What's Inside My Carry-On

My travel essentials

Apr 23, 2025

I recently returned from a vacation in Hawaii and am currently in Washington visiting my daughter. My husband and I have roughly six more trips this year, and it’s fair to say I travel frequently. Being a seasoned traveler has made planning and packing an easy routine for me, and I now have it down to a science. Over the years, I have learned a few things about packing that make traveling easier and more enjoyable, and much of that is due to what’s inside my carry-on.

Today, I’m sharing my favorite travel essentials and hope they help make preparation and packing easier for your next trip. 🥰 You’ll notice I use different bags and pouches inside my carry-on. I like to keep it all organized so everything is easy to find.

*A Little Tip*- I store all my travel products in a plastic tote to keep things easy and organized. When it’s time to travel, I open the tote and grab what I need. My clear toiletry bag is always stocked and ready to go. When I return from a trip, I look at what needs to be replenished and refill or reorder those items.

What’s Inside My Carry-On

I use the CALPAK Luke Duffel as my personal item, and trust me when I say this bag holds so much! I was hunting for a soft-sided, lightweight bag with pockets, a trolley sleeve, and a spot for a water bottle, and this has it all. It fits perfectly under the airplane seat, too. P.S. It’s on sale! Use the code “FORMOM” to get a 15% discount.

Here’s what I pack inside the Luka Duffel~

Sport Sling

I keep items I need easy access to in this belt bag: my phone, credit cards, cash, driver’s license, passport, AirPods, glasses, mints, gum, and lip balm. I wear it through the airport and tuck it into the Luka Duffel before boarding. If you’re looking for a belt bag or crossbody, I highly recommend it!

Clear Toiletry Bag

I keep all my liquids inside this toiletry bag: sunscreen, hand sanitizer, lotion, hair care products, skincare items, eye drops, and toothpaste. I also keep samples and tiny items in small zipper pouches inside the toiletry bag so they’re easy to locate.

Mesh Zipper Bag

Inside this pink mesh bag, I store a travel pill organizer for medications and vitamins, a few travel wipes, some alcohol pads to disinfect the airplane armrests and tray table, silicone earplugs, a blackout eye mask, and a pen and small pad of paper.

Electronics

Inside the Luke Duffel is a large pocket for storing my iPad and Kindle. I also pack a portable charger and an electronic cable organizer.

Travel Neck Pillow

I will either pack this travel pillow or a memory foam neck pillow.

Travel Wrap

I’m almost always cold on a plane, so I either wear this wrap as a scarf or pack it (in a large pouch) in my duffel.

Collapsible Water Bottle

I like to carry a collapsible bottle because it’s lightweight, and when empty, it flattens and rolls up.

Snacks

I pack protein bars, nuts, Chomps, and something sweet in a zipper pouch in my duffel. I have food allergies, and it isn’t always easy to find food at airports that I can eat.

In My Carry-On Luggage

I love my suitcase, which I have had for five years. It’s held up so well. The model has changed slightly because my luggage is older, so here is the updated version. A few things listed below are ones that I always pack, and others I pack depending on the destination.

Packing Cubes—Every time I travel, I use a packing list and plan out my outfits. Packing cubes are a great way to organize my clothes. 99% of the time, I carry my luggage instead of checking it, so the packing cubes are lifesaving.
Shampoo Bar—I use a shampoo bar at home and when I travel. The bar sits on a soap holder, which I pack in a Ziploc when I travel.
Reusable Grocery Bag- I always toss one in my luggage for groceries or shopping.
Packable Rain Jacket/Windbreaker- If there’s a chance of rain and/or wind, I pack this in my luggage. When it’s in the pouch, it hardly takes up any space.
Canvas Tote- I also pack a canvas tote as a beach/pool bag.
Mini White Noise Machine—This gadget comes along no matter where I travel, whether overnight or for a week. In fact, I never unpack it when I get home. It just stays in my luggage. The white noise machine is perfect for drowning out all noises, and I love that it’s compact.
Silicone Luggage Tag- Because my luggage is navy and hard to recognize in a sea of other luggage, I attached this bright luggage tag to identify mine easily.

There you have it- all my travel essentials! I do hope this has been helpful. You can save it for future reference next time you go away!

With love, Natalie xx