Mastering the Art of Confident Packing | Essential Travel Item Must-Haves

YOU’VE booked the flight, reserved the hotel, and arranged your excursions, now time to pack! Packing can be one of the most stressful tasks when traveling. I tend to be an “over-packer” and am in awe of those who really can edit themselves to pack only what they need. But after years of traveling I am getting better and better at this process. Here are some tips for confident packing and essential items I would never leave without. For those traveling with littles, I have included tips and tricks for making packing for the kids a little easier.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Getting Organized

MY first step in my packing process is to have a written itinerary that includes all the activities and events we will be doing (i.e., dinners, excursions, etc.) As the trip approaches, I check the weather for the time that I will be there to determine what type of clothing I will need and if rain gear is necessary. I then make a list of items I need to pack in several categories, including wardrobe essentials, toiletries, specialty items, and the carry-on. I make a separate list for the kids. Once I am ready to start packing, I choose which luggage will meet our needs for that trip. I know so many people who prefer to pack in a carry-on to avoid baggage claim, but I am NOT that person. I prefer to check my luggage so I can be worry-free when navigating the airport. By checking my luggage, there is risk of it getting lost, but I am willing to take that risk. For my luggage needs, I LOVE Travelpro luggage. Their suitcases have lots of storage pockets for unique items and even a port to charge your phone! There carry-on cases are lightweight and roll easily with their spinner wheels.

A MUST-HAVE for packing are packing cubes! I discovered packing cubes a couple of years ago and can not travel without them now! I use the Veken Packing Cubes from Amazon and have several sets for each family member. These are a game-changer! I also love to use mini to mid-size pouches, like these from Aloha Collection to store toiletries, first aid kit, feminine products, etc.

WardRobe Essentials

GOING through each day of the trip and considering the activities for that day, I pack the following:

• 2 outfits per day- a day outfit and an evening outfit
• at least one lounge outfit- for down time in the hotel
• a pair of long pants (usually something comfy)
• a pair of jeans
• a long sleeve- choose one or two that can serve multiple purposes. I typically take a button down jean shirt that can be cozy for around the hotel or worn as a jacket on a chilly day.
• a fancier outfit or an extra outfit for any unexpected events that might come up
• a jacket, if needed
• shoes to coordinate each outfit- pick shoes that go well with multiple outfits
• workout clothes, if needed
• intimates- bras, underwear, socks
• pajamas- 2-3 pairs

Specialty Items

SPECIALTY items are those items that would be required for specific activities or events:

• water shoes
• hiking boots
• snow boots
• snorkel gear
• hats, gloves, scarves
• bags (backpack, beach bag, camelback)
• sunscreen, bug spray
• portable speaker
• first aid kit (bandaids, Tylenol, Dramamine, etc.)

Toiletries

I keep my toiletry bag out while I am getting ready the day of travel to be sure not to miss any of my essential skincare. I save my samples from Sephora and/or Ulta for when I travel. I will also keep the sample size container and refill it. They are the perfect size to pack! Here is a list of skincare I bring along:

• fashwash- Inkey has a travel size of their face washes, love their oat cleansing balm
• eyecreams
• serums and toners
• moisturizer
• tweezers, fingernail clippers/file
• make-up
• toothbrush and toothpaste

THESE items are what I am able to pack ahead of time:

• shampoo and conditioner- I love to travel with bar shampoo and conditioner, it is so travel-friendly. I currently use The Earthling Co and love their Simple Fresh scent. I also use their soap saver to store my bars in, which makes for easy packing.
• razors- I pack a brand new disposable that does not require shaving cream and then throw it out at the end of the trip
• toothbrush charger- if you use an electric toothbrush

Carry-On

THE carry-on is always hard for me because I try to keep it light and prefer my carry-on to fit under the seat in front of me, but I have lots of items I want to have with me for the plane. I recently purchased The Day Tripper Tote from the Aloha Collection. It has plenty of space, is flexible to fit under the seat, and is splash-proof so it can double as a pool or beach bag once we arrive. For easy access to my phone and wallet, I typically wear a belt-bag rather than take a purse. Here are the MUST-HAVES you will always find in my carry-on:

• passports- I carry all of my family’s passports in a separate pouch to find them easily inside my bigger carry-on bag
• a good book
• headphones
• chargers- both portable and wall chargers- I like to carry my chargers in this case from Rothy, they have a mini version too!
• snacks! gum or mints
• refillable water bottle to fill at a filling station in the airport- my family uses these bottles from Amazon. We also like these collapsible water bottles to save space.
• travel planner- I am currently using this one from Amazon
• Turkish towels- I like to bring at least on of these with me as they serve multiple purposes (light blanket on the plane and a towel for the beach). I LOVE these Turkish towels from Sand Cloud. They are light weight, yet absorbable, and sand resistant! Affiliate Exclusive! Enjoy 15% Off Your First Purchase with Code SANDY

The Kid List

DEPENDING on the age of your littles, this list will vary greatly. My kids are older now and much easier to pack for; however, I remember the days of traveling with children under 5 and feeling overwhelmed when it was time to pack for a trip. Here are some tips we found helpful.

• Similar to my packing list, I make a list for the kids that mimics mine, following the itinerary from day to day. I typically pack 2-3 extra outfits (4-5 extra pairs of underwear) for the unexpected that seems to always happen at the most inopportune times. I try to pack somewhat of a variety from nice clothes to go to dinner and play clothes to hang around in.
• And don’t forget about the specialty items for the kids! These might include items for entertainment, pool gear, or some toys to play with during down time. For example, when we go to the beach, we like to pack a football and/or soccer or volleyball, a frisbee, and goggles. Additionally, for the younger littles, we would bring items that we used during nighttime routines (i.e., books, sound machine, comfort items). And for the really littles, do not forget the sippy cups, bottles, or snack cups.
• The carry-on for kids is imperative for a successful trip- bringing LOTS of snacks and entertainment are key.
  • For snacks, you really need to bring more than you think and a good variety. We pack healthy snacks (i.e., apples, Cutie oranges, crackers, granola bars, etc) along with fun snacks that can double as reinforcements (i.e., candy and cookies). Lollipops are a great treat to bring for littles who are a bit older. They last long and kids love them! Sucking on a lollipop during take-off and landing can also help depressurize ears.
  • For entertainment, similar to snacks, you need to bring a great variety. Depending on your opinion about screen time, movies and cartoons can really be a good distractor for a longer trip. However, to limit screen time, there are lots of cool travel games you can bring along as well. Some of our favorites include: Wikki Stix, Highlights, and Magnetic Board Games.
  • When the boys were younger, I would pack an extra outfit along with a sweatshirt for when the plane was chilly and/or a light blanket for helping the littles get some shuteye.
  • Another MUST-HAVE is wipes and hand sanitizer. Now that the boys are older, I bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer to help keep the germs at bay, but when they were younger, baby wipes were great to have on hand to wipes dirty hands and tray tables.

THIS is not an exhaustive list of all the things you may need to take on a trip with you, especially when doing very unique or specific adventures, but I do hope you gained some good tips to get you organized and packing with confidence!

WHAT did I miss? Comment below with any tips or tricks you have learned along the way!

with love and dreams,

Jessica