These Are a Few of My Favorite (Travel) Things…

I LOVE to travel but I do not love the packing part. I always feel like I am forgetting something, and it makes me feel a little anxious. So I always make sure I have at least my:

• Wallet (credit card, cash, license)
• Passport
• Cell Phone
• Extra pair of contacts and my eyeglasses (I’m blind-as-a-bat without them)

These items are always packed in my carry-on luggage so they don’t get lost. I pretty much just bring carry-on luggage every time I travel. I don’t like to hassle with lines at the baggage check and waiting for it again at baggage claim. But that’s a whole other blog post….

As long as I have those 4 to 5 items, I know I can pretty much buy anything else I forget. If I am following my checklist correctly, I definitely make sure I have my top favorite travel items with me including:

1.  Antibacterial Sanitizer and Wipes

With my background as a Registered Nurse, I have become very “germ conscious” (A.K.A. Germaphobe). I wash my hands with soap and water all the time, especially after being in public places.  

Sanitizer and wipes are a blessing for those who are “germ conscious” and can’t get to a sink. For this reason, I carry a bottle of hand sanitizer and a travel pack of antibacterial wipes. I use them before I eat or to wipe down the headrest, armrests, seatbelts, tray table, etc. on the airplane.

Did you know that the tray tables on airplanes can be dirtier than your toilet seat at home?

According to an article written in Conde Nast Traveler called “The Dirtiest Place in Airports Is Nowhere Near the Bathroom”: 

“…an average of only 172 CFU are found on household toilet seats. Tray tables follow with 11,595 CFU/sq. in., then seatbelt buckles with 1,116 CFU/sq. in. According to a 2017 report by Thrillist, the FAA does not regulate how often—or how thoroughly—airlines have to sanitize their planes. So it’s up to the carriers to decide for themselves, and they tend to err on the side of saving time and money, rather than making planes sparkle for passengers. Cleaning crews will typically only remove trash and wipe down lavatories between flights, meaning your tray table and armrests are left with whatever germs the previous passenger left behind…”

2.  Cell Phone Back Up Battery

This might be an obvious one, but I have to have one for my phone. I take a ton of video and pictures with my iPhone 8 so after a long day of touring and travel, my phone battery almost always dies before the day is through. I am still trying out different battery chargers but I’ve used this one before. Comment below if you have a travel battery charger you love.

3.  Earplugs

They may be small but oh, what a difference they can make when trying to get a good night’s sleep in a noisy hotel. You know those hotels that have like an inch gap on the bottom of the door that leads out into the hallway where you can hear EVERYTHIN?. Seriously, who made that design? Or the paper thin walls where you can hear what the person is watching on t.v. next door? Or those nice, thoughtful, neighbors in the rental next to you who decide to laugh and play in their pool at 2 o’clock in the morning after arriving from a different time zone, acting as if they are the only ones in the neighborhood. Yes, that is when those tiny squishy blue things can make a difference. Don’t leave home without them and bring extra for your husband and kids.

4.  Makeup Organizer/Train Case

This is great for women (and men’s toiletries) because of how it zips open. I have a million cute makeup bags I have gotten for free with purchases but I don’t use them because it is hard to find things in it when it just zips up at the top. I end up having to take everything out to find the eyeliner I’m looking for. I love these types of cases because you just unzip and everything is there and organized. There is even a place to hold all of the makeup brushes. I never have to take anything out to find something. It is all out right there for me to see.

5.  Cell Phone Credit Card Holder

This is really convenient to have when you go through security at the airport. I’m always fumbling around with my boarding pass, phone, and license. I like that I can have my boarding pass downloaded onto my phone now and then I can just carry my license in the holder on the back of my phone. No more fumbling around or misplacing my license and boarding pass.

6.  AirborneBack to the germ talk. I can’t imagine what might be circulating in the air on those planes. I always try to bump up my immunity the day before, the day of and pretty much every day of my trip until I return home. I will dissolve a tablet in my water in the morning. It actually tastes pretty good. Knock on wood, it has done the trick so far. I haven’t gotten sick while traveling since I started using it.

7.  Portable/Flexible Water Bottle

It’s good to drink a lot of water while you travel so you don’t get dehydrated. I really like this foldable Vapur Element Bottle  because you can just roll it up and stuff it in your bag, and it doesn’t take up much space. It is dish washer safe. It has a nice flip top lid and a carabiner to hook it onto your bag or belt loop. 

8.  Blocktech Coat from Uniqlo

When I went to NYC in February, it was quite rainy. I needed to get a long, hooded, durable, water-repellent, waterproof, and windproof jacket or coat that was comfortable, stretchy, and breathable. I found all of this in Uniqlo’s Blocktech Coat. It helped to block the wind and repel the rain. It worked fabulously and it looked great as well. It was my first time in the Uniqlo store (on 5th Avenue) and I fell in love. Nice, well made clothes for great prices. Uniqlo also gives back to charity. Plus, they even had a Starbucks inside the store! What’s not to love??

So those are just a few of my favorite travel items. What are your favorite travel items and why? Share in the comments below.