What’s Actually Worth Packing for Any Trip

As a self-proclaimed packing pro, I like to think I know my way around a suitcase. Truthfully, no one else has given me this title (especially considering that one time my bag for a 12-day trip to Barcelona weighed 76 lbs). Good thing we learn from our mistakes!

Over the years, I’ve figured out which items are actually worth packing for long flights, and which ones are just dead weight. Below are the things I swear by… and a few I recommend leaving at home.

Must-Haves

1. Packing Cubes

Cheap, easy, and life-changing. These keep your clothes organized by category, making both packing and finding things during your trip infinitely easier. If you take away one piece of advice from this post, let it be this: packing cubes are worth it.

2. Febreze Fabric to Go

Clothes that sit in a bag smell…like bag. This $2.99 travel-size bottle saves the day. Spray your hotel pillow before bed, your shoes after a run, or your plane fit after 12 hours in the airport. Everything instantly smells fresher.

3. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

I use AirPods Max, and once you experience noise cancellation on a plane, you’ll never go back. Babies crying? Gone. Loud seatmate? Muffled. Put on music, gaze out the window, and live your main character moment.

4. Multi-Use Travel Adapter

One block, endless outlets. Skip the mess of juggling multiple adapters and get a universal one. Simple but essential.

5. Toiletries Kit (in Your Carry-On!)

Pack the basics, travel-size toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wipes, lotion, meds, and keep them in your carry-on. Freshening up mid-flight makes a huge difference in how you feel.

6. Liquid I.V.

Flying is dehydrating. Mix one of these into your water, and thank me later. You’ll land feeling a million times better.

7. Oversized Sweatshirt

Planes are unpredictable: one flight is Antarctica, the next is the Sahara. An oversized sweatshirt keeps you cozy, doubles as a pillow, and saves you from suffering.

8. Ziplock Bags

The most low-maintenance item that solves the most problems: shoes, toiletries, snacks, jewelry… you name it. Bring a few and thank me later.

9. Gum

My all-time travel essential. Helps with ear pressure, freshens your breath, and is just generally clutch. I chew it before takeoff, landing, after meals… you get it. I’m a gum advocate.

10. Pens

Sounds obvious, but every single international flight, someone asks to borrow mine for the customs form. Always keep one in your bag. Tiny item, big payoff.

Leave These Behind

1. A Second Pair of Jeans

One pair is enough. Denim goes with everything, and it’s bulky and heavy. Save the space.

2. New Shoes

Vacation is not the time to break in new shoes. I made this mistake with brand-new Jimmy Choo sneakers at Versailles and ended up walking barefoot through the gardens. And I played 20 years of soccer and ran a marathon, so trust me when I say the blisters were next-level.

3. Umbrella

They’re cheap everywhere. If you really care, bring a raincoat. Otherwise, buy one when you need it and toss it when you don’t.

4. Laundry Bag

Every hotel has one. If it’s not in your room, just ask. Don’t waste space packing your own.

5. Hair Styling Tools

Learn from my pain: hotel outlets abroad can’t handle them. I’ve blown fuses and fried hair tools too many times. Stick to the hotel dryer or buy something local. Your straightener isn’t worth the smell of burning plastic.

The Bottom Line

Packing is personal, but these essentials have saved me countless times—and skipping the unnecessary stuff keeps my bag lighter (and far under 76 lbs). Pack smart, stay comfortable, and enjoy the journey!