My Must Have Travel Essentials
Now that we are finally out of what sometimes seemed was going to be a never ending pandemic, travel has picked up significantly (both domestically and internationally). I thought it would be a great time to share my must have items that I never travel without. Sometimes I feel like I’m Mary Poppins because of all the things I carry, but I will say my husband loves that I always have anything we might need while traveling.
First, I firmly believe the right bag makes all the difference. For approximately the last 2 years I’ve carried this Longchamp Le Pilage tote. Some may think of it as a signature Flight Attendant purse because so many use this bag, but it’s for good reason - It is super lightweight, made from durable materials, & is super easy to clean if a bottle of hand cream or sanitizer happens to explode in your bag due to the pressure on the airplane. Also, the long leather straps make it very practical to carry with your suitcase.
I recently wanted to get a new travel bag that was more of a neutral color but still was large enough to carry all my essentials and this Marc Jacobs “The Tote Bag” checks all the boxes!
As for what I carry inside my bag, here are my MUST have items that I never travel without:
One of my biggest tips when traveling is to stay hydrated!
Not only is the air on the plane very dry, but traveling can also be exhausting so I always travel with a reusable cup/bottle because I drink a minimum of 1-2 liters of water when I’m flying.
Most airports have places dedicated to fill up your bottle so it’s also a great way to save some money when traveling because the airports charge a ridiculous amount of money for a bottle of water - plus not buying a plastic bottle is also better for the environment!
Between all of my different devices (phone, AirPods, iPad, camera, etc) it never fails that I either forgot to charge one or one eventually dies so an external charger is your best friend. Although most airplanes/airports have places to charge your device, there have been several circumstances that they were inoperable, so I like to always be prepared. I can get several full charges from just one external battery.
If you’re not one to travel with your own device to watch movies and are lucky enough to fly on an airplane with screens, a Bluetooth adapter is great to be able to watch a movie/show with your own headphones/AirPods.
Like I previously mentioned, the air on the plane is super dry so I love to carry a travel size of my favorite Tatcha dewy skin mist to refresh my face during long flights. It’s great because you can spray it even if you’re wearing makeup and it won’t mess it up!
While we’re on the topic of hydration, because I am constantly washing my hands/using hand sanitizer when flying, I love Kiehls hand cream to keep my hands from drying out. The lavender scent is my favorite because it’s so calming, which is great if you’re stressed/anxious when flying.
Liquid IV packs are also perfect to add to your water if you’re feeling a little dehydrated (or even hungover) for a pick me up!
Oh, and I can’t forget my absolute favorite lip balm from Summer Fridays. I wear minimal makeup when flying but I still want to look put together so pairing this with your favorite neutral lip liner is a great combo.
If you are like me, flying can sometimes upset your stomach. Between the pressure on the plane, the stress of travel & also the not so great food options at airports, my stomach seems to constantly be in knots - which is why I always carry peppermint tea & ginger candies. These are also great if you’re feeling nauseous due to turbulence on the plane.
I couldn’t finish this list without mentioning my favorite jewelry organizer (which i don’t like to put in my suitcase in case I’m forced to check my bag unexpectedly). It is compact but still fits quite a bit of jewelry and keeps your necklaces from getting tangled.
Last but certainly not least is a compact mirror with a light. The lighting in airplane bathrooms is usually sub par so I love to have this compact mirror in my purse in case I want to refresh my makeup before landing.
Two more items that make travel much easier are packing cubes and TopTote.
Using packing cubes when traveling not only helps to keep me super organized with my outfits, but they also act as laundry bags for already worn clothes, and ensure that the germs/dirt from the bottoms of my shoes don’t transfer to my clothes.
Whether you’re traveling on a beach vacation and brought one (or several if you’re like me) wide brim straw hats, or you’re traveling somewhere a little colder and want to pack wide brim wool hats, the TopTote is a total life-saver. This would also make a great gift for you favorite traveler & fashionista.
I hope you found this post helpful for your next trip, wherever that may be. Leave me a comment with one of your must have travel items.
