My Carry On Essentials: 5 Things I Don't Leave Home Without • The Spirited Traveler

I’ve taken enough trips (and made enough mistakes) to know this: a properly packed carry on can make or break your travel day. After more than a few chaotic scrambles through airports, long layovers, and one rainy night hunting down facial cleanser in Rome, I’ve learned what really matters. These are the five carry on essentials I never travel without, and why you shouldn’t either.

My 5 Carry On Essentials

1. Easy Access Travel Documents & Funds

Passport, ID, and money go in one secure, easy-to-reach pocket. Having them all together saves me from the frantic bag-digging panic I used to feel before boarding. This one step singlehandedly relieves the majority of my travel stress by eliminating my need to constantly check that I have my travel docs & wallet on me. Plus with new tools like Global Entry, mobile boarding passes, e-pay apps, etc, keeping things simple is easier than ever.

2. Keys

This one may seem small, but trust me. I never travel with my keys in my checked bag because the one time I did it, I had so much anxiety I couldn’t relax on my flight. Plus you really never know what may happen to your checked luggage. On my way back from Prague (that ENTIRE flight day was a mess from start to finish, but that’s a story for another day), my luggage was sent to Medellin, Columbia (MDE) instead of Memphis, TN (MEM)… It took five days for my bag to get home. Imagine the additional hoops I would have have to jump through if my car and house keys had taken that journey.

3. Antibacterial Wipes

Oh, I go nowhere without these. Nowhere. And yes, I’m that traveler that wipes EVERYTHING down the moment I get to my seat. I was a germaphobe before the pandemic hit, so when I get to my seat, I wipe down the seat belt, head rest, arm rest, food tray, and button in sight. They are part of my travel kit because you never know when you’ll need them on your travels. I’ve been in places with no soap or water available for whatever reason. Not to mention wipes actually remove dirt and grime better than hand sanitizer, plus they don’t count as a liquid allowance.

4. Electronics (& chargers)

Phone, headphones, cameras, laptop, iPad, ereaders, etc. all need their charger cords. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination with a dead phone or camera. And what happens if you pack these in your checked luggage, but your checked luggage is lost or delayed? Keep these on you, Plus, after spending 9+ hours in the air, I like to make sure all my electronics are topped off and ready to go when I land.

5. Toiletry Items– This is especially an absolute necessity on long-haul flights. Facial wipes & sheet masks, lotion, toothpaste & toothbrush, mints, sleep aids, a change of undergarments, fresh socks, a fresh tee shirt all come on the plane with me. Trust me, I’ve been there, done that. It’s nice to have these items on hand. Pro Tip- Prior to landing on long haul flights, I clean my face (facial wipes) then pop on a sheet mask for a bit of a boost and extra hydration. Once I deplane, my first stop is generally the rest room to brush my teeth. Doing these two things help me feel more human after a 9+hr flight and better prepared to either start my vacation in a new country–or make it the last few hurdles to get home.

Bonus Essential Item

Refillable Water bottle– I never travel without a refillable water bottle. Staying hydrated is an important component of my health on a normal basis, even more so when the added stress of travel is thrown into the mix. Another reason I like my own water is that I the water served on planes is questionable, unless it’s bottled. And I’ve learned that not every flight offers bottled water. Also, with a water bottle, I can carry hot water as well in case I want a hot beverage inflight.

Additional Carry on Essentials by Trip Type

Domestic/Short Haul: snacks, books, downloaded episodes on streaming platforms (not all shorter flights offer inflight entertainment or drink service)
International/ Long Haul: compression socks, light scarf (for hair or warmth), knitting/crochet project
Work Travel: laptop, deliverables to review, pens, note pad
Leisure Travel: camera gear, iPad for editing or streaming, travel journal/notebook, long form entertainment options (solo games, reading materials, knitting/crochet projects, etc)

My carry on is the equivalent of a security blanket. I should give you peace of mind when traveling, not add to the stress of the day. With the right essentials packed, you’ll be prepared in the case of missed connections, delayed checked luggage, or anything else thrown your way.