Must-Have Travel Essentials
- The Betty Edit
- Oct 15, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 29, 2024
Outside of reading, travel might be my biggest passion. I've been to more than 25 countries, a large majority of the United States and explored almost every nook and cranny of my home state - Michigan. Perhaps I have an equal love of reading and travel because they are both ways to experience life outside of my own. You are transported to different places and plopped right down into the middle of someone else's reality. Travel reminds me that there is so much more to life and the world than our day-to-day. New foods, cultures, sounds, architecture, art, music, weather - I can't imagine living a life without being exposed to things so much bigger than myself.
While I love to travel, I've been known to overpack, and I will find myself wishing I had brought a certain something during the middle of a flight and have been unprepared with the right equipment to get me effortlessly around a new city. Through trial and error, I've discovered some of the must-have travel essentials to make any trip smooth and seamless. Be it a road trip or a 2-week jaunt to Europe, the key to a stress-free trip is staying efficiently organized and I'm so happy to share some of what works best for me! Most of these can be ordered easily through Amazon for quick delivery!
There's nothing I hate more than having jeans jam into my stomach on a long flight or a shirt that doesn't keep me warm enough. But I also don't want to look like a complete slob in the airport and even worse, arrive in a chic new destination looking like I just rolled out of a laundry hamper. There are such cute two piece travel sets out there right now that are comfortable but still super stylish.
Are you on the go during the day and using your phone for everything from driving directions to storing entry tickets to museums? The last thing you want to happen is a dead phone, leaving you stuck without access to your lifeline. This portable charger is small and sleek and can easily fit into any bag (or even a back pocket!).
I used soft-sided suitcases for ages and got my first hard-sided suitcase a couple of years ago—and I will never go back! I love the Away suitcase. I got it in dark army green to minimize obvious scuff marks, and it has the smoothest gliding wheels that make trudging through an airport so much easier.
Packable Raincoat and Umbrella
Rain will come and go, as I experienced when visiting Scotland, Iceland, Oregan and, well, pretty much anywhere but LA and there's nothing worse than walking around in wet clothes. However, you may not want to wear a raincoat all day long. Choose one that packs up super small and can be thrown in a day bag for easy on and off. The same goes for a nice compact umbrella.
If you're traveling internationally, this is an absolute must-have - otherwise forget using that hair dryer, steamer, curling iron or Nintendo Switch you brought along with you.
My maid-of-honor gave me the chicest little passport holder as a shower gift when I got married. We were headed out to Italy the day after our wedding and it was such a useful cute gift! I've been using it ever since. It's a shiny gold color so it makes finding it my bag a cinch. My advice? Buy one that's bright or patterened so you can do the same. Tip: I don't recommend the passport holders that also have slots for cards and cash. You lose that sucker and you lose everything.
Apparently, walking around a foreign country with a giant bottle of water screams "I'm American!!". Who knew? Avoid that neon sign above your head screaming "TOURIST" and bring a small collapsible water bottle. Fill it up when you need to quench your thirst and throw it back in your bag when you're not using it.
Not all planes have video screens and sometimes you just want to watch what you've downloaded or play games on your phone. This is a great hands-free option - an especially good option if you're traveling with little ones.
I am a hold-an-actual-book kinda gal. When it comes to traveling, especially for extened periods, it's just not feasible to travel with several books. It weighs your bag down and what do you do with the books once you've finished them? Tote them around the rest of the trip? Gah! This e-reader is the perfect solution. 10 weeks of battery life and stores up to thousands of titles. Great travel solution for my fellow bookworms.
Going on a long flight and want to quickly freshen up in the bathroom before landing? Walking around a hot city all day and need to feel refreshed mid-afternoon? No time for a shower between the beach and dinner? Body wipes are the way to go! I always throw a pack in my bag and usually someone in my family is using one during any point of the day.
I bought this travel pillow back in 2018 before a trip to Iceland and I've been taking it on flights ever since. No more stiff neck when you wake up for landing!
Touchland Hand Sanitizer
My tween nephew told me I was so "preppy" owning this hand sanitizer. I THINK it's a compliment? If not, I still love it. The boxy thin shape makes it a little more streamlined in your bag versus the thicker botles. Plus the various scents are some of the best in hand sanitizers!
For the lonest time, I was rolling my clothes to maximize space and figured that was the best I could do to squish it all in. A friend recommended packing cubes and... my mind was blown! This set of 8 allows you to organize and pack your belongings neatly and really does allow you to free up some extra space.
This is a fantastic 2-n-1. This can iron both your clothes and your hair! Perfect to take care of wrinkled clothes coming out a suitcase and combatting that frizzy hair in tropical climates.
I don't always like to unpack my toiletry bag on a trip and I also don't like looking at it clunkily resting on a bathroom counter. This hanging toiletry bag makes perfect sense. Save counter space and hang this up in any bathroom for easy access to all your products. (I've never been on a cruise but my friends that have said this is essential for a cruise since quarters are a bit tighter with less room to store bags)
An airline lost my luggage one time only to get it back 2 weeks later. They kept saying they were having trouble locating what city it was in, and whatever other exuse was being thrown my way. I put this luggage tracker on my bags so I can be certain where they end up.
Noise canceling earbuds (or earplugs) are so helpful for getting sleep on a plane or train ride - or just some general peace if the flight is full of kids. Additionally, this pair I really like for sleep as well as they fit right inside your ear so it's not uncomfortable if you're a side sleeper.
There have been so many times I've gotten to the airport only to have them tell me I exceeded the weight limit for my bag and I'd need to take things out, leaving me frantically shoving clothes into my carry-on to avoid the overage fees. Take the guess work out of how heavy you bag is with this luggage scale. At under $12, it's a small price to pay to avoid those $50 or $75 bag overage fees!
I know this seems silly but I have dipped into this first aid kit several times while on vacation. From needing alcohol swabs and ointment for my son's skinned knees from hitting a curb during our vacation out east to needing band-aids for various blisters, you'd be surprised how handy this actually becomes.
If you're still with me, here are a few of the tips and tricks I find most useful outside of actual accessories.
ZipLock Bags are your best friend. I normally carry a huge carry-on tote to shove everything under the sun. I keep my bag organized by putting like-minded things in the same bag. Hand sanitizer and wipes get their own zip lock bags. Power cords, chargers and headphones all get their own bag. Face mist, lotions, lip treatments and sleep mask? All in the same bag. You get the point. And I prefer zip lock over an actual little bag because they are super light, and if they get gross, toss it out and easily replace it for a mere couple of cents.
When figuring out what clothing to pack, stick to a color theme and patterns that all go together. It's so much easier to be able to mix and match all of your clothing rather than packing in terms of "one-off individual outfits" (it will also stop you from overpacking). Packing neutrals is the way to go. That black cardigan easily works with your cream-colored trousers or brown suede skirt. The brown suede skirt works great with the tan shirt, and the tan shirt also pairs with those cream-colored trousers. Throw in a leopard print scarf or unique accessories to jazz things up.
Parse down the number of bags you're packing. Bags stress me out. Depending on the locale and activities, I know I might need a bag for walking around the city, my everyday purse, a bag suitable for a fancier evening out, a beach bag, a backpack if I know i'm going to be shopping, and a bag that keeps my hands free for holding maps or snapping photos. Do yourself a favor and find one or two bags that do double duty. Perhaps a straw tote that can act as both a beach bag and works for a casual dinner out. A crossbody bag that keeps you hands free during the day but has removeable strap so you can use it as a clutch for a night out on the town. No need to take several bags as you may end up not even using them.
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