My Favorite Travel Essentials I Actually Use

I’ve tried a lot of travel products over the years, but only a few travel essentials I use earn a permanent spot in my bag. These are the things I actually use to stay comfortable, organized, refreshed, and a little more sane while traveling.

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Travel Essentials I Keep Reaching For

Portable Fan

A small rechargeable fan has become one of my favorite travel companions, especially in airports, hotel rooms, and anywhere a hot flash decides to make a surprise appearance.

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes keep my suitcase from turning into chaos halfway through a trip. I use them to separate outfits, underwear, shoes, and the random little things that somehow multiply while I’m traveling.

Travel Organizer / Toiletry Bag

A good organizer saves me from digging through my suitcase for chargers, skincare, medications, and all the little things that disappear exactly when I need them. I like having everything in one place and easy to grab.

Travel Shoes I Actually Wear

KEEN
I wear my KEEN Revel III boots when I know I’ll be walking in colder weather or on uneven ground. What I especially like is the ankle support. They feel supportive without being terribly heavy, which matters when I’m walking all day—and when every extra ounce eventually has to make its way into my suitcase. 😂

Adidas: Apparently, One Pair Wasn’t Enough

I have multiple pairs of Adidas shoes in different colors, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how I feel about them.

When I find a shoe that’s comfortable for traveling and walking, I don’t believe in unnecessary experimentation. I buy another color. 😂

They’re easy to wear through airports, comfortable for long days of sightseeing, and simple to coordinate with different travel outfits. Depending on where I’m going and what I’m packing, I just choose the color that works best.

Some people collect souvenirs.

Brunello Cucinelli
For days when I want comfort yet still look polished. Yes, sometimes the shoes cost more than the flight. We move on. 😂

Things I Refuse to Travel Without

I have traveled enough to learn that the little things can become very big things when you don’t have them.

A charger you forgot? Crisis.

An overweight suitcase at the airport? Public performance.

A missing bag? Now I’m tracking it like the FBI. 😂

These are some of the things that have earned a permanent place in my luggage.

1. Things That Keep Me Comfortable

• Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
• MZOO Sleep Mask
• Stanley Cross Bottle
• Seat Cushion — “in case we don’t get upgraded to Polaris” 😂
• Mini umbrella
• Cooling face mask

2. My Little Travel Health Kit

• OMRON blood pressure monitor — “Yeah, I’m over 50. Moving on.” 😂
• TENS 7000 — after those long walking days
• TUMS
• Dramamine
• Tylenol
• Pill organizer
• Alcohol prep pads
• Sanitizing wipes
• Motion-sickness bracelets

3. Things I Refuse to Travel Without

• Travel Inspira luggage scale
• AirTags
• AirTag luggage mounts
• Passport/AirTag holder
• Universal travel adapter
• RFID sleeves
• Luggage straps + tags
• Retractable car charger
• Clutch Pro power bank
• Fiskars travel sewing kit
• Kleenex
• Listerine strips
• Q-tips
• Disposable toilet-seat covers

4. What Keeps My Face From Looking Like I Just Flew 10 Hours

• BIODANCE collagen mask — which you use during flights
• BIODANCE serum mist
• Cooling mask
• Rosemary/castor oil set

5. My Camera & Tech

• Canon EOS R5 + 24–105mm f/4
• Bose earbuds
• AirTags
• Power bank
• chargers/adapters

6. And Apparently I’ve Become a Tea Snob

• ZENS glass infuser teapot

The Luggage Scale That Saves My Dignity

I am officially done opening an overweight suitcase at the airline counter in front of hundreds of my closest friends.

You know the scene.

The suitcase goes on the scale.

Overweight.

Now the suitcase is open, my belongings are on public display, and I’m moving shoes from one bag to another while everyone behind me suddenly becomes extremely interested in what I packed. 😂

No, thank you.

Now I weigh my luggage before I leave. This little digital luggage scale is small enough to travel with me, so I can check the weight again before the trip home—because somehow my suitcase always gains weight on vacation even when I swear I barely bought anything.

My dignity is worth the price of a luggage scale.

Why These Products Work for Me

I’ve learned that the best travel products aren’t necessarily the fanciest ones. I want things that are easy to pack, simple to use, and genuinely helpful once I’m away from home. Comfort matters more to me now, especially during long travel days, cruises, and flights. When I’m cruising, I also pack a few cruise essentials to make life on board easier.

The travel essentials I use have earned their place in my suitcase because they solve little problems before those little problems become big annoyances. If something makes traveling easier, more organized, or more comfortable, it has a pretty good chance of coming along with me.

These are just a few of the travel essentials I keep coming back to. I’ll keep adding favorites as I find products that genuinely make traveling easier, more comfortable, and a little less chaotic.

Planning a trip? I also like checking the U.S. Department of State travel information for destination-specific guidance before I go.