The Simple Packing Checklist I Swear By
It's 2 AM, your flight leaves at 6, and you're standing in front of your open suitcase having what can only be described as a full-blown existential crisis. Do you need seven pairs of shoes for a three-day trip? Probably not. Will you pack them anyway? Absolutely.
If this sounds familiar, welcome to the club 🙋🏻♀️. We meet every night before a trip, usually in a pile of rejected outfit choices and travel-sized bottles we swore we'd remember to refill but definitely didn't.
Here's the thing about packing. It's both an art and a science, and somehow, no matter how many times we do it, we always manage to forget something. That week-long trip to Vegas? Forgot my contact case, hair brush, and charger - spent $40 on at 7-Eleven for knock-off brands. The weekend in Texas? Packed three dresses, but no underwear (don't ask me how… I truly don't know 🥺).
Lesson learned: a well-packed suitcase isn’t about how much you fit in it. It’s about packing the right things, the ones that quietly make every trip easier and calmer.
Those random little items that aren't sexy enough to make it into travel blog posts but are absolute lifesavers when you actually need them. I'm talking about the under-the-radar heroes that have rescued me from countless travel mishaps.
The Charger Situation That Changed Everything
I’m the type that would only charge my phone when it is dying, and rarely let it get to 100%. But I do keep a charger available in every room at home. Now imagine being on vacation with this weird habit I’ve developed. Constantly rationing my phone battery like we were living through an apocalypse. Because I packed exactly one charger, left it plugged in the Uber, and didn't realize until I was back at the hotel with 12% battery, and I got Fourth Wing on my phone to read.
Now? I travel with not one, but two, and a portable charger. Am I excessive? Maybe. Am I ever stuck with a dead phone? Absolutely not.
Here's my charging strategy. Pack your main charger, then throw a spare in your suitcase like it's contraband. And if you really want to be fancy (and trust me, you do), invest in one of those portable chargers where you can charge everything. It's like the Swiss Army knife of charging, one gadget to rule them all.
Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable (Yes, Even in Winter)
The sun is a sneaky little devil, hiding behind those clouds like a ninja, just waiting to turn you into a lobster when you least expect it. Just ask Zane, hehe 😜.
I learned this lesson on what I thought would be a nice, overcast hike in Colorado. Spoiler alert, I got so sunburned that I looked like I'd been personally attacked by the UV index. My cheeks were so red.
My purse? Full of travel-sized SPF. My car? Sunscreen in the glove compartment. My suitcase? You better believe there's at least one bottle tucked in there, ready to save my skin from its own poor decision-making.
Even if you have to grab a tiny bottle from the airport (yes, they're overpriced, yes, you should still buy it). Why do you think Asians love their skincare. Your 40-year-old self will thank you. Your Instagram photos where you're not peeling like a molting snake will thank you.
A Portable Door Lock Because Hotel Security Is Sketchy
Okay, this one might sound paranoid, but hear me out. Zane and I have stayed at hotels in Texas that were not ideal, but we didn’t have any other options. Zero sleep was happening. Just lay there staring at the door, convinced someone could absolutely jimmy that thing open with a credit card.
Enter the portable door lock. This tiny gadget is a game-changer for solo travelers or anyone who's ever side-eyed a hotel door and thought, "yeah, no."
Plus, it works on Airbnbs, hostels, and pretty much any door situation that gives you weird vibes. I keep mine in my toiletry bag and honestly forget it's there until I check into a place and think "hmm, that lock looks questionable." Then BAM, instant peace of mind.
Your Antibacterial Arsenal Is Everything
If 2020 taught us anything (besides how to make sourdough and that yes, we do indeed take pants for granted), it's that hygiene is everything. I'm talking antibacterial spray, gel, wipes, the whole arsenal.
I keep a little bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag at all times now.Airport security line? Sanitize. After touching that sketchy gas station door handle? Sanitize. Zane’s basketball kids know that I don’t shake hands or even stay near someone who could potentially be sick. Boys are gross. Sanitize. Sanitize. Sanitize.
When you're exploring a new city, touching subway poles, trying street food, and high-fiving new friends, knowing you can clean your hands without hunting down a bathroom is chef's kiss.
Plus, let's be real, travel bathrooms can be... an adventure. Sometimes you just want to sanitize and move on with your life.
Make Copies of Literally Everything
You're at the airport, ready to board your dream vacation flight, and you reach for your phone to pull up your boarding pass and... it's dead. Or worse, gone. Stolen. Vanished into the travel gods' void.
This is where having physical copies of everything saves your bacon. And I mean everything. Boarding passes, hotel confirmations, passport photocopies, travel insurance details, that rental car reservation, emergency contact numbers, print it all out and stash it in your suitcase.
Also? Email everything to yourself. Like, everything. Create a "Trip to [Destination]" folder in your inbox and forward every single confirmation. Future you, standing at a foreign hotel check-in counter with a dead phone and frazzled nerves, will worship Past You for being so organized.
The Refillable Water Bottle That Pays For Itself
Can we talk about how expensive water is at airports? It's literally the same water that comes from the drinking fountain but because it's in a plastic bottle, it suddenly costs $6. Six! Dollars! For WATER!
I bring an empty bottle through security (because yes, you can bring it empty), then fill it up at a water fountain or bottle filling station on the other side. Boom, free, cold water for your entire journey. At your destination, if the tap water is safe to drink, you just keep refilling. It's economical, ecological, and honestly just makes you feel like you have your life together.
Plus, staying hydrated while traveling is crucial. Airplane air is drier than my sense of humor, and dehydration makes jet lag worse, kills your skin's glow, and generally makes you feel like a wilted houseplant. Keep that water bottle close and sip throughout your journey.
I'm partial to the insulated ones that keep water cold for hours, but honestly, any reusable bottle is better than none. Just make sure it doesn't leak (learned that one the hard way when my laptop got a surprise bath in my backpack).
Pack Smart, Travel Happy
Look, packing will probably never be completely stress-free. There will always be that 2 AM moment where you question every choice you've made. That's just part of the journey.
But having these essentials on lock? That's your foundation. Everything else, the seventeen outfit options you'll narrow down to three, the "just in case" shoes you'll never wear, the book you swear you'll finally read, that's all negotiable. These items? Non-negotiable.
Happy travels, friends! May your suitcases be organized, your flights be smooth, and your vacation photos be absolutely Instagram-worthy. ✨
