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The Five Things You Need in Your Travel Bag

January 22, 2020 by Jill 4 Comments

Anyone who knows me knows I love to travel. A weekend trip to explore another part of Texas? I’m always up for that…it’s a big state! A week-long (or more!) trip to another country? Bring it on. I was born with the wanderlust gene and I can’t imagine it any other way. I am kind of an reformed overpacker. Frequent travel has taught me how to pare down the things I carry with me on a trip. Also, traveling today is way more high tech than it used to be and staying connected and charged on the road is more important than ever. Today, I’m sharing the five things you need in your travel bag.

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Five things you need in your travel bag|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

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Table of Contents

  • Five things you need in your travel bag
    • 1. Change how you charge
    • 2. Luggage scale
    • 3. Tablet and keyboard case
    • 4. The right toiletry bag is a “gotta have it” on my list of things you need in your travel bag.
    • 5. Travel Journal
  • You might also like:

Five things you need in your travel bag

1. Change how you charge

One of the things you need in your travel bag is a way to keep your devices charged. Nothing will tank your trip faster than a dead phone. As a traveler, I use my phone to take pictures, navigate unfamiliar streets, manage my hotel and flight bookings and more.

I need something that can charge my phone while I’m on the go and charge multiple devices. And you know what? The cable and charger that came with in the box with my phone just don’t cut it. This charger is a great one for your purse or travel bag. 

Related post: 7 Tips for an unplugged family vacation

Samsung fast chargers let you charge your phone much faster than a traditional charger (up to 1.4x faster for select models*) even while you are using your device. Samsung portable batteries allow you the freedom to charge on the go. Talk, text and surf longer without needing to hunt for an outlet. I call that a win! 

5 Things you need in your travel bag|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

2. Luggage scale

If you are checking a bag, the airlines don’t play when it comes to weight limits. Have you ever had to awkwardly shift belongings from one bag to another while the people in line behind you give you the stink eye? I have, and it’s no fun, for so many reasons.

5 Things you need in your travel bag|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

Pop one of these in your bag and you’ll never have to guess how much your bag weighs again.

When you’re making a list of what you should have in your travel bag, you might not think of a luggage scale right away but we really love ours. We got a luggage scale as a wedding present and I can’t tell you how much stress it has saved us. They’re inexpensive and light and they make a great gift for anyone who loves travel. The weight of your souvenirs or wet clothes can really add up and make your bag weigh a lot more on the return trip.

You can get luggage scales on Amazon at various price points. This one is the top of the line and prices at $50. This one is at the lower end (as far as price goes) at under $10. Obviously, you’re going to get what you pay for and the accuracy of the $50 scale is probably going to be tighter but the one we have isn’t fancy and it works pretty well.

Related post: Solo parent travel – What you need to know

3. Tablet and keyboard case

If what you should have in your travel bag is driven by the need to do work on the road, you probably need to take your computer and accessories.

If you work while you travel but don’t want to lug around a heavy lap top, try using a tablet with a keyboard case attachment. I can do most of the things I can do on a laptop on my Galaxy tablet but I have to have a keyboard if I’m going to do a substantial amount of typing. We can do so much with our phones these days but I like a tablet for longer emails and blog posts on the road.

4. The right toiletry bag is a “gotta have it” on my list of things you need in your travel bag.

I’ll admit to being a little high maintenance but I’ve learned to pare down when traveling. Carrying a huge array of hair products and several colors of eyeliner can really weigh you down. Ask me how I know!

5 Things you need in your travel bag|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

I love these oil cloth travel bags. They are durable and can be wiped clean. Bonus: Use the larger bags for wet clothes and the dampness doesn’t affect the rest of the things in your bag. I love the nautical look and that they’re cute without being overly girly. 

Related post: The best luggage for cruises

5. Travel Journal

I am all about technology. I use my phone to take notes and record my thoughts about places so I can remember them later. I usually end up making lists of places I want to see on a return trip or ideas for other trips I want to take. Travel is just like that…there is just never enough time to see all the things.

Even though I mostly rely on electronic means to jot things down, I always throw something to take notes with the old-fashioned way in my bag. I love this pocket-sized journal with the leather cover. I love all the color variety and it protects my pages while it’s inside my bag.

If you love travel or know someone who does, this list is a great place to start for travel essentials. What would you add? 

Happy travels!

You might also like:

 

How to survive a road trip with kids


4 Comments

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Comments

  1. Theresa says

    October 26, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    These are great ideas! I’m traveling soon and could use the tips for my trip.

    Reply
  2. Bree Courtney says

    October 26, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    I definitely need a fast charger! And 20% off is a great deal!

    Reply
  3. Angela says

    October 26, 2017 at 11:34 pm

    Love the fast charger idea, it would be super useful to have at home as well. I also love those journal covers, there are some gorgeous colors!

    Reply
  4. CourtneyLynne says

    October 28, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    Oooo so many must have travel items!!!!! Having an awesome charger like that would be amazing to have on a trip

    Reply

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All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

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rippedjeansandbifocals

Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
Producer, Listen to Your Mother SA
💜 Mom via birth & #adoption
🐈 Human to @remusthebengalcat
🇺🇸 USAF veteran
📍#texas

Jill Robbins
Happy Wednesday. 📷 taken at Wasserman Wranch n Happy Wednesday.

📷 taken at Wasserman Wranch near Alpine. Check my bio link for more information. 

#texastravel #westtexas #texastodo #welovetexas #texaskids #donkeysofinstagram #westtx #texastravel #onlyintexas #alpinetexas #alpinetx #igtexas #igtexasphoto #alamocreatives #heymama_love #texasblogger #satxbloggers #texasthingstodo #miniaturedonkey #miniaturedonkeysofinstagram
"Intelligence + Character. That is the goal of tru "Intelligence + Character. That is the goal of true education." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I saw a lot of posts about Martin Luther King yesterday when I was doing my scrolls through social media...on a day where I wasn't supposed to be ON social media, ahem. We hear and see a lot of Dr. King's words and quotes one day a year. So, instead of apologizing for posting this "a day late" I'll share that I'm challenging myself to remember some of these important words more than one day a year.

Our kids are watching us right now. I mean...they're always watching us but I think what they see in these times is more important than ever. Nuturing our kids' intelligence and character is more important than ever. My kids are 10 now - this picture is about four years old - and they are absorbing EVERYTHING we say, how we say it and even what we don't say. 

This mural is near the suspension bridge in downtown Waco. Waco is famous for all the Magnolia things but there's a lot there for families, too, and the park around the bridge is a great place to explore along the Brazos River. 

#martinlitherkingday #martinlutherkingquotes #wacotexas #wacoheartoftexas #wacohot #texastravel #texastodo #onlyintexas #texaskids #texasfamilies #alamocreatives #igtexasphoto 
#raisinggoodhumans #raisingboys
Here’s something you’ve probably never seen be Here’s something you’ve probably never seen before: my bottom teeth.
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I always hide my crooked bottom teeth in pictures and I’m super self-conscious when I talk. So I did something about it.
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I wore braces as a kid and my top teeth are straight but my bottom teeth are shifting and one tooth is traveling into the back of my mouth and I have some crowding. My orthodontist said it’s very unusual to put braces on just half your mouth but my bite is still aligned so they didn’t have to put them on my top teeth - my wallet is thankful.
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Questions I’ve already been asked:
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1️⃣ At your age? Yes, at my age. I still care about my smile. 
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3️⃣ How long do you have to wear them?
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6-9 months.
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3️⃣ Do they hurt? 
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My teeth are sore and my mouth is tender but not to the Tylenol level so I guess the answer is “Not too much.”
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Other questions? Advice?
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#braceface #adultbraces
Little things can really be big - do you agree? M Little things can really be big - do you agree?

My husband gets up with our kids twice a week and does their breakfast and morning routine and takes them to school so I can sleep in. I don't laze away the morning in bed - it usually amounts to about an extra hour of sleep for me and a little more peace and quiet as I start my day. 

This probably seems like a little thing but this is huge for me. The mental benefits of not having to set my alarm on a schoolday is truly my love language. I would rather have sleep than flowers or presents. 

On those morning where my husband takes my kids to school, I will inevitably find the kitchen not "just so." There will be spills on the table or something that didn't get put away. I resist the urge to be sarcastic or to ask "Um, is there a reason we have four boxes of cereal just sitting on the counter?" or point out that it would take less than 30 seconds to wipe a tabletop or put a box back on the shelf. I resist saying stuff like "I guess if I want it done a certain way, I have to do it myself." I don't even say that to myself. 

My husband isn't "doing me a favor" by taking care of our kids. When I talked about being stressed and tired during an argument last year, he offered to take some things off my plate and giving me two mornings where I don't have to set an alarm was one of his ideas. It's part of the give and take of marriage and even though it makes me clench a little when I see spilled milk or stuff that hasn't put away, I appreciate having a partner who shares the load with me. 

My marriage definitely is not perfect and I'm in no position to give relationship advice. But for us, this one little thing is a really big deal. 

And, as I've recently discovered, a cereal box can sit on the counter for several days and the world doesn't explode. Who knew.

#thisisus #thisismarriage #loveandmarriage #happywifehappylife #marriedlife #mancrusheveryday #texas #texasstyle #rippedjeansandbifocals #marriagegoals #relationshipgoals #coparenting #parenting #momlifebelike #momlifeisthebestlife #ocd #ocdmomproblems #ocdmommy
Anyone else having massive “This time last year” moments?
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2020 started out so fine. We extended our kids’ winter break to take them on a Disney Cruise- no better reason than that, amiright- and I was excited about all the Disney Cruise blog posts I was going to write. Disney Cruises are (errr...were?) one of the most searched terms on my website and how a lot of people found me.
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Early 2020 was such a time of hope and light that pretty much everyone took for granted.
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While it’s become glaringly obvious the change in the calendar isn’t a magic potion, I still have hope for this year and still believe there magic yet to happen.
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You know...the good stuff.
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#believe #disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneycruiselife #disneywonder #disneymagic #disneycreators #disneycreatordays #mondayxmhe #disneymagicmoments #nowmorethanever
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