It doesn’t matter how many times we pack, it always seems like we’re forgetting something when we walk out the door and head to the airport. There’s no worse feeling than showing up to your destination and realizing you don’t have that one thing you need. After countless trips all over the world, we put together this list of the ten things we make sure to never leave home without.
Away Luggage: In our opinion, Away luggage is the best out there. Their suitcases fit absolutely everything we need, have compartments for shoes and dirty laundry (which is so necessary for long trips), and hold up so well on long trips. They just released their On-View Collection with painted in grooves and we. are. obsessed. Having high-quality luggage is so important when you’re traveling. We’ve had suitcases where the wheels broke off when we were rolling them over cobblestone streets and suitcases that have dented when we’ve had to check them. We’ve been bringing our Away luggage with us for the last two years, and it’s been to over 30 countries, and we’ve never had any problems with them. The shell is perfectly in tact, the wheels have never broken off, and it’s easy to wipe off, so it always looks clean. We have the Pastel (pink) suitcase in Large and the Ink (blue) Carry-On. The colors are so unique and it’s a limited edition, so get them while you can: Away On-View Collection.
A Backpack: The Away Daypack is perfect for this, because it can be used as a carry-on on the plane and then you can use it on your days out exploring. It fits your laptop, camera, passport, snacks, keys, etc. and has pockets for everything. It even slips over your Away luggage, so you don’t have to carry it on your back while you’re walking through the airport (which is probably when it’s at it’s heaviest). It’s the perfect way to complete your Away travel uniform.
A Good Pair of Walking Shoes: When you only have so much room in your luggage, you definitely don’t want to fill it with shoes you’re never going to wear. And I’m a firm believer that you can find comfortable shoes that are also stylish. Here are a few of my favorites: Madewell slides, Free People flats, Birdies slides, and Allbirds sneakers.
Snacks: In my opinion, there’s no point in living without snacks. Okay, okay that’s dramatic, but kind of seriously. I’m a snacker by nature but also when we’re traveling the last thing we want to have to worry about is being hangry. I always keep a handful of RX Bars in my backpack. They’re our favorite on-the-go snack, because they’re made with whole foods and don’t have any added sugar. We also love dried mangoes.
A Sweater: I love having at least one good neutral sweater that goes with everything. Literally anything—jeans, leggings, a skirt, shorts, bathing suit, anything. Whether you’re going to a cold destination or just getting on the plane, I have never been on a trip where I didn’t want to have at least one sweater with me.
Reusable Water Bottle: The best way to reduce plastic use is to keep a reusable water bottle on you at all times. Plus staying hydrated is so important when you’re traveling, and it’s way cheaper to bring and fill up your own water bottle than be buying one every time you’re thirsty. My favorites are this Yeti Tumbler and this Hydro Flask. I also just read about this Larq water bottle that self-cleans the bottle and filters your water, which is perfect for trips to places where you shouldn’t drink the water from the tap.
Face Mask: Traveling is so hard on your skin, so I always bring a good face mask with me. One of the first things I do when we get to our hotel is shower and then put on a face mask. It’s so good for your skin to rehydrate and remove toxins. A few of my favorites are the Drunk Elephant Baby Facial and Crop Natural Charcoal Mask.
Portable Charger: Luckily, the Away Carry-on comes with an ejectable portable charger, so not only are you never stuck with a dead phone at the airport (or fighting for a plug at the airport), but you also never have to worry about finding a way to charge your phone when you’re out exploring all day.
Vitamins: It’s so easy to get sick while traveling, so we always make sure we bring vitamins and herbs with us to stay healthy. Our favorites are Tumeric, Cayanne, and Probiotics. I’ll add Advil, even though I know it’s not a vitamin, but it’s always good to have on-hand.
Polaroid Camera: We’re always documenting our trips with our camera and our iPhones, but there’s something so special about having a Polaroid photo that prints out and you can hold in your hand in the moment. Plus, when you get home, you can frame it right away. Or put it in your journal. It’s our favorite travel souvenir.
There you have it. The ten things we always make sure we have with us when we’re traveling. What are your “must-haves” while you’re away? Let us know in the comments below!
Interesting and I do agree with most of the comments. I always take vitamins, snacks, comfortable shoes, a sweater and a portable charger with me. I am not comfortable with the charger built into the suitcase because TSA is not comfortable with them.
Away has made it so their chargers are ejectable, so you can just pop them out and carry them on the plane with you no problems. It’s super convenient and nice to know you’ll never be stuck traveling with a dead phone.
Do you have the Away Bigger Carry-On?
We both have the "Carry-On," not the Bigger Carry-On, because we fly within Europe a lot and those airlines generally have smaller overhead compartments and stricter carry-on policies, so we wanted to be safe and make sure we were always able to keep our carry-on with us. But, if you mostly fly within the United States, the Bigger Carry-On would be great!
Scottevest and my portable wifi.
Yes portable wifi is so nice!
Zip lock bags.
Nylon bag for extras when out & shopping for groceries.
Snack bars or protein bars.
Fruit – when you are driving or walking around.
Yes! All such great things to have with you too!
Baby wipes even if you don’t have a baby. They come in very handy for a variety of reasons…………..
That’s so true! Such a good one! Baby wipes are good for everything!
I ALWAYS have a single-size packet of laundry detergent! After getting bed bugs at a hotel a few years ago, I come prepared now!
I always have a pair of those cheap old navy flip flops as well – great for when you need to run to the ice machine or down to the hotel pool and you don’t want to wear your other shoes!
That’s such a smart idea! And yes, so important! We also bring tea tree oil and sprinkle a few drops around the bed to fight off bed bugs.