It’s an irony of my life that this confirmed homebody has spent so much of her life not at home. By my calculations, over the seventeen years I’ve been married to a Navy man, we’ve lived over a year in hotels for one reason or another—temporary assignments, between moves leaving a home, between moves waiting for a new home. This means I’ve packed and unpacked a lot—boxes, suitcases, shipping containers, planes, trains, and automobiles. As a result, I’ve accumulated a list of unconventional packing items that always seem to be handy on the go.
This isn’t your usual packing list. I’m not a light packer but most of these items are small enough that they might only cost the space of that one spare outfit you won’t wear anyway. And remember, you don’t have to toss all of these in your bag. (Though I have passionate feelings about why checking bags is actually far more convenient than carrying on—standing at baggage claim for a mere 15 minutes beats schlepping my own bag through the airport all day any day—though I know that runs counterintuitive to most travel advice these days.) These are the items that are important to me, and I use most of them even when I’ll be at a hotel or a family member’s home for a few days rather than a few months.
As you can see, I love my creature comforts and don’t mind making space for them, but even a handful of thoughtfully chosen additions will make your own trip smoother. I hope you find good inspiration for your next trip here.
If you have items you never travel without, I’d love to hear about them in comments!
My unconventional packing list
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1. An extension cord: This is my number one recommendation and the one thing I never travel without. Hotels and guest rooms never have enough plugs in convenient places. This is small enough to not make a difference in your luggage.
2. Over-the-door hooks: Ditto that hotel and guest rooms never have enough hooks. These rubber-coated over-the-door hooks fit over the slimmest of door jambs. Just be careful! I’ve replaced so many of these because they’re easy to forget and leave behind.
3. Ziploc bags: So many uses for these, which I’m sure you can imagine, but really … my favorite is the look of amazement when I pull a Ziploc out of my carry-on at just the moment one is needed—and the travelers with me realize I have us covered. Big first-born daughter energy here: “be prepared” is one of my life mottos.
4. Face cloths: Because eye makeup can be the mortal enemy of your mother-in-law’s gorgeous plush washcloths and pillowcases. These also come in clutch when that one-hour layover turns into nine hours. (Ask me how I know.)
5. Earplugs & an eye mask: I love the new Loops that my friend Monica turned me on to, but any old foam pair will do. You might have an unused eye mask that someone has given you as a gift at some point. I never use these at home, but they’re perfect for the road, where light and schedules vary. I’m a light sleeper and also WHY do hotel doors shut so hard??
6. My own robe: Makes such a difference, and you never know when you’ll stay someplace where the shower is across the hall from your guest room. I like a thin jersey robe that takes up less space, but go with waffle or plush if you have the space and it makes you happy.
7. A hat: I’m a fan of a ballcap, and I’m so glad they’re sort of in right now with most any attire. I’ve often donned this for late-night ice-machine runs or early-morning donut runs.
8. Slippers: Particularly crocheted slippers with a little non-slip backing that feel more substantial than a pair of socks, but don’t take up much more space.
9. Washi tape: I’m always surprised at how often I end up needing a piece of tape, and this washi is just so pretty. I’ve taped postcards or other notes to the wall when I’m staying for an extended time to make my walls feel more like home, or added little labels to identify whose drink is whose, or seal up any items that might leak.
10. Eco laundry detergent sheets: This is a new edition to my luggage, but these paper laundry sheets are a game-changer. So slim and you can even tear off tiny portions to wash a blouse or two in the sink.
11. Clothespins: For hanging clothes to dry if need be, but let’s be honest, I use these most for closing bags of chips and other snacks I’ve acquired along the way.
12. Scissors: Especially if you’re driving or checking a bag. TSA says you’re allowed a small pair of scissors (4″ or less) in your carry-on. I’m always snipping a stray thread off my jacket or realizing we need to open a hard-to-crack package of road trip snacks along the way (again with the snacks). Rarely do I get through a trip not using these. I like this pair since it comes with a protective sheath (but is too big for a carry-on).
13. A deck of cards: Gin rummy is our favorite way to pass the time when the phones need to recharge, our eyes need a break from our books, or we just want to connect to our fellow travelers for a minute.
14. A hamper: The largest of the specialty items I travel with, but my hamper folds up completely flat when not in use and is so handy, especially if I’m traveling more than a few days. I love a dedicated container to hold my worn clothes, especially if it stands up on its own as my favorite does. I usually tuck the whole thing in a trash bag to travel home, so the dirties stay separate from that one still clean spare outfit that I still never wore.
What’s an unconventional item you always travel with? Please tell us in the comments section!
About the author
Ginger Horton is our Book Club Community Manager here at MMD. Her go-to genres are literary fiction and classics. You can find Ginger on Instagram posting as herself @gthorton or in the MMD Book Club account @MMDBookClub
78 comments
I completely agree about checking bags–so much more convenient, and I can pack my full-size hair products!
I could not disagree more with you and Ginger! I don’t find it difficult to have my carry-on with me at the airport. I hate waiting in long lines to check a bag and waiting at baggage claim when I just want to get going. Plus numerous friends and family have had luggage go missing for days on end on a trip which discombobulates everything. I much prefer to have control over my belongings whenever possible!
It’s so good that the world is made up of different perspectives. Happy traveling, Maureen! 🙂
I’m an “it depends” kind of person on checking bags. If a trip is likely to be either ruined or greatly impacted by a missing bag I carry on. But if it won’t be as big a deal, I check and avoid the schlepping. I often carry on on the way there, but expand my bag and check coming home so I can fit a few gifts or souvenirs. Season matters as well. A trip to the tropics needs way smaller items than a trip where I’ll be experiencing a variety of weather conditions.
I’ve been fortunate! I’ve only had my luggage lost once. I had to hit Target for a toothbrush and some pjs on the way to the hotel, but then they brought my luggage right to my room so that felt like a double win to me! ☺️
Grace – I’m with you. I’m short and at the mercy of fellow travelers to get my luggage in the overhead bins. I enjoy not being a light-packer. So far, I’ve never lost luggage. (knock on wood) I do try very hard to schedule direct flights.
Also a travelor – I bring all of this and add a lightbulb. Those bedside lamps are never bright enough!
A portable carbon monoxide detector! Especially since the little one sleeps in a pack and play that’s closer to the floor than a bed. There were some prominent tragedies locally over the past year or two that drove this home for me.
This is a great idea. Do you have one you recommend?
I love these suggestions! traveled solo (on a group trip) recently to Southern Utah. Weather ranged from 40-99 degrees F. So needed space for layers and winter. And we changed hotels every day or two and had to carry our own bags. So laundry happened (especially wool socks and underwear. Yes to laundry sheets (which I use at home too)! And look for travel clothesline, which was great for the overnights we did not have to pack up and move again). I also used the extension cord with multiple places to plug in including USB. Instead of a designated hamper, I use a kitchen trash bag. Easy to pack several and if you don’t use them traveling, they work at home. Thanks for helping me get my heart to remember that life changing trip ! (Zion NP, Bryce NP, Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, and Capital Reed NP, plus many State parks, museums, etc.)
A Nite light. Sometimes rooms are too dark and they’re always unfamiliar. This has been a game changer.
So smart!
Yes Rita, I just got one with a two prong plug for hotel bathrooms in Europe. Now I won’t have to leave the bathroom light on for my trips there in the middle of the night.
Thanks for the list Ginger! I would also add a black Sharpie marker and reusable grocery bags to the list. Many places don’t have plastic anymore, and you can always use the bags to take to the beach or pool, as picnic carrier, even as a cooler with a ziplock of ice thrown in. I’m partial to the plastic-y reinforced Trader Joe ones, which I did carry around at a spa one weekend because I’m glamorous like that. 🙂 Also, my go-to pack when I’m doing anything like a tailgate, a picnic, a party somewhere not my house: big scissors, tape, a lighter, a chef’s knife, a sharpie, baggies and a small spatula. I keep inexpensive versions packaged in a ziploc ready for fun on the go!
So smart! I’m forever buying bags when I’m out of town because I forget I’m away from my own car trunk (where I store all mine usually). Good to know they have so many other uses too besides shopping!
Dryer sheets! They help with static cling and keep your clothes smelling fresh. I place them between worn, but still clean clothes and also between clean worn and unworn clothes in my suitcase to keep everything smelling nice. And when my hair is standing on end, rubbing with a dryer sheet makes it smooth.
I have multiple pairs of thse scissors for emboroidery and cross stitch, but they’re so handy that now I keep them in my bag all the time (and they’re tiny, so perfect for a carry on):
https://stitchedmodern.com/products/mini-neon-snips-with-sheath?variant=39407056945265
And these are so cute!!
This is such a great list. I would NEVER have thought of any of these, even though I have complained about the lack of almost all of them on numerous occasions. Lol. Thank you! I’ll be saving this for the next time I go somewhere, even if it’s just a local hotel for a staycation.
I agree 100% about the checked baggage! I hate dragging a random piece of luggage through the airport if I don’t have to. (& hoisting into the overhead compartment is also a lot of fun . ha)
These are very helpful! Thanks Ginger!
I take two or three large binder clips for closing those window drapes that never stay closed!
You can also use the clips on the often provided shirt hanger to close your drapes.
Brilliant!!
My mom taught me to pack a night light and I’m always glad when I do!
Now that our son has gotten older and many times sleeps in a different room than we do, I have two extension cords when I pack. Get the style where you can plug in from multiple sides and has USB ports on it. We also pack salt, pepper, and spices because we usually stay in a place where we can cook. Oxo sells these that screw close that I use for garlic powder, etc. They are small, secure, and traveled to Aruba without a problem.
OXO Good Grips Prep & Go Leakproof Condiment Containers – 3 pack https://a.co/d/ixDYGBh
And the ziploc bags are a must! With a chip clip of some kind as others mentioned.
Just added those OXOs to my cart!!
How perfect! I will definitely keep this list to refer to next time we travel. Thanks Ginger!
Great list. I second the sharpie ( add post it note) night light (neck style) and knife (Opinel folding picnic knife). I’m a knitter so I bring single use “Soak” soap packets that are great for washing anything in a sink and don’t need rinsing. And a paperback book I can leave in the hotel library.
I did a lot of travel research when our Paris trip was cancelled because of the pandemic. But we are starting to get out again
This list is a bonafide public service! I’ve traveled the globe for writing assignments and completely endorse so many of these suggestions! I completely agree about the ziploc bags (both large and small…also good for anything that might spill in your suitcase). Also, either a trash bag or a reusable grocery bag instead of a hamper (takes up less space). A portable charger with adapters for different countries. Pens and a little notebook–old school!— to write down things because there’s always something you need to write down (and the phone isn’t convenient, or you can’t find it:) Fingernail clippers and file (allowed on planes now) that also can be used to cut stray threads, open a difficult package, etc.
Also – YES! Why would you carry on a bag if have the time and could check it??!! Especially if you have a direct flight. I feel seen.
I love the idea of laundry detergent sheets. I have to travel with my own laundry detergent because I need fragrance-free, but didn’t know they made sheets! So much more convenient then traveling with powder or liquid.
I also travel with most of these items and my favorite is ziplock bags. I pack underwear, sleepware and tops in the big bags. Squeeze the air out and they take up little room. At your destination it prevents rooting around in your suitcase. Thanks for all the useful tips
I bring my slippers everywhere! Even when I went on safari and could only pack 30# of gear (including my camera + lenses).
Yes! Footsies comfort forever.
What a great list, Ginger! I’ve been a carry-on traveler on our last several airplane adventures, but I pack very differently for a road trip.
I ALWAYS pack a pair of leggings and comfy Tshirt (weight depending on the season) that can function as PJs or loungewear, but that are presentable enough for a quick trip to the vending machine or coffee station.
I also never leave home without a notebook and some of my favorite pens.
I’ve not traveled much in 2023, but I am looking forward to getting back on the road and into the air in 2024!
Cheers,
Melinda
What leggings do you like? I’m always at a loss, either see through so expensive or the waist band is super tight!
I recommend joggers! They’re a bit looser than leggings and just as versatile.
This is a little out of left field (ha!) but I’m taking my son to baseball camp in Texas soon, does anyone know if you can fly with a baseball bat or is it considered a weapon?
TSA says only in your checked luggage. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/baseball-bats#:~:text=Sports%20equipment%20that%20can%20be,transported%20in%20your%20checked%20baggage.
Thank you! I haven’t been on a plane in ten-ish years. I’m at a loss!
Caroline – traveled a ton w/my son for baseball – if you have an entire baseball bag and catcher’s gear like we had – a generic golf travel bag is amazing to put all that into and check as one oversized item. SO much easier than trying to cram into luggage. You usually do have to stop at the oversized luggage area though – my son freaked out the first time the luggage carousel was empty & his gear was still not out! He would still carry-on his baseball glove.
Good Luck
Debbie,
Thanks for the advice! I will try that. He’s not a catcher, but still has a lot of stuff.
Great list, Ginger! I always travel with earplugs. Mack’s Ultra-soft Foam is my favorite brand. They’re short and super soft, so you can lay on your side in comfort. Here’s the link:
https://a.co/d/44DEkEO
This is a great list! Ziplocks are the first thing I pack haha.
I bring laundry pods, dryer sheets, and quarters for any trip longer than about 5 days. We pack for about 3-4 days and do laundry. We usually workout or swim, and those clothes need washed asap.
I bring a ton of snacks- like a shoe box sized amount. After I eat them all, it leaves me room on the way home for any extras I may have bought.
This used to be on travel lists, but isn’t so much anymore because of phones- maps. I go to AAA and get maps of where we are going to show the kids. We recently went to Boston and it was fun to open up the map and see where we were going in the city and then later where we walked, took the T, etc.
I agree! Phones are great for searching and step-by-step directions, but I Love to travel with a paper map or atlas to get the big picture.
The extension cord is a new idea to me, and would be a miracle worker for the cpap especially. Thank you!
In addition to keeping tape, scissors, and nail clippers in my crochet (carry-on) bag, I have a spot for each in all of our vehicles. Washi tape sounds so much more portable for travel, so I’ll try that. I’m a Trader Joe’s reusable bag fan and usually lay one in the bottom of my checked baggage for shopping, plus one of the plastic reusable bags for dirty clothes.
Great list!
What a fun and useful post!
This is fantastic! It never occurred to me to bring an extension cord or extra hooks! I’ll second the pens/scissors/reusable bags/knife. The other things I always make room for when I’m in a hotel are food-related – definitely my own cup and, whenever I can, a lightweight water boiler (the cup fits right inside for packing). I try not to use so many disposable cups, and it’s helpful to be able to boil water for coffee and tea when I don’t feel like treking down to the lobby – it doesn’t taste the same when it’s microwaved! I also bring a set of silverware for meals and leftovers eaten in the room.
What brand of mini water boiler do you have? Thank!
It’s actually not that small, but it’s very lightweight and my cup and a kitchen towel fit right inside for easy packing. Mine is old, but it’s like this one – https://www.walmart.com/ip/Proctor-Silex-32oz-Adjustable-Temperature-Hot-Pot-Electric-Kettle-for-Tea-Boiling-Water-Cooking-Noodles-and-Soup-White-48507/528468072
Instead of regular clothespins, I have traveled for backpacking with the tiny quilting clips. I second your suggestions for hat, extension cord, detergent papers, and earplugs!
I didn’t know about quilting clips, but I just googled and these look so useful!
We do a lot of road trips, and I bring a compact Nespresso machine. My husband and I both drink black coffee first thing in the morning, and it’s rare that a hotel room has a decent coffee machine. I’ll also bring some chocolate collagen or protein powder to mix in my coffee for a super light breakfast before we leave the hotel for the day. I am adding that robe to my cart! And I totally agree on checking a bag.
Love your ideas about the laundry sheets and the extension cord. I have packed an extension cord when renting an RV so I can imagine it would be quite useful when staying in a hotel for more than a few days. I always pack a small power strip (look for power strip donut) so that hubby and I can recharge all the things at one time. I also pack a small bottle of Febreze – I can get another day out of a pair of pants or shirt.
YES to the bags, the scissors, and I’ll add: Sharpie!
I tend to bring a small white noise machine. My phone app sometimes glitches overnight if the wifi is spotty, and the quick silence wakes me up.
I’m on the opposite side of only doing carry-on, even for multiple week trips. HaHa! But the one thing (other than my kindle) that I never leave home without is a pair of cheap flip flops. I use them in the hotel room as slippers, can go to the beach, soak in the hot springs, and even as back–up pair of shoes if you need them.
Ginger, you are my soulmate! My motto is ALSO: Be Prepared! One thing I NEVER leave home without is my personal fan. If you are in the hot menopausal years, you will know why I need a fan! I don’t know how I would survive without it (on trips AND at home). It’s small, like 6 x 6 x 2″, and I also bring my extension cord, oh yeah! I read that the main thing that keeps people awake when traveling, is unaccustomed noises. Not beds, or strange places, etc. So white noise from a fan does double duty. It doesn’t have to be pointed at you. This summer, my Mom, sister and I stayed at a B & B in Canada, and it had no A/C in our room on the second floor, and only one fan. It was unbearably hot. The fan wasn’t big enough to cover all 3 beds, so wasn’t I happy that I had my own fan, set up right on my bed, to blow on my face! Ahhhhh…. Also, Ginger, I LOVE the idea of taking the over the door hook!! I already use those at home, but never thought of taking one with me, even though I am always telling all my friends with guest room or Airbnb properties: More hooks, more hooks, more hooks! People don’t want to put their things in closets or drawers, lest they forget them. So hooks are visible and convenient, and great for coats, hats, camera straps, binoculars, totes, cosmetic bags and that one dress you brought on a hangar! Also I always bring ziplocs for leftovers, and lately, a power strip. I always have flip flops in my car as well as a baseball cap, mainly for excessive sun, or forgetting (or breaking) my sunglasses. (*bizarre item: for airbnbs, we always pack a good frying pan, because I have never YET been to an airbnb that had a decent non-stick frying pan!)
What a resourceful and robust list of great travel recommendations! Suzy – we are also big on needing a fan for all the reasons you called out. Do you have one you can recommend?
Here are a few of my must haves when traveling:
Baggu reusable bags – they come in such fun prints and fold up in their own small pouch. I always have one in my carry on and one in my checked luggage. They’re perfect for holding dirty laundry, purchases picked up while site-seeing or toting cold weather gear, like hats, gloves and scarves. (I’m a hockey mom, so this is a must when we travel to rinks!)
Bombas Gripper Slippers – These are lightweight, take up little space and super comfy. I love them for wearing around the hotel room.
Portlable hot water kettle – I can’t get through my day without at least 3 cups of tea and having a cup of decaffeinated tea before bed is a ritual. The hot water urns you find at a lot of hotels have often been used for coffee, which does not die a tasty cup of tea make! (Plus, who wants to go to the lobby when you’re in jammy mode?) the T-magitic collapsible electric kettle has been my constant travel companion for years and I wouldn’t dream of taking a trip without it!
When I used to travel to China for work I brought Starbucks instant coffee. Even in high end hotels I couldn’t figure out what the coffee was made with. I need my coffee.
I do so agree on checking our bags. I do not want to lug around a case and try to lift it in the overhead compartment. I do not mind waiting for my luggage either.
My husband and I have tiny flashlights (carried in our bathroom bags) that we put on bedside tables to use during the night so we don’t have to turn on lights. We also keep a ziploc bag in a suitcase that holds sturdy plastic ware, a few coated paper plates (clean up surprisingly well) and a small salt/pepper shaker. If we don’t want to go to a restaurant we find a grocery store to pick up premade things, take them back to our room and enjoy a nice quiet meal.
https://www.amazon.com/Lixada-Handheld-Flashlight-Camping-Battery/dp/B00MGMRYWC/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2B9GMT9HGONT6&keywords=9+v+battery+flash+light&qid=1702584090&sprefix=9+v+battery+fl%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-2
I am always looking for something to take with me to mitigate the musty smell in my hotel room. I want something small, with a light and natural fragrance. On my last cruise I brought a bar of Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Soap, unwrapped it and put it on my nightstand (and later used it in the shower!). Good but not great. Any suggestions?
Hint from a friend… you don’t need to change clothes every day, as long as you change PEOPLE. 😉
So many fantastic ideas!! I’ll add two I haven’t seen yet in the comments. I always carry a sarong wrap with me. It takes up very little space and works as a beach wrap (obvi) but also a thin layer to block the air conditioner when it gets too cold, works as a picnic blanket to spread on the ground, and I even used mine as a towel when I traveled to a third-world country where hotel towels weren’t standard issue.
Another item I tend to bring is an over-the-door shoe organizer. I can tuck so many items in the pockets rather than leaving them to get lost or cluttered on countertop spaces. High visibility but super containment for all my things!
I’ve got a bunch of packing lists saved depending on my trip, but some weird items that come in handy:
Knife sharpener – we have a tiny one, and Air BNB knives tend to suck.
Travel mug – I always prefer a real mug to a paper cup
Daily yoga practice and I always travel with my jade travel yoga mat. Love it. Smaller than an extra sweatshirt.
For road trips, I make a “Box of Practical Solutions” (written in marker on the outside of a large shoebox) which has many of the practical things people already wrote about (yes to scissors, a knife, tape, sharpies, clips), plus hygiene things like tissue packs (great for when there’s no toilet paper), hand spray and hand wipes. The box sits on the seat and is constantly being rummaged through.
For flying-based travel, I have a different tip. Put everything out before you pack it, and take away like 15-20% of it. The less you bring, the less you can lose, the less you have to carry, the less time it takes to pack before you move on to the next stop. And never bring anything valuable unless it’s truly required for you to get through the trip.
Finally: Backup batteries, one for each person in your group if you have teenagers. An actual emergency need (you can’t scan your boarding pass if your phone is dead) and also a lifesaver when you end up on that looooooooong layover and don’t want to sit by the wall outlet. Also an emergency supply when you’re at home, keep them charged in case you lose electricity for an extended time. And protein bars, especially the mini ones (mini Clif bars or mini Kind bars) because you never know where your next meal is coming from.
1. Jump rope! It can be a portable laundry line to dry clothes, I can use it to workout, and kids can use it to burn off some energy!
2. For road trips only…a laundry basket! It’s how I pack kids’ clothes. When they were babies we used them in bathtubs if they couldn’t sit unsupported. Also great to haul in groceries if buying food, or to do an actual load of laundry in longer stays!
I will definitely be buying the door hooks! We always complain that there aren’t enough hooks for our towels. For my own packing, I always include glasses wipes – the alcohol kind that dry instantly. For some reason my glasses always get so gross while traveling!
Last spring, my husband traveled to Europe for close to 2 weeks, and we stayed in 2 different locations. I used carry on only. We used trains to go from the Netherlands to Belgium. Carry on sized luggage worked here. I didn’t want to try to lug around a large suitcase getting on and off trains. And the laundry sheets (and quick drying materials) make it really easy to wash clothes in a hotel sink. I really liked not being weighed down with a lot of stuff, so I am going to try to stick with carry on when flying. BUT, any time my husband and I drive somewhere for a trip- it’s overpacking all the way! Fill up that hatchback!
Great ideas! I’ll also add mine: 1. A quart-sized Ziploc filled with Starbucks Via instant coffee, assorted tea bags, hot chocolate packets, and instant oatmeal packets. You can almost always get hot water, no matter the hotel amenities, and it’s a nice way to have some home comforts, wherever you may be. 2. A small portable air filter, which also works as a white noise machine. 3. A set of real silverware for each person that we can wash and reuse as needed.
For those of you scared to lose your luggage, you might like this tip. My husband and I pack half of our clothes in each other’s suitcase. So that way if one is lost, we still have half our stuff! Not perfect for toiletries but beats having to find a new swimsuit or undies immediately.
My great aunt always packed clothes that she would have otherwise planned to donate soon … and then she’d leave them behind at her destination after wearing them so that she’d have more room in her carry-on for souvenirs to take home. (I generally use old t-shirts and leggings as pajamas, and the t-shirts stay behind!)
Packing for Girl Scout camping trips decades ago taught me to use and reuse Ziploc bags to pack clothes to save space. You can pack by daily outfits or by type of clothing (tops, pajamas, undergarments, etc.); it’s easier to root through your luggage for what you need because you can see everything.
I don’t know why it never occurred to me to pack my own hamper or extension cord since outlets are never in the places you’d hope and dirty clothes piles can get unruly. I ordered one of each for our upcoming trip to Florida! I’ve been packing unscented laundry detergent sheets for year — I’m surprised they haven’t caught on more widely sooner! We only fly with carryons whenever possible because I don’t have the patience to wait at baggage claim and with two kids we just want to get where we’re going.
YES to the white noise machine, flip flops, Ziploc bags in various sizes, and extension cord. Other must haves that I don’t see listed are disposable gloves, USB outlet wall plug (for U.S. travel — don’t bring abroad!), phone stand, True Lemon packets, and alcohol wipes. For non-airplane travel, I also bring my “travel” Kuhn Rikon paring knife with matching sheath.
I always travel with a few Ziploc baggies tucked away…you just never know! For slippers I love the NuFoot Besty Lou…so many patterns and I think they are cute enough to wear down to breakfast or the pool if you don’t feel like slipping on regular shoes. https://www.callaproducts.net/collections/nufoot-betsy-lou (My recommendation is to size down if you are a 7 1/2-8, the Large is just a bit big.) They are also nice for doing some yoga stretches in your room without sliding on the carpet.
A plug-in nightlight for the bathroom – much better than turning on a light at night, or stumbling around an unfamiliar layout, and hotels bathrooms don’t have windows! I put my toiletries bag right next to it, in hopes that I remember to pack it when I leave. 🙂
Ginger, we’re at my in-laws and I got the hamper! It keeps dirty clothes contained and it’s so much easier to do laundry! Thanks for the tip!!