When I’m heading off on a vacation, it’s important to think about the travel involved and what I need to be comfortable. The packing situation is different for each trip you encounter. I typically prefer to fly rather than take all day driving to my destination. Don’t get me wrong, road trips can be fun, but the excitement starts to ware off around the third or fourth hour. I’ve been on more flights from one state to another than I can count. Every time I leave the house for a trip, I think that as long as I have my phone and my wallet, I can do anything. I can always buy something I forget. It gives me peace of mind, but I still try to avoid spending extra cash on things I could have brought from home.
Recently, I flew to California twice within two months. I brought the same carry on bag with the same essential items in it. I’m starting to feel like I’ve got it down. These are my must-have carry-on items for a short flight:
A Solid Carry On Bag – I used to carry a big backpack on every plane to be able to fit as much as I could in that tiny space under the seat. Now, I use this awesome little roller bag designed for under the seat. Airplane seats are already so uncomfortable that my back starts to hurt. I love being able to roll around this little bag rather than carrying all that weight on my shoulders. The only time this is a bit of a hassle is when I’m carrying a carry-on suitcase and this under-the-seat bag. Two roller bags can become a tricky situation when you need to carry something else and only have two hands. I’ve still always found a way to make it work and will continue to use this little guy on every trip. He came from Costco.
I.D. – necessary for boarding.
Credit Card – I make it easily accessible for airport food purchases.
Good Book – I typically end up watching a movie rather than reading, but it’s good to have options.
Fully Charged Phone – with movies downloaded.
Phone Charger – Duh. Some airports are great about having charging stations and others are not, but you need this little chord as a lifeline in case a flight is delayed or cancelled.
Headphones – preferably the noise-cancelling kind. Nashid and I have the expensive kind because of all the traveling we do and for our day jobs. It’s nice to block out the rest of the world sometimes.
Bag for Liquids – I used to always use a sandwich ziplock bag for my liquids on carry-on flights. Then, I got one of these neat reusable bags and it works like a charm. It also came with little plastic containers and bottles I use for lotion and face wash.
Snacks – I don’t like to spend money on airport food or snacks if I can avoid it, unless the company is paying, of course.
Ibuprofen – I get frequent headaches, and I definitely can’t handle that on a flight. I like to save space by putting some in a smaller container.
Water Bottle –I’m not gonna pay $4 for a water bottle when there are drinking fountains all over airports. Did you know you could keep ice in your water bottle through security? I found that out recently and have tested it a couple of times already.
Chap Stick and Lotion – these are essential daily items, but especially necessary on a flight. It gets dry up there.
Jacket – you never know what temperature the airplane is going to be. It can get uncomfortably warm, but I’ve noticed airlines tend to keep the temps cooler as much as possible.
Bringing these essentials in my carry-on makes all the difference on a flight. I like to have plenty to do and everything I need to be comfortable. I also try to save money during the traveling part, so I can splurge a little on the vacation. I make a packing list and cross things off as I go to make sure I’m completely prepared for each adventure. Airlines are getting cheaper in the way they operate even though the prices are going up. I’ll do another post to compare the airlines I frequently use. It doesn’t seem to matter who you pick too much though when it comes to delays and unexpected changes. That’s why it’s so important to bring everything you need in a carry on.
What are some of your must-haves?