Anyone who has ever met me knows that my neurotic ass makes lists for EVERYTHING! In fact, I’ve already started buying travel essentials for our trip to Australia this summer. Here are my must-have items to pack (besides the “no shit” items like clothing, pjs, underwear, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.) I’m assuming you already know not to board a plane stinky and in the nude…

A Handy Carry-on:

Lets continue to assume you have already packed the most basic necessities for your trip in a suitcase to check. I strongly advise also packing a carry-on as your “in case of emergency” bag. If you get to your final destination and your suitcase is lost, you’ll be relieved to have some basic necessities with you.
I love this carry-on because one – it’s fucking pink. Two, and more importantly – it has the flap on the back that allows you to slide it over your suitcase handle. You just stack it on top of your roller suitcase and then you don’t have to carry or worry about it sliding off!

Non-negotiables for traveling abroad:

In my carry-on, you’ll first and foremost find my passport (as well as my daughters’ passports) inside a cute cover like this. We each have a different color so I know quickly whose is whose when going through security. Then of course I bring money and credit cards in my wallet. I also always bring a portable charger that I charge the night before we leave. That way if we are stuck in seats without outlets (not usually the case on longer flights) or at airports without available ones, I have my portable charger ready to rock. I’ve used my own to recharge my kids’ ipads on longer flights, so just trust me that they’re a godsend.

When flying abroad, I tend to pack one converter in my checked suitcase, and bring the second one in my carry-on. Because once again, what the fuck are you going to do if you land in France and your suitcase is gone? You’ll be calling the airline like crazy and need to charge your phone. And since it does not plug into European outlets, you’ll be officially screwed – bagless and with no way to make a phone call. Talk about a nightmare! Ensure you buy the right converter for the right country. The one I linked is good for Europe and Japan.

The last thing I pack are any prescriptions or meds we may need. Don’t ever check your birth control pills or your blood pressure meds or whatever you’re on. Just like your ID/passport, those items should always be with you and not shoved into a suitcase where they have the potential to be lost for days. The same can be said for reading glasses, contacts, and any other things you truly can’t live without should your luggage get lost!

Other odds and ends to pack:

I also pack magazines or books, headphones, gum, a toothbrush a mini hairbrush, and an extra outfit. I love these toothbrushes in particular because they are electric and last up to 90 days when traveling. They’re battery-operated, so you get the deep-clean of an electric toothbrush without the hassle of a charging base. I also bring any jewelry I am planning on wearing in a handy jewelry case. My mom got me a Kate Spade one similar to this one, which I adore because it’s compact but still holds a fair amount of jewelry. If we are being REALLY honest, when our trips are shorter, I don’t even pack jewelry besides what I physically have on me. (Wedding ring, Apple watch, and a Tiffany’s bracelet from my BFF.) But for the bougie bitches, get a jewelry case!

Nice-to-have items:

My other go-to travel essentials are lip gloss, (it gets dry as fuck 10,000 feet up), hand cream, and individually wrapped wipes. I like them individually wrapped for travel because it ensures that they don’t dry out when I’m abroad. Then they’re still fresh for the flight back home! I also like the ones I linked since they are peppermint and eucalyptus scented but have hydrating aloe in them.

Bougie travel essentials:

If you still have room in your carry-on, I also love packing fuzzy socks, especially for overnight flights. Also, while airlines tend to provide blankets for overnight flights, they’re flimsy as fuck and don’t always get washed in between passengers. (Fucking gross!) So it’s nice to have a compact travel blanket of your own.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention air tags. Those who have followed me for awhile know the debacle where Air Canada lost all SIX of our suitcases when coming back from our Alaskan cruise. I CANNOT stress enough how vital it is to get an air tag for your bag. You put it somewhere inside your suitcase and it’s connected to your “Find my” app on your iphone. It pings off other iphones nearby to give you constant location updates. That way if your suitcase is lost, you can at least see if it’s at the airport, if it’s been stolen, or if it’s been left behind.

For tips on traveling with infants, check out my blog here. Or if you’re traveling with toddlers, check out this one. Please note that some links may be affiliate links. They do not cost an extra cent to you if you use them! 🙂 Thanks so much for reading!