Is the siren song of the European summer calling you with daydreams of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, the cobblestoned streets of Rome and the romance of Paris? Whether you’ve booked an upcoming summer sojourn to escape the chill of a southern winter, or your travel plans are more of a work in progress, a lot of the fun is in the planning.
A well planned, well executed holiday is memorable for all the right reasons, so it’s worth putting in the extra effort before you go to ensure your trip is as seamless as possible. Here, a few of our non-negotiable travel essentials you might consider putting on your checklist.
Space saving packing cubes
If you’ve ever had to sit on a suitcase to close it or have suffered the indignity of opening a chaotically packed bag at an airport security check, compression cubes will change your packing habits for the better.
Travel writers swear by packing cubes, the lightweight pouches that separate and organise items in your suitcase such as footwear, underwear, clothes and toiletries.
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Compression cubes have an additional zipper function that compresses the contents of the pouch, forcing air out of fabrics to save space in your suitcase. Not only do they let you pack more, but they also save room for those must-have holiday purchases while you’re away.
The perfect day bag
What makes an ideal day bag is often discussed among seasoned travellers, but most agree that the cross-body style sets the standard. Choose a style with a wide shoulder strap to distribute weight across your body, and you’ll find a cross-body bag can be carried comfortably for extended periods of time, sits close to your body to keep your valuables safe and importantly, keeps your hands free to take photos or juggle a pain au chocolat and a café au lait.
Travel insurance cover for peace of mind
Nobody sets off on a trip expecting to call on their travel insurance. But unforeseen events can happen, and if you’re not covered it can mean the difference between a salvageable situation and having to hop on the next plane home. Think of it as a silent travel companion offering peace of mind and a safety net, should you need it.
Savvy travellers don’t like paying for things they don’t need, so Stella offers customisable travel insurance designed with women in mind. You can choose your excess, essentials and extras^ so you only pay for the cover that’s right for you.
With Stella, you can tailor your cover, from luggage loss to trip cancellations*. Should you have a medical emergency or need pregnancy-related treatment, Stella can help to look after you by covering your emergency medical and additional expenses in a covered event – including transportation costs, hospital expenses, and dental treatment.
If you do happen to experience an emergency and your kids are travelling with you, Stella can help to pay for child minding services up to $200 per day (maximum 5 days), and can also offer you up to $500 towards counselling services^ or trip cancellation and interruption cover* if you experience a deliberate act of domestic violence at the hands of your partner.
The Stella promise is to deliver a seamless experience, from quoting through to contact centre calls. And 24/7 worldwide emergency assistance gives you the freedom to explore with confidence.
A portable charger that charges everything
Whether you’re a phone snapper or you prefer a separate camera to capture your memories, you need to be sure your devices have enough battery to keep up with your adventures. That’s where a powerful portable charger comes in very handy.
From small chargers that hold enough power for one full charge of your phone, to the new multi-device superchargers, the one for you will depend on how many devices you need to charge.
Some powerpacks charge up to five devices in one go, so you can juice up your phone, camera, laptop and fitness tracker at the same time. If you’re likely to be crossing continents, ideally choose one with universal socket plugs so you can recharge in every destination without the extra bulk of power converters.
A quality everyday SPF 50+
Regardless of where you are in the world, sunscreen is a must. Sun damage can happen anywhere and anytime you are exposed to the sun, but not every country has SPF guidelines that are as stringent as Australia’s, so you might find the higher SPFs of 30+ are difficult to find in some destinations.
Do your skin, and your future self, a favour and invest in a good quality SPF 50+ before you travel. Apply every morning to your face, neck, arms, hands and any exposed skin without fail and be sure to take it with you to reapply every two hours throughout the day, more often if you’re swimming or perspiring. Pop on a wide-brimmed hat, a fabulous pair of sunglasses and you’ll be ready to take on the world in style. Bon voyage!
*Optional extra. Note that not all benefits apply and will depend on whether you have selected them (and are reflected on your Certificate of Insurance). ^Underwriting criteria, policy terms and conditions, exclusions and limitations apply. Any information or advice provided in this article is general only and doesn’t take into account your individual needs, objectives or financial situation. Benefits are subject to the terms and conditions including the limits and exclusions of the insurance policy. Before you purchase this product you should carefully read the Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), the Financial Services Guide (FSG) and consider the Target Market Determination (TMD) available at stellainsurance.com.au to decide if it’s right for you. Stella Travel Insurance is issued by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 83 169 311 193) (Pacific) and distributed by Stella Underwriting Pty Ltd (ABN 72 633 811 319, AR 001282046) acting as an Authorised Representative of battleface Insurance Services Pty Ltd (ABN 28 650 606 045, AFSL 536280) (battleface) which is acting under a binding authority as agent for Pacific.
