When traveling abroad, having the right gear makes the entire experience much more enjoyable. These are our recommendations:
Luggage – For our family of four, packing light is a goal but not usually our reality. To best accommodate a trip of a few weeks, we have found large rolling duffels to be the way to go. These have been around the world many times and have held up very well for us. They hold a lot, don’t tip over, are rugged and easy to roll. We have three of them, but we can often pack for four using just two. Be careful not to overpack as these bags hold a lot.
Eagle Creek ORV-2 rolling duffel
Luggage Scale –The weight limits for international flights is 50 lbs and most airlines are pretty strict with this limit, so be sure to have a luggage scale on hand. We weigh as we are packing to make sure we are staying on track, and then bring the scale with us to be sure we are within our weight allowance coming back home. It is nice to know you are never over-limit when you get to the airport.
EatSmart SmartGrip Portable Instant Read Digital Handheld
Carry On – Sometimes when we travel, we do quick overnight or weekend trips and leave our large luggage in one city while we travel light with carry on bags to other destinations. We have found this carry on bag to be a good choice – We have one for each of us, each in a different color so they are easy to distinguish. They are expandable, hold enough for a few days, are very easy to maneuver and lightweight. They come in pretty colors too!
DELSEY Paris Helium Aero Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Black, Carry-On 21 Inch.
Packing Cubes – These are a game changer. They are inexpensive, and come in many colors so each family member can have a set easily distinguishable from the others. This allows you to organize your clothes into categories which makes life much easier when unpacking, or when you aren’t in a destination long enough to unpack, to find what you need when living out of your suitcase. This set also contains a bag for shoes and a laundry bag. The cubes are also great because you can really fill them to the limit by rolling or tightly folding your items. If you are unpacking, you very can just stack them in a closet or slide them into drawers and always know just where to look for different clothes.
Veken Packing Cubes for Travel Accessories Travel Essentials, Luggage Organizer Bags for Carry on Suitcases
Backpack – When we travel, I rarely bring a purse and instead opt for a backpack. Look for one that has plenty of compartments and is comfortable to wear, not too big and not too small. Pack it with necessities you need for the plane or train, and then use it daily when walking around at your destination.
Ultra lightweight travel day pack
Packable Water Resistant Jacket – This rain jacket takes up very little space and you never know when you will need a rain coat!
Looking for more ideas? Check out our Travel Tips or Gear collections.