Let’s face it, fitting all of your liquids and gels into a quart sized bag when you fly can be tricky. Most travel containers on the market are are a full 3 ounces, the maximum allowed, but often you don’t need that much of a product. Having your precious Ziploc space eaten up by half empty bottles is not cool.
I was so excited when I found this 16 piece carry-on kit with tiny leakproof jars and bottles, particularly the mini spray bottle. The containers range in size from 1/8 to 2 ounces and the kit also includes 36 sticker labels and a quart sized bag so you can just fill and go!
$9.99 Linens ‘n Things
My mom gave me a box of CVS hand sanitizing wipes at Christmas time and I’m totally addicted! I take a stack of them with me whenever I travel. They are perfect not only for cleaning your hands but also plane trays and consoles, car rental steering wheels and door handles and hotel remotes and telephones. They are individually wrapped so it’s easy to keep a few in all of your bags at all times!
$3.69/box CVS
Will and I spent years using bags, coats even trash to prop up our cameras and keep them steady while shooting pictures and video. We knew a tripod would work wonders but hated the idea of carrying one around and having to set it up. Then we discovered the Joby Gorillapod, a flexible tripod made of little ball and socket joints which can be twisted into different shapes. You can use it straight or wrap it around an object like a tree branch or pole. It secures your camera to just about anything! The Gorillapod comes in three sizes and is so small and lightweight you’ll barely notice you’re carrying something extra in your bag. I don’t know how we lived without it all these years!
$21.95-$54.95 Joby
Muscle aches are par for the course while travelling. A long flight means a sore neck and back. Lugging your bags around could leave you with hurting arms and shoulders. During your trip, if you are participating in an active excursion like hiking, biking, swimming or even just a ton of walking, your legs and feet may be throbbing by the end of each day.
My solution is Sombra pain relief gel. I was introduced to it a little over a year ago by a massage therapist and I love it. I use the original warm therapy gel. When you rub it on a sore muscle it feels instantly icy and cool. Eventually it warms up. I’m not going to lie….it’s somewhat intense, but it works so well! It has a soothing orange scent. Sombra comes in many sizes including a 3oz roll on perfect for travelling.
You can learn more about Sombra by visiting their website and you can purchase it on many health product websites or through health and wellness professionals like massage/physical therapists or chiropractors.
Sombra
In-flight Entertainment
Let’s face it, video games are a total time killer and in the real world, there’s always something more important you should be doing. On an 8 hour plane ride, the rules change and it’s totally acceptable to pass the time in a Nintendo coma. I love the Gameboy Advance SP because it’s pocket sized, the battery lasts more than 10 hours and there are a lot of strategy games available for the system that will hook you. My personal favorites are Dr.Mario/Puzzle League and Tetris Worlds. Shortly after take off you start on level one, all of a sudden as your beating the game you look up and realize 10 hours have gone by and you are preparing to land. I’m telling you….it works.
At $79.99, it’s also much cheaper than it’s competition. For more information about the Game Boy Advance SP and a listing of retailers that carry it, check out the official website:
Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP
Travel Pillow
I know they all LOOK the same, but trust me, not all travel pillows are created equal.
Right now I am using and loving this compact inflatable pillow by Eagle Creek. The valve on the side is extra large so it only takes one or two puffs to fully inflate and a push of a button to deflate. The outside fleece covering is super soft and zips right off so you can throw it in the wash after a trip and because it folds into itself it takes up little space in your bag.
$16.00 eaglecreek.com
