Is it worth the space?

Sand Cloud Turkish Towel

In my prior life, I was a consultant that traveled A LOT. Lots of hours on super cold airplanes. I used to have this great travel scarf that was big enough to double as a mini blanket. When it was stolen (along with my backpack from the back of an SUV – stay tuned for a post on that), I couldn’t find a good replacement. Sand Cloud was everywhere on social media, so I thought why not give them a try. This towel has been in my backpack for 5+ years on every trip I’ve taken. It’s so versatile. A blanket/shawl on the plane or at the airport, a towel to sit in the park or at the beach. I love it. It is lightweight, dries quickly, and doesn’t collect sand/dirt. They aren’t cheap but are high quality and should last you for years to come. Plus, they partner with all kinds of fun brands and donate to conservation efforts.

Neck Pillows

Sleep is important! Depending on the flight’s duration and time of day, this may or may not make it onto the packing list. Domestically, the only time I will bring this along is if it’s a red eye. Internationally, it’s a must have. Scott isn’t really a fan but since we made the switch to the TRTL brand, he has been more open minded about them. You can see the ‘old’ model we had was a wraparound that was honestly pretty comfortable but would not stay in place. I also got really warm wearing it.

I saw that TRTL was having a sale last year around Black Friday and purchased 2 of their Cool Pillows. We used them on our flights to South America and were happy with the upgrade. Easy to position on either side of your neck or even slightly in front of you. Carrying case makes it so much better than getting gross as it’s tossed around during travel. The hook makes it easy to attach outside of your carry-on/personal item to save space within.

Phone Lanyards

This one is new to our packing list. We love taking photos but haven’t made the investment in a ‘nice camera’. I mean, if you think about it, you’re carrying a thousand-dollar camera with you everywhere you go (aka your cell phone). We were in New Zealand on a glacier hike and saw a girl dropped her cell phone into a crevasse. I felt so bad for her. All I could think of was, one day, that will be me.

I finally purchased this combo pack that has a wrist and neck version. It comes with a little tab to insert into your existing case and is pretty lightweight. The neck version is adjustable, and I actually wear it as a crossbody so I can keep my phone in my front pocket when not using it. While I originally purchased this for ‘outdoor adventures’, I quickly realized that with all the cell phone theft that happens in major cities and tourist areas, it’s not a bad idea to use it any time I travel. I got these on Amazon and they are super affordable.

Waterproof Phone Case/Lanyard

We’ve been using these for years. They are great for water recreation (kayaking, SUP, fishing) but are also great for rainy days. The clear plastic allows you to use your camera while the phone is inside. The lanyard is helpful when you are wearing a swimsuit and don’t have any pockets. Check out our video from the boat ride/waterfall experience at Iguazu Falls on Instagram to see how handy they can be.

Pro tip: put a piece of tissue or parchment paper inside when you aren’t using it. We had to buy new ones recently because the plastic had gotten warm in our old house with no AC and had stuck together. You’ll find these on Amazon at affordable prices.

Dry Bag

This is another item we’ve had for years. It rolls up small and is super lightweight. We use this for water recreation (typically kayaking) but a lot of tour operators will provide one for you if you don’t have one. I actually use it most as a beach bag. We don’t take many ‘beach’ vacations. I do have a traditional beach bag but it’s way too big to pack if it will only be used for a day or two during the trip. This 13L size is big enough to keep the essentials dry and sand free. I throw in keys, phones, kindles, snacks, shorts & tees. With all that stuffed in, it also doubles as a pillow for me while lying on the beach reading. It’s also great to throw in your wet swimsuits after the beach if you’re out and about for the day. We purchased this years ago at REI. Similar version is still available.

Laundry Essentials

Prior to 2024, we were both working full time which meant our trips on average were 3-10 days. For those trips, we prioritize having at least one hotel with laundry facilities so that we can pack for about 5 days and then do laundry once and we’re good. With both of us on ‘indefinite sabbatical’ from full time gigs we are now able to take longer trips.

When we were preparing for our 28-day South America/Antarctica trip, we were trying to figure out how to stick with our carry-ons while packing for 2 very different climates. Mid-range budget hotels in South America aren’t as likely to have laundry facilities as they are here in the US. I saw the Scrubba advertised on Instagram and decided to give it a try. Of course, I could just do laundry in the sink, but it can get really messy. I took dissolvable laundry sheets (cut into small squares) and overall, it worked great. It’s not ideal for bulky items so we ended up paying for one load of laundry mid-trip to wash our jeans/pullovers, but for underwear, t-shirts, socks, shorts, etc. it gets the job done. It’s essentially a drybag, so it folds up relatively small so it’s not taking up too much space in our suitcases.