This is my Calpak 24" suitcase I bought from TJ Maxx because Marianne has one and really likes it. That's good enough for me. It's sturdy and the wheels are very spin-y and it's pretty lightweight. Mine is the checked luggage size and it's perfect for a week's trip. Also, it comes in odd colors that are easy to spot on the carousel. It won't charge your phone but it is under $60!
I don't own this adorable set of packing cubes but isn't it CUTE. I might have to buy them anyway. Listen, there are two schools when it comes to packing - the cubers and the haters. Marianne thinks they're dumb but she's more organized than I am. I, personally, really like them (especially the smaller ones) because it keeps me organized and my suitcase doesn't turn into a free-for-all mess. But seriously, do I need pink leopard cubes? I might.
Last year I bought this Dagne Dover Hunter Toiletry bag in the large size to use as my travel makeup bag. I love it so much I want to buy the small size too! The large comes with two removable pouches so you can keep your stuff organized and it's roomy without being dramatic about it. It squishes well into a suitcase but you can unsnap the end bits to really open it up and see all your stuff. It's not inexpensive but it is excellent quality and really well-designed. Plus, you can get 10% off your purchase through my link. (Full disclosure: I get a shopping credit if you make a purchase.)
Okay, now onto one of the best travel purchases I've ever made. This is my toiletries bag from LL Bean and I love it until the end of time. I have the medium which, with careful planning, is plenty big enough for a week's trip. It fits all my skincare and shower crap and I love the removable shower caddy which I have, so far, managed to not leave behind in a hotel shower. Amazing, really. It's a well-made bag that doesn't take up a ton of suitcase real estate and it has a spot for all your shit. It even has a waterproof plastic zip compartment that's great for those mini serum bottles that always leak. Ask me how I know. Ha.
That's it! I would love to know your travel MVPs, especially if you have a travel pillow you love. I have one of those Trtl things (the first gen, not the new version) and it's fine, I guess. If you have a pillow you like better, let me know! (And if I asked this before and you left a comment, forgive me and lay it on me again.)
Look, all travel pillows suck, because there is nothing that can turn a mostly-upright seat into a bed, but I have this one and it is the best I've used so far. It inflates (for the 90% of your trip when you don't want a dumb pillow to drag around), and lets you lean against a wall or your own shoulder without feeling like you're strangling yourself.
ReplyDeleteWould recommend.
amazon.com/Travelrest-Ergonomic-Adjustable-Accessories-Wheelchairs/dp/B0787DH99J/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1502851323&sr=8-5&keywords=best%2Btravel%2Bpillow&th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=cg-travel-pillow-20&linkId=f11d64276242ed241724d20cc2cbeba7
I actually use a small inflatable camping pillow that I put between window seat and actual window, and then lean against to rest. It deflates and rolls to about the size of a small umbrella, so I like that it's not something I need to make a lot of room for or strap to my bag. Mine was $8 at Nordstrom Rack!
ReplyDeleteMy sister bought me the Vienna Toiletry bag from Rareform... It's been perfect for traveling... And especially camping since it also has a hook to hang it up and anyone who's camped knows the camp showers never have shelves to put your stuff down on.
ReplyDeleteFor my overseas trip this year I invested in Bucky Blinks, which I hope will allow me to at least have true darkness if not actual sleep. And I'm going to try packing cubes to see if I can get everything in a carryon. I don't mind checking a bag, but it would be nice to not HAVE to. My bag is purple leopard print so is quite obvious on the carousel.
ReplyDeleteI travel a lot for work and the Travelrest Nest travel pillow (recommended by Wirecutter) greatly improved my life. Just a few days ago, it allowed me to sleep through a cross-country flight in a middle seat with no recline. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI am firmly in favor of packing cubes and a separate bag for dirty laundry. I also like melatonin for adjusting my sleep schedule, earplugs and the white noise app on my phone for drowning out plane and/or hotel noises, and a sleep mask.
ReplyDeleteMy weirdest and best travel tip for really long flights is to bring a saline nose spray because the air is so dry.
I use a travel pillow by Cabeau that I love but I have a theory that there isn't one best travel pillow, it's more about finding one that fits your neck/head/body better than others. My travel Holy grail product is an airplane foot hammock! Fellow short people: if you're not using a foot hammock on long flights, you are not living! It hooks around the tray table and elevates your feet a few inches off the floor, which makes a huge difference for sitting comfortably on long flights. Cannot recommend enough for short-legged people. I got mine for like $15 on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteY'all are the best and now I am overwhelmed with choice. Thanks, everyone!
ReplyDelete