10 Travel Essentials
1. NECK PILLOW – I’m lucky that I can sleep really easily in general and especially lucky that it extends to being able to sleep on planes. While I have no trouble falling asleep, having my neck supported helps me stay asleep. The one I have is no longer available, but any inflatable one should do! That way it’s not taking up extra space and you can wash the cover.
2. PACKING CUBES – I started using packing cubes a few years ago and I’m never going back to leaving my clothes “loose” in my suitcase again! They allow you stay organized within your suitcase, which comes in handy when you’re traveling and going to multiple hotels. It’s always frustrating to have to “re-pack” each time you’re switching hotels, but with the packing cubes you can keep things tidy enough to make packing up a breeze. You lose a little space if you’re used to rolling your clothes and tucking them in all the nooks and crannies to squeeze in as much as possible, but I’m willing to give up the little bit of space to keep the organization in tact.
3. 4-WHEEL SUITCASE – I’m a classic over-packer. I need a suitcase that can fit as much as possible, while still being relatively small. I usually don’t check my bags when I travel, so I max out on the amount of carry-on luggage I can bring. This suitcase has been amazing. I love the fact that it has 4 spinner wheels, making it easy to pull the traditional way on two wheels or push on all four through the airplane aisle. The inside is great with a compartment on each side to keep all of your things organized. This one has held up really well through a ton of trips over the past couple of years and I’m still shocked that the wheels are still functional after pulling them through tons of cobblestone streets.
4. PORTABLE CHARGER – I’m always nervous about my phone dying, especially when I’m somewhere unfamiliar and might need it. Google maps and taking tons of photos always drains my battery so having a portable charger with me has been a game changer.
5. HEADPHONES – This one is kind of a no-brainer. Earbuds are small so they don’t take up any space and allow you to listen to music, watch movies on the plane etc.
6. LARGE SCARF – A scarf is a great accessory to bring for trips during any season and can easily double as blanket on chilly flights.
7. TOILETRY BAG – I keep my travel toiletry bag pre-packed at all times with the essentials. This way, it’s one less thing to worry about when packing. I’ve been using this one for years and love how many compartments it has for everything you need.
8. COMPRESSION SOCKS – In the last few years, on longer flights, my feet and ankles tend to swell. I recently started bringing compression socks with me on planes. They help with the swelling and also keep my feet warm during flight.
9. KINDLE - A book or magazine would work as well, but I prefer a Kindle because it takes less space than a book and I can load up a couple different options in case I finish a book on the trip and am ready to start something new.
10. WATER BOTTLE - Since you can’t bring water through security in airports, I always bring an empty water bottle and fill up before I get to my gate. This way I’m not buy expensive water in the airport and I have a water bottle for long days exploring on the trip. I like this Hydroflask with the screw top. It closes tightly so you don’t have to worry about it spilling on the plane and it keeps your beverages cold for hours.