Recently, I had very insightful conversations about packing for travel and how hard it is to get back into the swing of things after very limited l travel for a long time. As we were talking about what carry-on items are travel must haves to take on trips, I realized that there are certain items that I take along on every trip. So today I am sharing my personal travel must haves for any trip and a few tips and tricks I have accumulated over the years.
I take these must have items not only for air travel, but any trip. Where I pack these items depends on the type of travel and what kind of luggage I am taking. Let me be a bit more specific. If I am flying, I try to rely on carry-on only as much as I can, so I’ll have all of these with regardless. If I check a bag, all these items will be with in my carry-on luggage. For car travel, I will still take all of them, but not all of them I need to be immediately accessible.
Personal Carry-on Travel Must Haves for any Trip:
Have small travel versions of your Toiletry must haves:
No matter what trip I go on, I have started to bring toiletries and beauty products in travel tubs. I also like these tubs by the same brand. Before a trip, all I have to do is refill them and I’m ready to go. This has really helped me not to forget anything and to bring all my ‘routine’ items. I always have small silicone travel containers for my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body lotion. The large 3oz containers easily last me a week.
I usually travel with a facial bar soap as the second step in my double cleansing routine. Bar soap is so much easier to travel with, especially when flying as it doesn’t fall under the liquid restrictions. My favorite bar soap is Osmia’s Black Clay Facial Soap. I store it in a reusable soap container which I line with a soap saver. As the soap-saver is a little bigger than the container, I simply cut the sides to fit inside the container.
This year I have created a simple make-up capsule. This is also the same make-up I’ll take on any trip. I usually pack it with my toiletries. Read this post for more details about my daily make-up routine. Don’t forget sunscreen (face & body), especially if your travel doesn’t stop close to the final destination airport.
For flights, I pack my toiletries and make-up in my carry-on in case my luggage should not get on my flight. This is very helpful when flights get cancelled, or when my luggage did not make the connecting flight and got delayed.
Bring a reusable water bottle & snacks:
I always have a spill-proof, insulated water bottle with me. I love that I can have either cold or hot drinks. Not only do I have it along for driving trips, but air travel as well. Make sure it is empty if you go through airport security then fill it at a water fountain.
While the type and amounts of snacks and food I take along varies depending on the type of trip, there are certain snacks I can’t seem to be without. Snacks must be nutritious, delicious, and easy to take with and eat on the go. Here are a few of my favorite snacks:
- Larabars (you can find these at pretty much any grocery store)
- Nuts & seeds or trailmix
- Easy to take fruit & veggies: carrots, celery, apples, bananas, nectarines, berries
- nut butter to add to fruit and veggies
- veggie straws
- beef and other meat sticks
- quality beef jerky
- dried fruit : mango, apples, raisins
I love stasher bags to store all of our travel snacks. These silicone bags/containers are spill proof and super easy to wash out. Best part, we can reuse them throughout the whole trip.
Medication and vitamins:
This seems obvious, but any medication that I can’t easily obtain I’ll bring with me. I recommend if you are relying on certain medications to bring extra to last you an additional 2-3 days. You never know what unexpected circumstances you’ll run into on your trip. I do the same with my vitamins. While it isn’t as important as any medication you’re relying on, I still don’t like to go without it so I make sure to bring them and have enough for additional days.
Have all electronics & chargers that are important with you:
I always have all important electronics and chargers with me. This includes some form of laptop or tablet, my cell phone, a camera especially for longer trips, power banks, and headphones. I love this power bank as it holds a charge really well, can charge several devices simultaneously, and you can take it on the plane.
Pack a change of clothes including underwear & socks:
I always bring along a warm pair of socks to put on when it gets chilly. Airplanes, especially long flights often get quite chilly, and blankets aren’t always long enough to wrap around your feet as well. The same goes for cars.
If you only travel with carry-on or by car you’ll have all your clothes with you. If you check bags, I highly recommend you bring along a change of clothes that easily get dirty, not necessarily pants, and extra underwear and socks. Often if a flight gets cancelled you don’t get your checked luggage back. I have had several times where a snowstorm or heavy fog shut down the airport and I had to stay an extra night. I was so grateful I was able to put on clean underwear and a clean t-shirt after a nice warm shower and start the travel day fresh.
Small First Aid Kit must haves:
I had a lot less in my first aid kit when it was just me. Travelling with a family has definitely increased our 1st aid kit. I pack them all in another of my TSA approved toiletry bag.
Items I always keep in my kit (based on the kind of travel I add whatever is vacation specific):
- hand sanitizer (if I didn’t have it with this kit, I’d make sure to bring it nonetheless)
- band aids
- antiseptic ointment
- cold & cough medicine
- non-colored fever reducer
- various essential oils
- syringe with tip cutoff for splinters
Additional carry-on travel must haves to make any trip easier:
The dry air during travel causes havoc on my hands, so I like having a small hand lotion along. Essential oils can help ease any discomforts, irritations, and help me relax. Peppermint is so nice and refreshing and always helps me freshen up. I also have several blends that I like to take. These change seasonally and depend on my current preferences.
A neck pillow and eye mask can be nice additions to my carry-on travel must haves and make long flights much more comfortable. I also always have great e-books along to read. Loosing myself in a fun book, always makes long layovers or long flights more fun. If reading isn’t your thing, you might want to download a few good movies to a tablet or bring other fun activities.
I always have my favorite more sustainable pens along as well in case I need to fill out any form or want to take any notes.
Sanitizing wipes are not a must have, but definitely make it much easier than using a spray and paper to wipe things down. Tissues are also very helpful to have along.
I hope sharing my carry-on items that are travel must haves for any trip is helpful and makes your upcoming trips easier. What are your travel must haves for any trip? Please connect and share in comments or on Instagram.
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