Emphasis on the with a cord. Don’t get me wrong - I love my Airpods, and bring them everywhere! But before you step on your next flight, be sure to pack a pair of headphones that have a cord. They don’t need to be charged, so you won’t be caught with no music. 

But, the most important part? You absolutely need the cord to watch shows and movies on the plane. We’ve become so accustomed to bluetooth everything, that its likely something you don’t even think of until you sit down in your plane seat and realize you have to use the airline’s cheap headphones to watch movies for the next 8 hours!

My favorites: Beats Solo, they can be used wirelessly through bluetooth, but come with a cord to plug into your phone or the plane. No battery or charging required!

As someone who has a really hard time sleeping on flights, getting comfortable is essential. But, I never bring normal neck pillows because they’re so bulky and annoying to carry around!

Now, they make these thin ones - they take up less than half the space (you can just shove it in your bag when you’re done!), are more comfortable, and not as awkward and bulky.

I don’t use plastic water bottles at home, and don’t like using them while traveling, either. My Hydroflask keeps water cold (or hot) for much longer, and I can just fill it up rather than spend money every time I’m thirsty (which is… always, I drink so much water).

I usually use a Hydroflask while traveling, it’s easy to carry and holds a decent amount of water without taking up a ton of space (and still fits in cup holders, water bottle sleeves, etc).

One of my favorite parts about traveling is being forced to be unplugged from technology. With that being said, sometimes you need your phone. While it’s great to unplug, you want to be able to use the camera on your phone - and you definitely don’t want to get caught in an emergency (lost, hurt) with no battery. Better to stay on the safe side!

Here’s a great portable charger to take on your next trip!

Another favorite part of travel for me is being able to dedicate time to reading and consuming as many books as I want between planes, trains, cars, beaches… you get the point. When you have no data, it’s hard to get distracted by a message, phone call, or Instagram - and way easier to focus on what you’re reading than in your day to day life.

Here are a few of my current favorites (I went through my books so fast on my trip to Greece that I had to buy a new one!)

Girl, Stop Apologizing

Big Magic

Girl, Wash Your Face

Lovely Little Things

The Couple Next Door

Potentially self-explanatory, depending on how often you travel. A lot of countries have different outlets (i.e. traveling from the United States to Europe), so you need an adapter so you can plug in your phone/laptop/camera chargers.

Tip: Hot tools like flat irons or curlers might not work well or at all, too, depending on where you’re traveling to and from. I usually don’t use them anyway, depending on the nature of the trip, but you can buy a cheap one while you’re away for when you travel if you want!

Face wipes are essential to keep with you while traveling. It’s awful (and uncomfortable) to sleep with makeup on, and always feel better to wash your face before traveling or heading to bed. Whether you’re on a plane, or just too tired, it’s better than nothing!

I don’t know if it’s just me, but the worst feeling during a long day of travel is having dry skin from the plane. I always carry a spray like this, or this one, to refresh and rehydrate my skin. Follow the wipe with the spray next time you’re in an airport or on a plane, and it’s almost like being able to wash your face in the sink!

Perfect for the beach, the pool, carrying day-to-day, or if you go shopping on your trip. It doesn’t take up room in your luggage, but creates space for you when you need it. Whether its a Longchamp Tote (this one’s just like mine, and it’s on sale!), or just a drawstring bag - you’ll be glad you have extra space and a way to carry stuff to the beach/pool!

Even if you’re like me, and tend to avoid over the counter medicines in your daily life, make an exception - just in case. When you’re thrown into a new culture, new surroundings, and sometimes uncomfortable places, it’s always better to not use it than to not have it.

Some of my must-haves (always travel size!) when packing: Advil, Benadryl, Lactaid (for my boyfriend)

Tip: Traveling somewhere you can’t drink the water? Ask your doctor for an antibiotic prescription… just in case. When I went to Mexico, I didn’t want to and thought it was unnecessary (I hadn’t needed antibiotics in years!), but boy was I glad I had those antibiotics a few days into the trip. But that’s another story...