In our normal season of life, I’m packing a suitcase at least once a month. Whether we are traveling somewhere nearby or heading somewhere by plane- I always seem to be packing and unpacking my suitcase. And over the past few years I’ve come to discover 11 travel essentials you should always pack when traveling near or far!
- Packing Cubes :: I’ve purchased 5 different types of packing cubes and found these are my favorite. I like how they are more long and flat, rather than short and deep. I can see everything in them by simply glancing- if my cube is 3-4 layers deep then I still have to kind of ‘dig’ through them. Each member of our family has their own color so we can easily find our clothes, even if we end up packing in one bag.
- Scented Dryer Sheets :: Pack a few scented dryer sheetss in your suitcase. They take up no space at all, but help absorb any scents your clothing may put off. I personally love lavender scented ones. And they leave your clothes with a subtle, freshly-cleaned scent.
- A Portable Charger :: I keep this charger in my purse or diaper bag at all times. It can charge multiple items.
- Ziplock Bags :: You never know when you might need a ziplock bag! I traditionally pack a handful of gallon sized bags. I’ve used them for dirty/wet clothes, packing food for the day, and so many random reasons!
- A Mini Steamer :: This one is incredibly light, decently small, heats up super fast, and is safe on most fabrics!
- A Medicine Gag :: I like to keep a handful of essentials with me at all times, just in case! Think medicine {even basics you might not need at the moment, but might if an issue arises}, thermometer, bandaids, etc. I ordered these bags, so I have a proper bag full of my just-in-case medicine and smaller grab-and-go bags for walking around {think bandaids, a couple Tylenol, etc}. I bought this set of bags and use them for everything from organizing my medicine to organizing my diaper bag.
- Safety Pins :: You never when you might need them to hold up a zipper, close bags, fix a hem, hold curtains together, etc. The options are endless and these take up practically no space in your suitcase. I have this set for home and pack a couple of each size into the smallest bag here {I also pack bandaids in this bag & carry them with me in my purse!}
- Wet wipes :: Years ago my mom taught me to wipe down airplane seats, hotel remotes and other items when we travel. I’d rather be safe than sorry! I carry one of these little travel pouches with me everywhere.
- A scarf/pashmina :: I like to pack a scarf or pashmina that is large enough to be used as a light blanket or jacket on cooler summer evenings {or on the airplane} or can be used as a proper scarf in fall/winter. They are also great for adding a bit more coverage when heading into religious buildings that require more covering up.
- Liquid IV :: Traveling is dehydrating. And dehydration can cause headaches, sleepiness, irritability and more. I always pack a handful of Liquid IV packets in my bag so we stay hydrated. One packet makes one water bottle as hydrating as 2-3 water bottles. My favorite is the Acai Berry, Caleb’s favorite is the Passion Fruit, and my father loves the Lemon Lime. They also have an energy & sleep version that are great for big time changes!
- Thank You Cards :: You never know when you might want to write a thank you card! And if I don’t do it while on the trip, it usually doesn’t happen when I get home. They take 5 minutes to write & leave an impression!
trench coat :: jeans :: boots :: sweater
See more travel posts here & more travel tips here
These are excellent travel essentials to have on-hand while you’re on-the-go. I really need to invest in some packing cubes, and the concept of dryer sheets is so clever! I usually bring just about everything else on this list! Gosh, I can’t wait to get back to traveling again.
The portable charge has saved me way too many times to count! The Thank you cards are an excellent suggestion. I am adding that for my next trip.
I have a little bit of a packing cube Obsession and I’m always on the search for the ideal size. I bought some long narrow ones that are part of the Amazon collection but I absolutely love and they go inside my backpack or my carry-on bag perfectly.
Hi Chloe,
I assume this article was written before Covid but number 8) is now more important than ever. I never had wipes in my travel bag but now I do.
I love the idea of 11) the thank you cards. It’s so easy, but as you say, I can imagine you can impress someone very effectively.
Chris
We have a long packing list that we use. It was good to use your blog post to see if it was time to add anything to the list. I would like dryer sheets to absorb any odour. But would want to use unscented ones because I don’t like lingering scents. I actually added thank you cards to my packing list! Thanks for that.
Oh, I LOVE the idea of packing thank you cards. Brilliant! I can’t wait to do this on our next trip. Hand written cards really can make someone’s day, especially considering the hospitality business can be so thankless. Definitely adding dryer sheets to my list as well, great idea. I AM OBSESSED with liquid iv. I suffer from dizziness pretty regularly ,and these are a lifesaver!
I need to ad dthe scented dryer sheets and the thank you cards to my list. I also maintain a list of my own which I follow while traveling. The Thank you cards are a great way to appreciate people while being on a trip and I really like the idea of taking them along.
Those are great items to bring during travels, will definitely keep them in mind. I have those packing tubes as well as those other stuff like portable charger and wet wipes.
Yes to packing cubes. These are truly helpful in keeping things organized. Every since I started using packing cubes, I find it very easy to “dig” through my things and find what I need. I also agree on bring ziplocks. It’s a must nowadays whether you need to protect your phone from the rain or you have something dirty. Ziplocks is a practical solution.
I still haven’t used the packing cubes, but probably because I prefer packing light and normally wash clothes on the fourth day of our trips. But I do like to keep scented dryer sheets in my suitcase. I also have zip lock bags and wet wipes, but I think I need to add the safety pin.
Hmmm I never thought of putting liquid IV on my packing list. But it makes perfect sense. I would only carry water and creams in by bag for hydration. But I guess liquid IV is much faster than water. I’ll definitely carry some now. Great recommendation.
Awesome tips! I especially love the idea of packing scented fryer sheets— genius! Can’t wait to get back to traveling & putting these tips to use :)