Don’t Forget any of These for a Good Trip

Traveling is stressful enough as it is. I mean really, who wants to deal with all that packing dilemma, waiting around in airports, crowding into stuffy compartments, jet-lag, costs, and constant worry about logistics? Not to mention all that fast food you inevitably end up eating because on a big trip, whether by car, bus, plane, whatever, food is often an afterthought until you arrive at your destination.

So why would you want to add to all that stress by not taking with you certain key items that can make or break your travel? There are some things that Vine Vera thinks everyone should have with them on any trip, and we want to make sure you don’t forget any of them.

Bright Luggage Tags
Losing your luggage at the airport due to a mix-up—usually because someone had the same style and color suitcase as you and grabbed yours by mistake—is just about one of the worst things ever when you’re flying. So try to avoid it by getting some bright, cheerfully-colored luggage tags that will make your suitcase(s) stand out, so you know what’s yours at a glance, and other people have a loud-and-clear pointer that this is not their bag.

Thin Sweater
It gets chilly in airplanes, but not downright freezing. A t-shirt alone would likely leave you way too cold, but a heavy jacket would find you broiling. A light, thin cardigan is just about perfect for warding off the airplane chills, and it being thin serves an additional purpose: it can easily be rolled up and stowed in your carry-on bag when it’s time to disembark.

All-In-One Makeup
They can be hard to find, but if you can snag an all-in-one makeup kit that provides foundation, bronzer, eyeshadow, blush, brushes, and a mirror in one single compact package, it’s worth holding onto for travel, when space is at a premium.

Snacks
Unless you’re confident that whatever the airplane is serving you will be both filling and delicious (hint: it will likely be neither), it’s a very good idea to carry some tasty snacks for the plane ride. Trail mix, granola bars, or small bags of chips and the like.

Messenger Bag or Backpack
Clutches and shoulder bags may be stylish, but they’re far from practical. When you’re traveling, you want your hands free to handle money, documents, plane tickets, etc, etc. As such, you need a bag that can hold itself on your body rather than needing a hand constantly occupied keeping it secured. Besides, you can get some pretty cute and fun messenger bags and backpacks if you shop around.

Essentials in Carry-On
Like we said in the first section, losing your luggage in the airport is just about one of the worst things that can happen, and you hear nightmare stories about it all the time. And the sad truth is, while it is unlikely, it very well could happen to you, even if you do your best to make your bags stick out with colorful tags; that will help, but it will not erase the chance.

So, just in case, put some basic toiletries, a couple easy-to-compact outfits, and several pairs of clean socks and underwear, in your carry-on, along with anything else you’d want to have with you if the worst became a reality. Then you’d have enough to live with temporarily while the airport fixes its mess.