I’ve been watching James Bond movies with my kids this summer, and my favorite part is always when he pulls out some sort of gadget that is perfectly suited to save the day. I’d like to think I’ve got a little bit of James Bond in me, even if I encounter a few car chases or assassins. In my line of work, I need to be prepared for almost anything, so boxing up some awesome things for my trips became very important.
Where the idea of a Box of Awesome started
I could start a blog simply recounting crazy problems, disasters and near-misses from these last 15 years and I’d never lack for material.
As any travel professional can tell you, EVERYTHING happens on tour, and I mean everything. Don’t even get me started. So I’ve learned to be prepared for the issues that come up on the road.
I’m required to carry a first aid kit in my work, which is necessary and used steadily. Bumps, bruises and minor injuries are common and easily fixed.
But there are often other little annoyances that can bog down travels, ones that can be pretty easily taken care of with a little thought ahead of time.

What’s in my Box of Awesome?
This is where my little box comes in. I like to call it the “Box of Awesome”, a name which should be heard in a voice like a wrestling announcer.
First aid kit
My little first aid kit packs a good punch against travel inconvenience, and here’s the recipe to assembling your own.
Start with a small, basic first aid kit with a hard case. I have one from Johnson and Johnson, for sale at Target for about $.99. It came with a variety of band-aids, ointment and sterile cleaning wipes.
To that I have added a few extra first aid items, butterfly bandages, sting relief pads and a few more band-aids in unusual sizes. For foot ailments, I have a patch of moleskin and blister bandages.
I keep a tube of pills of commonly needed medications. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Tylenol PM, Migraine aspirin, and, most importantly, Benadryl. A miracle drug in my opinion, Benadryl works on allergic reactions, bug bites or stings, stuffy noses and sleeplessness. I also carry a liquid Benadryl pen in my bag for mosquito bites as I’m terribly allergic.

Dental hygiene items
Dental woes are common with travelers, so I try and keep something in my bag for emergencies such as an amount of floss or toothpicks for stuck food.
For crowns or veneers that have fallen off, I asked my dentist for small packets of emergency adhesive. I’ve also carried tubes of Fixodent for this reason.
Occasionally I have tour members with fillings that have fallen out, and for this reason I also carry Temparin, a tooth filling material that can patch a tooth for a few days until a dentist can be found.
Other useful items
I also add in my fix-it supplies.
I have tweezers, small nail files, a screwdriver for glasses with extra screws, sewing kit, buttons, safety pins, tiny super glue packs, small scissors, nail clippers, bobby pins, twist ties and glue dots.
At the travel supply store I recently found bug repellent wipes that fit nicely in the kit, as well as a stain removing pen for messy travelers like myself.

Pre-assembled travel kits
If assembling a travel emergency box seems like a bit of a hassle to you, there are pre-assembled kits which you can purchase in convenient pouches which are ready to go.
Here are a couple of suggestions:
Before purchasing one of these, have a think about what potential emergencies you may encounter and make sure you’ve got everything you need for your adventures.
Have some ideas for adding to the Box of Awesome? This box has been a work in progress for some time with other travelers and I’d like to hear if there’s something I’m missing. Please leave your comment below for me to see so we can continue boxing up some awesome together!
Come on an adventure with us!
As tour guides for over 20 years, we combat mass tourism with longer stays, unique destinations, and cultural connections. Our small groups of 6-18 ensure personalized experiences. We value positive, flexible travelers who embrace challenges so if you love wine, fun, and new friends, why not join us for an adventure?
Love the “Box of Awesome!” I also carry WetOnes in individual packets, a few each in purse, medical kit (an Eagle zip pouch with many of the items you describe — MY “box od awesome”), and stuffed in crevices here-and-there. WetOnes are a miracle treatment. You can use the to clean face and hands, tray tables and other unsightly public germ-carrying surfaces, for “hygienic purposes” as well as to remove stains from clothing. I have removed red wine and coffee from white shirts and saved a mom with a gelato-dripping child from certain hysteria.
[…] minor travel emergencies, and a few major ones. I wrote about it a while ago, which you can read HERE, and I encourage you to steal this idea. The basic idea is to buy a simple first aid kit, I like […]
Hi what do you use the glue dots for?I would add a length of string, small roll of duct tape, assorted zip ties, a W-D-40 mini stick, a couple binder clips, paper clips and a sharpie.
Great ideas! I use the glue dots to stick receipts or ticket stubs into my journal.
Love the idea for a ‘box of awesome!’ I didn’t see a freeze pack suggested. The instant freeze packs are pretty lightweight, not overly big and handy for a turned ankle, etc.
I created a checklist for myself from the above info and thought I’d share it!
Thanks for the great info!
Box of Awesome
small, basic first aid kit with a hard case:
band-aids,
ointment
sterile cleaning wipes
butterfly bandages
sting relief pads
band-aids in unusual sizes
moleskin and blister bandages
tube of pills of commonly needed medications:
Tylenol
Ibuprophen
Aleve
Tylenol PM
Migrane aspirin
Benadryl
liquid Benydryl pen
floss or toothpicks for stuck food
emergency dental adhesive or Fixodent
Temparin, a tooth filling material
fix-it supplies:
tweezers
small nail files
screwdriver for glasses with extra screws
sewing kit
buttons
safety pins
tiny super glue packs
small scissors
nail clippers
bobby pins
twist ties
glue dots
Bug repellent wipes
stain removing pen
Twist ties come in handy too. Can use to quickly ‘lock’ a day pack or carry one (just put through the zipper holes and twist – just makes it much harder to easily unzip it – paper clips can do this too.)If you buy snacks, you can use them to close-up opened bags to keep fresh and not spill. Can use to keep lightweight curtains closed in an emergency (make a small ‘handful bunch’ of the two sides and twist around it.The thin wire in the middle of a twist tie can even keep the arm on your glasses if you lose a screw.They are handy.
Minimus.biz is a great source for small sample sizes of many things, like the trial sizes of things, or even the little packs of jelly that you see in restaurants.
As a professional packer, I appreciate the concept of the “Box of Awesome” for travel emergencies. It’s a clever and practical approach to being prepared for a variety of situations. The thoughtful inclusion of items beyond basic first aid, like a mini screwdriver for glasses and emergency dental adhesive, demonstrates a deep understanding of the unexpected challenges that can arise during travel. This kit is an excellent reminder of the importance of anticipating needs and being resourceful, qualities essential to both successful packing and enjoyable travel experiences.
https://www.zenmoversnetwork.com/
https://www.zenmoversnetwork.com/services
Your “Box of Awesome” is indeed a brilliant idea! I love how it covers not just the basics but also those little travel inconveniences that can pop up unexpectedly. By the way, have you ever considered adding a portable power bank to your kit? “shargeek” has some fantastic options i found a discount code for it i am sharing it here https://www.emucoupon.com/code/shargeek/504297
. It might be a handy addition for keeping your gadgets charged on the go during those unpredictable travel moments. I was wondering What’s the most unexpected situation your “Box of Awesome” has come in handy for?
I’m renaming my “Etc kit” to Box of Awesome. it is truly awesome when one of these little basics saves the day. My kit also includes Imodium. I’ve only needed it a couple of times but it is truly a trip saver!
I’m unsure how you bring scissors and still can carry on your baggage without the scissors being nabbed at TSA?
Thanks– Anne Hunter, Minnesota
Scissors whose blades are less than 4 inches long as measured from the pivot point are allowed in carry on baggage per TSA website: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/scissors
I’ve taken cuticle/nail scissors in my carry on with no problem.