As someone who travels frequently, I’ve learned a bit about the dos and don'ts of packing. For instance, I know to always bring your medications with you in your purse or carry-on(of course the one time I didn’t do this, my checked luggage got lost!). I also know the best things to pack for a trip to stay organized and prepared for any situation. Here is a packing list of must-pack items(with links for more information) to help you on your next getaway. 

Compression Cubes-While you may have heard of or already use packing cubes, which are small bags designed to help organize and compartmentalize clothes, compression cubes take it a step further and also let you zip those bags in half to save even more space. Not only do they help you organize and make your luggage look neater, but they also help to stay discreet if, say, you need to open your overweight suitcase at the airport and fumble around for what to take out. When this happened to me, I was happy to not have silly pajamas or underwear visible to the nearby strangers. It also made it easier for me just to grab the heaviest item and zip right back up. 

Shoe Bag/Pouch-Similar to a compression cube, a shoe bag can help to save space in your luggage. Some are also waterproof(like the one in the link), which is helpful if you need to bring back still-damp water shoes. What I like most about these is that they keep your shoes separate from your other items so you don’t need to worry about germs. 

Travel Pillow-I’ve always had neck problems and most hotel pillows just don’t cut it. I bring my travel pillow with me everywhere and usually set it on top of one of the hotel pillows for extra height. This one is also great for flights, providing double support for the head and neck.

First Aid Kit- You never know what will happen when you’re traveling and exploring new places. While I’ve been lucky enough to never be seriously injured during a trip, I have gotten a few bumps and bruises where my travel first aid kit came in handy. I also always bring bandages meant for blisters and neosporin in areas where I know I’ll do a lot of walking or will be in nature where there are mosquitos and other insects. 

Travel Size Toiletries-Not all hotel toiletries are up to par, so it’s nice to have your own trusted brands with you for when that’s the case. This one also comes with floss, a comb, and deodorant which aren’t things you can always just call down to reception for. The small toiletries don’t take up much space in your bag and if you get a pre-packed toiletry bag like this one, you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything. 

Portable Steamer-Clothes tend to get wrinkled when they’re all bunched up in your luggage and while most hotels may offer an iron, it’s not the fastest or easiest way when you’re trying to get ready in a hurry. Bringing a portable steamer like this makes it so much easier to get wrinkles out in a hurry. 

Waterproof Bags-If you, like me, have experienced something spilling in your luggage and ruining everything in the process, you know how terrible a situation that is to be in. Bringing waterproof bags for things like perfume, toiletries, wine, or other liquid souvenirs, really saves the day. You can use them not only to prevent spills, but also to protect important items such as documents and electronics. 

Waterproof Phone Pouch-Now that we’re on the waterproof train, I have to recommend getting a waterproof phone pouch for your travels. You can wear it on a lanyard while snorkeling to get epic photos or simply use it so you can take your phone with you while swimming in the pool or skiing the slopes. It can protect your phone and other items(watch, earbuds, e.g.) and allows you to take them in areas you normally wouldn’t be able to.