How To Pack For A Trip

Get a good airplane tote/bag. I recently purchased this Lo and Sons bag that I use for all my airplane tote needs. It was a bit pricey for me even though I got it on sale, but I absolutely love it. The back slides right over the handle of my carry-on luggage and it has SO many pockets. I’ve also been using it as my gym bag, weekender bag, and for work.

Here’s everything that goes in there (also in the photo above)…

• Empty water bottle
  • Travel Hack – put tea bags or the Starbucks VIA instant iced coffee packs in your water bottle or just carry in a ziplock. When at the airport, get water from the water fountain and make your own drink! This will save you money here and there which will add up.
• Phone
• Laptop
• Journal and pen
• Magazine/book
• Sunglasses (in a hard shell case)
• Digital glasses
• Wireless Headphones
• A blanket scarf
  • This Lululemon one is my favorite for traveling (I’m always cold so this is a lifesaver for me. You can wear it SO many ways and it even folds out to be like a little blanket)
• Wallet, passport, and travel docs
• Keys

• ELECTRONICS KIT  [goes inside the airplane tote]
  • Charging cords for iPhone & Go Pro
    • Travel Hack – use cord tacos to keep all the cords for your tech devices together. Organization is key.
  • Moment photography lens
  • Backup battery
  • SD cards (for Go Pro)
  • Extra earbuds

• SMALL “RANDOM THINGS” KIT  [goes inside the airplane tote]
  • Hand sanitizer spray
  • Blotting papers
  • Wet ones travel pack
  • Chapstick/Lip Balm
  • Eye drops
  • Contact case with solution already in there in case I need to take them out for a moment
  • Tide pen
  • Tweezers (these surprisingly come in handy for other things than touching up my eyebrows)
  • Lotion
  • Gum
  • Small perfume tester
  • Facial Mist  (refreshing after a long day of travel)

*Neck pillow: I attach this to my carry-on bag so it doesn’t go inside my airplane tote but I do take it on the plane with me.

Travel Hack – get a toiletry bag that is waterproof, has separate compartments, and has a hook to hang on the back of a door. This is the one I use.

I pack the travel size of most items. If you need more you can usually pick it up and at a local store wherever you are. Also, in my bag with clothes, I pack a travel size hair dryer and my normal straightener.

• Shampoo bar and conditioner
• Body wash
• Razor
• Toothbrush + Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush
• Facial Moisturizer (morning & night)
• Makeup remover cleansing balm [this stuff is magic, ladies]
• Face Wash
• Qtips
• Hand soap
• Baby powder (this has several uses, check it out)
• Hair Products (dry shampoo, hair spray, headband and bobby pins)
• Safety pins [these can come in handy]
• Feminine hygiene stuff
• Contact Lens Stuff
• Body Lotion

Travel Hack – Pack medicine in small containers like this and label them.

• Allergy pills
• Ibuprofen & Exedrin
• Insect repellent 
• Band aids [helps blisters] + neosporin
• Vitamins
• Essential oils [peppermint and lavender for me]

These things can depend on your location, so you may or may not need them. Also, I put all my miscellaneous items in a small cinch bag.

• Packable day-pack/backpack that folds up small
• Small travel towel
• Travel detergent
• Luggage locks
  • Get the combination style, not the key ones
• Mini flashlight/headlamp [don’t rely on your phone light]
• Steripen to purify water
  • FYI – water purification tablets do not remove viruses from water, only bacteria. An ultraviolet light like this one removes both
• Solar charger
• Sunscreen
• Electrical all-in-one adapter
• Small umbrella
• Silk pillowcase
• Greeting cards [bc it’s fun to write and leave letters to people while traveling!]
• Deck of playing cards
• Ziplock bags
• Travel candle + matches
• Digital hanging luggage scale
• Aux cable/HDMI cable

Travel Hacks:

• Use press ‘n seal wrap for necklaces to keep them protected and from getting tangled
• Use pill containers for rings and small earrings