Travel Shop

Just as I love my well-planned travel itineraries, I also love certain travel products that I cannot leave my house without. Through years of trial and error, I have (mostly) found my favorites and I am here to share them with you! When it comes to travel packing I believe in the “less is more” approach. You don’t need a ton of gear, you just need the right gear that will organize your things well. When it comes to outfits, basics are your best friend. So enjoy my perfect and essential picks for travel below.

Note: I am an Amazon Affiliate so if you click any of the links below, I may or may not receive a tiny commission on your purchase which will not affect your price whatsoever. But hey, at the end of the day ALL my blog content is free for you so yo girl has to make a penny somehow to keep on traveling 🙂

The absolute packing basics

Depending on the type of getaway, you need a proper bag. Here are my bare minimum necessities.

• Carry-on: For quick weekend getaways, no need to stuff a backpack. I myself like a lightweight, durable and stylish suitcase and it never hurts when it has cute little gold rims too 🙂
• 40-liter backpack: When I travel somewhere that requires a lot of transport and rolling suitcases on cobblestones, I always reach for my backpack instead of a carry-on. This is obviously a must have for a backpacking hostel trip too. A 40 liter is safe size for carry-on dimensions and investing in a better brand is a must here. The last thing you need is your bag bursting open in the middle of your trip.
• Personal item: When I am trying to save some $ and all I’m allowed in a personal item on the most basic fare, I reach for this super basic bag that fits a ton more than you’d expect. I used this exact one for years now and despite its super cheap price, is has survived some pretty rough trips.

Must-have accessories

• Packing cubes: You’re either a cube person or you’re not. I love my cubes and I think they’re a game changer, especially if you’re backpacking.
• Jewlery case: I don’t like tangled necklaces or lost rings so I keep my stuff nice and tidy. I tried a couple different jewlery bags but this one is the best so far.
• Make up case: Less is more when you’re traveling with make up, get a small case a pack only the essentials. This one is the perfect size for what you need.

Additional gear

• Camera Bag: If I’m traveling somewhere where I need to pack my GoPro, camera lens, tripods and all other gear, I pack my pink camera bag in which I can make your own size compartments. Bonus points for you if you can find pictures of me with my pink pack in my guides 🙂
• Travel Pillow: How do even people sleep without these on the plane?
• Laptop Case: Your laptops needs extra cushion for all those bumps along the way. And a bonus pouch to keep your wires together is the perfect travel accessory.

Electonic accessories

• Travel Adapter: Because for some reason the whole world didn’t agree on a plug … I’ve had this little guy for years and he hasn’t failed me yet.
• Portable Charger: I bet that most of you asked a bartender at least once in your life to charge your phone behind the counter. Well guess what, that shit doesn’t fly as easily in other countries so don’t forget your juice when you’re on the road.
• Tripod: Especially needed if you’re traveling solo! If you’re just using your phone, a simple one with a remote will be your best friend.

Travel fashion basics

• Water resistant, packable light jacket: The most basic travel hack in the world is to wear your jacket on the plane to save packing room. Planes are cold anyway so you will be happy that you did. But most importantly having a jacket that you can easily pack in a pouch will make your life 10x easier. I like simple puffers that are a little longer to keep my butt warm.
• Neutral sandals: If I had to pick one piece of my wardrobe that traveled the most with me it would be my Steve Madden sandals. I swear these go with every outfit and every occassion. 6 hour of walking on cobblestone streets? No problem. Club until the morning? No problem. Legit the best sandals ever that go with every ocassion.
• Neutral sneakers: When packing, always priortize the following: is this cute and comfy and how many things will this match with. So whether white, beige or gray, good sneakers are a must.
• Black yoga pants: You need plane clothes and lounge clothes and these will be your life savers.
• Linen shirt: You can make it fancy, or dress it down or even make it into a swimsuit cover up.
• Simple black dress: Again, one of those things that can be worn in so many contexts.

Personal care items I never travel without

• Refillable containers: I used to always travel purchase tons of those little shampoo bottles but then I realized that I can just bring my own stuff in little containers 🙂 Game changer you guys.
• Dry shampoo: BUT I haven’t figured out how to tranfser dry shampoo into the bottles yet so I will stick with the world’s best dry shampoo, Batiste.
• Perfume atomizer: If you don’t feel like dragging your Carolina Herra shoe on your travels, this is the perfect solution.

Gifts for your travel obssesed friend or your travel obssesed self!

I love gifting my equally obsessed travel friends with new or unique travel gifts. I also love a good and well-deserved impulse purchase for myself.

Against all other advice you will hear in your life, do not buy scratch-off maps for your travel friends. Have you actually seen one hanging in someone’s house? No. Because it’s not cute and we’ve probably gotten like 6 of them from everyone who thought it was a great and unique idea for someone who travels.

Instead, here are some other random but useful and more importantly cute ideas to gift.

• Passport holder: Guys … talk about capitalizing on the new normal. These come with a little vaccine card holder!
• Drink holder: So you don’t have to say hold my beer, I mean coffee, to your travel buddy every two minutes.
• Reusable bags: Did you know the majority of the world gave up on plastic and you need to bring your own bags to the store? I have one like this and I use it nonstop!

• Neck pillow with a hood: Yes, I want to be that guy on the plane.
• Collapsable water bottle: It’s bad enough that I have to pay $15 for my airport beer in NYC, I don’t want to pay another $5 for my Dasani water bottle.
• Journal: The greatest thing you can do for yourself is to write while you travel. And no, leather-bound journals are not practical guys.