My Travel Essentials

The Necessities

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Hi, friends!

In the process of working on two other posts, this one kind of popped up out of nowhere. I think it’s partially inspired by the fact that I have two road trips this year as well as one next year that I’m planning for.

Everyone defines their travel essentials differently. For me, these are the items that make my life easier when traveling so I wanted to share them.

Lychii TSA Approved Toiletry Bag, Clear Travel Bag for Liquids Toiletries

This bag was a recent purchase based on a recommendation from one of my favorites on TikTok, Rilee. They review a lot of different travel products, and this one caught my eye immediately because of it’s set up. There’s two sides to this bag and it is split down the middle by a zipper. Then within it has zippered openings for each side which have additional sections within.

This setup allows for me to keep my skincare on one side and then my haircare items and/or liquid makeup on the other side. I flew from BNA here in Nashville to PHX Sky Harbor and back without TSA having an issue with this bag.

I purchased mine in black back in December 2024 and in the medium size because I was trying to force myself to limit my packing. But I am hoping the black large size might come back in stock and I’ll be adding that to my roadtrip packing collection.

BAGSMART Travel Jewelry Organizer Case

This is another one that Rilee turned me on to and I ordered back in December 2024 for the same trip as the toiletries bag. If I’m doing a road trip, I’ll typically just wear the jewelry I want to wear on the trip. However, when it comes to flying I prefer to just go blank canvas for comfortability sake. So for this past trip in December this came in handy when packing the jewelry options for the trip. This thing fits a surprising amount and doesn’t take up much room in my suitcase (which I typically try to fly with just my personal item and my carry on).

VMstr Travel Vacuum Storage Bags with Electric Pump

This set was my lifesaver on this last trip and I love that I can plug the little vacuum into my computer or a charger block to then just suck all the air out. Again, the space saver bags help out with cutting down on space and the vacuum isn’t large enough to take up too much room either. My favorite part was that I separate my outfits based on the event as I was attending a wedding while I was on that trip. I will definitely be using it when it comes to bulkier pieces I may want to pack even for roadtrips.

Shark Flexstyle

This one should really come as no surprise to anyone after my raving review of this hair gadget back 2023. You can read that review here.

Point being, this has been my favorite little friend to travel with via plane because it basically acts as blowdryer, curler, and round brush which eliminates the needs for me to pack my round brushes and curling iron. My first roadtrips are coming up with it this year so I’m certain it’s going to be come my favorite travel buddy just in general.

I did buy mine via the build your own bundle set so I only have the nozzle, curling rods, and round brush. But I am planning on getting the diffuser to see if we can coax my wavy pattern into coming back.

Leudes Hair Tools Travel Bag for Shark Flexstyle

If my Shark Flexstyle is my favorite hair tool to travel with, then this is its favorite companion. I found this back in 2023 when I first bought my Flexstyle and it is perfect as long as you aren’t trying to take the diffuser with you. This bag lets me pack all my attachments, my alligator clips, and the body of the Flexstyle with its cord in one bag that actually keeps it all together as well as fits it perfectly in my carry on sized suitcase. This thing is perfection and I love it. If I end up getting another Flexstyle for UK travel, I will be buying another one of these for it and most likely putting a heatvinyl label on the wristlet strap that say “UK SHARK FLEXSTYLE” just to be safe.

Overnight Blowout

If you know me in real life, these should not be a surprise on this list of travel essentials. When I travel, I do try to keep from doing as much to my hair as possible. But I also love these for flying on planes because I can just toss my hair up once I’m through security and then spend the rest of the flight with my hair up so I’m comfy. Then I can let it down upon arrival and look fabulous while exiting the airport.

Now my specific set is one of the original sets and is not longer available for purchase, but I have linked to the “Classic 3 Set Velvet Rod” above. This is essentially the same as my set of two but with one extra. I’m fully planning on ordering some additional sets but I’m holding out hope we’re gonna get a redhead set (I keep asking for it I swear!).

LOVEVOOK Laptop Backpack for Women, 15.6 Inch Travel Backpack with Laptop Compartment, Water Resistant

Again, if you know me in real life, this bag should not come as a surprise to you. My Lovevook backpack has been my constant travel buddy since I purchased it in April 2023 as a present to myself. And yes, I got it in Wine Red when the back with the separate laptop compartment was available.

I get a million compliments on it when I travel with it and I basically treat myself like a walking billboard for this bag. It, like my Shark Flexstyle, is something I will refuse to travel without. One of my favorite things about this bag is the fact that there is a cell phone pocket on the same side where the plugin for a portable charger is able to be plugged in. That is my next purchase I plan on making is a decent charge bank because the ones I currently have suck.

This bag even has a strap on the back to attach it to your suitcase as you wheel it through the airport so win win of not having to carry it on your back.

IT Luggage

I found my giant one at HomeGoods by pure accident and got it for $100. My carryon matches it and I got it for $60 when it was on sale on the Kohl’s website. I’m still working on getting the size between the two so that I can try to force myself into packing lighter when I travel but I’m not ready to spend over $100 on the luggage just yet. But I probably will splurge on it before the end of the year.

My favorite part about these is they have the TSA locks built in so they can open the luggage if need be to go through it without cutting a lock off. I also appreciate that you can customize the code. I’ve made both of mine have the same code on them to save me time. But I love these so far and I cannot wait to just test out how well they hold up.

Multi-wear Large Wallet from Snazzy Cat Sews

These creators are local here to Nashville and I first spotted their amazing creations at Merry Mayhem in Lebanon, TN. This wallet has now become my absolute bestie when it comes to flying because while it can function as a crossbody purse, it is a wallet and can slip inside my Lovevook backpack with ease. I don’t fly with my Michael Kors bags because they would count as a personal bag, but I also don’t want to have to take just the wallet with me. So this is the best of both worlds for me because it’s a wallet, a crossbody, and a wristlet all in one.

And there you have it, the list of what I consider my travel essentials. There’s a little bit of something for all price points but these are the things are basically on my non-negotiable list for traveling over the last couple of years.

My love,