Over my years of traveling I've put together some must have's I can't travel without. There's no faster way to put a damper on a vacation that discovering you don't have what you need once you're at your travel destination and having to run out and get it.
The new trend is to travel light (1 bag) with airlines setting more and more restrictions on weight. However, while that may be fine for personal vacations and the like, if you're traveling on business and will have to dress professionally or you're traveling with family you'll need more than one bag.
Joyway makes an affordable (under $100) 4 piece hard sided luggage set with TSA locks that comes in contrasting colors - making your luggage easy to spot on that baggage carousel.
Having watched baggage handlers loading a plane, I don't want anything that isn't hard sided and baggage handler proof.But even more importantly, this set is much like a molle backpack in that you can add or remove pieces as necessary and the large soft sided bag can be used as your carry-on.
The set is available in a variety of contrasting colors. Shop here
I swore manna from heaven was falling on me when I discovered travel cubes. What a game changer and for a mere $20! No longer do I tear my suitcase or travel backpack apart looking for that one elusive item - that always ends up being at the very bottom of the suitcase/backpack. This Brookstone 6 pack of compression, tear resistant travel cubes are a lifesaver that keeps everything neatly organized. Shop here
These combination locks add an extra layer of defense to keeping your valuables safe. Simply attach it to your bag or backpack and you won’t have to worry about anyone rummaging through your stuff. This is especially important if you wear your valuables behind you or in a purse at your side because they are out of sight. These locks are TSA-Approved so you can use them for air travel, and they’re 10x harder to crack than typical 3-digit locks. Shop here
Being a cop, old habits die hard. I want my hands free for self defense if that becomes necessary. And that can become a must while traveling! While in Seattle, my sister wasn't paying the least bit of attention to a potential mugger following her.
He was just about to grab her purse when I whirled around and said "Just try it! I can introduce your face to concrete in under 3 seconds!" He took off running.
I can hear you thinking "But a mugger or pickpocket could get into your backpack just as easily!" Not with the locks shown above. And a potential mugger can't rip a backpack off you like he could say, a purse in your hand.
Make sure the backpack you purchase fits you properly and is waterproof.
If you're at Disney World and riding Kali River Rapids for example, you can set your backpack on the floor of the ride and not worry about its contents getting soaked with water.
This hanging toiletry bag is a lifesaver. No more toiletries spread all over your hotel room! It was designed by travelers for travelers.
It's water resistant and leakproof. Hangs on any door, shower pole, towel rack, or hook to display 4 giant pockets.
It holds everything I need with room to spare and is compact to pack. Be sure to throw some hand sanitizer in there!
Comes in assorted colors. Shop here
Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Pro-Level Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging, Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone are pricey at $450...but when you're seated one row away from a baby screaming the entire 4 hour flight you'll be glad you spent the money.
Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation removes up to 2x more background noise, so you can immerse yourself in music. Head tracking suits your unique ear shape so they're comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The ear pads are made of memory foam.
Pair AirPods Max by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* AirPods Max pause audio when you take them off. And Automatic Switching makes listening between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac completely effortless. Shop here
Never worry about a dead battery again with aportable charger– this one is my favorite because it’s about the size of a tube of lipstick yet powerful enough to charge several devices (phones, cameras, and other USB-standard electronics). I throw it into my backpack and forget about the rest.
This nifty waterproof cell phone case has saved my cellphone from getting drenched more than once!
It comes in a handy 2 pack of cases.
Compatible Phone Models
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24, S23, S22, S21 Ultra, S21+, S21, S20 Ultra, S20, S10, S10e, S9, S9 Plus, S8, S8 Plus, Note 10+,10, 9, 8, S7, S7 edge, S6, S6 Edge plus, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 8, Pixel 7, Pixel 6, Pixel 5, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 3, Play Z, P30, P30pro, LG G6, G5, G4, G3, G2, v10 etc, HTC One M10, M9, M8, M7, Nexus 6, 6P, 5, 4, Nokia Microsoft Lumia, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone12, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Max, iPhone Xs Max, Xs, Xr, X, iPhone 8, 8 plus, 7 plus, 7
Shop here
With as many life threatening medical issues as I have I never travel without wearing my medical alert bracelet. This is especially important when one is traveling solo.
Should I become unconscious and/or unresponsive for any reason, medical personnel have the necessary information to treat me. Shop here
I pair my medical alert bracelet with this Medical Emergency Wallet that I keep in my travel backpack at all times.
It lists all of the medications I'm on, my diagnosed medical conditions, the business card of my primary care physician should he need to be contacted and my family emergency contact.
As much as we hope everything goes smoothly on vacation, accidents happen. Like my sister who broke her arm while on a getaway in Switzerland – thankfully, she had travel insurance and was able to focus on her recovery rather than footing the nearly $50K bill for transit and treatment!
Travel insurance will protect your family against flight delays, theft, baggage loss, medical emergencies, cancellations, and
more. Especially if traveling internationally, since your provider generally will not cover you outside the country. I use Faye because they have a modern approach as the first all-digital provider. Made by travelers for travelers, reimbursements are handled quickly through their mobile app, and they support you when you need it most (instead of delaying the claims process or giving you endless paperwork like most providers). Ultimately, you can’t afford to travel without it and Faye makes the process completely painless! Shop here
I'm sure a few travelers will think my water kit is a bit "over the top" but I learned my lesson while traveling in Mexico, contracting C dif at Disney World, etc.
And honestly, it was just easier tossing the entire compact kit in my backpack that disassembling it to pull specific items out of it for each trip. If I had to drink out of a mud puddle, I could safely do so having this kit along. At the very least, get yourself a good filtered water bottle! I recommend the Kleen Kanteen. Shop here
If you take numerous medications like I must, a pill organizer is a necessity. (The bag I keep all of my medications in is literally the size of a tote bag and would take up half the room in my carry-on!)
This particular compact pill organizer allows me to pack enough medications for my trip plus extras just in case.It's sturdy and has a rotatable handle as well.
If it suddenly starts downpouring rain, this compact reusable rain poncho will keep you nice and dry.
Available in a variety of colors.
They're great to have when traveling in someplace like San Francisco, where the weather can change in a heartbeat even if the day starts out sunny. Shop here
I learned at Disney World that there's nothing worse than slogging around in wet shoes all day. It also makes your feet more prone to blisters.
I wised up and started wearing and packing my mesh water shoes. They're ventilated, allowing my feet and the shoes to dry quickly and because they're constructed like a sneaker they're comfortable to walk around in for long periods of time.
They're also lightweight and compact for packing. Shop here
A good waterproof sun hat can mean the difference between getting heatstroke and not getting heatstroke. This sun hat comes with UV protection.
The sun hat is made of 100% polyester, quick dry, lightweight, and waterproof. One Size Fits Most: This bucket sun hat circumference is 21- 23 inches, it fits both men and women. It has adjustable elastic buckle string at the back, you can easily adjust it for your comfort. And you can also adjust the removable chin strap under this sun shade hat to keep it firmly in place on windy days or when you're riding that Six Flags roller coaster.
You can easily have it folded up. When you have no need to put it on, this sun hat can be easily folded up for storage. It has a hook on the inside, once folded up, you can easily take it around, hooking it to your backpack or even jeans. Shop here
A good pair of polarized sunglasses are another must have.
I personally prefer the type designed for fishing, cycling, etc. and then I attach a neck lanyard to them so they can hang around my neck when I need to take them off.
I like this pair because the carrying case has a small caribiner attached so you can hook them to your backpack, belt, etc. when not in use.
Additionally, they come in a variety of colors with different color lenses. Shop here
This Hero Neck Wallet is the handiest darned thing for traveling and a good way to keep money and other valuables out of reach. (Hang it around your neck and tuck it under your shirt, out of sight.)
Especially handy when flying as you can tuck your passport, ID, and boarding pass in it so everything you need is at your fingertips.
It’s also RFID-blocking to prevent e-thieves from scanning your wallet for credit card info as they stroll by. Comes in assorted colors.
Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow for travel. Memory foam, ergonomic design. Comes with bag. Best travel pillow of 2025.
This Quick Dry Travel Towel is the same type quick dry towel used by swimmers and divers. They dry extremely fast, 10x quicker than cotton, and weigh next to nothing. No more lugging around soggy, stinky towels!
You can sit on it, dry off with it, use it as a sun shield, keep sweat off your skin, dry off the little ones after playing in the water, etc.