These 7 travel essentials saved my six-month European trip

If you're contemplating an extended trip away, packing can get complicated, especially if you plan to spend a month or so in more than one destination. Things that you could live without for a few weeks, become essential when you're living in (rather than just passing through) a new city.

Don't convince yourself a long trip means a large bag. My biggest regret on this trip was the size and weight of my suitcase. That said, all of these essentials are light-weight and can easily fit into a small suitcase or carry-on. If you no longer need them, give them away or leave them behind in your accommodation. The next guests will thank you.

Not a deal-breaker if you're travelling alone, but if you're with a friend or partner, a wireless speaker means you can share music or a podcast minus the tinny sound emanating from most devices.

On a long trip, when you're essentially living in (rather than just passing through) a place, listening to music while you cook, eat, or do ordinary chores, will make you feel at home in your new surroundings. Just be aware of "quiet time" in southern Mediterranean countries. One to 5pm is lunch and rest time. You'll be a pariah if you break the siesta.

Despite the proliferation of cafes in Europe, the most important coffee is the one where I'm wearing pyjamas. For me, that coffee has to be made in the inexpensive icon of Italian design, the Moka Pot.

We bought one locally after realising they aren't common in rental apartments and our four-cup pot travelled with us wherever we went. After I accidentally set the handle on fire towards the end of our trip, I asked our host in Turin if we could borrow one and she beamed. A new one was delivered the next day, prompting a long and delightful conversation about coffee and how to drink it.

Some phone batteries seem to last forever, others don't. My phone falls into the latter category. One minute it's full, the next it's at five per cent. A portable charger is a lifesaver if you'll be exploring all day without access to a power outlet, or for long day or overnight trips in the wilderness, especially if you want to take lots of photographs.

While the map on your phone won't help much with navigating Venice's vicolini, or the zanka in Marrakech's medina, Google translate can be a lifeline.

As a frequent solo traveller, I also like knowing my phone will always be charged so I can call for a taxi, check exchange rates, or review a map if I need to.

Read more on Explore:

Truly the most useful gadget I've ever taken away with me. If you have multiple devices, taking a power board means you need only one adaptor and you can charge everything in one place. If you're travelling with a partner, the devices (and the powerboard's usefulness) double.

Choose a board with USB outlets for added charging options. For anyone who has ever left a device or adaptor in a socket in your accommodation (that's me!), you won't miss a chunky powerboard when you do your final room scan.

Unless you've won the lottery or have family overseas, chances are your long-stay accommodation won't be a hotel. Sadly, if you're renting apartments you'll likely encounter the curse of the blunt knife. Next time I travel I'll be taking a bread knife.

Also on my list is a Swiss Army Knife, and a regular knife, spoon, and fork. They're essential for making the most of French food markets and creating picnics on the run. Obviously, knives should be packed in checked luggage, unless you're keen to make friends with the local airport security service.

In Ferrara, it was the evocative works of Giorgio Bassani of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis fame, in Trieste, Jan Morris's melancholy love-letter to this fascinating city. Yes, Kindles are an option, but would you really take one to the beach, on a hike, or use one in the bath? Plus, books start conversations, and wherever you are, they give you a licence to linger.

Even if you haven't kept a journal since you were an angst-ridden teen, keep a diary of your trip, record your thoughts, make some sketches. An extended time away from home is a rare luxury and should be savoured. Reading your notes will keep the experience alive long after you return home. It's good for you, too. Norwegian research has shown that handwriting uses similar parts of the brain to drawing. It's a creative activity that slows your thinking and enhances memory.

Clothes. You will always need far less than you think.

Pictures: Getty Images; supplied