My Favorite Things
My Favorite Things - Amazon Travel Wish List
Since I usually have a future trip or two planned, I tend to keep all of my favorite travel items together in a bin in my closet for easy access when I go to pack my suitcase. I’m a big fan of carry on only (COO) travel, for several reasons: I don’t have to worry about the airline losing my luggage and then having to waste a day or 2 of my vacation hunting down and replacing items; I don’t have to pay to check my bag; I don’t have to haul a large suitcase down cobblestone streets in a foreign country; I don’t have to spend valuable vacation hours packing and unpacking a giant suitcase, mulling over which of my 27 outfits I should wear. How do I fit everything for a 10 day trip to Italy in a carry on suitcase, you might ask? It’s easy with a little bit of planning ahead and organization.
First, I make a list of the different activities I plan on doing. If I’m going hiking, biking, or swimming, I may need specific items that I will use only for that activity. Otherwise, I try to pack versatile items that can be used for multiple purposes. Then, I start with 3-4 pairs of pants and 4-5 tops that can be mixed and matched to the pants I’m bringing. I then bring a sweater and a jacket, as well as a raincoat. Some travelers use a “capsule wardrobe”, where they choose a few coordinating colors for their attire so that everything matches everything else, giving lots of options for outfits without looking like you haven’t changed your clothes in a week when you look back at your vacation photos. I also bring a maximum of 2 pairs of shoes, including the ones I wear on the plane. I wear my heaviest/bulkiest items on the plane - it’s usually freezing anyways! I also scope out the nearest laundromat for about halfway through my trip, and do a load of laundry while organizing my photos or grabbing a snack at a nearby cafe. If you’re staying in AirBnb type accommodations, it might be worth booking one with a washing machine. Worst case scenario you can wash your clothes in the hotel sink and hang them on the heated towel rack to dry overnight.
Always check your airline’s carry on suitcase policy. Some European airlines are super strict with size and weight of the carry on suitcase. They almost never check the size and weight of your personal item, so if your suitcase is a tad over the weight limit, put some heavy items in your backpack/personal item until you get past the check in process.
I am a fan of rolling my clothes and using packing cubes, but I have also used the Solgaard Carry On Closet and really love the hanging shelf insert. Overall, I prefer my soft sided carry on suitcase over the hard sided shell of the Solgaard brand. It’s just my personal preference.
So what items do I recommend for your travel bin? Here’s my Amazon list, and full disclosure - if you use my link to purchase an item, I do earn a small commission. All of these items are things that I personally own and use on my trips.
Favorite soft sided carry on suitcase:
Or
Favorite hard sided carry on suitcase:
Favorite Packing cube set:
Favorite travel organizer for cords/electronics:
Favorite Toiletry Travel Bottles:
Favorite Travel Neck Pillow:
Travel cord for multiple Apple items:
Travel Laptop backpack:
Travel Hair Dryer (Dual Voltage):
Travel Size Hair Straightener (Dual Voltage):
Packable backpack:
Meta Glasses:
Foldie expandable travel bag:
Favorite Nylon Crossbody purse:
Bluetooth Headphone Adapter for Airplane:
Travel Size hair products:
Travel Electric Toothbrush:
Favorite Travel 2 Piece Outfit:
Travel Perfume Dispensers:
Wine Wings (great for bringing home any breakable souvenir, not just wine!):
Passport Holder with AirTag Slot:
Air Tags:
AirPods:
European Travel Adapter:
European Adapter/Outlet Converter:
I hope this helps you for your next trip!
Buon viaggio!
~Melissa
