I recently took a quick trip to New York City and had a great time working with some remote colleagues and squeezing in a little sightseeing while we were there. There’s just something super energizing about getting to travel to a new destination and spending a little time outside your normal routine. At this point, I’ve visited 46 states and feel like I have a pretty good feel for how to travel effectively and what I need to carry with me. If you are planning to travel by plane or car, make sure you pack the right stuff in the right way.

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Pack the Right Stuff When You Travel

When I travel, I think of myself as having four categories I need to pack. Each category has a specific purpose and function.

On Your Person

When I travel, I always wear a lanyard flatpack so I can keep the essentials I need on my person. I don’t want to be on an adventure and lose a backpack or have my luggage lost in an airport and not have these essentials.

• ID (driver’s license)
• Money
• Credit Card
• Insurance Card
• Hotel Key
• Car Key (if traveling by vehicle)

In My Backpack

I also always travel with a backpack wherever I go so that I have my next layer of supplies at all times. This backpack can also include my computer when I am traveling for work or blog.

• Flashlight
• Portable Charger
• Extra Money
• First Aid Kit
• Tennis Shoes/Socks (if traveling on a business trip wearing dress shoes)
• Chapstick/Lip Gloss **My current favorite is Miage Lip Glowy!
• Waterbottle
• Handzies Wipes
• Snack bar
• Drink Mix (Liquid IV)

In My Suitcase

The next level of packing is my suitcase. These are a few of the extra things I always pack in addition to my standard clothes and toiletries. You will notice some redundancies in my packing because I don’t want to be caught off guard without something I need but this is on purpose not by accident.

• Extra flashlight
• Extra money
• Backup credit card
• larger first aid kit

In My Vehicle

My vehicle has much more space, so I keep more things that I might need on the trip.

• Snack bars and drink mixes
• Complete Keep Going First Aid Kit
• Hand wipes
• Umbrella
• Maps and GPS
• Extra charging cables for my phone
• Blanket

Are you strategic about what goes into each part of your packing or do you just throw everything in a suitcase and go? What is one thing on this list that you plan to pack on your next trip that you haven’t thought about? I’d love to hear!