TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
I love to travel but I also love a good deal.
I will be posting my Travel Essentials to help you
travel without breaking the bank
Cruise Essentials
The Single Most Important Cruise Cabin Accessory
Think about how many electronic devices need to be charged
by each person, especially if you're traveling with kids or teenagers.
Staterooms are small and have only one or two outlets in a cabin. So to prevent fights over the outlet(s),
I bring a Cruise approved foldable non surge protector with USB outlets. https://amzn.to/405MI7L
I also like this one. https://amzn.to/3ZXGtmu
I have used both in hotels too. It’s not just for cruises.
Surge protectors are a not allowed on cruises. They disrupt the onboard electric system and they will be confiscated. So don't do it!
Happy Cruising!
More Cruise Essentials
Cruise cabins are small. Staying organized in a small space makes the trip enjoyable.
Most walls and doors on cruises are metal.
Magnetic hooks are great for hanging up wet bathing suits, lanyards with key cards (see below) and whatever else needs hanging.
These hooks can also be used on BBQ grills at home to hang the BBQ tools and fridges.
Bathrooms on cruises are very small and counter space and storage is limited. You can also use a hanging shoe organizer for all your toiletries. They will stay neatly organized and you can see them clearly through the plastic for easy access. I actually pack them in the shoe organizer in my luggage.
Metal hooks: https://amzn.to/3z0HqPl
Clear plastic shoe organizer: https://amzn.to/3K45CGF
Happy Cruising!
Don't Blow a Fuse - Europe Essentials
Electrical voltage and outlets are different from what is standard in the US
You will need to purchase an adapter for the outlet for the country you are traveling to.
Most of Europe uses 220 volts, while the US uses 110 volts for electrical current.
Adaptors do not perform any power conversion, so you may need an electrical transformer, for example, to run your hair dryer or a curling iron.
To simplify matters, I just travel with a hair dryer or straight iron with dual voltage.
European Plug Adapter with USB ports https://amzn.to/3AlPgDV
Dual voltage hair straightener https://amzn.to/3L1iZXA
Happy Travels!
Always Fully Charged
Get a solar powered portable battery!!!!
When you're outside with no access to an outlet...
You can charge two devices at once.
Great for a day at the beach or hanging out by the pool.
Great for campers or hikers. It is also a flashlight and a compass.
https://amzn.to/41N1EcX
Another charger I love when traveling is this slim charger
that plugs into the wall. No wires needed because it has
built in cables compatible with iPhone, Android, and USB-C.
Stay Fully Charged!
Stay Organized
A few years ago, a friend introduced me to packing cubes and I have never been the same again! We were headed to Iceland (a Top 5 trip, by the way!) and we were going to be moving around the country rather than staying at one hotel.
Packing cubes are great for staying organized so you're not digging around a suitcase. Packing cubes also help separate the dirties from the not so dirties when you're packing to return home.
My kids are expert packers and my daughter has adopted the packing cubes as well. We have tried several kinds from the cheap ones you find at Marshalls and wanted to share the ones that I love.
The BAGAIL Packing Cubes are rated #1 by Good Housekeeping and the greatest value for your money. They come in 10 colors and you get 8 pieces: 3 packing cubes (1 large, 1 medium, 1 small), 1 drawstring shoe bag, 1 shoe bag, 2 accessories bags, and 1 makeup bag.
Happy Saving!
Happy Travels!
Keep Your Phone Dry
These waterproof pouches are great at the pool or at the beach to keep your phone out of a bag of rice. You can listen to music or take pictures in the water.
A 2-pack is on sale on Amazon!
Happy Shopping!
Carry On Game is Strong
This backpack went viral on TikTok!!!
It is amazing!!! It qualifies as a personal item. It fits under the seat in front of you on a plane.
It has so many pockets compartments for your laptop/tablet, shoes, waterproof section, and a built in charger!
I use my small packing cube and am able to pack for a 5 day trip with only this backpack!
Make sure you buy the Large-L, not the Large.
Durable Luggage
I love the Travelpro.
I have the carry on and the checked in bags. These bags are so durable. Very good quality. They survive being thrown by baggage handlers and being overstuffed. I have tried several suitcases over the year and these are the best quality I have found.
The wheels don't jam or get stuck. Very smooth.
Keep Track of Your Luggage
Traveling can be a hassle and I think nothing is worse than lost luggage.
In November, I bought an AirTag and threw it in our ONE checked bag. We went to the Bahamas for Thanksgiving. My teenage son made fun of me for it.
But..when we landed in Nassau, we grabbed the WRONG bag and didn't realize until we checked into our hotel and went to put our bathing suits on. I had Melissa's bag. It looked just like mine!!!
Immediately, I opened the app and saw that my bag was still at the airport. I jumped in a cab and headed back to the airport with Melissa's bag. I explained to the nice security guard what happened and showed him on the app that the AirTag says my bag is inside. He just let me roll right into baggage claim and retrieve my bag. (No comment on the top notch security standards in the Bahamas)
My bag was still sitting on the conveyor belt just where the AirTag told me it was.
I will never NOT travel without AirTags in my bag again!
Never Lose Your Key Card
It's a constant battle with the hotel or cruise key card for me. I am on vacation, people!
I don't use keys in real life. I don't even know where my house keys are! I have one of those smart keys that unlocks the car door and I come in through the garage with the car. You expect me to keep track of keys on vacation?
I am not always sporting clothing with pockets on vacation. The key card ends up at the bottom of my very fashionable beach bag and now I am standing outside my room digging for the key card with impatient teens standing behind me, most likely giving each other a look or the eye roll. Or it gets demagnetized (I am not even sure if that's the word) when it's in my phone case or near credit cards.
So I have invested in the retractable badge holder with clip. It clips to the beach bag. It can clip to a bathing suit or a coverup. I don't even need to take it out of the plastic holder for most places to unlock the door. Just hold it up and we are in our room!
The teens refuse to use theirs, but that's on them. I love mine!
Some people use lanyards on cruises. Personally, I don't like anything around my neck but these are popular too. https://amzn.to/3tPTZxK
Keep Your Valuables Safe
Back in the day, it was called a fanny pack. Now it's a Sling Bag or a Belt Bag.
Keep your passport, phone and money safe when you're going on rides at Disney or you're exploring a foreign country. Be ware of pick pockets.
Sling bag https://amzn.to/40A3o7B
Lululemon Athletica Everywhere Belt Bag https://amzn.to/4aL46ES
Keep Your Towels in Place
Your towel can slide down your lounger or blow away on a windy day.
When you get out of the ocean or pool, it's a lot easier for you and your kids to find your chair with towel clips.
I love my flamingo towel chair clips. Another option is towel bands.
Towel Clips: https://amzn.to/3JK0upZ
Towel Bands: https://amzn.to/3FPCOPT
Ditch the Saggy Paper Straw
On vacation, I enjoy the occasional fruity drink with an umbrella in it
A saggy paper straw ruins the vibe
A plastic straw harms wildlife so bring along a reusable silicone straw that is easy to clean and comes with a case.
Be Friendly to the Reefs
Traditional sunscreens contain ocean-damaging chemicals. Reef-friendly products provide protection without harming precious marine environments. Many opular destinations, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii have banned specific ingredients in sunscreen that harm coral reefs and other marine species. Some of my favorite eco-conscious sunblock options that provide proper protection without violating these bans or sacrificing your skin's comfort are listed here.
For Sensitive Skin: Blue Lizard https://amzn.to/3ZYQ4d0
Vegan: Sun Bum https://amzn.to/40l905x
Keep your Clothes Fresh on Vacation
Laundry on vacation? Seems like an oxymoron. I love vacation. I hate laundry. The two should not go together.
We are headed to Europe for 2 weeks this summer. So at some point, we will need to de-stink our clothes. I don't want to sit in an Italian laundromat or hotel basement doing laundry while on vacation. When traveling with messy children or sweaty teens, a few essential items come in handy.
Campers - this is great when you're out in the wild (where you'll never find me. I'm more of a glamping kind of girl).
Scrubba is a convenient way to hand wash your clothes when you're traveling. It has a 5% coupon on Amazon https://amzn.to/4042RLm
To freshen clothes that may be wrinkled in the packing process, my go to is Downy WrinkleGuard Wrinkle Release Fabric Spray https://amzn.to/3yOltCN
For stubborn wrinkles, I bring a portable steamer https://amzn.to/400wptg
For removing stains, my go to is the Tide Stain Remover Stick https://amzn.to/3loT03u
Happy Laundering (if that's even possible)
