My Travel Essentials

August is a busy travel month before the school year starts, especially on the East Coast, and my family and I are joining in. I also had some personal trips in July, and September is turning out to be packed with work travel. As a seasoned traveler, I’ve fine-tuned a packing and travel routine over the years. I don’t stress about what to bring or how to pack, because I have a dependable system that works for me. I often get asked how I stay organized while traveling, and that’s what I want to share with you today. Even if I sometimes leave packing until the last minute, I always do it efficiently, and that’s what counts! So, let me tell you how to organize your travel essential items and prepare your travel gear effectively, making sure to sort out your travel items well in advance.

With all the travel I’ve done and will continue to do, I always return to the same essentials I’ve trusted for years. These reliable products keep me organized on the go, whether I’m flying, driving, or taking a train. Whether I’m staying in a hotel or a rented home, these essentials make me feel more comfortable and help me stay connected to my daily routine while traveling.

Are you doing any traveling in August? What do you find are your travel essentials? Happy traveling!

Jewelry case: I don’t bring a lot of jewelry with me when I travel, but for the pieces I do take, I want to make sure they’re organized and not tangled, especially necklaces.

Travel Pouches: I use these travel pouches for almost everything now. The smaller one is often in my purse, holding hand wipes, lipstick, and other essentials. The larger one stays in my main travel bag, containing my pill organizer, tech gadgets, or toiletries.

Purse Organizer: I almost always travel with one of my Goyard St. Louis GM Bag because they’re incredibly lightweight, can be folded and packed, hold a laptop, and work well for both casual and dressy occasions. I also always bring this purse organizer to keep everything in my bag neatly organized.

Suitcases: You’ll usually find me packing in a carry-on, except when we’re traveling with Poppy, our sheepadoodle—then I share a suitcase with her! I haven’t upgraded my suitcases in a while (so no new links to share), but it hasn’t been an issue. If I were to buy a new one, I’d consider this Amazon basic, this carry-on roller with extra space or this hard-shell suitcase.

Weekend bag: My favorite weekender bag, which I’ve had for years, is one I love for its separate shoe compartment and surprisingly spacious interior.

TSA approved toiletry bags: They’re nothing fancy, but they get the job done for all my toiletries. I appreciate that they’re easy to wipe clean if something spills, and they comply with TSA regulations. I also really like this one and these BPA free bottles for shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

Packing Cubes: One of my favorite sets are these packing cubes and these. My family uses these. In my opinion, packing cubes are a must-have because they help organize different types of clothing or outfits, making it easier to keep your suitcase (and drawers, if you unpack) neatly arranged.

Pill Organizer: Depending on how many days I’ll be traveling, I choose either this pill organizer or this larger one to ensure I have all my supplements and medications properly organized.

Foldable charger: This is ideal for anyone with an Apple Watch, phone, and headphones. It’s a 3-in-1 charger that folds up compactly, taking up minimal space in a tech bag.

Charging Case: Ideal for organizing all your tech essentials, such as computer cords, phone chargers, and more.

Portable charger: I rely on two must-have chargers: this smaller one and this larger one. After all, it’s impossible to be without a phone charger while traveling.

Travel laundry bag: I strongly advocate for separating dirty clothes from clean ones while traveling. This way, you can simply put the laundry bag (and its contents) straight into the washing machine when you get home, rather than sifting through your suitcase to identify what needs cleaning, which saves you a lot of time.

Hanging Toiletry Bag: My girls appreciate having all their toiletries in one spot where they can see everything clearly. This bag is ideal for that purpose.

Cashmere scarf: Although it’s not related to organizing, I always bring this with me on travel days. It’s useful for staying warm on a plane or train and also helps protect my hair while I sleep.