My Carry-On Essentials

Traveling is stressful enough. But what you don’t need to stress about anymore is what to pack in your carry-on — here are my favorite things to bring along for short and long-haul journeys.

When considering what to pack in your carry-on bag, you want to make sure that getting through the airport is easy-peasy. That means limiting heavy items and, of course, liquids.What liquids you do bring along — make sure that they are in a TSA approved clear zip-top bag (like a quart-sized Ziplock) and easily accessible when going through security.

If you have Global Entry (which comes with TSA Pre-Check) you won’t have to remove your liquids, electronics, or shoes — but it’s best to keep them handy just in case.

Here you’ll find some of my favorite items that keep me feeling fresh (toothpaste tabs; cleansing cloths; perfume solid — for when you are off the plane, please; unscented hand lotion; eye drops) relaxed (melatonin, neck pillow, eye mask, and lavender scented oil roll on), entertained (Amazon Paperwhite and iPad), and hydrated (stainless steel water bottle and no-sugar added hydration powder).

What’s not included in this list that you’ll want to remember: your electronic charging cables,  passport, travel itinerary including your hotel address (some countries require this information on the immigration paperwork),

You might also want to plan for the worst case scenario (it’s happened to us at least five times!) — you checked baggage is delayed or gets lost.

I think it’s a good idea to board with a clean pair of clothes, underwear, socks, deodorant, and especially any necessary medication. Don’t forget to add a power converter to this list if you’re traveling overseas.