The Top 10 Things I Always Pack when Traveling

As a Type A and anxious individual, I strongly believe a well thought out itinerary and packing list is the foundation for a good vacation. I enjoy surprises like discovering a great restaurant or funky boutique, but I don't enjoy overweight baggage fees, hauling around an excessive amount of luggage, or needing something in a foreign country and not being able to purchase it.

Below are the top ten items, that maybe you didn't already think of, I take on every vacation to make trips go more seamlessly, inexpensively, and comfortably.

1. Portable Luggage Scale

I frequently take home beers in my checked luggage when traveling, which can really test the limits of the 50 pound weight limit. I'm not referring to just a single four-pack either -- I mean I take home 50 plus cans sometimes.

A portable luggage scale has saved me baggage fees and last minute scrambling to adjust items in my luggage awkwardly at the airport baggage counter numerous times. I use it before I even arrive at the airport to avoid the embarrassing, time-consuming, and potentially costly luggage experiences.

You can buy mine from Amazon.

2. Foldable Duffle Bag

After reading about how I have taken

home over 50 beer cans in a checked bag, you may have wondered: Where do I fit my clothes? A foldable duffle bag.

I have owned this one pictured to the right for five years. It can fold up to the size of its outer pocket, and holds a lot of stuff once expanded. I then use my sturdier suitcase for beer, and put items like clothes here. This can either be checked (if no baggage fees) or carried on. It's also great to carry on souvenirs that you just don't want in a checked bag.

You can buy mine from Amazon. It comes in many colors.

3. Luggage Strap

These luggage straps are so useful, I use them in my daily life too. Designed to hold a variety of items attached to a larger bag, such as a smaller carry on or neck pillow, I primarily use these to carry a larger jacket on the outside of a backpack. I most recently used one of these to hold my jacket at a beer festival.

These are small and lightweight enough to just leave on your backpack all day. With adjustable straps, you can also make your items very secure.

You can buy this two pack from Amazon.

4. Bottle Protector Sleeves

That I like bringing back beer from vacation is becoming a theme here. I use these bottle protector sleeves to transport back fragile bottled beers in my suitcase. While designed for wine, they work for different sized beer bottles too. I have even used these for international travel.

These bottle protector sleeves pad bottles to protect against breakage, but also seal up the bottle in the event of an accident (although I have yet to have one). I even use these when I know I will be picking up beer bottles locally for the padding.

You can purchase these here from Amazon.

5. Portable Door Stop Alarm

It doesn't matter the quality or location of my accommodations traveling, I use this door stop alarm every night. I finally bought one after I staying at a hotel and someone else's key was used on my door and successfully unlocked it!

This is not only functions as a doorstop, but it's also loud! It's lightweight too.

You can buy mine here from Amazon.

6. Packing Cubes

I think frequent travelers and bloggers have talked about using packing cubes for awhile now, so this one probably isn't the most unusual item on this list. I am particularly a fan of compression packing cubes though to maximize space in my luggage. I always travel with one non-compression cube though for my bras.

The ones I use are by Eagle Creek, but I have linked similar ones here.

7. Charging Hub

Hotels, AirBnBs, and airports often do not have enough outlets. I never travel without a charging hub (I have an older model from the same brand) and I even use it at home. This one pictured even has a USB-C connector, which I would find useful for my iPad or MacBook.

The pictured one can be purchased from Amazon. A newer version of my USB only one can be purchased here.

8. AirTags

Apple AirTags provide so much peace of mind when traveling. I hide one in my suitcase and one in my carry on. This way, I can track that my suitcase made it onto the plane and to my destination.

I bought this four pack from Amazon.

9. Portable Charger

Another item on this list that probably is not new information or surprising, but I never go anywhere without this portable charger. When traveling, I use my phone for communication, maps, the internet, and as a camera, so it absolutely must have battery power at all times.

I have owned this exact portable charger pictured for five years. It can power my phone fully about two times and it's not too bulky. You can buy it here from Amazon.

10. Clothesline

For longer trips, a clothesline has proven invaluable when I don't have access to laundry machines. This helps me wash and dry my clothes in my hotel room and pack fewer items. Hotel laundry services are very expensive per item, so I only utilize those for extensive stains (like when I spilled a red juice all over my cream button down in Egypt).

This is the exact clothesline I have traveled with to multiple countries is from Amazon.

What would you add to my list? Or, what will you now be taking on your next trip thanks to this list?