After my trip to San Francisco in January I realized there are a few somewhat odd things I always travel with. It might be of interest to you dear readers! Here are my items I never leave at home:
- A scarf
- A washcloth
- A hankerchief
- Refillable water bottle
- Shower cap
Scarves
No matter what time of year it is or where I’m headed, I always bring a scarf on the airplane. I have two of them I use, a light linen one and a heavier cashmere one. Traveling from October through March, bring the cashmere. April through September, the linen scarf comes along. Scarves can be used for warmth around the neck, over the head, as a shawl or even as a sarong. I’ve used it as a neck pillow as well.
The linen scarf has been used as a beach blanket and the cashmere scarf has been used as an extra bed blanket for both me and my children. I’ve never regretted bringing a scarf on every single trip. My linen one is from Target, years and years ago. My cashmere one is from Anthropologie. I waited until off season to buy it and saved a ton of money. Wait for a sale!
A Washcloth
Some hotels have them and replace used ones every day, some places only replace them every few days and some places don’t have them at all. Take note AirBnB owners! I am someone who has to have a clean washcloth for my face every day. Sometimes it stays in my suitcase the entire trip and that’s OK.
A Hanky
I’m an oldie in that I carry handkerchiefs around with me fairly regularly in my daily life so you are darn right I travel with them too. It’s so much easier than lugging tissues around and it is guaranteed either you or your family members will need one for a runny nose. Mine have come in handy for quick kid mess cleanups before too. I usually bring three. :)
Water Bottle
This one isn’t so unusual but I realized when traveling with other people that maybe it’s something forgotten a lot. As soon as I am through security at the airport I fill up my largest water bottle I was able to carry. I keep the empty bottle in my tote bag, pretty much always my Longchamp bag. Recently at JFK airport and San Fran’s airport I noticed refillable water bottle stations all over the airports, so happy.
Shower Cap
I use shower caps all the time at home and in the past never traveled with one. Why?! Some hotels are nice enough to have them, but mostly you won’t see them. When traveling my hair tends to get crazy (tight curly hair here!) so styling it nice before leaving the house and using a cap to keep it that way for the first few days of a trip have saved my sanity. I don’t like traveling with hair styling tools, like a curling iron or anything like that, so a shower cap helps. I have a small water tight pouch I keep my cap in, this way if it’s wet when I have to fly home it won’t get everything else wet too.
When we went to Europe in April, I straightened my hair the day before the trip and used my shower cap for about five days (I loved my Trader Joe’s dry shampoo). Recently on a trip to San Diego, I used it for one day, went in the pool, fully planning on not getting my head wet, and said, oh well, let’s have fun. That was it for that trip, didn’t use it again. You never know!
What do you always travel with?
Momma Wanderer 