What’s in my carry on bag took years of refinement and was discovered purely by being put in difficult travel circumstances. Have you ever had your plane delayed, lost your bag or just needed a refresher after a very long flight? Well, I have and thought a post would help my fellow travel friends from encountering problems as I have in the past.
I chose a traditional carry on bag (yes they still have them without wheels) because I can store it easily under the seat. This makes everything in that bag very accessible as I tend to go through it several times during the flight. If I had to get up and get it out of the overhead this would be a pain and very disturbing to my fellow plane neighbors who are trying to sleep.
- Carry on Bag– The over the shoulder version that has a slip pocket to go on the handle of your upright bag is by far my favorite. I prefer the Briggs and Riley over the shoulder bag with slip. Having a bag that can be put underneath the seat in front of me which makes everything accessible.
- Eye Mask– I am super sensitive to light and find that I sleep deeper using one. Depending on where you are sitting this may be provided for you. I usually pack one that I can throw away after a flight or can be washed.
- Noise Canceling Head Phones- Once you put these puppies on you will be in your own bubble of peace. They are so good you will not even hear a baby (or babies) cry!
- Barefoot Blanket– I prefer my own cozy blanket which can cover two people.
- Clorox Wipes– Have you ever seen how quick the cleaning crew whips through a plane to get it ready for the next flight? I do my own cleaning once I get seated. Be sure to hit all the spots like the touch screen and buttons.
- Neck Pillow- You must get one with a chin support or you will end up with neck pain upon your arrival. I only buy a neck pillow if I can wash it. You will never catch my neck pillow just hanging off a suitcase. I protect my pillow from all airport germs hence it stays in my zipped up carry on bag until I need it for sleeping.
- Face Wipes– Many times we get off a long flight and actually have somewhere to go. Face wipes let you clean your face and reapply a fresh face of makeup
- Eye Drops– My eyes get extremely red from traveling and this will help you feel a little more put together.
- Change of clothing- Keep it really simple and compact. I pack a pair of legging and an oversized t-shirt and a fresh sports bra and undies. Put a gold chain and pearl earring, snazzy slip on cozy sneakers and you are ready to hit a tour or have a cute lunch right out off the plane. I usually do the change once I arrive at the hotel. The majority of our trips get us to our hotel hours before check-in. We store our bags, do a quick refresh in the hotel lobby bathroom and head out for a nice lunch or tour. Sometimes I will pack a bathing suit just in case we want to lounge by the pool.
- Brush– My hair always needs a once over after a long flight and wearing an eye mask.
- Makeup Bag – I use a glamourous ziplock bag and pack i in the same pocket every time. This way it is easy to access when going thru security. ONLY pack samples. I am a huge fan of mac and I made it my business to purchase the samples. You can put your liquid foundation in a contact lens case to make a more compact supply. The liquid foundation is the only bulky item of my makeup that I cannot purchase in sample size. This makeup bag supply is just to get you by for a day or two. Keep it extremely simple hence no need for you to pack your entire collection. I do have a huge collection that gets packed in a separate bag which is checked.
- Supplements/Medicine- I pack Benadryl just in case someone in my family has an allergic reaction. In addition, I pack my favorite natural supplement that helps me sleep. L-Theanine. The Mag 07 is a great supplement to ensure your digestive system is in a happy place.
- Bone Broth- This is my version of tea. It helps me sustain hunger and is really good for your gut health. In addition, it helps me get my water in.
- Portable Charger- This is crucial especially if your room is not ready. We love our pocket juice because you can plug it in and it will charge multiple things several times over plus you can keep it charged on the plane.
- Multiple Charger Adapter- This is a charging wire that has adapters for multiple devices. This item never leaves my carry on bag. It is purely a backup in case we lose or forget a charger.
- Stevia Drops– Natural Sweetener is hard to come by especially if you are traveling internationally. Artificial
sweetener tends to cause bloating and increase cravings. I love my coffee but with a drop of stevia!
My time is precious on my trip and I truly like to make the most of my days. Having the essentials packed in a simple carry on bag can really make or break your day. I have a checklist for my carry on bag, it’s a small section located on my packing guide. This bag has saved me especially when I landed at 11 am but could not check into
