If you travel for business, are there things you always keep in your suitcase for next time?
I’m working on assembling a spare makeup bag and toiletry kit set aside exclusively for travel, so I don’t have to constantly remind myself to pack my everyday stuff immediately before leaving the house.
Anything else? Spare chargers and power banks, clothes you set aside JUST for business trips, etc?
DH keeps a deodorant, toothbrush, tie, belt, spare pair of underwear, socks, a set of workout clothes in his suitcase at all times. There have been times that he has forgotten to pack those items so he now keeps at least 1 in there to survive until he can get to the store or Amazon now what he needs.
Spare charger, umbrella, lint roller, and a travel blanket are always in my bag ready to go, along with my travel toiletry bag. I also include a small makeup bag with Advil, cold meds/cough drops, etc. Depending on season, I also like to keep spare tights/pantyhose.
I have a toiletry bag and a makeup bag that are pre-packed with all < 3 oz. sizes and ready to toss in my carryon, and I keep my packing cubes in my carryon bag. I keep all my headphones, charging wires, etc. in my work bag, so those are always ready to go. I pack clothes separately for each trip though, because seasons, destination climate, and my size have varied so much over the last few years.
Post by lilypad1126 on Feb 13, 2019 13:34:45 GMT -5
I have a toiletry kit, makeup kit, hair straightener, and chargers. These are all "for travel only" so that I can pack them when I pack my suitcase the night before I leave. Clothes I pack the night before, because it depends on where I'm going as to what I'm going to pack.
One other thing I do is a "permanent travel list" that I put on the door for last minute, in the morning, reminders. Such as: glasses/contacts, dental appliance, jewelry, jacket, phone/ipad/watch. And some other assorted things that I can't pack until morning b/c I only have 1 of it, or it's not feasible to pack right until I'm walking out the door. It's a little neurotic, I suppose, but I can't tell you how many times it's saved me from walking out without something essential.
The best thing I ever did was invest in duplicates of my must-haves. I travel a TON and this has helped immensely.
Post by goldengirlz on Feb 13, 2019 13:36:57 GMT -5
I don’t keep anything in my suitcase because there are a few different bags I use, depending on the trip. I have started keeping a list on my phone though.
List highlights:
-my Bose noise-cancelling sleep headphones (a MUST for hotels with thin walls) -a medicine bag with a mini-pharmacy of anything I might need, but especially melatonin*, allergy pills and stomach meds (a week of restaurants meals often sends me over the edge) -Ativan and my thyroid meds -chargers and an external battery -my passport and an adapter -contact lenses
*Fun fact: Not every country has melatonin available over the counter and since I need it for jet lag, it’s on my essentials list
I have a go-to set of clothing that I know packs well and won't wrinkle and cause me to iron. They work well year-around, so that is helpful. I use packing cubes to separate undergarments, clothing, and then workout wear and shoes.
I keep my 3-1-1 bag packed all the time and separate, I do review it before tossing it in my bag to make sure nothing expired or need refilling.
In the suit case I use most often there is always an umbrella, lint roller, a medium sized Le Pliage folded and packed, a travel deodorant, and a stash of pads and panty liners.
Lint roller Tampons/pads Extra underwear “Drug bag” with Tylenol, Advil, pepto chewables, migraine meds, cough drops, etc. Power bank Safety shoes CPAP machine in its travel bag 😩
In my carry on suitcase: Spare undies + slipper like socks Toiletry bag (no makeup but everything else) Hair brush and hair ties OTC meds (Advil, Benadryl; I add Daily meds with makeup) Extension cord (often don’t have an outlet near the bed) All I add are clothes, make up, and meds
In my carry on bag: Bag of chargers Powerbank Charger Spare headphones (add my air pods) Small notebook and pens Small beauty bag — hair ties, chapstick, otc meds, some extra cash, etc Laptop cord (I have 2, one lives in this bag) I add electronic devices, wallet, and any files I need to bring
Post by broadsheet on Feb 15, 2019 19:57:45 GMT -5
Ditto to spare chargers (especially a power bank for in transit) and duplicates of toiletries.
*Pop up hamper from dollar store for dirty laundry *umbrella *OTC meds including real Sudafed and sleep aids *umbrella *If applicable - subway card for whatever city I’m traveling to *noise canceling headphones *lip balm *empty water bottle *envelope for receipts *and this tiny toothbrush holder that just makes hotel bathrooms more civilized:
I also download the apps for the hotel chain or public transit service ahead of time. Bonus points if they will email me receipts (like Curb in NYC for taxis)
Post by ellipses84 on Feb 18, 2019 15:44:22 GMT -5
I keep all my regular travel items in my roll-on/carry-on suitcase between trips and switch them to other bags/suitcases as needed right before I leave. I bought a $40 memory foam neck pillow that connects in front and it was totally worth it. I can actually sleep on the red-eye flights and not wake up with a stiff neck. I have extra toiletries and keep liquids in a clear bag. Sign up for TSA pre-Check if you are traveling a lot so you don’t have to deal with liquids/electronics/shoes, although occasionally I’ve had to go through a different line or TSA changes up their procedures. I always bring extra chargers and a power bank (AA typically doesn’t have power outlets at plane seats which sucks for long cross country flights). For flights I pack/wear jegging like cotton pants with back pockets for my phone, rather than pocketless leggings. I usually layer a top and sweater then use my jacket as a blanket. I wear black booties since they are good for work or after. For red-eyes I shower right before I leave and have to change freshen up in the airport and go straight to the office. I also have a small hair straightener I bring. A couple pairs of black socks and underwear, toothbrush, deodorant and a travel brush are always in my suitcase since those seemed to be the things I’d forget often. I keep a list on my phone of the things I always need that can’t live in the suitcase, like laptop charger (although I do have one for work and one for home). I hate ironing so a lot of my work clothes don’t require it. Hotel rooms are the one place I’ll iron my clothes, since I can’t dewrinkle them in a dryer, so I try to make sure I have an outfit for the first day that doesn’t need ironing.
Mr. Pom is now traveling every week 2-5 days. He comes home, unpacks his dirty clothes to go to dry cleaner or into the wash and we have the previous week's clean clothes ready to repack. He has a full pack of travel toiletries in his luggage that never come out. He simply double checks that as he repacks, he keeps fills/spares to throw in quick. He has ear buds, chargers and cords that live in his briefcase. All he adds in at the last minute, is his RX box.
I keep a toiletries bag that is always stocked and ready to go. Only thing I thrown in there day of is prescription medication. In my carryon bag I always keep charging cords, a lint roller, exercises bands, my standard mini kind bar breakfast bars and a pillow case since I hate itchy hotel sheets. Clothes and shoes I pack per trip. I can seriously pack for a business trip in less than 5 minutes.
Post by wizardressofoz on Feb 18, 2019 21:08:37 GMT -5
I only travel <25% now, but I used to have duplicate makeup bag, which was very helpful. Today, I just leave a bag of misc medicines, pads, hair ties, and a new toothbrush (basically, enough to get through 1-2 days before going to a pharmacy) in my suitcase all the time. I also have 2 packs of oatmeal and a couple of tea bags that I leave in the suitcase to feed myself if I don’t feel up for a team dinner or need a snack and have no other options.
If I'm traveling for work, I'm typically also handling lots of paper documents, and doing work in my hotel room. So I keep an "office supply" bag packed and ready. It's just a small zippered pouch where I keep some pens, highlighters, post-it notes and flags, a few binder clips, mini stapler, a flash drive, etc.