11 Travel Products I Love
June was a busy travel month for me. I spent four weekends in a row in four different cities, oftentimes with just enough time during the week to unpack, do laundry, and re-pack all over again. But with friends and family scattered across the globe for many many years now, and a job that has me traveling with some frequency, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to hone my packing skills. I’ve been on more flights and in more airports than I can count.
And while I love visiting different places (I am super lucky to have been able to visit some pretty rad destinations over the years), getting there can be a chore. Air travel, specifically, likes to suck all the joy and good will out of your body and replace it with stress, anxiety, jet lag, and a back or neck ache for good measure.
I’d say this topic has been one of my most requested for the blog (not that anyone’s knocking down my door for it — but when I make a call for topics, this one always comes up). Tips and items for making travel — whether it’s getting through the journey itself, or adjusting to an 8-hour time difference — feel just a little bit smoother. So, here we go!
1. TSA Pre-Check
Look, I know you’re tired of hearing about it but y’all. TSA Pre-check but it is ABSOLUTELY worth the investment. Even when the lines are just as long as in any other security checkpoint, not needing to unpack your bag or take off your shoes just makes getting through security that much less stressful. If you frequently travel internationally, spend the additional $50 for Global Entry. In addition to guaranteed pre-check, you can also bypass long passport control lines when returning to the U.S.. (I once timed myself at arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare airport after a flight home from Munich - from the time I stepped off the airplane to the time I got into my Uber was less than 15 minutes.)
2. Good Luggage
I don’t care what brand you prefer, but if you are traveling with any regularity at all, invest in some nice luggage. I’ve got two great Delsey carry-ons that were birthday gifts from my parents, and Jon and I share the medium Away bag as our larger piece. Finding a bag you love and that fits your travel style goes a long way in taking the sting out of packing.
3. Packing Cubes
These are a game-changer. Not only do they allow you to fit more into your luggage and make it easier to keep clothes organized while traveling, they also make it easier to reorganize your stuff when you inevitably need to do some luggage Tetris. I ordered two sets of these in different colors for Jon and I before our honeymoon, and now I use them whenever I travel. 10/10 do recommend.
4. Carry-On Organizer
Continuing the theme of compartments, I recently bought this small bag to keep in my carry-on when I travel. It’s got four separate zipper pockets, which I use to store tissues, my phone charger, chapstick, glasses lens wipes, headphones… anything I may want to grab while I’m in the airport or on the plane. It keeps me from digging around my bag, or losing items in the seat-back on board. A simple solution that has made a huge difference.
5. Toiletry Bag
In our final compartment recommendation, this toiletry bag is fantastic. Water-resistant (keeping things from leaking into your suitcase), stands upright, and has various straps and pouches to keep your toiletries organized. It’s not see-through so I wouldn’t store liquids in it if you’re carrying it on the plane, but it’s perfect for other items or to pack in your checked luggage.
6. Travel Toiletry Bottles
Speaking of toiletries, these travel bottles are by far the best I’ve ever used. I have had them for over a year now and taken them on tons of trips and they have not leaked or cracked once. The silicone body has enough give to prevent leaking in the pressurized airplane, and they are dishwasher safe for when you need to clean them out. I have never before found toiletry bottles I actually liked, so the fact that I recommend them is truly saying something.
7. SleepPhones
If you know me in real life, chances are I have given you my sales pitch on SleepPhones. I love these things. It’s a soft fleecy headband with flat headphones built in, so you can sleep comfortably in them. I use them pretty much every night, listening to white noise to drown out any snoring or street noise that keeps me from falling asleep (I’m a really light sleeper). They are great for travel, when you never know how thin the hotel walls may be, or you just want to snooze through the in-flight meal on an overnight flight.
There are two versions you can buy: wireless, or corded. I’ve used both. The wireless ones are pricier, but you don’t need to worry about getting tangled in the cord at night if you’re someone who moves a lot in your sleep. Just note that you need to recharge the battery every day if you want it to last through the night. I go with the cheaper, corded version, mostly for just that reason. The wireless is nice, but I went through too many nights where they died 1-2 hours before my wake-up call.
8. ZzzQuil
Another must for me when it comes to sleeping when I travel. If you go somewhere with more than a 1-2 hour time difference and jet lag messes up your sleep patterns (which has gotten way worse for me the older I get), ZzzQuil is my favorite over-the-counter solution. It’s helps knock me out at bedtime better than natural remedies, like melatonin, without leaving me super groggy the next day. As long as I’ve got 7+ hours to sleep, I’ll wake up easy the next day.
9. Face Masks
Look. I don’t know what took me so long to jump on this train, but if you are not packing a few sheet masks in your bag when you travel — especially for work trips or super long flights — you should be. They are inexpensive, they take up almost no space in your bag, and they help you feel more human when you are tired or dried out from the plane. Pro-tip? Throw them in the mini-fridge in your room. The cold will help reduce any puffiness and also just feels so good. Which mask you get doesn’t matter one bit. But if you’re looking for a reco, I usually opt for “brightening” ones for travel, and specifically love St. Ive’s “Glowing.”
10. Toner Wipes
More skincare products! I use Thayers toner every day in my ~skincare routine~ (so fancy), but hate packing it for travel. They make travel-sized bottles, but they always (ALWAYS) leak in-flight. My travel bottles do work well, but would usually prefer to use those for something else. But I found these babies at Target a couple months ago and they are great. They they don’t leak, they feel great, and it’s easy for me to just throw the case in my “travel stuff” drawer at home so I just don’t have to think about it.
11. International Travel Adapter
Finally, this one is a given for international travel, but I will say that it is absolutely worth it to swing for the nicer adapters with extra features. Buy it before you travel, because the ones at the airport are ridiculously priced. But mine (pictured here) includes all the major outlet types and has two USB outlets in addition to the plug. I promise, you will be happy to be able to charge multiple things at once.
Happy travels, friends! ✈️