Packing is my least favorite travel thing. I get seriously stressed out thinking about what I need for my next trip. I hate to be without something and I don’t like to wear the same thing too often. Over the years, I’ve streamlined the process to make it as easy as possible. The boys pitch in and help with the packing and I have a series of plastic bins with all of the things we need to travel that’s always ready to go. Here are a few of our travel essentials. I’ve included links to the items we own because I can vouch for them, but I don’t make any money if you buy them.
USB Travel Adapter
I’m not going to lie – I grabbed this at Walmart several years ago when we realized at the very last minute that we needed an extra adapter for our trip to Europe. It was one of those emergency purchases that I thought I might replace later on with something better, but instead I went back the next year and bought a second one.
Here’s what I love about this adapter – it has 4 USB ports, a nightlight and multiple plugs for everywhere you’re going, including the US, so you can use it in the airport before you leave home and everywhere you’re going. It’s not the smallest adapter out there, but it’s price and functionality blew me away. Pretty much everything we travel with can be charged with a USB, so this is the perfect solution for all of our domestic and international trips.
Compression Bags
We like to do so many different things on our trips, that sometimes it’s hard to pack light. These compression bags help me to be able to add in all those extras without overdoing it. Depending on how long we’re gone, we’ll each fill one or two. It’s super easy to close and compress them and they last a long time. I love that these bags have a variety of sizes, but none too big or too small.
Firestick or other Streaming Option
Whether you’re staying at a hotel or vacation rental home, it’s great to be able to wind down at the end of the day with a favorite movie. We used to travel with stacks of DVDs, but the truth is, a lot of places don’t have DVD players and DVDs don’t always work in a player manufactured in a different country. Since HDMI ports are universal and the Firestick uses a USB cord to plug in, it’s a great choice to bring on your next trip.
Now instead of searching for something to watch or reading subtitles, you can tune in to your Prime Video, Netflix or Disney+ account from wherever you are.
Travel Towels
A few years ago we were traveling to an air show and I knew we’d want a blanket to lie down and watch the planes, but traveling with a huge blanket wasn’t an option. I found these lightweight, compact, roll up travel towels online and they were the perfect solution. They are small enough to fit in the water bottle holder on the side of a backpack, so everyone could carry their own. They served as pillows in the car and were perfect for lying in the grass watching the planes. Over the years we’ve also used them as towels when someone jumped in a lake on a hike and blankets when we got cold on the plane.
Portable Charger
If you’re like me, when you travel your phone is your map, reference book, camera, agenda, phone and more, so keeping it charged is crucial. Years ago I ran out of battery in Disney World and I literally felt like my trip had ended. I bought a portable charger under duress for a ridiculous sum of money in a souvenir shop. Now we never leave for a trip without one (or two). The great thing about a portable charger is that it’s small and can charge anything that uses a USB charging cable. This one is big enough to fully charge two phones, so it’s perfect if you’re hiking in the woods, traveling across the pond or attending a sporting event.
Motion Sickness Patches
If you or anyone in your family gets motion sick – you need these. It’s the only thing that consistently allows me to fly without needing to use the bag. And it helps the boys on car trips up windy mountain switchbacks. The patches stick to your skin either behind your ear or under your belly button and are entirely natural, so I feel comfortable putting them on the boys. It delivers a combination of natural herbs through your skin that helps prevent motion sickness without making you drowsy. The boys and I all use them when we travel. In fact, I just ordered our 7th box!
What are your travel essentials? Let me know in the comments.
