Upcoming travel plans can be SOOO exciting but also very stressful. Especially when it comes to figuring out how to pack all the stuff you need and which bags to put it in. You’re in luck because I have some of the best travel tips and I know they will help make your trip so much better!

Airline rules and regulations are frequently changing so always check the airlines website and TSA regulations for the most up to date info before you fly.

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CARRY ON – CHECKED BAG – PERSONAL ITEM… WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

There are 3 categories of luggage types. Personal item, carry on and checked. But…. just because your everyday purse is the size of a legit suitcase doesn’t mean you can claim it as your personal item/handbag at the airport. Each piece of luggage you bring has to meet the specific airlines policy.

These are the typical standard allowance for each type of luggage, although this is decided by each airline so, please check their current policy and always measure and weigh all of your bags before heading to the airport. Surprise fees at the airport are not fun…

• Personal Item is allowed to be 18″ Long x 14″ Wide x 8″ Deep.

• Carry-on bags can be 22″ Long x 14″ Wide x 9″ Deep.

• Checked bags must be less than 62 total inches. So, the bags Length + Width + Depth must add up to be less than 62. And also, be under 50lbs.

PERSONAL ITEM PACKING GUIDE

What is a personal item?

A personal item can be a purse, laptop bag, briefcase or backpack as long as it does not go over the size requirements. Usually, it is allowed to be 18″ Long x 14″ Wide x 8″ Deep.

This bag will be stowed under the seat in front of you. Its easily accessible and should hold all of your frequently used and/or valuable items you want to keep close by.

I highly recommend investing in a great bag for this. You really want to maximize every inch of this free luggage space but be within the airlines requirements.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

You should always have your ID and if needed passport somewhere easy to get to in your bag. You might also have a printed copy of your hotel reservation, boarding pass, lounge access card, etc.

CREDIT CARDS

I am a credit card queen and love maximizing my rewards, so I have quite a collection of cards with thousands of rewards points.

I recommend checking out the benefits your cards have to offer before you travel and best used for food, hotel or other purchases. For example, my Amex card has great dinning out rewards and my Capitol One card gives me back $300.00 once every year on a hotel stay. My Chase card has great rotation rewards categories every 3 months.

So, I book my hotel with Capitol One and use my Amex points to fly for free or at the very least super cheap. I have earned THOUSANDS of dollars worth of points since I was 18 and I never overspend on lavish things. I use my cards for groceries, bills and insurance on my truck (all money that I was going to spend anyway) and me and my hubby get at least 1 free dinner date every month with the points I earn and even a few free flights a year!

CASH

You also should always keep some cash on hand in your personal item bag or even in the case of your phone. While I always spend money on my credit cards to get those points, I have definitely been saved by my emergency cash a few times. The internet goes down and venders can only accept cash or maybe they charge a processing fee on credit card purchases.

Or maybe you’re not on board with credit cards and you only spend paper money. Don’t forget to pack the dough before you go.

SNACKS

This may surprise some of you, but you can take your own snacks with you when you fly. Always check TSA regulations before your trip. Most solid food snacks are allowed but some gel and liquid food are ok to but must be under 3.4oz. Some items may require additional screening and may need to be opened.

Here a list of my favorite to go snacks not just for flying but also for road trips and days at the park.

• mixed nuts (great protein source)
• dry tea bags
• dry or liquid water flavoring (I love this energy one by CELSIUS!)
• Instant coffee mix
• Protein shake mix (less than 12oz)
• Granola bars
• Dried fruit
• Gum
• Candy bars
• Mints

CHAPSTICK

Even though you might be well hydrated your lips can get very dry and cracked. The air is constantly circulating through the plane, and you might not drink enough water trying to avoid the tiny restroom.

This super cute minty shimmer lip balm by Burt’s Bees is always in my bag! I get so many complements on it and its stays on for a very long time.

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

I can’t stress this enough. I absolutely hate buying CRAZY EXPENSIVE bottles of water when traveling. It hurts your wallet and it hurts the environment, but luckily this can be avoided. No more $7.00 + water. Seriously me and the whole family went to Disney World and I might have forgotten to bring our bottles in a hurry one morning and guess who ended up having to pay like $35.00 on 6 bottles of water…. I could have bought another pair of mouse ears for that much!

Just bring your empty water bottle with you when traveling and after you pass through security you can usually find a refill station nearby. Yes, FREE water!!! And as a bonus, having a larger bottle helps you stay on top of hydration and stay healthy! Make sure its 100% leak proof so if it gets tipped over you don’t end up with a soggy backpack. I love this one! Its 22oz, has easy to clean silicone seals, it’s also thermal so it doesn’t condensate.

ENTERTAINMENT

Pack your laptop, tablet, book or magazine in your personal item luggage to have some entertainment. Depending on where you’re going your flight could be many hours and having a library of pre downloaded tv series or movies on your watch list can be a life saver!

Be aware that some of your favorite games may not work with your device on airplane mode so double check before your flight.

I love having all my favorite songs downloaded with YouTube Music on my phone.

EYE MASK

Flying can be very exhausting. Having a very early departure time or maybe even a late-night flight can mess with your normal routine. Or maybe you just didn’t get enough sleep the night before because of all the excitement. Bring your favorite eye mask to block out the bright lights and take a snooze along the way.

Taking a nap is not only a great way to pass time on long flights but also you will arrive refreshed and ready for adventure when you land at your destination.

I recommend this large cozy mask that’s also really stylish. It has large open pockets for your eyes, so you don’t mess up your mascara while getting your beauty sleep.

HEADPHONES

Always bring your noise canceling headphones! Flights can get very noisy, and there’s gonna be that one person watching Tik Tok to loud on their phone…

I love my Samsung Buds, they cancel out everything and have great bass too! I can enjoy all my favorite shows while ignoring my hubby and kids the entire flight. LOL I’m just kidding.

Just make sure you remember to charge them the night before your flight if they are wireless!

PRESCRIPTION OR OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINE

I get sudden and awful headaches frequently, so I always carry my Tylenol with me in my bag. But if you have a prescription or other meds you might need keep them safe and close by in your personal item luggage so you can get to them easily.

Always check current TSA regulations before your flight. It’s recommended to keep the medication in its original container and if in liquid or gel form notify the officer at the start of your screening.

CHARGER CABLE

Even if you have already charged all of your devices it’s a good idea to keep your power cables for your phone and entertainment device in your personal item luggage where you can get to them easily. All other cords can go into your carry-on bag.

It’s much easier to get to your charge in a pocket of your handbag than to rummage through your carry on in the middle of the airport or coffee shop.

PORTABLE CHARGER/POWER BANK

You can bring a portable charger, but it must be in your carry-on luggage and not allowed in your checked luggage. I keep mine in my handbag so I can easily get to it if needed.

TISSUE/NAPKINS

I don’t know about you, but I always tend to be prone to messes. And as a mom I know it’s a good idea to always have some napkins in my bag.

HAND SANITIZER/WIPES

A lot of people are getting on and off the plane from everywhere in the world and germs are everywhere even if something may look sparkling clean.

I know the airlines have upped their cleaning game in the last few years, but I still like to have some sanitizer and a few wet wipes if needed.

CARDIGAN/JACKET

A few layers of clothing are always a great idea. I tend to get cold very easily and always bring a cardigan with me. I can wrap up in it if I’m cold, roll it up into a pillow, or even fold it over into a hoodie for some rest.

You could bring a jacket, scarf or sweater. I always wear a short sleeve shirt as my base layer so I can remove layers if by chance it’s too hot.

NECK PILLOW

If you have a short flight, you may not need to think about this. But having a nice neck pillow can make a long flight sooooo much more comfortable!

Large memory foam neck pillows can take up a lot of space so I recommend checking out this one, it’s easy to store and super comfy or this blow up pillow to save even more space.

CARRY ON PACKING GUIDE

What is a carry-on?

Carry-on luggage can usually be up to 22″ Long x 14″ Wide x 9″ Deep. But some airlines have smaller limits so always check before you book your tickets.

A small suitcase or bag that you can carry onto the plane with you and store in the bins over the seats. After takeoff and before landing you will be able to access this bag most of the flight. Although it is much more difficult to get to than your personal item bag.

This is where to pack things you won’t need during your flight and want to keep safe and close by. Checked luggage has a risk of getting lost or delayed so if you have any items, you do not want to take the risk with, pack them in your carry-on luggage.

These 4 wheeled hard-shell suitcases are super durable and very stylish, a little extra investment here for a good quality suitcase will last you many years in travel. But if you don’t travel often and just need something with basic durability this is also a good starter brand.

See how you can pack for travel with only a carry-on!

GPS TRACKER

I don’t know how many times I have lost things. Like, it’s almost concerning lol. But having a GPS tracker in all of your bags can really help you reduce stress and help you find anything if you lose it. Especially when traveling with kids or in large groups.

I recommend putting a smart tag in your purse, carry-on and always have one in your checked luggage at the very least. You never know when a bag could get stolen, lost or accidently get put on the wrong plane. This small device can be a total life saver!

TOILETRIES

Make sure to follow the 3-1-1 TSA rule for liquid and gel items.

3 – Nothing over 3.4oz or 100ml.

1 – All items must fit into a 1-quart clear baggie.

1 – Only 1 bag per person.

I know ladies this is the most dreaded part of packing, it’s so much more difficult for us than the boys, right? I have really had to pare down my essentials list here. I will make my hubby take my favorite shampoos and conditioners with him and he has to use my real hair care products when on vacay instead of his 3 in 1 joke of a shampoo product. And sometimes my boys will have to take our toothpastes in their bag, so I have room for all of my makeup necessities.

MEDICINE

Pack you daily vitamins or prescriptions in your carry-on if you won’t need them during your flight. They won’t take up precious space in your handbag, but you can still access them when needed.

ACCESSORIES

You don’t want to risk losing your favorite pair of earrings when going on a trip so always pack your accessories in your carry-on vs checked bag.

This includes jewelry, wallets, small handbags, belts, etc. These items can also go into your checked luggage if you have lots.

CLOTHING

Always keep at least one change of clothes minimum in your carry-on so worst-case scenario if your checked luggage gets lost you will have a change of clothes while you wait for the airport to try and sort things out.

You can even pack all of your items in your carry-on if you pack lightly and use these space saving travel bags, no vacuum needed. I can pack 3 times as many outfits using this hack!

HAIR DRYER & CURLING IRON

I can’t live without my trusty hair dryer and curling wand. At the very least even when I pack lightly, I will always take a flat iron with me. It tames my frizzy airdried hair and I can use it to get some wavy curls too!

CHARGING CORDS

Even though you have a power bank and short cord in your personal item list you should pack your long 10′ cords and docking station if you use one in your carry-on.

MAKEUP

I don’t usually touch up my makeup throughout the day, so all of my makeup goes into my carry-on except for my tinted lip balm. But it you frequently re apply you may want to pack a few items in your personal item bag instead.

If you have bottles of liquid/gel makeup over the 3.4oz rule you will have to pack them in a checked bag, so be sure to plan for this in advance or buy some travel friendly containers.

SWIMWEAR

Always pack your swimwear in your carry-on. You can easily find it when you get to your destination if you plan on hitting the pool right away to start relaxing immediately.

SOUVENIRS

On your journey home make sure to store your precious souvenirs in your carry-on.

CHECKED LUGGAGE PACKING GUIDE

What is checked luggage?

Checked luggage must be less than 62 total inches. So, the bags Length + Width + Depth must add up to be less than 62. And also, be under 50lbs. Although this could vary per airline or if traveling internationally so always check before your flight.

Checked luggage is a large bag that you check in before your flight and it gets loaded onto the plane in the cargo area. When you arrive at your destination you pick up your bag at the baggage claim carousels. If you have a layover flight you won’t pick up your bag until you arrive at your final destination.

Always arrive to the airport at least 90-120 minutes early if you’re bringing a checked bag. Most cutoff times are 45 minutes before your flight.

CLOTHING

Almost all of your clothes will be in this bag, although I do highly recommend packing at least on change of clothes in your carry-on in case anything happens to your checked luggage on your journey.

Be mindful of how much weight your packing as most airlines have a maximum weight limit of 50lbs. The fees for an overweighted bag are very high and you do not want any surprises when checking in.

Packing a capsule wardrobe can be so helpful for reducing the amount of clothing you take with you. It provides you with so many different options to wear too!

ACCESSORIES

Checked luggage is also a great place to store the larger accessories you might bring along. Like, handbags, belts, wallets, large jewelry, scarfs, and hats.

SHOES

You can easily fit many pairs of shoes with you in a checked bag. I love all of my heels and usually end up taking quite a few pairs with me anywhere I go.

LARGE BOTTLES

This could be your favorite full-size shampoo if you’re going to be away from home for a long time, or large bottle of makeup. You can even bring your own full-size sunscreen from home with you to the beach!

You can even bring a large bottle of your favorite wine home with you from vacation, but it must be a TSA compliant beverage, but it must be stored in your checked luggage. Just be sure to wrap it up very securely. You don’t want to find a bag full of wine-stained clothing when you get home.

I hope this helps you pack for the perfect trip! Safe travels and great adventures to you!