If you have looked at my blog for .5 seconds you know that I love to travel. And with traveling comes learning how to pack, and how to pack well. One of the most important things when it comes to packing is your carry on. I don’t always take a carry-on suitcase, but I always always always have a large purse or tote with me for the flight.
What do I pack in my carry on bag? Confession, usually I end up throwing in a bunch of random things like extra chargers or my camera or six pairs of sunglasses. I wrote a list of things I always have in my carry-on last year, but I wanted to update it with a few of my other essentials.
- iPhone: I always have my phone. Always. During the flight, I usually switch it to airplane mode and listen to my Spotify app. I have the premium version (only $5 a month if you’re a student!!) and all the music is downloaded to my phone so I can listen when there isn’t WiFi!
- iPad: I usually bring my laptop, but if I’m only heading out for a few days I will bring my iPad. If there is inflight WiFi I always connect, and use that time to catch up on social media, bust out a few blog posts, or read- I love buying Nook and Kindle editions to download and always carry with me without adding extra weight!
- Earphones: I actually cannot live or travel without earphones. I forgot them the other day when I was in the city for work and my train ride home was miserable. I love listening to music while I do everything, so headphones are a must for me.
- Chargers: my mom just sent me this Jonathan Adler portable charger that plugs straight into your phone, and its already saved me a few times! I try to always carry a portable charger as well as a cord, just in case I can actually plug my phone into a wall outlet.
Primp:
- Burt’s Bees face wipes: these are the BEST to have when your face is worn out from flying. I try to fly with no makeup and apply a lot of moisturizer before I take off (Eva Chen wrote about this years ago and it stuck with me). I will never use anything but Olay moisturizer. My whole family uses it! Just before landing, I like to swipe one of these Burt’s Bees wipes across my face, just to remove any dirt or oil that may have gathered during the flight. It’s great in a pinch when you can’t stop and really wash your face.
- Burt’s Bees chapstick: I swear by this stuff. The ‘refresh’ and ‘nourishing’ are my favorites. But I will use pretty much any chapstick- it is something I have to have on me at all times.
- Hand sanitizer. For obvious reasons, guys. When you take the subway to work you understand the importance.
- Toothbrush: My mom always carries a travel toothbrush and toothpaste with her and its rubbed off on me. Nothing feels better than getting to brush your teeth after a flight, and no one wants to greet you at the terminal if you have bad breath! These little ‘wisps’ are great if you can’t run to the bathroom for long.
- Hairbrush: my hair seems to always get static-y and gross on flights, so I keep a travel-size brush in my purse. You never know when you’ll need it (like when we went to the Cliffs of Moher and the wind and sea water turned our hair into tangled messes).
- Lip Gloss: I scored this Milani gloss at College Fashion Week in my gift bag and it’s been my favorite lately.
Extras:
- Scarf: I LOVE traveling with a big scarf: you can use it as a blanket, fold it into a pillow, wrap it around your shoulders…the possibilities are endless, y’all.
- Neck pillow: I lost mine on the way home from Prague (of course, on my first real trip) and it was devastating because nothing beats a long overnight bus ride than having a little pillow to sink in to.
- Sunglasses: even if its raining I pack sunglasses- you never know!
I also love to throw in snacks like granola bars or a bag of candy. I almost always have gum with me as well. In addition to all of these, make sure to pack things that you wouldn’t want to lose in a checked bag- jewelry, your camera (and the charger!), any expensive accessories, etc.
What are your must-haves in a carry-on bag?
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