Hello my friends!
I hope this summer takes you out on the road, soaring in the air, swimming in a lake, up in the mountains, peering into the Grand Canyon… you get the idea. I hope you’re adventuring well. I’m back in New Orleans after some adventures of my own and I wanted to give you a peek into my travel bag.
Traveling takes us out of our home rituals and routines. It’s great to shake those up, but also important to take some of those comforts with us on the road. There’s a balance… and here’s what my balance looks like!
I wish you sunshine and fresh sights! There’s no time like now!
• I might look like a bit of a nutcase when I get on an airplane. I have plane rituals. Do you? I take several things out of my bag: small hand lotion, small lip gloss, headphones, and and and these sanitizing wipes that I use to wipe down ever hard surface, tray table, seat belt, and window pully thing on my seat of the plane. That tray table and air vent are GERM CENTRAL. I don’t often get sick when I travel so I don’t care what kind of nutcase I look like.
• Headphones are an essential part of my travel bag. On one of my last flights I sat next to a hummer. A lady who hummed (God knows what) nervously as we flew. Headphones were helpful to me… a lifesaver, really. These headphones wrap up tight and cozy around themselves to prevent any purse tangling.
• Lips and cheeks in one little jar makes makeup travel life just a tiny touch easier. Fresh touch-ups and, go!
• Hydration is key when you’re running around away from home, especially in the heat of the summer. The energy, electrolytes, vitamins and hydration in these Nuun active tablets is fantastic! They travel easy in my purse and I drop them in a water bottle for a quick pick me up and mega hydration. These are good good.
• Travel takes us out of our routine. Fantastic for the mind and soul to shake it up… not as fantastic for the skin care regime. I try to stay on it by throwing a few of these Dr. Dennis Gross Face Peel Wipes in my toiletry bag. They’re a gentle exfoliator that will remove any lingering makeup or sunscreen, but won’t go so far as to make you red-faced the next day. Gems!
• When I turned 30 (this was five years ago) I decided that I would do several things: hire movers (and never try to move a giant couch out of a not giant front door again), and travel with my shoes in shoe bags (for the good of the shoes and the good of my shorts folded next to my shoes). How adult! We so grown.
• Gotta make sure we can Instagram at any moment. Keep that phone life going strong without having to huddle around an airport plug: the phone battery extender and case. Boom. Problem-o solved.
• I will not get caught without a snack in my bag. The trick to a very good purse snack: not melting, not crumbling or crunchy, sweet and a little odd, just odd enough that I won’t have to share with eeeeeveryone when I take them out . Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Good and Plenty on point!
• A travel steamer helps those suitcase wrinkles fall out of my travel clothes (the wrinkles happen no matter what), and I can avoid the sometimes weird cheapo hotel iron. You know? We’re adults with fine linens.
• A journal for notes and thoughts and doodles. If I give myself the space, I’m always surprised by the words I’m able to spill out.
• Body lotions, face washes, and hand cream game strong with Burt’s Bees. Feeding my skin with someone other than hotel soap.
• A laundry freshener for travel days that mean you might have to wear the same shirt over and over… not big deal! A bit of Downy Spray and I’m back in business. Fresh spray plus the travel steamer? We’re in charge.
• No carry-on is complete without a beautiful light scarf, for plane chills, impromptu beach towel, or head wrap… I’m ready for anything.
• My maj Tracy taught me the beauty of travel watercolor paints and a brush with water in it. It’s so soothing to just take a moment and paint. Equipped with creative tools when the mood strikes. These are THE BEST.
What’s in your travel bag? Tell me… I’m always looking for helpful trinkets and hacks.
Happy Summering! I hope you hit the open road or soaring sky.
xo Joy
nicolamranson
What a delightful list! Especially taking travel watercolours with you – what a dream! xxx
Kat
They are pricey but I fly so much now that noise cancelling head phones really make the difference. Bose makes inner ear ones you can sleep easily but really just never miss a line of the shows you downloaded to binge watch on the plane.
Socks – I always slip out of my shoes and throw on a cozy pair of socks. American Apparel makes these recycled yarn ones that are my go to. Cozy and I take them off as soon as I land.
A refill-able water bottle. I drink the remainder before security and then re-fill after I go through. Saves money on the bottles after security so I can buy…
A Terrible magazine – like Us Weekly or Cosmo. I only read these at the dentist or on airplanes.
Not for the plane but for the destination –
band-aids and neosporin. I bought a mini tin of band-aids and a tube of pain relieving neosporin that i always keep in my suitcase. i am accident prone and always seem to nick myself in a hotel room but never had a band-aid before. now i am always prepared.
a travel candle. i used to think this was a silly thing (and it’s always a no-no if you are only carrying on) but it makes even the most depressing of hotel rooms a bit cozier and nicer to sleep in.
Gigi
Thick fuzzy socks, face wipes, ear plugs, iPod Shuffle loaded with ambient music, Kindle, Kind bars, Haribo gummi bears, travel blanket and pillow, and ditto on the Tide stick. My under-the-seat tote bag is STUFFED :)
Ashlyn @ The Pedantic Foodie
LOVE THIS!! I need to get one of those watercolor kits!
Cindy
I just discovered deodorant wipes. They come in great smelling flavors such as coconut. They really saved me after a long day of travel. I felt refreshed and not stinky before I met my relatives off of the plane.
Liz D
My new favorite hiking/traveling snacks is Swedish Fish. Until a few months ago, I never really considered them a valid snack. But then my hiking buddy kept bringing them on hikes and I never looked back. The best part with hiking is that they don’t melt in my pack and when they are warmed they actually get less stiff and more delicious. Next week I am both hiking up Half Dome in Yosemite and flying across the country to North Carolina to visit a friend, and I bought a bag for each adventure. :)
Yael @ Nosherium
I love Good and Plenty! It’s my kryptonite!
I started traveling more a few years ago and have gotten in the habit of slathering my face with face night cream. I also get a giant cup of herbal tea before getting on the plane, it keeps me warm and hydrated. I have acupressure wristbands for motion sickness, and big cushy headphones. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
Christie
I always bring a dissolvable probiotic, and some Natural Calm (unflavored) to prevent any unwanted digestive issues while traveling. I bring a light cashmere poncho, and Visine for the plane, and extra ziplock bags because you can never have enough for dirty laundry, leaks, wet stuff, etc.
Whitney
I travel a lot for work and do the same plane wipe down, and also rental car steering wheels and controls and hotel room remote controls. You never know whose nasty hands have been where ???? These are my fave and smell so good https://www.amazon.com/Giovanni-Refresh-Organic-Splash-Towelettes/dp/B005P0WO0Y
Laura
Hi Joy! Are you and Tracy ever podcasting again?? I miss your podcast so much!!
Krysten (@themomnoms)
I am traveling to the UK in a couple of weeks and some of the things on your list would really help me out!
Especially since I’m traveling with an almost 1 year old! *scary*
Such a great post! Thanks!
Nicole @ The Dirty Oven
Kind of pricey and you look funny walking to the bathroom with them on, but bose noise cancelling headphones are the best. You can use them to watch movies or listen to music, but also just to have on when napping they take out the white noise / louldness of the plane, yet you can still hear and talk to person next you or the flight attendent. These with a eyemask and I am good for long overseas flights.
Janelle | Sucrose & Spice
I travel with a spork–my sister laughed when I pulled it out on a plane, but I got to eat my kiwi. I think we know who the real winner is here.
Beth
Shoe bags are great, but packing cubes are a whole new level. Never rummage through a suitcase again!
joythebaker
Off to google I go!
eebullough
I LOVE Good and Plenties but my husband dislikes the smell of black licorice so much he’ll barely even talk to me when I’m eating them. So sad!
eebullough
It’s like you knew I’m heading on vacation soon! Going to Spain and France next week, first time traveling internationally since I was 15. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the packing situation, since we’re only doing carryon luggage.
Aubrey M
After watching one too many YouTube videos where someone makes a grilled cheese with a hotel iron, I will now and forever bring a travel steamer.
Just Shireen
My hack for shoe bags? The bags sheets come in. BOOM.
Kelsey
Emergen-C packets (with electolytes) for hydration and the, ahem, occasionally necessary hangover cure. Downy wrinkle release spray (I always pick up a travel-size bottle before a trip – smaller than a steamer AND it makes your clothes smell pretty again). An unused contact case with foundation in one side and moisturizer in the other.
Chrissy
I have a lot of the same! Throw in a book and some crosswords and I’m good to go (and also about to turn 35 in one month from today-eek-I’ve also come to the glory that is the shoe bag. We are so grown).
Lori
I wish I’d had your clever ideas in mind before I traveled to Boston earlier this summer.I learned the hard way on the phone battery! Love your ideas and thanks for sharing :)
lindsay e.
EBags packing cubes have been a GAME CHANGER for me. I’m a frequent business traveler and with these little gems, I’ve been able to increase the amount of stuff I can pack into my roll-aboard without increasing the number of wrinkles. They come in several sizes and a couple of shapes – all are useful!
Ileana
Love this list!
Amanda @ Anchored to Sunshine
I just laughed so hard at your snack strategy! Bringing something you love, but that most other people wouldn’t :) I have now adopted your mentality and am going to find the perfect “out there” snack that I love that others probably won’t. This is a game changer!
Yael Langer
I do the wiping-down-everything on the plane thing too, no matter how crazy people think I am. Do it on long train and bus rides too. So on a similar note, I also always carry a small bottle of purell. And gum.
Terri
Tide Stick. On the plane, out of the plane, everywhere. This little bit of magic in a tube saved me from slight embarrassment more than once on my last trip.
Karen
Thanks for the info about the Downy spray. My daughter-in-law travels in her job and I will get this for her pronto!!
Dorothy
Who watches Tron?
Jessica Nuttall
These are great ideas! I will definitely have to add some of them to my travel bag :)
Liz
Love these ideas. And I love, Love, LOVE Good & Plenty!
Annie
I always keep a stash of lollipops in my purse when on airplanes. It works magic on kids (your own or someone else’s) who are crying because of the pressure changes.
Suzanne
Good morning from Central NY! I agree with many of your travel bag items; particularly the sanitizing stuff, headphones and snacks. I also must have my Kindle, Airborne (I’m sure it’s all in my head but that stuff really works for me!), and a corkscrew….because you never know….right? :)
The Purley Girly
I couldn’t agree more about the germs! I do the same thing – everything gets wiped, I don’t care if I look mad. Airplanes are so grubby.
Lizzie
I love the idea of wiping down all the surfaces on the plane, not sure why I have never thought of this! My partner will be over the moon :)
http://www.thebutter.co.uk/