Carry-On Packing Tips You Need To Know Before Your Next Big Trip

Carry-on packing tips you need to know before your next big trip! We’ve all had over a year of maybe lost travel and perhaps a year of planning a trip (or several) now that it’s safe to travel again. This past year has given us time to really consider where, how, and when we will travel. My daughter, Madeline has been working for Travel & Leisure and has passed on many travel tips that I was slow to adopt until I had a year to think about it.

Packing Cubes…You need these!

Things like packing cubes, I never used them until she gave me a set of Paravel Packing Cubes and now I can’t imagine going anywhere without them. I’ve even added them to my tote. Packing cubes come in several sizes and so there’s one for everything. I use one in my tote for chargers. It is so nice to have all of those in one place. They keep clothes sorted and there’s a window so you can see what’s in each one without even unzipping them.

My go-to travel “outfit”

I wear a version of this for all flights. I wear all black because if you spill something, no one knows. Lululemon drawstring pants are great for long and especially overnight flights. They are super comfortable, but they don’t look like you’ve slept in them, even when you have. I wear my favorite black t-shirt (and I have an extra in my carry-on tote) to change into for overnight flights. I love this linen blazer from J.McLaughlin for summer travel. It’s boxy so it can be worn over a dress or a skirt with a t-shirt, a tank, or I can add a cashmere cardigan under it if I’m cold.

Carry-on Tote and Suitcase

You only have to have lost luggage once on a two-week European trip (with your family) to never want to check luggage again. I’m not the easiest to buy for at 5’10” and a size 10.5 shoe, so losing your luggage on vacation with your family, is not the most convenient. I now always do carry on and that has made me a more careful packer. I take only what I know I’ll wear and almost every piece can be worn interchangeably. Like my travel pants. I can hand wash them after traveling and wear them to yoga or for a hike.

For very short trips, I use an Away bag. For longer than a night or two, I prefer this carry-on from Eagle Creek. It has an expandable zipper that allows for quite a bit of extra room. And let’s face it, of course, I’m going to do a little shopping and so a soft side bag allows a little extra room, just in case I need to bring back some sand or maybe a bottle or two for my collection.

State Travel Tote with a luggage slip sleeve

I love the Graham travel tote from State. It’s roomy inside with a couple of zipper pockets, lightweight for how substantial it is and it has a luggage slip sleeve. How did I live without this feature in a travel tote for so long?

My Travel Must Haves

1. Carry on Tote Bag // 2. Passport Wallet // 3. Lipstick Sized Portable Charger // 4. Paravel Packing Cubes // 5. Thieves Sanitizing Wipes* // 6. Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag // 7. AirPods // 8. Leather Zipper Pouch // 9. Laptop case // 10. Travel Electric Toothbrush // 11. Eagle Creek Carry-on Bag // 12. Gear-Tie twist ties // 13. Shoe Bags // 14. Travel Umbrella // 15. Lumify Eye Drops // 16. Cashmere socks // 17. Travel All-In-One Adapter

A few things that are a must inside my carry-on: Sanitizing wipes. I use Thieves because they are plant-based and kill 99% of germs. I use them to clean my fold-down tray and seatback pocket, the armrests, and my hands throughout the flight. They feel soft and smell amazing! I use them out and about every day, not just for travel. If you are interested in ordering any Thieves products, let me know! I would love to help!

LUMIFY eye drops!! Can’t say enough about these eye drops, especially after a long flight…or a long anything. One drop and you’ll look refreshed…even if you don’t feel that way!

Cashmere socks – Necessary, probably not, but it’s the little things (like cashmere socks) that feel so good and when you travel, that extra layer of comfort is too good not to indulge in. And if it’s cooler than expected, they are lightweight enough to wear with a pair of shoes or even Birkenstocks!

A laptop case for that extra level of safety to keep your computer safe and a packing cube to keep all your chargers in one place. Use these Gear-Ties to keep them orderly and you’ll never be without them once you start using them!

A travel all-in-one adapter and a portable charger the size of a lipstick tube, yes and yes!

The Lulululemon Everywhere Belt Bag is great for keeping your phone, passport wallet, credit card, and cash when you are out and about in a city or anywhere. It keeps your valuables all in one place and your hands-free. Perfect for flea markets, long walks where you don’t want to carry a bag.

Shoe Bags – I can never understand how someone would put shoes in a bag without a shoe bag. These keep them zipped up and when you get home, you can wash them!

A passport wallet that has plenty of room for cash, credit cards, and other documents. I leave my regular wallet at home and carry only a passport wallet when I travel.

AirPods! I was always a fan of the Bose noise-canceling headphones and traveled with them for years but they are quite cumbersome. Airpods work great.

A zippered pouch – I keep everything I need from my tissues, lip balm, Thieves wipes, toothbrush, etc. in a zippered pouch in my seat back so that everything I need is easy and reachable in flight. I keep my phone in it as well so that when we land, it’s right where I need it!

What I pack for a Pool/Beach Vacation

1. Beach Read // 2. People We Meet on Vacation // 3. Marshall Portable Speaker // 4. hat // 5. Slip Hair Ties// 6. Beach Bag // 7. lightweight towel // 8. J.Crew Linen Cover Up // 9. Prescription Sunglasses // 10. swim suit // 11. sarong // 12. Reef Sandals

Madeline recommended these books for summer reading. They reviewed Beach Read on Read Receipts. Are you following @Read_Receipts_ on Instagram?

If space allows, I love to bring this portable speaker along. It’s great in the hotel room and the beach if space between beachgoers is far enough.

I adore this hat from Rag & Bone and this linen dress from J.Crew. It’s perfect with a suit under it for having lunch by the pool or even exploring a beach town. Summersalt swimsuits, love them! Can’t go wrong with a new pair of Reef sandals!

Make sure to check out Mary Ann’s post (she’s heading to Spain and Italy), Cindy is traveling to Hawaii and Ashley just got back from Nantucket!

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