Travel essentials when living in phase 2 can be a bit different from our earlier years.

Ah, to be in our 20’s with no thought of all the little health issues we now experience in life’s second phase.  It used to be when we would go on a travel adventure, we’d stay out late, eat and imbibe a bit too much, and then jump out of bed the next day to do it all again with few aches and pains or other ailments.  However, although we may have a few more issues in Phase 2, those little things don’t have to stop us enjoying our leisure and adventure activities.  It just takes a bit more planning and preparation than before.

In that vein we always keep a kit packed and ready to throw in our luggage regardless of the type of travel, be it a cruise, weekend BBQ tournament judging, or visiting family.  Today we are going to review our travel kit recommendations to help make sure you are always ready for your Phase 2 adventures.

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The Travel Bag

Really you can use anything you have around the house.  We use an old travel toiletry kit.  That size is prefect.  But any zip up bag that’s about 5” X 4” X 8” size will work well.  You can even use a heavy duty gallon zip top bag.

Now that you have your bag let’s get it filled.  Almost all these supplies be purchased at Walmart, Target, or even Dollar Tree.   We will break down it down by possible ailment.

Foot and Skin:

Medicated Body Powder such as Gold Bond™ or Anti-Monkey Butt™

When traveling, especially when on a cruise or at the beach it very easy to get a skin rash.  Medicated powder is great for those swimsuit rashes after spending all day in a damp swimsuit.  After many years of Boy Scout hikes and trips, our favorite is Anti-Monkey Butt™.

Moleskin

It’s very easy to get a “hot spot” or blister while on travel adventures. We always keep a set of pre-cut patches of various sizes in our kit. We use the pre-cut vs. the large patches, since mole skin can be very tough to cut. He’s a link to the pre-cut kit we use.

Sunburns

We hope everyone already knows to always pack sun screen, sun glasses and head protection. We take sunburn and skin cancer very seriously, but occasionally we can still get sunburned on our adventures. In that case we have some post-sunburn relief products we always keep on hand.

Aloe Sunburn Gel – There are various brands we use. Be sure to pick a brand that has both aloe and Lidocaine.

Solarcaine™ Sun Burn Relief Spray – Can help with sunburn pain, make sure it also has aloe and lidocaine as well.

General Medication

You may end up over doing it a bit, be it long hikes, over exertion, a few too many at the pool bar. After that you may end up with sore muscles or even with a bit of a headache, so we always keep generic versions the following on hand:
• Headache medication that is a combination acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine such as Excedrin™.
• Ibuprofen such as Advil™
• Acetaminophen – such as Tylenol™
• Acetaminophen PM – A Nighttime aid to help with sleep, should you need it, such as Tylenol PM™

You never know when you may catch a cold or have an allergy attack. For those, we keep generic tablet versions of Dayquil™ and NyQuil™ in our kit.

Stomach Needs

We may not want to admit it, but we can’t always eat what, and how, we did in our 20’s. In Phase 2 we can be more susceptible to acid reflux, upset stomach, diarrhea, etc. This can all be exacerbated when traveling with unusual foods, more drink, and new activities.

For gastro-intestinal issues we always travel with some bismuth subsalicylate tablets. The brand name would be Pepto-Bismol™, we have used both the name brand as well as generics. These are a must have when traveling. They are, just like their ad says good for upset stomach, diarrhea, and indigestion. We use the tablets, so there’s not a chance of the liquid spilling.

Many of us have heard the expression “Montezuma’s Revenge”. Without going into the full story, it is the name for severe diarrhea contracted by travelers. Diarrhea when traveling is very common. It can come from changes in diet or bacterial infections. We always make sure we have some Loperamide HCL based anti-diarrhea medication. Yes, the Pepto™ will work for mild cases, this medication is more targeted and stronger and faster acting. Just don’t over do taking it.

For acid stomach we keep a simple calcium carbonate antiacid, such as Tums™ or Maalox™ as well as a preventive antiacid is important to have on hand.

If overindulging is causing a bit more recurring heart burn our go-to preventative antiacid is Pepcid® AC or Generic equivalent. We get the generic Sam’s Club Member’s Mark product called Acid-Pep Famotidine Tablets.

Motion Sickness Medication

Fortunately, we don’t find we are susceptible to much in the way of motion sickness. However, we have family members and friends that struggle with motion sickness. Our preferred medication is Meclizine HCL 25 mg, the name brand is Bonine™.

Miscellaneous

Stain Wipes

You will spill something on yourself and if you pack minimally you will need to re-wear some outfits. Therefore, we always keep Shout™ wipes on hand for the small spills and stains.

Lint Roller

Hair, lint, can get all over us when traveling, there’s were a mini-lint brush comes in. You can get the reusable or the tape kind. Here’s a link to the small reusable one we keep in our kit:

Ear Plugs

Nancy has always had trouble sleeping when there is excessive noise. Hotels, especially, can be very noisy. To help get a good night’s sleep, we always travel with some ear plugs, just in case.

Travel First Aid Kit

You will get a few cuts and scrapes as you travel. After being a Boy Scout leading for years, Mike never leaves home without a basic first aid kit. You don’t need a big one. You only need one that contains various size adhesive and gauze bandages, tape, small medical scissor, tweezer, antiseptic towelettes, safety pins, and Q-tips™. That will do you well for small incidents.

We hope this list of health travel aids and a peak into our Phase 2 leisure life helps you make the most of your own Phase 2 journey.

Thank you again for making your Amazon purchaces through these links or by visiting our Amazon Storefront where you will see all our recommendations.

Until next time, Happy Phase 2 Travels.

Mike and Nancy