I don’t buy a new wardrobe for every trip. I’d rather save that money for plan tickets or experiences.
This isn’t a list of things I bought last month and got excited about. A lot of it has been in my suitcase for years. The Away bag is past the five-year mark. The shoes have been through the washing machine multiple times. Most of these items are in my daily rotation as a work from home gal. If I’d only ever use it on vacation, I probably don’t need it.
You don’t need all ten of these. If one of them fixes something that bugs you every single time you travel, start there.
1. The set I own in two colors
I liked this enough to buy it twice. I have it in two colors, I’ve been wearing both for a few years, and they’ve held up really well.
What makes it a travel piece is that it doesn’t wrinkle. I can roll it up, stuff it in my suitcase, and wear it straight out of the bag. No hunting for the hotel iron and hoping for the best.
It’s comfy enough for a long travel day and cute enough that I don’t feel like I left the house in pajamas. PLUS it has pockets. That matters more than you’d think when you need somewhere to put your phone and boarding pass while you wrestle a bag into the overhead bin.
2. A long cardigan that looks more put together than it feels
I’m always cold but I HATE being hot. I’ve been both uncomfortably hot and cold on various flights. This is the layer I bring for all of it.
This long, open-front cardigan is warm and comfy, but it looks like I made an effort. I’ve gotten so many compliments on it.
I’ve had mine for a few years and it’s held up well. I work from home, so it gets a ton of wear even when I’m not going anywhere. That’s the kind of purchase I’m after right now: one thing that works on a plane, at dinner, and at my desk on a random Tuesday. Bonus: it also has pockets.
3. My Allbirds
I love all things Allbirds, and this pair is coming with me to Paris.
I’ve had them for two years. My favorite thing about them is that they go in the washing machine. I’ve washed mine multiple times and they still look great. If you’ve ever come home from a trip with shoes that look (and smell) like they walked ten miles a day, you know why that matters.
Shoes are the one place I won’t go cheap for travel, because sore feet can wreck an entire day. With that said, I would much rather buy one good pair that lasts for years than replace a cheap pair every summer.
4. A wireless bra I can wear for hours and sleep in
Nobody wants an underwire digging into their ribs somewhere over the Atlantic.
These wireless bras are my travel-day pick (everyday pick, TBH). You cannot beat the price or the comfort. No wire, nothing poking, nothing to adjust every twenty minutes. On a long flight or a full day of walking, that’s all I want.
They’re cheap enough that this is an easy one to try. Not everything worth packing has to be an investment. I bought one of these and have bought several more as my older bras need to be replaced.
5. e.l.f. Holy Hydration Thirst Burst Drops (the mini)
Travel is rough on my skin. It gets dry and dull fast, and a day of airplane air does not help.
I wear these drops every day, either under my tinted moisturizer or mixed right into it. It’s great for looking luminous after you’ve survived a 10-hour flight, even when you feel like a crumpled receipt.
The mini is tiny, so it goes in my liquids bag with room to spare. I have the full size for every day use.
6. The Away Everywhere Bag
Okay, this one is pricey. I’m not going to pretend it isn’t.
I’ve used mine for over five years, and it still looks new. Spread over that many trips, the price stings a lot less. I cannot express to you how much I love this bag.
It holds so much, and it still fits under the seat in front of me on most planes. So I’m not fighting for overhead bin space, and everything I need mid-flight is right at my feet. It has a padded laptop sleeve and a shoulder strap you can take off.
If it’s not in the budget right now, skip it and use the bag you already have. But if you’re shopping for a personal item bag and you only want to buy one once, this is the one I’d buy again.
7. A mini curling iron that works overseas
I get the cutest curls with this little thing, and it barely takes up any room in my bag. I’ve had a few hair tools in the past that were supposed to work overseas but that wasn’t the case. I bought this one 3 years ago and have gifted it to several travel-loving friends.
What makes it a travel pick and not just a hair pick is that it’s dual voltage. Outlets in Europe run at a higher voltage than ours in the US, and a regular US curling iron can fry itself if you plug it in over there. This one handles both. All you need is a cheap plug adapter.
It’s also a 2-in-1, so it straightens too. One tool in the suitcase instead of two.
8. A power bank that fits in my palm
Helene gets credit for this one. She recommended it recently. When Helene speaks, I listen.
When I travel, my phone is my boarding pass, my map, and my camera. A dead battery at 3 pm in a city I don’t know is a real problem.
This INIU power bank is tiny. It’s a little over three inches long, so it disappears into a jacket pocket or the smallest pouch in my bag. It still holds 10,000mAh, which is roughly a couple of full phone charges, and it fast-charges over USB-C.
One thing to know: power banks have to go in your carry-on, not your checked bag. Some airlines also have their own rules about using them during the flight, so it’s worth a quick check before you go.
9. Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer with SPF 50
This one is great for keeping my skin hydrated and protected, and it does both jobs in one product. Moisturizer and sunscreen together means one less thing to pack and one less step when I’m trying to get out of the hotel and go see things.
It’s 1.7 ounces, so it’s already carry-on size. No decanting.
Travel days usually mean a lot more time outside than a normal day at home, and that’s when the SPF 50 earns its spot in my bag (hi, I’m pale and burn easily).
10. Refillable jars
I don’t buy travel-size versions of my products for every trip. You pay a lot for very little, and then the tiny bottle goes in the trash.
I use these jars instead and bring my everyday products with me, without them taking up much space. The set is six jars in three sizes, plus two tiny spatulas for scooping.
The lids screw on, and when I get home I wash them out and they’re ready for next time. It’s a small one-time buy instead of paying for minis over and over.
That’s the list
It’s not a glamorous list. It’s just the stuff that has held up, and that I’d buy again if my suitcase went missing tomorrow.
Please don’t feel like you have to buy anything to take a good trip. Use what you have. And when something does need replacing, I hope this helps you pick one that lasts.
What’s the one thing you never travel without? Tell me in the comments. I love hearing what’s in other people’s bags!
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