When preparing to spend a semester abroad, it's easy to overlook a few essentials during your trip. You may have neglected to carry a universal adaptor for your weekend trip to Europe; all countries accept the same plug.

The following is a handy shopping list of study abroad essentials that you'll be glad you made before boarding your plane.

1. A portable battery charger for your trip.

Our phones will always be needed at some point, even if we try to avoid using them as much as possible while traveling.

Pre-charge the battery before leaving, and it will give you about 20 hours of additional charging time, so there is no need to search for an outlet at the airport that might not exist.

Anker's camera charger is highly rated on Amazon and comes with a built-in USB port.

2. Hair dryer and flat iron in one for the trip

When you plug your straightener into a converter, there's nothing worse than seeing the red light go out on your straightener. Most of the straighteners and blow dryers we have tested while traveling abroad have broken.

To be sure, you can buy a 30-minute travel hairdryer, but we've found that those with the correct plugs or dual voltage work best for drying hair.

3. The trip journal

Every traveler should have a journal with them at all times. You do not need to be the next J.K. Rowling to keep an exciting journal.

You can jot down one noteworthy event each day, as well as humorous quotations or the words of wisdom of new friends you meet along the way. Your anecdotes make the best keepsakes.

4. Traveling Tranquilos: No Borders Bundle

All you'll need for quick weekend getaways while studying abroad is included with the No Borders Bundle. The items included are:

• A carry-on backpack.
• A daypack.
• Various plug-in points

5. A neck pillow

A traveler's best friend is a neck pillow. As we all have to endure at least one long bus or train ride while on vacation, what better way to pass the time than to get some shut-eye and a good night's sleep?

This Memory Foam version from Amazon has a hook on the front, so that's what I'd suggest you get. That way, you don't have to worry about carrying it around with you, and it can be attached to your bag.

6. A raincoat is required for this task.

Rain falls in every city, regardless of how much we'd like to deny it. In Florence, would you rather wear your fashionable raincoat, which still looks cute in photos, or a plastic cape?

If it rains even once, you'll be glad you packed a raincoat because they take up very little space in your luggage.

It's a good idea to double-check your health insurance policy's international coverage before you leave on your trip. If not, you might want to think about getting a short-term approach to cover you while you're away from home, just in case.

Similarly, purchasing travel insurance is a wise decision to safeguard your trip and finances. When a trip is canceled, postponed, or cut short for any reason (such as a medical emergency), you can get your money back from the travel company.