Late last night, I started to unpack after a week of travel to California and Colorado. I absolutely love traveling and exploring new places and sharing my adventures with you guys!
I have a few things that I bring with me nearly every trip I take no matter where I go and I thought a roundup post about my travel essentials might be fun!
Here are a few of my favorite travel essentials:
- Water bottle: I always bring a water bottle with me and make sure to drink a ton of water before a flight. I polish off an entire bottle before I make my way thorough security since you cannot bring liquids over four ounces through, but I make sure to refill it before boarding the plane.
- Inflatable neck pillow: I see tons of people travel with neck pillows and I absolutely love my Eagle Creek neck pillow because it’s not only comfortable, but inflatable. It folds up for compact travel and I love that I can inflate it to varying levels of puffiness for customized support. Plus, it only takes two breaths to inflate it completely, so it’s easy peasy!
- Eye mask: I am obsessed with my eye mask! I struggle to sleep on planes (cars are a completely different story!), but my eye mask blocks out all light and makes it a little easier to take an in-flight nap.
- Chapstick and lotion: My lips and hands seem to get so dry when I travel, so I try to keep chapstick and a travel-size lotion easily accessible. (I love EOS lip balm!)
- Book: Long flights offer hours of uninterrupted reading time and I always bring a book with me to keep me occupied.
- Snacks: Snacks are a necessity! My favorites include portable peanut butter packets, bars (Luna bars are a personal favorite), granola, nuts and dried fruit.
- Notepad and pen: For some reason I always think of ideas for blog posts or things to do when I am flying. I try to pack a pen a notepad with me so I can jot down things as they come to me so I won’t forget them later.
- Hand sanitizer: When it comes to travel, germs are everywhere, so I always pack a travel-size hand sanitizer with me to fight the good fight against germs.
- Sweatshirt: I get so cold on planes, so a comfy sweatshirt is a must for me!
- Lightweight scarf: Along with a sweatshirt, I almost always bring an extra-long lightweight scarf with me to keep warm on chilly flights. It can serve as a makeshift blanket if I am extra cold.
Question of the Afternoon
- What are some of your travel essentials?
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I lovelovelove eos lip balm! I can’t go anywhere without my chapstick…..that’s my first and foremost necessity. I also always bring my Rubik’s cube with me because I’m a dork and it passes time 🙂
I have yet to try EOS lip balm but everyone is raving about it so I think I need to change this! I always need to have my laptop with my while flying. I can never sleep on flights so it (along with wifi!) keeps me occupied 🙂
A plastic bag for my sweaty clothes! This way you don’t get the rest of your stuff gross.
Or, as gross…
love that idea. you are so wise, monica. 🙂
Very wise and VERY sweaty.
definitely my iPod. most essential thing to me at the gym, in the car, on a plane or walking around the city running errands. love music!
I like your eye mask. Does that sound weird? I just havent seen one like that before. I’d love it because it doesn’t hit my eye lashes, that would bother me. Plus it would make sleeping on a plane much easier!!
My essential items are my facial cleanser, a book/kindle and iphone with headphones!
I really like the eye mask, too! Where did you get it?
I def agree with hand sanitizer and lip balm!!
And I love my face mask too!
Great list. I pack all the same stuff! I also always pack a deck of cards. Card games are always fun on vacation!
I always carry peanut butter with me too – you just never know when you will need it!
love love eos lip balm! I’ve got it in my purse right now! I always make sure I pack my cell phone charge in my purse instead of in my suitcase, that way if I ever got stranded or stuck at an airport I could always have my phone charged. (just a weird thing I always try to remember to do!) I also always try to remember to pack my headphones for the flight 🙂
Where is that super cute bag from in your pictures? The black/white/mint over the shoulder bag? I love it!!
I just started reading Henrietta Lacks! What do you think?
I liked it a lot!! Hope you do, too!
Totally with on the scarf and warm jumper…comfy pants are a must too. Nothing worse than sitting in pair of jeans uncomfortable while travelling!
I always make sure to bring music, a journal, my Bible, and a ton of the essentials you already listed. I like bringing along either crossword puzzles and Sudoku too.
Great post idea! Mine would definitely include some reading material and a sweatshirt. Also on my list is a cute hat, a watch (because when traveling abroad I don’t use my cell phone) and an umbrella since you never know when it’s going to rain!
I agree 100% on the good snacks and hand sanitizer. Love that yellow suitcase too– so bright and fun!
I’m not much of a magazine reader at home, but I’ll often buy a magazine at the airport to read on the plane.
My travel essentials are a water bottle, sweatshirt, travel blanket, book or kindle and gum! I also always buy a magazine; it’s been a tradition ever since I was young and would get Highlights Magazine!
My iPhone has become my do-it-all item when I travel- GPS, books (harder to read books on a phone, but it’s worth it not to weigh my bag down), movies, music, etc. I also make sure to bring headphones with me!
You always looks so stylish even when traveling! I think I normally end up traveling in a hoodie! lol Great post – I don’t travel much but I take a lot of the exact same things with me when I do!
Chapstick, lotion, snacks, and a sweater/sweatshirt are musts for me! I love the scarf idea!
ha i thought your eye mask was a bra at first!
I always need water, toothpaste and toothbrush, reading material, earphones, and an extra pair of socks.
Speaking of reading are you going to start your book club again? I’ve really enjoyed it and was wondering if it was on a summer hiatus.
I have that same brand of sleep mask & I love it! I work third shift & use it everyday to sleep during the day. Best one I’ve found.
I like to bring my glasses because my contacts dry out on places, and I like to bring packs of instant oatmeal. I ask for hot water, add in the instant oatmeal + banana + nuts, and I have a tasty snack!
Great post J!
Fuzzy socks are definitely a priority–I get cold too! 🙂 Oh, and magazines too!
Definitely hand sanitizer (I’m a bit of a germaphobe!), granola bars, a wrap or scarf (I’m always cold), chap stick and my Kindle.
One time I brought 2 bags of opened nuts; pistachios (eaten) so just the shells and cashews. They were holding the plane for my friend and I and I was rushing because everyone was seated and waiting for us. Well, I tripped over my too large bag for a carry on and sprayed cashews and pistachio shells all over everyone within reach of me. I mean in their hair, their opened books, laps… you name it. I was so embarresed and the guy next to me was not happy. The cart crunched over the shells every time the stewardess came by. So, I DON”T bring nuts anymore. 🙂
Snacks are my number one necessity when traveling – even for just an hour flight! Also def a sweater or scarf… I hate to be cold.
1. Digging the pillow…. 2. That’s quite an eye mask! I might point and laugh if I saw that (but then secretly wish I had it so I could sleep hard) 3. Funny you mention the travel peanut butter….I brought one (Justin’s almond butter so dang yum) on my recent flight to NOLA and I don’t know if it had something to do with the pressure or what but when I opened it up it bursted out and got all over me….looked like poo. The 2 ladies on either side of me were probably thinking grrrreat I’m next to her for the whole flight… lol
I ALWAYS download an audible.com book actually a few just so I have some easy listening to do! I also bring lotion, face lotion and a toothbrush since a LONG flight means I need to freshen up! Thanks for sharing your essentials 🙂 Love + Shine CourtStar
I travel with all the same essentials – no joke! I do make sure to always have headphones for music and ibuprofen as well. Sometimes I just start to feel a little “blah” when traveling. Hoping my next flight will be taking me to Utah or Florida!
I am with you on the eye mask and the scarf. I find it VERY difficult to sleep on planes as well, and I am always cold. Scarves make great blankets!!
I love that inflatable pillow! The eye mask is definitely a must! Yours looks extra comfy, where did you find it? I really need to try that EOS lip balm, everyone says it is great 🙂
I definitely need lotion and chapstick because planes just suck the hydration out of my body! Layers, snacks, and hand sanitizer are also a must. When my family takes road trips, we always bring neck pillows and blankets for nappin’! Snacks–always.
I love this post idea! I’ve been traveling a lot recently and it reminded me of items I keep forgetting to bring with! I ALWAYS make sure I have water and snacks that could become a meal if need be, I’ve been delayed on the runway many times and know ill get very hangry if I dont
Definitely hand sanitizer, flat iron, slippers and blankets, are staples for me when traveling!
Great post- new essentials I will have to add to the list! The inflatable pillow is great. I don’t go anywhere without my phone charger!
I always bring a travel pack of Wet Ones when I’m going on a plane. The first thing I do when I get to my seat is wipe down the arm rests, tray table, and anything else I may be touching. Some people look at me like I’m nuts but planes can be really gross.
I always pack a change of clothes (or two if I’m going on a long international trip) just in case my bags get lost…I learned that the hard way a FEW too many times.
I also always bring my headphones. Even if I’m not actually listening to music, they help block out the noise on the plane and help me sleep.
Love this post!
I definitely think headphones (comfortable ones), snacks and something to read are definitely the essentials.
So with ya on books! I love my Kindle. Doesn’t TSA take away the mini-PB packs?!
Ahh, this is a great list! I know that whenever I travel and think I have everything I need, I don’t. Especially when it comes to just waiting to get to your destination, I just am horrible. These are great travel items to bring on the plane, train or whatever transportation you’re taking.
LOVE Eos products too!! I’m traveling this weekend to NC, so thanks for helping me pack! I’ll definitely have to remember to wear a scarf since I always get cold on planes too!!
I’d love to know how you pack for the rest of your trip? I am the WORST packer ever and always over pack and then end up wearing only half the clothes I bring. Do you pack in outfits or do you have a “system”? Would love to know! I’m so impressed that you always seem to travel with only carry-ons! Teach me your ways!! 🙂
I had an allergic reaction to EOS so they are not my favorite anymore 🙁 I never saw travel PB&co packs!!!!! They would be awesome since I usually just carry around the entire White Chocolate Wonderful jar with a spoon!
I literally never leave home without a pack of tissue. You never know when you encounter a bathroom without toilet paper or a runny nose.
Thanks for the tips! That inflatable neck pillow is so nifty! Noise can easily distract me on planes, so I like to pack ear plugs. I also bring an iPod. I love looking outside an airplane window and listening to music while daydreaming as the plane passes the clouds!
Ear plugs. After a couple of flights with fussy toddlers I won’t fly without them. I also bring lotion and lip balm.
Neck pillow is definitely the one thing I have to have. Nothing worse than having your head flop around when you falling asleep.
A magazine or something to read before I can switch on my Kindle. Also layers of clothing in case it gets too cold or hot on the plane!