It’s the most wonderful time of the year…Holiday Season!
If you are searching for the perfect gift for your favorite travel buddy or wondering what to put on your own travel gear wish list, look no further.
In this blog I’ve put together a list of my favorite travel-related items. Many of these make great stocking stuffers as well.
No, I do NOT make any commission or money from recommending these items or if you purchase one of them. These are simply items that I use and love when traveling.
Look at the list, pick out the perfect gift for your loved one, and let me know what you think!
Hard-sided Carry-On Suitcase
My family of 5 tries to avoid checking bags as much as possible. We each have our own carry-on suitcase that is easy to roll through the airport and light enough on its own so it’s easy to put in the overhead bin.
I am partial to the hard sided variety, so it’s protected at least somewhat from the rain, but that’s just a personal preference.
My kids each have their own suitcase and they are responsible for taking it through the airport on their own. Even when they were super young, they had their own suitcase.
I recommend finding ones in bright, unique colors and getting a different pattern or color for each member of the family. That way it’s easy to distinguish which suitcase belongs to each person.
We use spinners from American Tourister. They are easy to maneuver through the airport, lightweight, and the inside storage compartments are adequately sized.
They also have Disney-themed suitcases, which is what my kids use. They stand out in a sea of black suitcases!
Packing Cubes
I LOVE packing cubes. If you haven’t gotten on the packing cubes bandwagon yet, do it! It will change your life.
They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. They make organizing your suitcase a breeze, packing a breeze, and unpacking a breeze.
You won’t have to worry about things falling out of your suitcase when you open it, because everything is so neatly organized and contained in the packing cubes.
Options are endless for how you choose to pack with them. You could have one cube for bottoms, one cube for tops, one cube for undergarments, etc. Or you could pack complete outfits in its own cube. I prefer the first method, but for shorter trips have used the second one and was extremely pleased.
They now also make compression packing cubes, which means you can fit even more items into a small amount of space. Amazing!
Packing cubes also make it so much easier to unpack once you get to where you are going. The cubes can even act like drawers if you don’t have enough space wherever you are staying.
I recommend buying a set of cubes in multiple sizes for each member of your family. Designate a different color for each person. Again, it makes it easier for you to organize and find things when you are in route to your destination.
There are lots of options on Amazon.
Did I mention I love packing cubes?
Clear Zipper Toiletry Bag
Since we primarily carry on, we have to use a clear toiletry bag when going through TSA. Using a regular Ziploc bag is wasteful and can easily rip. All your toiletries falling out all over the place while in line for TSA is not something you want to deal with.
I prefer see-through, reusable, plastic organizers with a real zipper. They are TSA approved, can come in multiple colors, and make things so much easier.
They also work great to organize other items, such as phone chargers, electronic cords, jewelry, etc.
Just search TSA Approved Toiletry Bag in Amazon and you’ll find lots of options.
Flexible Phone/Tablet Stand
I always download my favorite movies or tv series to my phone to watch on the plane. But I get tired of my neck getting strained from looking down at my phone the whole time.
I started using this Flex Flap from Airglo this year and it’s amazing.
It lies flat so it’s easy to store in your carry-on bag but can flex into the perfect stand for your phone or tablet.
You can hook it on your closed tray table, so you don’t have to look down as much. And keeping the tray table up gives you more space around your seat!
Portable Phone Charger
You cannot go on a trip without a portable phone charger. It should be on the top of your list.
I am partial to the ones that are thin and have built-in cords. Then you don’t have to worry about bringing the right phone cord with you, it’s already attached to the charger.
Popup Laundry Hamper
I hate clutter and a messy hotel room. Popup laundry hampers make it easy to contain all my kids’ dirty clothes, who would otherwise throw them around the room and inevitably lose something as a result.
The pop-up mesh hampers are easy to pack in your suitcase too.
Beach Towel Clips
It’s windy on cruise ships and the beach! Use Beach Towel clips to keep your towel or clothing attached to your beach chairs.
Magnetic Hooks
The walls and ceilings of most cruise ship cabins are magnetic. You can use these magnetic hooks to organize your personal items, so they are easy to find during your trip.
Bitbelts – MagicBand Safety Clasp
You don’t want to lose your MagicBand on a Disney trip! Use these Bitbelts to keep them safely on your wrist. Again, easy to find on Amazon.
Well, there you have it. My favorite travel items that I have personally used on multiple trips, both solo and with the family.
Do you have a favorite travel item I didn’t list? Let me know in the comments!
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