9 | Concert + Travel Necessities

My sister and I at Reputation Tour in Indianapolis

I feel like I'm always on the road and on-the-go. When traveling or heading to a concert, I'm always so excited, which results in be being a bit more forgetful. A lot of my concerts this past year have been day trips, either to Cleveland or Columbus, because let's be real. I'd rather spend money on coffee and drive home on a post-concert high than pay to stay in a hotel a little over an hour from home.

Luckily, there are only a few basic, yet key items you need with you for a fun day trip: phone for pictures, license and credit cards, a bit of cash, a portable phone charger, and potentially a small bag or fanny pack.

I was really hesitant about this first item before purchasing. I thought it was a bit too risky to use, and I really didn't know if I could trust it. Now, I don't know what I would do without it! Introducing the magical, can't live without it, less than $10, card holder for the back of your phone.

I've been using this for a few months now and I haven't had any major issues. My cards don't fall out, and it's an easy way to keep my important items on me. Most of these card holders hold about 2-3 cards, but I keep 4-5 cards in mine. Because I push the limits a bit by adding an additional card, I can no longer keep less than 4 cards in mine without them moving around. The bottom of the card holder is lifting a bit as well, but it's still very secure — and this is most likely due to the amount of cards I keep in it.

I really like this for concert days because I don't need to bring a small purse or fanny pack with me. I get through security quickly, and it's great to not have to worry about a bag bouncing off other people throughout the show.

The next item is a portable phone charger. My dad is really into tech, so we invested in higher capacity portable chargers for each of us. This isn't the exact one that I use, since mine is a bit older, but it's very similar. The multiple ports feature is great when traveling with friends, especially since we're all taking pictures, using maps, etc. And, being a higher capacity charger, my phone charges very quickly, and the battery lasts me days after a show! For general admission shows, I typically just bring my phone with my card case in one pocket, and my portable charger in another — it works great!

Lastly, for longer show days, or concerts where I feel the need to bring a bit more than my phone, cards, and a charger, I either bring my wristlet or a small purse. I've been to multiple shows in the past year that have been requiring either clear, Ziploc style bags, or bags of a very small size. Depending on the show, I'll decide between the two. Lately, I've really liked my wristlet. It doesn't fit my phone, but it fits all of my cards, and even my phone charger (if I try hard enough). If I need a bit more space, I use a small purse. Last year, my aunt gifted me a circle crossbody purse for my birthday. I take it almost everywhere! It seems small, but it fits my phone, wallet/wristlet (if I bring it), keys, chapstick, and phone charger — all while meeting venue and tour requirements. Mine is no longer on sale, but I found two similar ones from Target and Lauren Conrad.

What's one item that you cannot travel without?