Packing + Flight Necessities
Everyone who knows me is aware I am not a light packer. I like to be prepared for just about everything a trip can throw my way. I do have a few staple items I take along on every trip, and a few recommendations for your travelling as well. I am unfortunately not sponsored for any of this, they are just some products (or similar things) I personally love.
Luggage & Packing
From the moment I laid eyes on this beautiful Dakine tropical design luggage bag I had to have it. This particular bag pattern can only be purchased at Honolua Surf Co. The said it was designed specifically for the islands. I'm not sure if they have store locations off-island or not. I bought it on my second trip to Hawaii. It doesn't have spinner wheels which is the only downfall. It has great organizational compartments on the inside to keep your packed items separate and easy to find. It also has exterior tightening straps to compact your bag even more. It is very well-made and is definitely easy to spot on the luggage wheel.
For a smaller bag I have the light pink, Calpak Davis Carry on, purchased for much cheaper than I've found online, at TJMaxx. This bag has held up amazingly and also has organizational dividers inside. It also includes a built in TSA lock on the zipper. I also have a full-sized Calpak luggage bag. TJMaxx has the best prices for these!
As a personal item, I love my new BAGSMART Weekender bag, which I recently got off Amazon. It has soft fabric, multiple compartments to keep my plane ride organized, a shoulder strap, and a strap to attach it onto your carry on extension handle. It easily fits under the seat and can be folded up pretty small when not in use.
Spinner-wheeled, feather-weight luggage is definitely the most travel-friendly baggage I've used. I am still trying to wear out my original baggage so I can upgrade to the feather-weight style. This gives you 5-10 pounds of extra weight not being lost on your bag. I found these on Amazon and they look pretty good for the price. Make sure to check the carry-on bag requirements for your flight. Many airlines are getting very stingy on dimensions and will check your bag if it doesn't fit in their tiny, metal size-checking cages. My carry on bag is about a half inch too long, but I've been lucky enough to sneak by unnoticed. Inter-island flights usually have smaller planes and may have even tighter restrictions.
This lightweight, collapsible Bago Travel duffel bag is great to bring along on vacation trips in case you buy souvenirs and need an extra bag for the flight home. Perfect for clothing and larger items that may not fit in your carry on. It folds up and zips into itself, saving weight and space on the way to wherever you are going.
These BAGAIL packing cubes make organizing my large bag a breeze. This set also came with a shoe bag and two sizes or toiletry organizers. I never knew what I was missing out on with packing cubes. It keeps everything nice and separate, which is great if you are on a multi stop trip. Every time I would land somewhere new, my bag would get progressively more unorganized. Not anymore! These fold down flat when not in use, but I like to keep everything bagged up at each stop I make
For the Flight
Neck pillows make plane-sleeping much more enjoyable for me, making falling asleep much easier and more comfortable no matter which seat you're assigned. I'd make sure to get one with a cinch-string or a snap-button to keep it from slipping off if your head falls forward. The memory foam ones are the best, in my opinion. I found this bundle pack on Amazon that includes sleep masks and earplugs (also a must for me). I found a nice one at TJ Maxx, but for efficiency sake, Amazon may be easier. These are easy to roll up and put in your carry on in between flights, and are nice for layovers in the airport as well.
Eye masks are my new favorite travel buddy, I've never slept so well on a flight! I love the newer style of form-fitted ones that dome out over your eyes. With these, my eyelashes aren't getting smashed and they are overall much more comfortable to wear for an extended period of time. They block out the light perfectly and I get the best sleep possible on the plane. They come in a variety of colors and the fabric is very soft.
NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES!!! This may be the most important thing on this list. Being crammed in a plane for 7+ hours is bad enough with our having to listen to screaming babies or a loud jet engine the entire time. I usually get pretty lucky with quiet flights, but the last time I went home I had two SHRIEKING toddlers almost the entire flight to the mainland. I have the Beats Solo 3, which have great sound but don't do much in terms of cancelling outside noise. I would recommend something more along on the lines of these... or better yet, some Bose. The larger ear pads are more comfortable and drown out the headache of that unwanted noise. Airpod Pro's are also amazing and much more compact. I have enjoyed flying with these recently for the ease of packing less.
A refillable water bottle is something I never travel without. I can fill up with fresh water at the airport Starbucks. This saves you from buying the overpriced waters at the airport, as well as cutting down on plastic bottles.
Everyone is obsessed with Hydroflask, but honestly I love these Ozark Trail flask bottles, and they're a fraction of the price and from what I've seen, work just as well.
Clothing + Accessories
