Creating the Ultimate Packing List

Creating the Ultimate Packing List

Having a tried & true packing list is one of the best “travel hacks” I can offer to help you avoid that I-know-I’m-missing-something feeling as you drive to the airport. A pre-planned packing list puts your mind at ease by letting you quickly check off what you’ve got in your bag and easily notice what’s missing. The best part is, it stays almost exactly the same for every trip, regardless of where you’re off to! So once you’ve nailed your list it’s easy to rely on as your trusty guide to packing. You may not need everything on the list for every trip, but it’s a solid reference point to make sure you’re never missing the essentials and reduce that pre-travel stress.

Your packing list is highly personal. It’s a reflection of what makes you comfortable in your daily life, and no generic list is going to hit everything you need. No matter how much you love traveling, there’s always a bit of discomfort that comes with flying and getting ready in a hotel bathroom. That discomfort can be minimized by making sure the important things are planned for so you never show up in a new city without your signature scent or favorite face wash. Maybe your list is half as long as mine and you don’t mind living without your luxury comforts for a while, or maybe it’s twice as long; whatever works for you! 

Next time you’re getting ready for the day or a night out, notice anything you’re using that you consider essential. Keep a running list in your Notes app or somewhere easily accessible so you can quickly jot down items you never want to go without. If you spot mini versions of your favorite products, snag them for your travel bag, or get a set of reusable travel bottles to easily fill with your favorite products. Target’s travel aisle and Sephora samples/trial sizes are also great to stock up on travel-friendly items.

I use this master list to keep my travel bag stocked with the essentials all year long, so when it’s time for a trip, I just run through the list to make sure everything is there, the consumables are refilled, and anything I don’t have duplicates of gets packed (nightguard, glasses, and medications). This bag is also a great emergency backup if we ever need to evacuate our home quickly. We would have our essentials already packed and ready to go for at least a few days. My rule of thumb with the over-the-counter meds (Tums, Claritin, etc.) is to dump them out and refill them every January to make sure we’re not keeping seriously expired medication in there.

This list may look daunting, but my travel setup is essentially the same for every trip. It doesn’t matter if I’m going for three days or three weeks; I will always use the same carry-on-approved suitcase, backpack, packing cubes, and toiletry bags. I have been using these two toiletry bags for years (see below), and they always seem to be the perfect fit for this list. The small one is TSA-approved for 3-1-1, so there’s never any question about throwing it in my backpack.

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There are times I’ll modify this list a bit if I only want to carry on a bag, but truthfully, I like checking my bag - especially if it’s free. As a 5’0” woman, it makes getting on and off the plane so much less stressful (I can barely reach those overhead bins!). I also get to the airport early and hate having to worry about my luggage when I need to use the restroom or grab a drink. A lot of seasoned travelers swear by their carry-on-only policy, but personally, I think it’s more comfortable to just check it. So if you’re like me, and enjoy not having to worry about your bag, I’m giving you full permission to check that sucker guilt-free.

Because luggage can get lost or delayed, I do suggest keeping the carry-on toiletries with you at all times, so you still have some extra essentials on you just in case. As an extra fail-safe, only using a carry-on-sized bag is great, so if you’re ever in a situation where checking a bag isn’t possible or isn’t the best option for whatever reason, you can always toss a few liquids and call it a day. For that reason, don’t ever pack over 3oz of your most expensive products!

You’ll notice this list does not include any clothing items since those vary widely depending on the destination, activities, weather, and length of stay, but feel free to include anything you consider essential on yours. 

Without further ado, this is my tried-and-true packing list to help you kick-start your own. Customize it, personalize it, and make it yours!

Check out my Essentials for specific product recommendations!