I Can’t Travel Without… | Broadreach Team Travel Essentials
By: Broadreach HQ March 18, 2026 High School Adventures, Middle School, Parents
At Broadreach, travel isn’t just something we do—it’s part of who we are. From leading scuba expeditions to exploring remote destinations (and tracking down the best local eats), our team has logged thousands of miles. Along the way, we’ve each discovered the travel essentials we simply can’t live without.
Some of us swear by packing cubes. Others won’t board a flight without noise-canceling headphones. And a few of us? We’re definitely packing extra snacks (because you never know when you’ll need them).
So, we asked our team one simple question: What’s one thing you can’t travel without? Here’s what they had to say:
🧳 Savannah, Program Director (Conservation + Veterinary Medicine)
✈️ Can’t Travel Without:
- Headphones: I love being able to sleep on planes! The headphones block out noise, and I get to listen to music.
- Books: I love having the comfort of a good book in a new setting. I also love bringing a wildlife guide!
- Reusable water bottle: Flying is dehydrating! Having my water bottle with me is a must.
🧳 Motts, Owner + Director
✈️ Can’t Travel Without:
My “essential” travel list has grown a lot now that I am a parent and mostly travel with kids in tow.
- A good book: I like to find one that is related to the place or activity I am doing, fiction or non-fiction.
- Portable charger: Although I like to unplug once I arrive at my destination, having a fully charged phone is important for travel days. I always try to start my trip with a fully charged phone AND battery backup.
- Hand sanitizer: Say “hi to Gene.” Getting sick while away from home is not ideal!
- Well-stocked day pack: A good day pack keeps everything organized: snacks, documents, extra clothes… You name it.
🧳 Claire, Caribbean Director
✈️ Can’t Travel Without:
If you travel frequently, you know that sometimes delays and other “unplanned adventures” are inevitable. Bringing things to make those eventualities a bit more comfortable makes all the difference!
- Travel neck pillow: You never know when you’ll need to sneak in a nap. I use it on every flight—and sometimes even as a backup pillow if the pillows at the place I’m staying aren’t up to par.
🧳 Liz, Hiring Coordinator
✈️ Can’t Travel Without:
- Packing cubes: I hate frantically digging through an unorganized bag trying to find an item. Packing cubes keep everything organized and easy to find!
- A small sewing kit: Great for quick fixes, and if you enjoy crafting like me, it doubles as entertainment for a little in-flight creativity! I sometimes bring craft or art projects with me as well. I once brought a travel watercolor set and painted on the plane!
- A scarf: Doubles as a blanket on chilly flights, and is useful if your destination is chilly.
🧳 Carley, Senior Program Advisor
✈️ Can’t Travel Without:
- Journal: I love writing at the beginning of a trip to capture the anticipation, and again at the end to reflect. It’s a great way to hold onto those moments a little longer. Pro tip: If you struggle with finding the motivation to write, I usually make myself write at least a page before diving into my in-flight movie!
🧳 Chelsey, Program Director (World Dive + Marine Biology)
✈️ Can’t Travel Without:
- Stream2Sea sunscreen and leave-in conditioner: Most of my travel involves sun and saltwater, so protecting my skin and hair is a must. I love products that work well while also help protect marine ecosystems! Steam2Sea’s Coral Care SPF collection has a compound that actually helps rebuild coral reefs, and their leave-in conditioner keeps your hair from drying out after dives or long days in the ocean; the fact that you don’t have to rinse it off after is especially helpful on liveaboards!
- ALOHA Collection tote + travel pouches: My ALOHA Collection tote and splash-proof pouches are perfect for keeping everything organized and dry on dive boats or at the beach.
🧳 Nick, Gear Manager
A lot of my picks are backpacking/wilderness essentials (my preferred kind of travel) but can be useful for other trips as well!
✈️ Can’t Travel Without:
- Duct tape: I have never been on a trip where duct tape hasn’t come in handy in one way or another.
- Nalgene bottle: Durable, easily packable, and stylish with the right amount of stickers.
- Swiss Army knife: Extremely versatile and can be a great eating utensil with spork attachment.
- Versatile footwear: Usually hiking boots or trail-running shoes, always waterproof or water-resistant (is there anything worse than wet feet?).
🧳 Bethany, Marketing + Communications Director
These days, my must-haves are all about travel smoother (especially with kids!).
- Snacks and a water bottle: A hungry traveler is a cranky traveler. Snacks and water can make or break a travel day, especially when a trip stretches longer than anticipated!
- Medications: I always carry some over-the-counter pain relievers, cold and flu medication, and something for upset tummies in my carry-on, along with any prescription medications.
- AirTag or another tracker: I stash one in each of my checked bags to give me peace of mind if they get delayed.
Now that you’ve seen what’s in our bags, we want to hear from you: What’s your #1 must-have travel item?
Head over to our social channels and share your go-to essentials—we’re always looking for new travel hacks and game-changing gear.
Wherever your next adventure takes you, happy travels from all of us at Broadreach 🌍✈️
