Travel Talk & Tips

Packing essentials, etiquette, & other pointers

Aug 21, 2023

I love traveling! I enjoy overnights, weekend getaways, road trips, two-week vacations, and so on. It is so fun revisiting familiar places, exploring new destinations, and learning about other cultures. Both domestic travel and foreign travel are exciting to me!

My husband and I take trips and vacations regularly. Some are short, and some are for an extended time. Last year, we traveled to San Francisco, Santa Barbara, London, Newport Beach, Capitola, Ireland, Scott’s Valley, Half Moon Bay, and Palm Desert. We visited Monterey, Palm Desert, Seattle, Newport Beach, and Santa Barbara this year. Italy is our next destination, and then we have a few weekend getaways on the calendar. Traveling is a priority for both of us, so we budget and plan for it up to a year or more in advance.

“The most beautiful in the world is, of course, the world itself.” – Wallace Stevens

I want to share some of my favorite travel tips with you: how I pack, my carry-on essentials, and some airplane etiquette suggestions. These are lists I wish I had when I began traveling. Let’s go!

How I Pack for Any Trip

One of the most important lessons I learned after packing/unpacking many times is that planning makes a difference. I gathered up what I think are my most helpful tips and hope it makes your packing for your next trip a little easier🙂

I make a packing list. I think of everything I need to bring and what I can purchase once I arrive. I now store a few packing lists ( for beach vacations, cool & rainy weather trips, and warm weather ones) in the Notes app and adjust the lists as needed. I consider the climate, the days I will be away, and where I will be visiting to determine what outfits to bring.

Are you familiar with the 5,4,3,2,1 packing rule? It refers to bringing five accessories (i.e., earrings, scarf, watch, sunglasses, necklace), four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes, and one purse. This rule works for long weekends or longer trips where you have access to a washing machine. If you are planning for more than a weeklong vacation, try this combination: two T-shirts, three sweaters, two tanks, two dresses, three tops, two skirts/shorts, one pair of jeans, and three pairs of shoes.
A rule I have for myself is to pack only 2-3 pairs of shoes: a pair of comfy flats, a dressy pair, and sandals/tennis shoes/boots depending on the weather. Even though it’s tempting to take more pairs, I never do. Shoes take up too much valuable real estate in my luggage 😉
I almost always pack wrinkle-free clothing only, so I don’t have to iron. Every once in a while, I will use an iron in a hotel or B&B. Some people like to bring a travel steamer with them.
I plan my outfits so I don’t overpack. I learned after several trips that I brought clothes I never wore. You usually need fewer clothes than you think, and planning helps visualize which items can be mixed and matched.
I only use carry-on luggage. Once I arrive at my destination, I’m either tired and ready to get to my hotel/flat/Airbnb or raring to explore. I don’t want to waste time waiting for my luggage to arrive on the carousel. This way, I can head out to hail a taxi, board a train or get into an Uber.

“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain

My Method for Packing

Using a method instead of throwing all my stuff into a suitcase and zipping it shut makes packing easier. I have a routine that works for me, and you can create a system that works for you based on some of these strategies.

I roll most of my clothes- items take up much less space than folding.
I use packing cubes or compression bags to organize my clothes, simplify packing, and squeeze more into my bag. After I have planned out my outfits, I stack them together in packing cubes or bags.
I use my shoes to stuff socks, jewelry, or any small items inside.
I always pack a reusable bag for shopping and sometimes a giant tote or duffel bag for souvenirs. I periodically check my luggage on the way back and carry on the tote bag/duffel.
I pack the heaviest items near the wheelbase; this prevents the suitcase from tipping over. Then I layer in this order: packing cubes with rolled garments, folded clothes, bulky sweaters, or jackets. I leave dresses and hats for last.

My “Personal Item” Essentials

When traveling by plane, I like easy access to the things that make the journey more comfortable. This also stands for train or car travel. While I love traveling, I don’t enjoy longer flights, so taking the “necessities” helps make the travel time more comfortable. My “personal item” is a backpack, a large zippered tote, or my travel bag with a trolley sleeve that secures it to my luggage. Besides taking a wallet and my passport, here are lists of my essentials organized by categories. I use zippered pouches for each category.

Health

hand sanitizer
a small pack of scented wipes & disinfecting wipes
toothbrush & travel-size toothpaste
eye drops (that air causes dehydrated eyes!)
mini deodorant
tissues
medication
eye mask
earplugs
inflatable neck pillow

Cosmetics

lip balm
a small tube of hand cream
face cream (I save cosmetic samples for trips)
makeup (mascara, blush, lip gloss, etc.)
small brush
mini facial mist

Snacks

granola or protein bars
nuts
dried fruit
chocolate
mints
gum

Entertainment

phone
Ipad
AirPods
chargers and cables
a small notebook and pen
mini Post-its

Miscellaneous

warm socks
large scarf or wrap
sweater

Travel Etiquette 101

Have you ever been shocked watching a fellow airplane passenger do/say something incredulous? I am always surprised at how inconsiderate some travelers can be. Most of us are not thrilled to be crammed with strangers into a metal tube that flies through the air at 35,000 feet, but there are ways to make it more pleasant. One of those ways is to have consideration for other passengers. Next time you fly, take into account those seated nearby. I compiled this list of offenses based on what I have seen when flying.

Please don’t bring strong-smelling food onto the plane, such as a tuna sandwich, smelly cheese, a burrito, or pickled onions.
An airplane is NOT the place to give yourself a manicure or pedicure. The smell of nail polish wafts through the cabin, and let’s not even talk about those who clip their nails on the plane. 😑
This goes without saying, but please wear deodorant.
Clean up after yourself. The flight attendants are not your personal servants.
Please don’t let your children kick the seat in front of them or run up and down the aisles. Also, please change your baby’s diaper in the bathroom and not on your seat. Gross.
Respect personal space. Some people are not looking to make new friends while flying, so if your seatmate doesn’t return the conversation, get the hint and stop talking. 🙉
The bulkhead area is not the bathroom waiting zone. Those who purchased those seats paid extra and likely don’t want you hovering over them.
Please use headphones or earbuds when listening to something or playing a game. Chances are those around you don’t wish to hear your entertainment.
Don’t walk around on the airplane (or train or bus) barefoot. Just don’t.

Be kind and courteous to your flight attendants and fellow passengers.🙂

How about you?

Do you have any travel tips to share? What are your essentials for traveling? Any crazy stories? Please let me know in the comments. Happy traveling!!! ✈️🚊🚎

With love, Natalie xx