10 Must-Haves for Your Next Trip Abroad

Most of us like to travel and see the world or have to travel the world for work. Whatever the reasons, traveling is an integral part of our lives. Seasoned travelers know that more than the clothes and the accessories, it is really the little things which you pack that help. Here are 10 must-haves to take on your next trip abroad:

1. Numbers are the universal language. Anywhere you go, a calculator has another name, "Casio," so you can never go wrong. It is a must have. Get a solar powered one so as to never run out of batteries and be eco-friendly too.

2. Never again miss a morning wake-up call in tiny hotel rooms and guesthouses. Just carry an alarm clock with you. They are helpful when you sleep in bus stations, train stations, and airports too because they will never let you miss a flight and/or train without compromising on your sleep.

3. A Compass comes in handy when you are lost in a new town. They help you head back the right way. It also comes in handy when you have to catch the taxi-driver who is just taking you round in circles.

4. Most countries have different plug and pin configurations, so be sure to carry multi- pin adaptors. There are many different kinds available in the market and even some that have many different configurations in the same one. While traveling to Asia remember to carry a grounded '2 blade plug adaptor' because most of the time there will be no grounding in these countries.

5. The next on the list is the Camera. Obvious, you think! But the reason is special. Actually, its use as a security tool is not known to many. Just click a picture of the taxi driver who is giving you a hard time and see the instant transformation in him. Also, works as a tout warding-off tool after the much polite Thank you doesn't work.

6. Carry an immersion heater in your bag for added convenience. It is especially helpful in making coffee and noodles, if you want. You can even use these in airports. Just plug in and you are good to start cooking. It is a handy device when it comes to warming up the cold water in budget hotels too.

7. How many times have you broken something on one of your trips and lost precious time getting it repaired? That should prove to be lesson enough and make you carry super glue on your next trip. It lets you do a quick-fix and then find a repair shop at leisure. There are things aplenty that you can fix with super glue - shoes, sunglasses, bags and clothing tears.

8. Carry enough rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. Seems useless? Well here's the explanation. Rubber bands come in handy when you exchange currency and have to hold together wads of notes. Here's an example- if you exchange 100 USD for Indian Rupees, you will get 4600 of them and if that's in 50 or even 100 Rupee notes then you need simply need a rubber band! Paper clips are for keeping receipts and tickets together and safety pins for those wardrobe malfunctions that do happen to good people.

9. Keep paper and pen at hand to write down things that you will want to remember - phone numbers, flight times, hotel names, polite words in the local language - data in a single, easily accessible place.

10. Last but the most important tool to carry with you is a sense of humor. This is the one thing that will keep you sane and happy during the trip and give you great memories.

So Happy Traveling!