When it comes to travel, I’ve learned how to pack efficiently and make the journey as comfortable as possible. So putting together a gift guide for fellow travelers is a piece of cake. I personally use most of the items below (or variations) and have mentioned them over the years in my various travel posts. They’re the essentials that help make a flight and vacation run smoothly.
Canon Compact PowerShot Digital Camera, Kodak Professional Ektar Film, Prada Nylon Messenger Bag, Thule RFID Organizer, T3 Compact Straightener, Mason Pearson Small Brush, Airsnap Airpods Leather Case, Paravel Packing Cubes, Gucci Toiletry Bag, Briggs & Riley Tote, Tumi Carry-On Luggage, Bomford Pillow Spray, Bose Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
More Travel Essentials HERE
Even though my iPhone 11 Pro has an amazing camera, I still like to have a digital camera with me for those difficult to capture shots. The ultra-slim Canon PowerShot is a great size to toss in my bag without weighing me down. At under $400, it’s a fantastic price too. In case of connectivity issues, I like to get recently shot images transferred to my phone and in the cloud as soon as possible. This is the device that makes that process a breeze. My son prefers to shoot old-school with a vintage camera, (another great gift idea) so film is an easy stocking stuffer. I bought several varieties for him last year and the Ektar 100 is one of his favorites. Memory cards for digital cameras are another good one for the stocking! I’ve still never committed to a camera bag and don’t see that changing anytime soon. I use my lightweight Prada messenger bag with a padded organizer and it works beautifully.
A cashmere travel wrap is always in my carry-on tote along with wireless headphones, a hand sanitizer, and a charger/cord organizer(there’s also this one at a friendly price point). I keep a toiletry bag next to me on the seat for containing loose ends like glasses, tissue, a pen, moisturizer, lip balm and my AirPods (in a leather case). I treat it like a mini-purse for the flight. I started wearing compression socks years ago for long flights and now can’t imagine traveling without them. They’re a gamechanger for the comfort of my legs. I have several pair in both patterns and solids.
When I go carry-on, the packing process is effortless with the three items above. A continental-size roller (mine is Tumi), packing cubes, and a large tote that slips securely over the luggage handle. I’m extremely practical in this area and efficiency takes precedence over style. I like to go as discreet as possible with logo-free, non-identifiable brands. The oversized tote that I swear by is by Briggs & Riley. It holds so much, has compartments for organizing and is waterproof. It is truly the magic piece that makes carrying on so easy. The packing cubes are very handy on trips with multiple stays. Everything stays nicely folded and in place.
Deborah
Love these ideas!! Thanks for taking the time to list them🙂
Elbe
Can you explain how the packing cubes are helpful? They look like they take up space themselves, so I am not sure how they are really helpful.
Karima
I use them to organize and control categories of items. For example, I’ll use a small one for scarves or socks, another for tee-shirts or light sweaters. I layer the items in the bag so they stay neat and unwrinkled and when I zip the cube closed, it compresses them. The bags are still very flexible and are made of a thin material so they don’t add any bulk. I find them incredibly helpful on long trips where I might be staying at several hotels. Rather than unpack everything over and over, I keep items in the cubes.