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Is packing the worst? Yes. But it doesn’t have to be the absolute worst.
I’ve been traveling regularly for the past decade, on countless planes, cramped buses, hot trains, and long roadtrips. After years of packing (and let’s be honest, forgetting) things, here is my list of go-to items.
These are the things you will always find packed in my bag, no matter what!
1. An eye mask
I never leave home without my eyemask.
This way I never have to worry if the lights are on, the window shade is open on a plane, or if there are blinds in the hotel room. I am sleeping when I need to sleep!
I was once on an overnight flight where the person sitting beside me played games with his screen on FULL brightness the entire flight, and I realized if I ever wanted peace again I needed an eyemask.
Now I even wear them when I’m sleeping at home! It has come in handy in hotel rooms when there is an alarm clock or fire alarm or some other odd light that disrupts and otherwise dark room.
Eyemasks are also great for getting a bit more sleep after the sun comes up when you are camping.
2. Earplugs
I like the Loop Earplugs because they work for multiple uses. The Experience Loops work for loud settings like concerts as well as for sleeping in places like airplanes or hostels. They come with different pieces you can switch out depending on how much noise you want to block.
Of course, you can always go with a cheap pair of foam earplugs too. I always carry some as a back-up.
3. Portable white noise machine
Having a solid sleep system is a must for the upheaval of travel.
I use a small portable white noise machine to help drown out sound and set up a similar environment no matter where I am that makes it easier to fall asleep.
All my fan-sleeping girlies will appreciate this one.
4. Cordless headphones
I like Beats earbuds, but you can bring any brand that works for you.
They are easy to carry and pack discreetly. As a bonus they can block out external sound and even put on white noise when you need it on the go (like on a plane).
5. Spare hair tie or claw clip
I like to keep a few things in a small pouch easily accessible in my purse or carry-on, including a hair tie, nail clippers, and other necessities like hand sanitizer and lip balm.
You never know when you’ll forget something to pull your hair up, and it’s always nice to have a spare in your travel bag. There is nothing worse than having a little hang nail that you just can’t get rid of so I like to have one with me when I travel.
6. Portable power bank
There are few things worse than a dying phone and no where to plug it in when you are away from home. Keep a portable power bank on hand and ready to charge your phone on the go. Just make sure you charge the power bank before traveling!
I like the brand Anker– for me it has always been dependable and I have never had any issues. They always last a long time and can charge my phone multiple times on one charge before needing to be plugged back in.
Also – Don’t forget to bring your phone charger, and a power converter if you are traveling internationally.
7. Reuseable water bottle
Any water bottle you already own is great. I usually carry a Nalgene from REI until I lose it, and I have a few other water bottles laying around as they always seem to appear.
I would avoid those collapsable water bottles – they don’t seem to last very long, and the times when you aren’t actually using it filled with water and need to collapse it are pretty rare. If you really need one, I would probably get the water bottles that go flat rather than fold up.
I don’t think you need a filter water bottle unless you are traveling somewhere without clean water, but if you are consider the Lifestraw, Grayl, or Brita filter bottles.
8. Hydrating care
Chapstick or lip balm, eye drops, and hand cream are a must for me for dry air, like is common on airplanes. A lot of chapsticks dry your skin out, but I like Aquaphor which can also help hydrate hands, or a nourishing tinted lip balm.
I’m currently trying out a Korean balm I picked up in Philadelphia’s Chinatown so unfortunately I can’t remember the name.
Bring a small TSA-approved hand cream to keep your skin hydrated on long travel days. Especially with all the extra hand-washing! (Where there are people, there is sickness and germs!)
You might also want some facial spray to refresh on long travel days, but stick to fragrance free to avoid bothering other passengers.
9. Important medicines
Pack your prescriptions and also a few medicine cabinet ones. It can be helpful to have a quick headache medicine like Acetaminophen (paracetamol) or Ibuprofen on hand, as well as Benedril for allergic reactions.
Just make sure whatever you are bringing is allowed if you are traveling internationally, as some countries outlaw certain drugs (over the counter or prescription) that are fine in the US.
You might also want to store them in a pill case to save space. Bring a description of what they are if you are flying internationally, just in case.
10. Hand sanitizer, hand wipes, and sanitizing wipes
I don’t always remember this one, but it’s really great to have on-hand. There is nothing I detest more than having sticky hands!
You don’t need the fancy $20 hand sanitizer spray that’s trendy, but just a simple fragrance free sanitizer is great. I usually also have a pack of Wet Ones in my bag or in the car when I remember.
You might also want to bring some travel tissues.
11. Toiletry bag and mini sets of my favorite toiletries
I rarely have to spend much time packing because I keep travel sets ready to go in my toiletry bag, and use refillable bottles to bring my bulky items like shampoo, conditioner, facewash, and lotion.
This is the toiletry bag I use, and I love that it can fold out and hang but also packs flatter than other toiletry bags.
I even keep a spare toothbrush in there!
Also in my to-go bag is Mega Babe Thigh Rescue for skirts and shorts in hot weather, my alum stone deodorant that is waste-free and only needs water, and wrinkle-release spray which performs miracles when you don’t have time or an iron.
12. Stasher bags
These things come in handy and can be washed and reused for anything.
I like to put my full-sized shampoos in them when I check a bag so they don’t leak on my clothes. It’s also nice to have on hand to bring snacks or a sandwich on the go.
While you can get away with disposable plastic baggies, I like having Stasher bags (or any silicone bag brand) because it’s one more way to reduce waste.
Along those lines, I will often also carry fabric napkins to avoid using a bunch of paper ones. I also like to use these at home.
13. Magic Molecule
I have terrible acne-prone skin (yes – even in my 30s) and I saw Renee Roaming using this so I decided to give Magic Molecule anti-septic spray a try.
I love bringing the travel version with me and just refilling it with the larger one at home (save money and less waste at the same time!)
14. Airtags
Never lose your bags again. You can tape the Airtag or tracker behind the lining in your hard luggage, tuck it into a pocket in your carry-on, or get a keychain to hold it on your purse, keys, or backpack.
You can also use a flat tracker like Tiles that can slip into your wallet discreetly, and works with Android phones.
This way even if a bag is lost, left, or taken you can locate them and be more likely to get it back.
15. A cheap paper fan
I’m always hot on travel days and often in warm places without AC like Costa Rica.
I usually have a few on-hand from events like summer weddings outside (it is HOT in the South, y’all) but you can probably find them and you never have to worry about batteries or charging it, plus it’s super lightweight!
16. My favorite backpack
The ebags Motherlode backpack has never failed me. This backpack can hold a lot!
Samsonite aquired the brand in 2017 and now sells the style that I have and while I have not personally tested it since changing hands, it looks exactly the same to me.
Whether I am flying Spirit or hiking through the labyrinth that is JFK, I always have this thing with me (and I have never been denied as a personal item or carry-on – just make sure you pack it flat for those budget airlines!)
17. Comfortable shoes
These are a must for me when traveling. It’s nice to have something comfortable to slip on.
I like wearing cheap slides I got from Target when I’m road-tripping and even wearing them with socks.
On flight days I like a shoe I can easily slip back into (even though we usually avoid it with Global Entry/TSA Precheck) so I usually wear AllBirds. You do NOT want to be bare-footed on those airport floors.
Bring a pair of slides or slippers if you plan to remove your shoes on the plane, too. Please don’t be walking around barefoot or in your socks. For everyone’s benefit.
If I’m hiking or camping I like to have a pair of Tevas to slip into once I take off my boots.
Shop all Allbirds sustainable sneakers | Shop all Teva hiking sandals
18. Pre-downloaded entertainment
You can snag ebooks and audiobooks from your library usually through Libby, Hoopla, or Libro.fm.
I also like to download music and podcasts via Apple Music or Spotify (it’s worth the subscription IMO) to have some playlists available even without service or wifi.
On that note, it can also be a good idea to download the map on Google Maps ahead of time so you can access the directions without signal or wifi.
19. A good old-fashioned book
Yes, like a real hard-copy of a book.
Sometimes it’s nice to give your eyes a break, and save your battery while you’re at it.
I like to donate books to a Little Free Library when I finish, so I don’t mind leaving them behind to save on space if I finish it while I’m traveling.
If reading isn’t your thing, you might also like to bring a journal and pen. Having something to do besides looking at a screen will be so helpful for decompressing.
20. Weather gear
Specifically a packable rain jacket, an umbrella, and a small warm jacket (like this down jacket or this one that’s fleece).
Check the weather before you travel, but if you have these in packable form they can’t hurt to bring along.
21. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for international travel. It only costs a few bucks and can save you money big time.
I can’t tell you how many countless stories I have heard of someone stepping on a sea urchin, getting super sick from something they ate, or some other insane ailment that no one expected while they were traveling.
You can sign up for SafetyWing anytime, even while you’re already abroad. I used them for our trip last year to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Belize, and even though we never needed to use it, we had the peace of mind in case anything happened.
Other common travel items that come highly recommended
I don’t pack these myself but they are usually on recommendation lists.
- Compression socks – as a plus sized girlie, I just haven’t found any that fit well but I hear great things about them for long-haul travel especially on flights!
- Packing cubes – these can help with compression and organization
- Travel neck pillow – the U shaped ones seem uncomfortable but travelers swear by them. I’d like to try the Trtl one but they are $60-70 so I don’t yet have one.
- Tech organizer – I would rather just throw everything in a pouch, but you might like the organization.
- Travel steamer – I’m never in a bind where I need one of these, and the wrinkle release spray works just fine without the fuss! However if you need something more intense, you might consider a travel steamer.
- Portable laundry system – I tried the Scrubba bag, and it just didn’t work for me when I really needed it to (with sweaty clothes in Central America).
I hope this helps you pack your bags and be ultra prepared for your next adventure!
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