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Carry On Luggage

Carry-On Travel Essentials For Your Next Flight

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When it comes to travelling, preparation is key. “Who, what, where, when, why, and how” takes on a whole new meaning in regards to packing and prepping for the journey you’re about to embark on, wherever that is. Besides what you need for the trip itself, if you find yourself booking a long flight to paradise, you’re going to need to bring some things to keep you entertained and at ease while you’re en route. So make sure you leave room for some of these essentials in your carry-on. 

To start, make sure you have a quality carry-on to begin with. Most aircrafts can support bags of a relatively large size on board now, but a large backpack should suffice all your needs that don’t fit in your checked bag. Try to find something with a lot of zipped pockets and padding. While it may take you longer to figure out which pocket has what in it, you’ll be more relaxed knowing that all of your belongings are zipped up and secured with you. 

Let’s start by going through the on board essentials that make any flight much more bearable. A neck pillow is the first thing that comes to most of our minds when we think of airplanes, as it should. Airplane seats can be unsupportive and lumpy, and a neck pillow offers the perfect amount of support for your neck and head when you’re trying to catch up on some sleep during your flight. Match that with a weighted eye mask and some earbuds and you’ll be as comfortable as one can be sleeping on a plane.  

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Makeup removing/facial cleansing wipes are an underrated essential to put in your carry-on. We all know that airlines see some of the most foot traffic of any industry, meaning there’s a ton of germs being transferred among all of us constantly. Hand sanitizer and general hand washing will help prevent you from getting sick (among other things), but staying relatively clean throughout a day of non-stop travel can be tough. Cleansing facial wipes will not only remove any makeup, dirt, or foreign bacteria from your face, but give you a more refreshed and clean feeling, something that’s pretty hard to accomplish while on an airplane. 

Along those same lines, toiletries are always good to have on hand when in the air. Since all airlines have pretty strict guidelines as to how much liquid you can bring onto a plane, head to your local drug store to ensure that you’re getting the right size of everything to take on board. Most drug stores, like CVS or RiteAid, have a travel section where they sell mini bottles of things like mouthwash and toothpaste that already fit the size requirements of most major airlines. Pick up some mini mouthwash, toothpaste, and maybe a new mini toothbrush, in case you eat a lovely airplane meal and want your breath to feel a little fresher after. Deodorant is another great thing to have on hand. 

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Sticking to self-care and hygiene, a face mask can be an extremely fun way to pass the time on a flight, and a great way to keep up with your skincare routine. Travelling in general can really stress our skin out; the change in altitude, environment and air can lead to dryness, irritation, and breakouts. Packing a sheet mask in your carry-on is the cleanest face mask option one could bring on a flight. You simply unfold it and place it on your skin, and when you’re done you can just throw it out, no sink or washing off required. While you may look a little strange, most people know what a sheet mask is, and besides, you’re going on vacation and will likely never see these individuals again, so just go for it. 

It should go without saying that you should pack some in-flight entertainment for yourself. In case none of the movie options appeal to you, download some of your favorite films onto your phone, tablet, or laptop the night before you leave. This way, you likely won’t even need the on-board WiFi to watch, and you have a simple way to pass a few hours. 

To keep your devices charged up, pack a portable charger. Some flights have outlets or USB ports for your chargers, but those can be flimsy or not even work. By packing your own fully charged external battery, along with all of the appropriate cords for your devices, you will ensure that no matter how much you’re using your electronics, they won’t run out of battery. 

Finally, bring a change of clothes. Yes I know, you’re technically packing a whole bunch of outfit changes in your regular suitcase, but planning ahead for the climate of your destination, and potential changes in cabin temperature, will ensure that you remain fully comfortable throughout your travels. In addition, once you arrive, you can easily change in the airport so you’re ready for wherever it is you decided to go!

Packing Suitcase

Travel Like an Expert in 2020

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If, like us, the thought of traveling more in 2020 sounds like the best thing to do with your spare time, you probably also dislike the thought of packing first. Whenever any of us go away on vacation, we always seem to spend far longer deciding what we want to take, then arranging what we can actually take before giving up and ending up in a hotel room by the beach surrounded by nothing but 8 pairs of socks and more pairs of underwear than we would ever need at home – seriously, why do we always take so much underwear on our travels!

We have searched the internet for the best packing tips around so that when you get to security you know you will not have to pay a fine, or worse, wear all your clothes just to keep costs down.

First things first, make sure you have the right bag or suitcase for the journey. If you are taking a flight it is a good idea to invest in some lightweight luggage meaning you can pack more. However, if you are taking the train you can probably get away with an overnight bag or a rucksack.

When heading to the beach it is tempting to throw a few pairs of bathing costumes into your bag and forget everything else. But what about in the evenings when you are heading down to the restaurant? How many times have you looked into your bag and realise you have brought four different shirts or dresses but not the right shoes to match? A great tip we found is to pack a capsule wardrobe. By packing clothes that have a similar color scheme, you will not only have to pack less shoes but you will also be able to mix and match your clothing, making more outfits out of fewer items.

However, if you do decide you want to take more items of clothing make sure you remember to roll your items. Not only will this help reduce the need for ironing but you will also be able to fit more items into your case.

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Always place anything that can crease easily at the top and hang up in the bathroom once you get to your hotel, as the steam from your shower will help any creases to drop.

If you are planning on taking bulkier items with you – jeans, jumpers, heavy shoes – try to wear them on your flight. So long as you are not uncomfortable it is easier to wear your heavier items, leaving your bag or case free to hold more items.

Underwear. Yes, we are back to the underwear! Undies do not need ironing and it does not matter if they crease so squeeze these into spaces you can not fit anything else: shoes, corners, the gap between trousers and tops.

Try to take as few pairs of shoes as you can however when packing make sure they are packed around the edge so you can put your clothes in between them – utilizing the gaps left with your underwear of course!

Another great tip we found was the use of dryer sheets. If you are traveling long haul place a dryer sheet between your items and you should have fresh clothes when you land.

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If you do need to take heavy items in your suitcase make sure you place them at the bottom of your case so that they not only make your suitcase easier to move – especially if you have one with two or four wheels. It will also stop your other clothes from getting creased.

Toiletries are a huge bone of contention for many couples that travel. Where you can try to pack as little as possible, especially with many hotels providing toiletries in the room. However, if you do need to take some try to take multi-use products as well as items that are better for the environment. By purchasing small bottles from the local drugstore, you can decanter some of your shampoo, conditioner or body wash from home rather than buying products that have been created specifically for the traveler. Not only are you helping the environment by not using one-use plastic, you are saving money too.

Or if you are on a short trip why not take some dry shampoo, the perfect accessory for any hair!

Entertainment is another area that you need to think about. Why take a book when you can read them on an electrical device, the same with your music, maps and travel guides. Again, not only are you saving money but you are also helping to keep your carbon footprint down.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is that whatever you decide to take should be significant to where you are going. There is no point taking suit trousers if you are spending the entire holiday on a beach, likewise if you are on a city break you may not want to eat dinner in a pair of speedos!