not all airlines provide arrival forms or pens on board, which can leave travellers scrambling at the airport.
He added that carrying a pen allows passengers to complete paperwork in advance and move through immigration quicker and more smoothly.
Roberta also recommends packing a pen for domestic flights – beyond official forms, it can be useful for jotting down notes, updating a travel itinerary, or completing puzzles and paperwork when Wi-Fi is down or device power runs out.
Roberta Bernstein, a travel writer, shared that while she packs her bag with all kinds of practical items, from wool scarves to headphones, there’s one simple essential she never boards a plane without: a ballpoint pen
She further advised sticking with a ballpoint or gel pen in blue or black ink, as these are most reliable for official documents and less likely to leak or dry out due to cabin pressure and temperature changes.
Rosen added: ‘Carrying a pen with you is also just a good idea. And who knows, someone might ask to borrow your pen, [and] you could make a new friend.’
Meanwhile, a solo traveller who trekked around Asia with just two backpacks has revealed the packing essentials she recommends the most.
Rachel Smith, 25, regularly shares her travels on social media and spent seven months visiting various locations in Southeast Asia last year.
She travelled to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka with a 50L Osprey backpack as well as a 15L day bag.
The solo traveller kept essentials like important travel documents and chargers in her smaller bag.
Meanwhile, her larger backpack was tactfully packed with cubes and she explained to Omio: ‘Inside, I always use packing cubes to stay organised: one for underwear and bikinis, one for bottoms, one for tops, and one for dresses.’
As for what Rachel thinks all holidaymakers should pack, she says a hanging wash bag is essential.
Having a pen at the ready can save time and stress when filling out documents during a flight or upon arrival at the airport
The handy piece of kit ‘keeps all my toiletries in one place and off hostel floors’, Rachel said.
She also recommends bringing two microfibre towels: ‘One for the beach, one for showering’.
Travel locks are also good to take for ensuring valuable items are kept safe on the go.
Rachel explained she uses hers ‘for securing valuables in hostels’.
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Why you should ALWAYS bring a pen on holiday
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