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The holidays are in full swing which means it’s high season for travel! As someone who spends a lot of time on the road, I’ve learned there are a few items I CAN’T leave home without.

Trust me, between my day job, TravelBash and my husband’s basketball games, I have experienced my fair share of “Aww Shit” travel moments from forgotten items—like that time I almost had a meltdown in the airport because I couldn’t find my headphones!

Planning vacations may be one of my FAVORITE things to do, but planning an unforgettable vacation always starts with PACKING!

Since I am practically a Professional Vacationist, I figured I should put together a quick list of some go-to items I always throw into my purse/backpack/carry-on, or whatever you want to call it these days.

Courtnie’s Travel Essentials ( updated Nov. 2023)

First things first….my carry-on/personal bag itself. I am not going to lie, since Henri Bendel closed, I have retired my weekender but still carry my perfect Jetsetter Convertible Nylon Backpack by BEIS but I still carry my beautiful green-colored West 57th Briefcase bag for work travel too.

I also own The Weekender by Beis and one from Calpak. Please do not ask if my closet is full of travel bag/luggage etc… I promise I purge each season. Anywho, for my bigger carry-on luggage, my go-to is AWAY.

The companies that I rock with the most are AWAY, and Cuyana. along with Beis + Calpak too. Don’t get me wrong, a girl loves a nice travel bag. Instead of carrying traditional purses, I like to travel hands-free so I never leave home without my Bandolier. This company has stylish and functional purse alternatives that hold your phone and cc/cash and great for travel.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, a few items you will find inside are:  

1. HEADPHONES — So you guys will be proud of me, I have upgraded and so glad I did. Remember I said before you can have the nice fancy noise-canceling headphones or Beats by Dre, but I was so cool with just the same ones that came with the phone…. thanks, Apple! OH, how the tides have shifted lol!!!!! I love love love my Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones and yes I am still singing Apple’s praise with the AirPods but I am now sold….yep, I am a believer!

2. Reusable plastic bags — For accidents, food, or any other reason. For example, maybe your makeup spills, maybe you need to put your wet bathing suit or sandals somewhere, or maybe items just need to be separated. You never know! #GranGranTip

3. Magazine/book — I carry both! Nothing like the good ol’ smell of the library, and of course a Travel + Leisure Mag, oh how I need thee!

4. Lunya Eye mask — For those long flights (and the annoying people sitting next to you sometimes).

5. Comfortable Footwear —  Your footsies will thank you later. Comfort is key! (If you opt for the flats, try Rothy’s or Tieks; they are so comfortable, especially when traveling for work. And no, I’m not sponsored by them, I just really like both brands). My second go-to comfortable shoe brands are Vejas or OnCloud. For a nice pair of stylish yet simple sandals, try Tkees.

6. Sunglasses — “Kill’em girl” sunglasses are a must for both eye protection and sassiness. I am known to wear sunglasses even when the clouds are out. I have 3 in rotation, right now Raybands are my go-to for eyewear.

7. Charger Pack — Do I even have to explain? You shouldn’t leave home without one! No excuse for phones going dead these days—says the person whose phone just went dead recently. One of my favorites is the Anker Powercore Portable Charger.

8. IPad Pro — So, I don’t like carrying big bulky laptops everywhere, yet I wanted something I could use when I was on the go, but still had everything I needed for work. Many people love the MacBook Air, so if that’s more your speed, go for it! (update I have that too now lol! And carry more than my iPad nowadays) While I try to unwind while I’m on vacation, the new tech lover in me must have my computer, cell phone, charger, and headphones. (And yet, would you believe I just got a Facebook in 2017? No, really!)

9. Water Bottle — H20, Agua…. Hydration is a must! With a water bottle you can always refill it throughout the day, and avoid having to buy one everywhere you go. You must stay hydrated—that jetlag is a real thing. A few of my favorites are the Nomader and S’well.

10. Nunn Active Hydration Tablets — This is basically Gatorade without the sugar. They keep you hydrated and add electrolytes—which also serve as a magical hangover cure! I have also found another brand that I am loving called DripDrop….I didn’t know how much I needed these on my last trip to Japan.

Note: I neglected saying my cell phone/passport and wallet. I figured these should be the very basics. In my wallet, I always carry a credit card/ debit card/ insurance card and license…. I also throw in some TravelBash business cards. (wink wink) I would advise getting an Airtag too to keep track of luggage because airlines have been terrible since COVID.

Then there is the Mini Beauty Bag—guys, all ladies have one!

Inside that bag, you’ll find the following:

• Face towelettes & blotting sheets

• Eye drops

• Lanolips Original LanoStick

• Mini hand sanitizer (because people are nasty sometimes; and that means those planes, handrails, escalators and elevators are, too!)

• Aesop Mini Hand Lotion

• Supergoop Sunscreen

• Extra ponytail holder and a couple of bobby pins (My hair is a mess after a plane ride!)

• Floss (because the dentist says so!)

• Mini Poo-Pourri Toilet Spray (you never know when a girl’s gotta go.)

Travel Note: Hopefully, you know you should be careful. TSA is throwing everything out these days, so make sure you have no more than 3 oz. liquids in a small plastic baggie. If you are TSA pre-check, this will help. I will discuss TSA pre-check & the benefits in another post, but I would hate for you to lose that new perfume or lotion because you neglected to double check.

Last year, I spent a fortune on some spa bath smell-good stuff from Bermuda and hubby, not listening of course, puts it in his backpack—as if I didn’t tell him to put it in his checked bag…. furious! The point is: just be smart.

Some Other Quick Packing Tips

I would also make sure to tag all of your bags, in case of any mix-up. Protect your iPad, kill em’ girl sunglasses and passport with cute traveling cases, as well. There are tons of options so you shouldn’t have a problem finding any stylish accessories for your next travel adventure.

So, what am I missing?? What needs to be added to the list? What are some of your can’t-live-without items?

Courtnie
XOXO

Psst! Want to know my ultimate travel tip? A membership to our exclusive travel club, TRvLB! Find out more about how you can join here.

Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.