Through trial and error (more like struggle and tears), I’ve compiled together my own list of travel must-haves in order to have happy travels. Today I wanted to share my absolute essentials for any trip to make sure that any trip is a happy one. I’m not here to tell you to pack your underwear, toothpaste and socks, but the additionals you probably didn’t think of, but would be grateful to have.
First up on the list is a good read. Any worthwhile trip will probably include the component of killing time. Whether you’re waiting to board at the airport, or zipping through the mountains in a rental, passing time is the one thing every single traveler has in common.
I don’t often get the chance to read anymore, so I always take advantage of the additional time by catching up on the news, or losing myself to an addictive plot.
Cozy knits are mandatory. Especially if you’re going to be flying. Airplanes are notorious for their near frigid temperatures. The last thing that you want is to be stuck on a 15 hour flight in a t-shirt and a sub-zero environment. The more you bring, the more you can take off… The opposite does not exist. I like to always make sure that I’m ready for cold, so you’ll always find me with a snuggly sweater or oversized scarf whenever I’m on the road. Travel Tip: these fuzzy additionals make fantastic impromptu pillows if you’re ever in need of one!
Whether you wear it or not, a watch is always a safe bet. There have been countless of times that I’ve overused my phone and killed its batteries. Luckily enough, I had a watch on me to save my butt and allowed me to still tell time. You’ll never really know how badly you need a watch until you’re stuck without one, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
The multi-tasking hair tool. Don’t knock it till you try it. A hair straightener is one of the absolute must-haves purely because of its many different uses. Not only can you straighten and curl your hair, but in a pinch you can also use a straightener to iron our any wrinkles from your clothes as well. I only just discovered the magic of a properly ironed shirt, and I’ve been throwing my T3 into all of my duffles to make sure that each and every outfit is wrinkle-free!
A crossbody bag to always be hands-free. When you’re traveling, juggling 50 different things in your hands is the last thing that you’re going to want to do – but it’ll happen anyways. Crossbody bags are a blessing in disguise because not only will you have one less thing to carry in your hands, but you’ll also have a little black hole to throw things in to free up your hands.
Traveling does a toll on your skin, and it’s important to maintain your skincare – travel-sized products are a lifesaver when it comes to packing. And even more so if you plan on flying. With the ridiculous size limitations placed on products it can get tricky making sure that each and every single bottle passes through security successfully – especially if you’ve got a large skincare routine like me. A trick I’ve relied on is to always see if sample/travel size options are available in your holy grail products.
The last thing that you want, is to have your favourite oil-free moisturizer unceremoniously thrown into the garbage because the tub failed to meet security standards.
A coffee a day keeps the crankieness away. Or at least it does if you’re as much of a caffeine addict as I am. When on the go, it can sometimes be hard to find a decent cafe, so I like to pick up a 4-pack of Starbucks coffee from my local grocer and keep them on standby for the cranky moments when a chic cafe isn’t within my proximity.
