General Travel Tips

Luggage Choices

There’s nothing quite like getting to the last month of travel planning and realizing you don’t have the right bag.

 

 

 

  1. Start Your Search Early In Your Travel Planning

     

  2. Chose How Many Bags You Need (1-2 recommended)

  3. Choose What Type Of Bag, Or Combination Of Bags (we rated them from our favorite to least favorite choice) 
    • Backpack + Carry-On Roller (best option for comfort)
    • Just A Backpack In True 1-Bag Fashion
    • Backpack + Carry-On Roller + Duffel
    • Backpack + Duffel (least comfortable option)

  4. Research And Compare Brands Of Bags (YouTube bag comparison videos were a lifesaver)

Once you have decided on your luggage, test them out at a local shop if you can. Get a feel for how the backpack fits your body before purchasing. See how thick the duffel bag material is. Roll the suitcase down the isle a few times to see how smooth and durable the wheels are. 

And lastly, don’t forget to check the specs of the bags you are interested in. Carry-on sizes differ depending on the airline, and some airlines have low weight limits (think budget airlines in SEA). Don’t want to be caught with a bag that won’t fit under your seat or is too heavy for the overhead compartment!

Organizing for a long trip is 
an artform. We have compiled a 
list of helpful suggestions to 
tackle each organizational 
category with confidence.
  1. For items that will get disorderly along the way
    ♥     Our Suggestions

    TOILETRY BAG
    I don’t know about y’all, but I really like having all my toiletries in one place. Toothbrush? √ Floss? √ Shampoo & Conditioner? √ There are some great dopp kits (small toiletry bags) out there – I’d recommend getting one with a large enough pocket to store your toothbrush.

    CLEAR GEL & LIQUID POUCH
    TSA, and other airport securities around the world require liquid and gel items to be in a clear pouch. You can find many of these online, or even at your local shops. 

  2. For items of high importance
    ♥     Our Suggestion

    PASSPORT HOLDER
    “As long as you have your passport, phone, and wallet, you can figure out anything.” -John 
    Having something to hold your important identification documents (license, passport, visas) while traveling is essential. I like having a wallet/organizer that has a chain you can attach to a larger bag. That way if any pickpockets manage to get my wallet out of my bag, I’d feel a tug *fingers crossed*. Keep this in a secure location among your belongings.

  3. For items that will get dirty and need to be separated
    ♥ Our Suggestions

    LAUNDRY BAG
    Handy to have when you are staying in an Airbnb or hostel. Many places lack a laundry basket, and it will help your room feel a little neater to have one. Plus, the laundry room can be on a different floor or building so you need something to carry your clothes in. 

    SHOE BAG
    When you go hiking and then have to go on the plane without cleaning your shoes, it’s great to have a shoe bag to throw those dirty sneakers in. This is not a necessity, but rather a nice thing to keep your bag a bit cleaner.
     

    WATERPROOF BAG
    This bag works as a general swimwear organizer during your travels (swimsuits, goggles, cover ups), as well as a bag to throw almost dry clothes in on a travel day. Sometimes when you need to leave for the airport, and you go to take your clothes off the clothesline, they aren’t dry. This keeps them from getting your bag wet. I found waterproof wet bags with zippers worked great for this.   
     

  4. For clothes that you need to shrink
    ♥ Our Suggestion

    COMPRESSION BAGS
    Pack a stack of clothes in them and they will squish the air out. I was dubious at first about how well they’d work, but now I swear by them. Bigger items like pants and sweaters are great to compress. And as a bonus you can use these bags to organize your clothes by climate, clothing item, outfit, etc. 

Universal Travel Adapter

Definitely a YAY! When you’re in another country, you never know when you a US style outlet won’t be available. These bad boys will keep all your electronics charged no matter where you are.

Portable Clothesline

Also a YAY! This has come in handy particularly at Airbnbs that don’t have dryers. Just hang it up outside and let your clothes swing in the wind until dry. (Side note, we have tried to steer away from Amazon links, so use this as just an example)

Leg Sling

BIG NAY from us. These slings designed for airplane use are supposedly helpful for putting your feet up. However, in our experience, it didn’t work. It gave you less leg room, not more.

Portable Power Bank

YAY! It’s the worst when you are out and about, then, suddenly your phone dies. If you are like Winter, charging your electronics can be hard to remember (no shade, she’s the one who wrote this). Having a back up charging system like this can keep you from getting stuck a mile away from your travel partner, with no easy way to contact them.

Apple Air Tags

YAY! You know that feeling when you land and you don’t know if your checked bag landed with you? Having an air tag can alleviate that worry by telling you, “never fear, your bag is somewhere over the Pacific.” Highly recommend.

Inflatable Ergonomic Pillow

Although it looks so comfy, BIG NAY! Most airlines will not allow you to inflate this on the place due to it being a safety risk. It will take up space in your bag, that you could fill with essentials. Not even going to link it here… don’t do it.