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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Stony Brook chapter.

Hello from the warm and sunny beaches of the Dominican Republic, Seawolves! I decided to start my spring break a little early and this completes my travel for a little while. In the past 12 months I have visited 6 new cities and I have definitely learned a lot about travel in a post pandemic world. My wanderlust has been temporarily cured and I am here to share everything I have learned with all of you. So to quote the great Miss Eli Rallo, “ I have opinions and you have ears” so without further ado here are the 25 most important things to know to make travel a breeze. 

  1. Leave an emergency kit in the lining of your suitcase. Don’t ever take it out. Put must have items like tampons, band aids, alcohol swabs, and contacts in here so they are always in your suitcase. 
  2. Make sure your toiletry kit is stocked with important medicines, I like to always have Benadryl, pain reliever, antacids, and anti diarrhea meds, just in case. 
  3. Bring an empty water bottle through TSA so you can stay hydrated during your flight. 
  4. Throw some Liquid IVs in your bag, if you plan on partying or laying in the sun. This was you are always hydrated and you don’t need to worry about seeking out electrolytes. 
  5. Bring extra socks, everyone packs extra underwear but socks are likely to get stinky. 
  6. Always bring a hoodie, even if you are going to Mexico. Once the sun sets and the AC is cranking you will be grateful. 
  7. Make sure you have a podcast downloaded or a book in your personal item in case the inflight movie doesn’t work or the wifi prices are outrageous. 
  8. If you aren’t planning on going away this spring break, go get a passport anyway. It’s something that’s good to have around in case you ever decide to plan a last minute trip. 
  9. If you are getting a passport for the first time, get a passport card too. In case you lose your passport this will make getting a new one at an American embassy a little easier. 
  10. You can bring food on a flight so fill a ziplock baggie with snacks like popcorn, granola bars, raisins or protein bars in your bag just in case. 
  11. Add things like aloe vera to your toiletry case, resorts tend to jack up the price of such a must have. If you can’t find a TSA approved bottle, fill an old container with it. 
  12. Leave aloe in the mini fridge in your hotel room for extra relief.
  13. If you are a body wash girl, consider traveling with bar soap, it doesn’t have to be under 3 oz. so it might last longer and you can find it unscented in case of sunburn. 
  14. Throw an empty ziplock in your bag so if you decide to hop in the pool before your flight you can bring a damp bikini home without getting everything else wet. 
  15. When you get home, leave your suitcases in dark garbage bags in the trunk of your car to prevent any bed bugs from invading your home. 
  16. For all my blondies, definitely add purple shampoo to your must pack list. This toning shampoo will prevent your hair from turning brassy from salt water or green from chlorine. 
  17. Don’t forget to wear a hat or put sunscreen on your part to avoid a scalp burn. 
  18. Wear your bulkiest layers on the plane to avoid taking up space in your luggage. 
  19. Bring a backpack as your personal item or put a cute crossbody or canvas tote in it. This way you have extra storage and a going out bag. 
  20. Bring one pair of cute sneakers in case all of your cuter shoes give you blisters. 
  21. A first aid kit is always a good idea, just in case you trip, get a blister or cut yourself on your razor unpacking. Yes, I did that, learn from my mistakes, sharp parts down. 
  22. Make a checklist of everything you need before your trip, pack it when you leave so you can make sure you have everything coming and going. 
  23. Research if it’s safe to drink the tap water where you are going. 
  24. Use apps like WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends and family when traveling internationally, who wants to pay for international rates. 
  25. Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous, treat every trip as a once in a lifetime experience. 

Tag us in all of your spring break adventures @hcstonybrook 

Julia is a national writer for Her Campus. While she writes for all verticals, her focus is the wellness section, bringing you everything you need to know about relationships, astrology, and the best ways to get down and dirty. Julia is a recent grad of Stony Brook University, where she studied journalism with a minor in women's studies. During her time at SBU, she was a VS PINK campus rep, and an active member of Her Campus @ SBU. When she isn't writing, you can find Julia reading a smutty romance novel, hitting up her local crystal shop, or thrifting with an iced oat milk latte in hand. She's a Capricorn (but you probably already knew that) and a practicing yogi.