Amazon Travel Essentials

If you’ve got a trip coming up, I’ve got some tips for you! I personally love packing for a quick overnighter or even a two week vacay. It’s like therapeutic puzzle work, placing each item so it fits perfectly in my suitcase with a little extra room in case I find something I have to bring home with me – and let’s be honest, that happens more often than it doesn’t.

Bags! Bags! Bags!

First off, you’re going to need something to hold everything together. I like to have one main bag that can hold all the things, and then a “carry-on”. I always like to use the 2 bag technique whether I’m road tripping, flying with a checked bag or flying with only carry-ons. Hard sided & rolling is my go to! So convenient at airports and hauling everything up and down stairs at the hotel. And I’ll add, so much easier when you’re also juggling a kiddo.

Speaking of kids. Get a small rolling case for your child, they love to be independent and carry their own bags in and out, this makes that easily doable and saves you a little work!

I also highly suggest having 2 different sized rolling suitcases. A small one that will fit airline carry-on restrictions (I use a 22″ bag or smaller), and a large one to check for longer trips but will still fit easily in your car on road trips. If I’m flying, I pack up my biggest tote purse and keep all my liquid items and electronics in there (easy access for TSA) and use that as my personal carry-on item. Since I probably won’t want to haul a tote around on vacation, I stuff a smaller crossbody bag in with my clothes that I can use for outings in busy places or when I’ll be walking a ton. Diaper bags also work amazing instead of a tote!

But then there are road trips, and you really could just pack up so many different bags and stuff them in your car. That’s just a headache though, trust me! I’ll basically just do exactly the same thing as when I’m flying, except that keeping electronics and liquids in a carry-on isn’t necessary. Having most of your items in one bag and then whatever you’ll need on the drive in your tote is awesome! It keeps clutter minimal in your car and it’s quick to unpack. For quick overnight and weekend trips, I’ll sometimes use a duffel bag instead of a rolling case. Waterproof is a must! I use the duffel for camping also, hence why I like waterproof.

Let’s break this down!

Rolling, hard sided suitcase set

Rolling children’s suitcase

Waterproof duffel bag

Ginormous tote bag

Small crossbody bag

Get Organized

Packing cubes! Just get them. You will not regret it. There are so many options on Amazon, but I suggest getting one with a laundry and shoe bag. I think it’s pretty self explanatory why, but I’ll be black and white. Keep your dirty clothes out of the clean ones, and keep your shoe dirt contained. Having a laundry bag will make life simple when you unpack back at home, just dump everything in the wash and pour yourself a glass of wine! Good to go.

I have found the best ever cosmetic bags! My face takes a lot to keep it perdy, so I need a bag that fits a lot. I have a giant black one with 4 separate sections for skin and hair care. Then I use a smaller one that has so many pockets in it, you will keep being surprised when rifling through this thing by all the pockets that will jump out at you, and I use that for shower items, toothbrushes, contacts, and medicines. All of my daily makeup stays in a hard sided case with dividers so I’ll just grab it and pack it.

One more goody you might not have heard of is a jewelry organizer. If you don’t accessorize much, then it’s probably not for you, but I love it for all my dainty necklaces and rings. Of course, you could just use one of those small cosmetic pouches that you’re probably hoarding somewhere in your home.

Let’s break this down!

Packing cubes

Packing cubes with laundry + shoe bag

Fit everything black bag

Hanging travel bag

Hard sided makeup case

Jewelry organizer

Handy Extras

I try to pack as minimal as possible, I really do, but I’m not exactly low maintenance. There are a few things that are super handy to have on hand and also a few items that really help save me space. For sure, utilize travel sized products when you can. Most likely you won’t be gone long enough to empty a 10oz bottle of body wash, so opt for a smaller size or fill a leak proof bottle at home. I do this for shampoo and conditioner as well, but I only wash my hair every 7-10 days.

Since most hotel bathrooms have awful lighting, I bring a small, lighted mirror. It’s not incredibly necessary but it’s small and makes blending foundation MUCH easier. I do have an alternative, it’s a little MacGyver-ish, but it works. If you have a selfie light, clip it to the top of your phone, pointing towards you, and prop your phone up against the mirror. You might have to stack it up on something to get the light at the right height.

If you’re traveling and plan to get a little dressy, a portable steamer is a great thing to bring. There are lots of good options out there, just make sure you don’t have it filled with water when you pack it!

I’ve learned a few things from traveling with a child. The Noggin app, GOOD! If you’re not ok with your kids using tablets or phones, that’s ok. My 2 year old has the attention span of a dog in a park filled with squirrels, tennis ball, and mud puddles. He can navigate his apps by himself and it saves me so much frustration and we don’t have to pack a bunch of random things to keep him entertained. We only bring a couple toys along, by far the best option for road trips is a ride on toy like his radio flyer scooter. We make lots of stops along the way and pull it out so he can have a quick little play session and stretch his legs. Another life saver is a back of the seat organizer. I keep one in each car and always stocked with wipes, diapers and a couple of extra small toys.