I take traveling very seriously. Anything can go wrong and make the trip harder whether that be a bag that’s hard to carry or a dead phone. I like to be prepared! If you’re like me and dread the idea of feeling stressed out by clutter or being stuck somewhere unfamiliar without everything you need, I hope you find my list of travel essentials helpful.

Packing Cubes

I can’t believe I ever traveled without packing cubes. They are so great for compressing and organizing your clothes. I like to separate my outfits in them to minimize digging around in my luggage! They’re somehow only $17 and come with three different sized mesh bags, one slightly opaque bag, and a shoe bag.

Travel Makeup Bag

You all know how seriously I take makeup and skincare, so the fact that this travel makeup bag fits everything I need is amazing. I like that it has adjustable compartments so I can really maximize on space. There’s even a separate space for your brushes to keep them clean, though I still recommend these brush sleeves. Plus, it can fit in your carry-on!

Leather Backpack

This backpack changed my life. I needed something I could fit my 15” laptop in while traveling that was also sophisticated and I’ve been so impressed with this one. Tumi is known for their quality travel gear so even though the price is probably more than you’d usually spend on a backpack, it’s an investment that’s worth every penny.

Luggage Tags

At this point I don’t even know how long I’ve had these luggage tags! These travel essentials are truly fantastic quality. The ability to customize and monogram them makes it even easier to tell your luggage apart from others. We gifted these to our bridesmaids and groomsmen and they all love them too.

Hard Carry-On Bag

This is my go-to carry-on. It’s held up so well and I love the trunk-like aesthetic. Plus, it’s deceptively roomy. It also rolls like a dream which is especially important when you’re making your way between gates and terminals. It’s an investment but I know I’ll have this forever!

Hard 28” Bag

Delsey’s has the same trunk-like aesthetic as Bric’s does and is similarly priced. I really like the brake system that locks the two front wheels and keeps your bag from drifting away while also keeping the two back wheels free for rolling.

Portable Garment Steamer

I almost always travel with my portable steamer. Clothes can get wrinkled while traveling so easily and ironing is often more tedious and time-consuming. This one heats up quickly, has a long cable and can fit easily in a carryon. That being said I would not recommend it for daily use at home as it can only fit so much water.

Eye Mask

Eye masks are a travel must whether you’re on a plane or in a car because you can’t control the light you’re exposed to. This is also true of wherever you’re staying! The quality of this mask is wonderful and it truly blocks out the light. You can also customize it with a monogram.

Travel Tote

I received this bag as a gift from Sunday Riley. It’s basically a weekender and is great for quick trips. I love that you can put shoes in the structured bottom compartment so everything else doesn’t get dirty. The laptop sleeve part also comes in handy which is great if you’re using it as your carry-on.

Jet Lag Mask

Traveling has a way of really drying out your skin and this mask does a great job at combating that. It’s fairly thick so I like to apply it before bed so I can wake up to a glowy, moisturized face. It’s also good at reviving your skin after you’ve been in the sun for a while.

External Battery

If I had to recommend just one of these travel essentials, it would be this external battery. Being stuck somewhere without the ability to use your phone is frustrating but it can also be problematic or even dangerous. When fully charged, this external battery holds the equivalent of 4.6 phone charges and one can bring your battery up to 50% in just 30 minutes. You can also charge up to three devices at once.