Over the years I have gotten down packing to a science. Who am I kidding? I hate packing and find it to be the most dredging part about traveling. Having to decide what matching outfits, shoes, and jewelry to carry for 2 weeks that would be perfect for the weather, activities, and local culture consumes me.
However, there are a few items I have discovered that make travel easier and I never leave home without them.
1. THE BEST TRAVEL JEANS IN THE WORLD BY AVIATOR $98
This is my favorite pair of jeans ever, not just for travel. It is made of stretchable and breathable cotton, has hidden pockets to hide change, and loops for headphones. Best part is it looks really flattering!
2. I only recently discovered this camera and ditched my mirrorless Sony and Panasonic for it. The Powershot is so compact, it fits in my purse, so I don’t have to carry a seepage camera bag with all its attachments. And the 20.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor camera takes really good pictures, even in the dark.
3. Instead of carrying my Apple laptop charger, I now keep DART-C is, the World’s Smallest Laptop Charger ® in my carryon. It is four times smaller and lighter than chargers found on the market today.
4. Because I am often on very long flights, I keep all my chargers and essentially in my hand luggage. The Techaway Roll with its zipped compartments makes it easy to organize cords. It’s like your cosmetic bag for technology.
5. I am an over packer and frequent shopper, which can lead to overweight luggage problems. This compact scale can weigh your bags, as well as serve as a battery bank. Its dual functionality eliminates the need to carry two gadgets.
6. Because I am often traveling by myself I think about what safety precautions can be taken. I recently found this 1-oz ultra-compact siren that emits a 120-decibel alarm that can be heard up to 300 feet away. It is safer than carrying pepper sprays, although there are many pepper spray reviews to tell you which one is the best one to buy.
7. Aromaflage is probably the only product that repels mosquitoes that cause Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever, and smells good too! I always keep a small bottle of natural insect repellant (the size of a perfume sample) in my clutch that serves the dual purpose of insect repellant and fresh scent. While Aromaflage repels most insects, you should be wary of bringing any home with you in your luggage. You might want to check a site like https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/local/louisiana/baton-rouge/ if you find your home infested after your travels.
8. When changing hotel rooms frequently, it can be tough to get a good night’s sleep. In addition to my personal Tempurpedic pillow, I have now started carrying this ultra-portable humidifier.
9. You never know when you need a lint roller, and this one is smaller than the size of a smart phone and has a protective cover so the sheets won’t dry out. Always have one in my suitcase.
10. ZIPTUCK™ REUSABLE TRAVEL BAGS BY FULL CIRCLE $5.99
If you are a smart traveler, you will store your liquid cosmetics, medicines and snacks in air tight plastic bags. Made of reusable FDA-Grade EVA material, air tight and dishwasher safe, these are the most sturdy, practical and environment friendly storage bags I have ever found.
