Can you do a video of you have an already on items you would take for instance I invested in an insulated water bottle I need a drink a lot of water work also invested in an insulated lunch tote for my meals that’s collapsible so you could easily travel with it we are suggesting tested for our weekend trips in a cooler that keeps drinks food cold for up to five days stopping for ice
You can't use a pen on a delsey suitcase to open the zipper since Delsey has Double Zipper technology. It's almost impossible to pierce through the zipper using a pen
The point of a lock isn’t to make your bag impenetrable. It’s meant to be a deterrent. It signals to thieves your bag will be harder to get into than those without a lock.
No it doesn't it tells a thief you have something inside very valuable. Which I never put anything in my checked extremely valuable. However any key will work in all of them that's TSA approved so all a thief would have to do is get a TSA approved key and go in your bag. It's not rocket science.
@@odell2970 I point I was trying ti make is why bother getting a TSA key, and have to take a few extra seconds to open the bag - seconds where you might be caught, when there is another unlocked suitcase next to it? Thieves go for the easiest targets first.
@@glszq4 nope. It's the same thing as having a tief-proof backpack with the zippers facing your back, versus walking around with a backpack where the zippers are on top. They will go for the easier target. because they need to be fast. Why spend minutes unlocking a locked bag, when yoz get 10 other bags without a lock? and nowadays hardly any keeps any valuables in checked luggage. If someone wants my panties (ew) and my bra, well. we know it was a pervert...
Old flight attendant here. I use blue painter’s tape to wrap around the bottle necks after I put the cap on. I then put all the toiletries in a zip lock bag to be checked. I use xxx large ziplock bags for each days clothes. I put the outfit, along with underwear in a bag, folded, then I roll all the air out. They compress so well and stay clean. Just grab a bag and dress for the day. Oh! Don’t use the bags with the zipper lock. Use the ones that you have to squeeze together.
One thing I do is print out self-adhesive mailing labels with my family's and friends' addresses on it for sending postcards. Makes it very easy and efficient, plus once you use the label and it's gone, you don't have to wonder if you sent Aunt Suzy a postcard or not.
My mom brought them home for years and gave them to a family member who was a nurse working with the homeless. Great for shelters and homeless ministries. ❤
The TRTL "pillow" is the best thing every! As someone who has done hundreds of trips with long flight times, the TRTL is more of a neck support than a pillow, and it's pretty compact and flexible too!
I know what you are saying about travel pillows, but as an Australian- most of our flights are long haul so an extra pillow is actually quite nice and helps with sleeping.
Chris, the things I travel with are the things that work for me. I'm retired now but my position while working for the DoD caused me to travel more than I really wanted to. I traveled with a small team and all of us had various types of gear that worked for us and most of it was peculiar to the individual. For example I would never use a hard sided suitcase that I had to check. While traveling to Korea my hard sided suitcase came around the luggage carousel with one of the sides crushed. I don't mean dented I mean crushed, so that cured me of using a hard sided suitcase unless I used it as a carry on, then it worked very well. I really enjoy your show even if my travel experiences were different from yours. Another example is luggage locks, I used them for keeping my Samsonite luggage from opening and spilling my unmentionables on the ground while on my way to my destination. Also I have never had a lock pop open in 35 years of traveling for the Govt. Michael
I use and love my passport holder. It also carries my vaccinaion card. And yes always have a copy in under the lining of my suitcase. I always pack a travel towel. It is not about quality of hotel but about if i head to the lake, or need an extra for my hair etc. It takes up no room or weight. Worth it, been carrying for years.
It's so funny that someone commented that your videos help with anxiety because I literally have this on while finishing up a challenging day at work because I find them soothing as well!!!!
The reason I own quick dry towels is that many times on trips were taking a car between hotels and might stop at a beach or waterfall, in this case you need a towel and the hotel won't let you take one and not return it.
Also useful when staying at Airbnbs where there might not be beach towels available or are out and about and decide to stop at beach or day trips to beach locations (such as Yelapa). They are compact, lightweight towel to pack in your daily carry.
Chris - I was surprised by your comments on travel insurance. While I don't buy from the airline or cruise line, I think its an absolute must for international travel and not a bad buy for domestic as well given the increased frequency of cancelled flights. Most domestic insurance doesn't provide coverage outside of the US. It can cost $50K to $250K just for medical evac for example if you need to be brought back to the US for a serious medical condition. You do need to shop for the best coverage specific to your needs. My wife and I purchase an annual policy from Allianz that provides up to $5K for trip cancelation for non refundable losses, $250K for medical evac and $50K for emergency medical. The premium for both of us is about $700 a year. You can select your coverage amounts for each coverage area. We travel 15 to 20 times a year by air both domestic and international and I consider cheap protection in case of emergency. I appreciate your work - thanks for helping us!
Similarly, was very surprised by his comments on travel insurance. The odds of something medical happening to you on a holiday is the same as when you are in your hometown, and we obviously know how important having accident and hospitalisation coverage is. Even though he did follow up by clarifying that he isn't here to tell us not to buy, but rather to warn us to look at the policy details, I feel like it shoul not have been raised in this video because insurance DOES improve your travel. Even in cases where nothing happens, the peace of mind that comes along with it as you explore your destination is priceless.
Thanks Bob. Yes. I think the legitimate reason to get travel insurance is for health care coverage if your primary health insurance doesn't provide good travel benefits. I think that's not why most people get travel insurance. Most people want it to get their money back on flights, hotels, cruise ship tickets. And that sort of travel insurance is worthless because they make it too hard to file the claim and actually get your money
Travel insurance is an absolute MUST when traveling, especially to countries with an underdeveloped healthcare system, like the United States. A visit to a US hospital can easily bankrupt you, hell, a quick ride in an ambulance or visit to the emergency room can easily cost you tens of thousands of US Dollars. Europeans especially have no concept of how insane the US healthcare system is. Remember, most of us europeans dont have "primary health insurance", because we dont need it. Its part of what the society provides for its citizens. Also, medevacs are insanely expensive. If you happen to have an accident, it can easily cost 100.000USD or more just for the flight home. With regards to flights, any flight to and from the EU/EEA is covered by EU regulations and you are entitled to a standardized compensation, plus hotel/food and either a refund or rerouting depending on your choice. The compensation is 250EUR for short flights, 400EUR for intermediate flights and 600EUR for other flights.
@@heythaveWorth every penny. Not having health insurance can EASILY bankrupt you. Most of us can survive loosing our bikes, luggage etc. It will be a pain, but it will not ruin you. Missing liability insurance and health insurance will destroy the rest of your life, if you are just a bit unlucky. It might not even be your fault, someone else may be at fault, and you will still be bankrupted. My travel insurance costs about 100-150USD/year, and gives me "Unlimited medical coverage" and "Unlimited repatriation coverage", plus five million dollars of liability insurance. Its only valid for travels up to 45 days, but this can be extended.
Highly recommend trying some of the new bar shampoos and conditioners. They are really nice products, last for months, no plastic waste and the best part is TSA friendly.
You can use wire ties and cut the excess off. AeroMexico zip ties everyone’s suitcases, which was surprising. I’ve watched suitcases get rifled through from the plane in Mumbai and had my suitcase tossed through in Riga. Zip ties are cheap and pack easily, too
I like the small travel sized items. They get my trip off to an easy start and I don't have to go shopping for toothpaste the moment I arrive. I travel with a lightweight sarong instead of a towel.
Instead of a travel pillow, buy a washable, zippered cover for a neck pillow (yes, you can purchase just the cover). Then stuff it with a puffy jacket in cold weather, or other bulky items in hot weather. h Hook it on your personal bag & you have a 2 in 1 use.
I print out my documents too! My kids think I'm nuts, so thank you for confirming that it's a good idea to have hard copies of your important traveling paperwork. Excellent travel tips. So much is marketed as "must have" travel gadgets that are simply unnecessary.
if you turn the neck pillow around where the hole is in the back, then your head won't fall forward and the back of your head can be on the headrest. that's my invention. I won't charge you for that one😉
Always a must for me too, bad neck and as a petite woman those headrests are never right. I even have a small blow up for a lumbar pillow. Takes up very little space.
Nalgene travel bottles are the bomb for toiletries! And leak proof. They are especially good if you aren't checking a bag. (I get them at the Container Store -- they are sturdy, inexpensive and last forever.) And I can't do without my neck pillow!!! Do I just have a weird neck? IDK, but I totally sleep better with one. I even like the cheap blow up ones when space is an issue.
As far as packing, I I like to use XL Ziplocks, for makeup, toiletries, and underwear. I also like to use the bright colorful suitcase skins that cover my plastic rimowa case, because I can easily spot it when it comes off the conveyor...then toss it in the wash when it gets grimy. Thanks. You always have good tips.
I use: simple clear zipbags for toiletries which take up less space and easy to see items and same for cords, blow up pillow so stores flat, a slim RFID sleeve over passport and just take it off while in security line, foldable tote/daybag, thin down jacket in pouch, raincoat in a pouch, wrinkle resistant clothes and just in case a toiletry size sprayer with cap filled with Downey Wrinkle Release...
I use the plastic bags that sheets, blankets and other fabric items come in with zippers. By the time it goes south my wife has purchased something else with this type of packaging.
Currently, Aldi has Crane brand socks made of 53% merino wool, 44 % nylon and 3% elastane. Available in low cut, crew and compression. You may not fancy the color choices and styles though. But you can't beat the price. They're only $4.99.
@@insylem its from germany and over here we have food as well as clothes, Tools, garden stuff, etc but These things change every Week so i guess the socks r available as well
If you want to upgrade your socks, look for the Hartwool socks. They are designed for golfers and have all the right fits to prevent blisters, and not slouch or wear loosely. I recently bought many pairs. My first pair are like new after a decade! Yes, they are expensive at approx 20-25 per pair; yet after a decade the annual cost is 2.23$. You’ll never waste money on ill fitting and cheap socks . I’m packing 12 pair for a 30 day trip. Maybe less as I’ll was them in the hotel sink and hang to dry. Hack: dry them with the hairdryer or the iron ( if no damage to the sock textile, of course.
If you partially empty the original bottle of shampoo/soap, make sure you DO NOT put it in your carry on. TSA rules go by the volume on the label not by how much you think you have in the container.
Dang you are right This man is stupid I buy shampoo from Costco why would I pack a huge bottle like that just cause it’s almost empty and take up space Just transfer Good call you observed and corrected dang
Great information - lots of common sense stuff. You mentioned Paris as a place where a multi-day pass might be worth it. You can get a specific museum pass. My wife and I bought the 5-day museum pass - not only did it allow us to skip the lines of people waiting to get tickets, it allowed us to feel free to come and go and not feel obligated to see every last piece of art in the Louvre in one visit!
Definitely bring home the hotel toiletries and re-use the bottles with your own shampoo, etc. I bought a pile of vacuum bags for the house, but find them pretty useless for anything but keeping dust off whatever you put in them. They fail all the time and the closures are a real pain. If I'm away, I figure out an outfit for each day plus one extra or a couple of things I can dress up. I put each complete outfit, including underwear, minus shoes and jacket/coat, folded, into an XL freezer bag, preferably the non-zipper kind. I usually carry a down coat with me anytime I go away, even in summer, and it works as a great blanket on cold aircraft and draughty airports or just an extra layer on the bed. They lay pretty flat in the suitcase, but usually everything comes out just fine (unless it's linen ...). I put each pair of shoes or jacket into a separate medium to XL freezer bag. I also put my entire toiletry bag into an XL freezer bag and liquid items within that in a smaller freezer bag with plenty of space for hotel toiletries, which will probably be binned if you don't take them. I prefer the non-zipper kind, because they close right up - the zipper kinds always have a gap at the top. This way of packing keeps me organised and it saved my entire suitcase of clothing one time when a glass bottle of perfume (I know ...) got smashed (airline luggage handlers!) and spilled. Because the perfume was like water, it still leaked out, but my clothes, etc, were fine in their own bags, but my suitcase smelled very strongly of CK1 throughout the stay - expensive air freshener. I use a small freezer bag inside of my make-up bag all the time, which means never forgetting one at the airport, although I avoid airports like the plague these days. After the WEF have stopped us flying and driving cars, they'll probably go after freezer bags - they've already managed to ban plastic straws ... If the airport "loses" your luggage, never accept their "offer" of a pitiful amount to buy what you need on your trip. I was once offered £50 by Air France, having flown from Scotland to Paris (an hour!) and they "lost" my luggage. I kicked up a fuss and got my luggage back, delivered to my hotel, in the early hours. If I had accepted their "offer", I'd have lost a fortune and it wouldn't have been possible for me to replace anything of mine at very short notice. As it was, it was a very bad start to my break. Basically, their "offer" is a contact and if you accept you've sold the entirety of your suitcase for whatever paltry sum the give you. It's unlikely you'll get it back. Pretty sure it's an extra income stream for them and they do it deliberately.
New shoes definitely improved my trip, got some very comfy sketchers, walked an average of 10km a day for 15 days, never had any problems, glad I bought them
The travel pillow that is worthwhile is the inflatable one that you hold on your lap and lean forward and rest face down. I can actually sleep on a plane with that thing. It is a game changer if you're in economy on an overnight flight because you don't need to lateral space to get comfortable. If you're normally not a back sleeper, you can't really sleep leaning back so this is more like sleeping on your stomach. When it is uninflated it isn't very big so fits right into your backpack.
Inflatable neck pillow. Been using mine for over 20 years. Put down tray table put down pillow out for the flight. Or if setting up prevents that horrible neck wobble. I’ve also used it on car trips when I am the passenger. Takes up no room.
*For the passport, we just use a pencil case that has 2 pockets, the passports go in the front & printed paperwork & a small notepad & pen in the larger back pocket. We also have a padfolio that we keep in our carry-on that we can keep that pencil case in. We do have the 'digital' but it's still always best to have the paper as a 'backup' for the same reasons you mentioned. *Toiletries, I do have a 'cube' toiletry case that was a gift that I've been using for 20 years & love it! For the bottles themselves, once we get where we're going, we find a Walgreens, Walmart, or any store like that & get the regular size, we both use it through the trip so by time we're getting ready to go home, those bottles are near if not empty, so we just toss on our way out the door. *Vacuum bags... No. We're going to try the packing cubes on this next trip but I tried the vacuum bags years ago for 'out of season' things & yes, the wrinkles were just a pain & yes, they also leaked. And no, even without the vacuum bags, we don't roll our clothes for the same reason, they always wrinkle. We take (and share) each a suitcase & large garment bag, fold clothes & layout/hang the dressier stuff in the garment bag. The suitcases themselves, are nothing out of the ordinary & we have the colored labels so we can spot them when they come through the baggage claim. Neither is the 'hard case'. *New shoes... 2012 we went to DC, and I wanted them to stay so nice & clean for our trip so I didn't break them in... Ya, THANK HEAVENS FOR BANDAIDS! *Take a plastic bag with you, a plastic shopping bag so when you have to put your bag under the seat ahead of you for take-off & landing, it won't get all grimy. Also a pair of socks in a plastic bag for going through the TSA, you do NOT want to go through there barefoot! *Rental car, check with your insurance agent, our guy gave us a code to use when renting a car on our last trip, saved a lot! *The big sun hat you can pack upside down in your suitcase & put stuff 'in' the part that goes over your head, but yes, even without already having issues with melanoma, you will definitely need something for sun protection. They're really not that hard to pack & even with sunscreen, 'warmer climates', especially the tropics, the sun's UV rays are stronger & before you even start to feel it, you'll already be getting sunburnt.
Or just get a hat on your destination, like I did in Cabo once. Got some shoe laces the same color of the hat tied them under my shin and I could be riding on a boat with strong wind but ok. When I came home to California, I wore my beautiful hat on the plane. Its still lookig nice (I know that now amazon is selling those nice magnets to carry your 👒 )
California Linda is late to this post, but I appreciate the microfiber travel towels for snorkeling when I go on cruise excursions. If you cruise Royal Carribean, there is a $25 charge for lost towels, and on any cruise line, wet towels are heavier to carry back to the ship. Compression packing cubes are the best and I always carry and print out documents in a sheet protector in a half inch binder. Last year in Phoenix, the internet was down at our gate, and everyone needed a paper ticket ... 30 seconds later ... we were set, and others passengers had to scramble to find a ticket counter for a print out. Not ODF, just well traveled and I always take my small travel pillow, best REI purchase.
I thought I was the only one to print out all my travel docs… thanks for the confirmation… I print and put into a silicone zip bag and that goes with me in my travel purse… very handy… thanks!!!
I agree with Chris about the quality of Egyptian cotton - I bought some Egyptian cotton towels when my fiance and I moved out in our early 20s. I'm talking plushest mall dept store I could find for my budget. JC Penney. 25+ years later and my now ex was still using them. Yeah, they were worn, but not so faded out and definitely not threadbare. There weren't any holes and definitely still more plush than cheap towels. My only complaint was that they shed like heck for the first 6 mos to year and always had to be washed separate. Lol.
Yes! Zip ties! It will not prevent someone from getting into your luggage but it will tell you if someone got into your luggage. If you zip tie your zippers to the handle then people won’t be able to used the zippers to close your bag if they used a Bic pen to open them.
Someone in the live session pointed out that it is less easy to overstuff a hard case, than a soft one. While that is true, I prefer a soft bag as a carryon for a different reason. It is easy to understuff, thus making my carryon fit into a smaller space than a hard carryon.
My podiatrist recommended me an ergonomic HOKA pair of shoes. A year after the back hard plastic around the back of my foot pop out and caused blisters.
I've always had a passport case. I recently upgraded to one that is more like a wallet. It has space for money, credit cards and extra Sim cards. It's not that much of an inconvenience to pull the passport out and replace it since it's only the back cover that slips in. the travel wallet is just too big for just me traveling. I've also had luggage locks for years. I use it more for my backpacks for when I'm in crowded public places. I have a cruise coming up so I plan to use my luggage as a safe verse the actual safe just to ensure that I don't forget anything. I got some reusable bottles because if I take the larger size ones, I will have one luggage just for my toiletries. Decanting products is my new hobby. Hotel bottles are too tiny for my needs. I do take the $1.25 Tree products in tubes and use a giant syringe to decant my products in them and use a label to let me know what's in it.
Used to travel with one of those for years but was more of a hassle in-flight than a benefit (never improved my sleep) and then I'd be stuck carting something around for my entire trip that only used twice (there and back) so it's been ditched
I made the new shoes mistake when I visited NYC a few years ago. Bought them a week before my trip and I got blisters on day one of the trip after walking around manhattan all day.
I use mini Nalgene bottles (from REI, and I also got some from Sportsman's Warehouse) to refill with my liquid or cream toiletries to put in my liquids bag. The bottles are leakproof and you can get different kinds of caps for them.
Vacuum bags are great for one purpose: If you need to bring a memory foam pillow. But use the ones for vacuums. You can get a travel one, but they're not as good as a regular vacuum. Cheap, though.
Keep in mind that a lot of rental insurance policies, especially from credit cards, have some potential gotchas. For example many only cover the rental, not liability nor injuries. Also many are secondary, meaning if you already have car insurance, guess which insurance will be covering the damage? The rental insurance might pay the deductible if you a high deductible or cover something that your auto insurance doesn't but I find that less likely (e.g. the rental insurance didn't think to exclude something that your own insurance did).
How do you use the vacuum bags for the trip back home? An insider friend told me the airport luggage handlers like to take their frustrations out on any lux suitcases that come their way.
There's travel versions of the "vacuum" bags that don't require a vacuum (& don't have the vacuum hole like the usual ones do). Instead you roll it towards the bottom end which has a special feature that lets air out but not air in. You can flatten back out for laying flat in suitcase but still stays "vacuumed" of air (assuming no rips/malfunction of course). Travel ones come in smaller sizes.
I always take paper copy and always take a folder. It keeps me organised with everything I do step by step. Even what I will be videoing step by step for my channel.
#Iam Irish … I bought a Samsonite Silhouette 17 21" Carry-on Expandable Softside Spinner as it has handles on all sides … one handle carry ones don’t cut it for ease of lifting into overhead bin. Don’t over stuff this case and you won’t be flagged for “must gate check”… 10 year warranty too. This is my carry on for a few days to a few weeks… I also agree with Chris the compression bags are a waste… packing cubes absolutely help with separating socks, undies, tops or outfits for the day.. thanks for this video. Very helpful Chris!
There's travel versions that don't require a vacuum (& don't have the vacuum hole like the usual ones do). After filling and closing the bag, you roll it towards the bottom end which has a special feature that lets air out but not air in. Afterwards you can flatten back out for laying flat in suitcase but still stays "vacuumed" of air (assuming no rips/malfunction of course). Also, travel ones come in smaller sizes. Hope that helps :)
I disagree with your ban on small containers. All the bottles add up quickly. I do recommend solid shampoo and conditioner though. It's light, compact and doesn't spill.
I take a tiny piece of Saran Wrap over the bottle top before screwing in the lid. Then wrap the bottles in strapping tape. (Only works one way... hahaha) then put in zipLock also.
We put copies of our passports into every suitcase and leave a copy with our relatives back in Australia. We have never had a lock broken. We would never leave our cases open. We also lock them in our hotel/apartment. Only use the refillable Mini bottles if we are going for less than three weeks. Otherwise, the semi-full bottle travels in our luggage well wrapped. Have seen the plastic version of the sort of case you displayed with a large hole in it. Since we always for 5 to 6 weeks at a time, we always check at least one bag. Insurance - always read the fine print and see that it relates to your age! Most City Passes are for a single day and the number of museums/attractions you have to see in a day means that you are mearly looking at the attraction from the outside and moving on to the next. You do not see anything and are exhausted by the end of the day and have no idea what you have seen.
You are correct! I bought a neck pillow that snaps so I can turn in it around otherwise it pushes your head forward instead of supporting it on the sides
I've stopped traveling with toiletries. And what I'm doing is staying at hotels that already have them. Also, since my hair is pixie short, I don't go through a lot of trouble with it.
I’m going to use my small/medium tsa approved bottles to carry my hair color/stain. Very short hair except my on top length color - green! The original containers are just over at 4ounces. I will mix my batch ( it’s a bit different each time) and bottle them. That way I can freshen my color during my 4-6 week travel duration.
The new shoes are so true! I bought shoes for two trips and my feet were so irritated and blistered from the friction. I thought it was the shoe. I tried wearing them again after the trip, my feet were fine!lol I just hadn't broke them in.
I always carry precut pieces of Moleskin for my shoe or foot when I'm about to get a blister! Always happens! It is a sticky thick, pinkish product on a roll. Learned about that when my girls were in dance! Comes in VERY handy! Be sure to precut them as you cannot being scissors! Usually can find Moleskin in a shoe department! 😊 You are soooo right about new shoes!
Hi Chris. What is your opinion on luggage straps? These colorful belts/straps that wraps around your luggage and comes with its own lock. Are they really useful?
I think they are only useful to recognize your luggage as your own... I don't think it's useful for any other reason... and just something else to get caught in the baggage handling system
We keep our toiletry bag filled 100% of the time and if we had a fancy one we would use it until it exploded. I don’t judge people for what they chose to spend money on.
I know you said vac packs are no good but you did mention that you use packing cubes. do you use the ones that compress or just the cheap ones that look like compartments?
I also take the hotel/cruise individual pack Shampoo & Shower Gel. It is such as waste to use a few dip and then the room cleaner will throw it away the next day. I sometimes keep them even I stay multi nights and they will give me a new one. I use the opened one at home and for the brand new one, I keep them for my next trip that may not have those supplied. I accumulated a tons from my last 10 days cruise. I donated to the local shelter after since I won't be using them or able to finish them. I use some better one at home.
In Cuba, I guess they were so poor that I witnessed the cleaning staff actually pouring the leftovers into a huge bottle to reuse. I was surprised as we didn't go to a 2 or 3* hotel.
@@flowergirlabc123 I don't have a problem that cleaning staff pour the left over to bring home after I left. It is better than pour it elsewhere as a waste. If they pour it to fill as a new bottle and serve the next guests, then I wouldn't be too impress.
Regarding socks (@31:08), In my day-to-day use, when a sock starts to fail - small hole, loss of elasticity, etc, I put it aside in my "socks for travel" drawer. Then when I travel, I use those socks. I wear them, walk around in them in exotic (or foreign) places, and when I return to the hotel, I drop them in the bin. So when my socks starts to fail, I take them on a last trip, and "retire" them. It saves on laundering the socks, or bringing back the stinky socks in my luggage. My only fear is being killed in an accident in a foreign land and the M.E. over there notes that "deceased is probably destitute. Has hole in sock."
Thank you for the suggestion to place a passport copy in suitcases. Never thought of it, but such a practical and smart idea that can come in handy just in case.
Chris, you have to try “Features” socks. Now, they make a large variety of socks, you want to buy the extra padded ones. When I say extra padded they are padded in all of the right places and very thin and breathable. My feet sweat a lot too, I will never go back to regular socks. They are made for runners and you can get them in running stores.
I am one of those travelers that take my own linens (towels and pillowcases from home) whenever I travel. I just feel more comfortable knowing that I know how clean my personal linen is , also I think I've watched too many blacklight exposes over the years one can be and often is found on hotel linen. I bought a pair of sneakers before a trip to d Dallas in 2018 and broke them in for a couple of weeks by walking home from work, of course where I was working at the time, a preschool was a few blocks from my house.
If you use most of bottle but the bottle is bigger than 100ml, even though it’s practically empty they will take it from you, personal experience. The bottle itself must be 100ml or less.
Since most of my trips are quick 2-3 day get aways I bought a cheap Suave mini shampoo bottle and emptied it out to fill it with my home shampoo. Works great, the snap top stays shut
Question about travel towels: I know you said no one needs to pack one. However it seems I’ve been seeing people recommended one for Japan. They say towels are important for a few reasons - public washrooms don’t always have paper towels? Also maybe with all the heat and humidity, people like a “sweat” towel?
@mini toiletries £1 for 100ml, 99p for 400ml as example. Some airlines if you just have carry on won't let you take nearly empty large bottle (in uk) so travel bottles are better for that but check with hotel, most do provide what u need, unless you have allergies so check with hotel to avoid any bother.
With regard to attraction passes. Be aware that it can be very worthwhile to get a Jordan Pass if you are going to visit more than a couple of tourist sites in Jordan. Important to note that you must purchase the Jordan Pass before you arrive in the country. If you wait to purchase in country you can’t it is not allowed
would you stay with Tmobile if you were to travel for over a year internationally? Trying to decide if to go with international plan once we get there?
T mobile is nice that it has unlimited international data. But it's slow. So yeah. If you find it too slow then you might want to get a local plan in country. What I usually do is keep my t-mobile. But get a 5G wifi router
I like my own shampoo and cream rinse and aragon oil after conditioner which doubles as a face and body moisturizer for everything when I travel. I own a packet of bottles and they are always full of my favorite, never had a leak. I keep these in my fold up bathroom pouch in a ziplock bag so I can have them pulled and ready for tsa. Much easier than taking my full bottles or hoping I can find my shampoo and conditioner where I'm going. No hotel has a conditioner I like as much.
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Can you do a video of you have an already on items you would take for instance I invested in an insulated water bottle I need a drink a lot of water work also invested in an insulated lunch tote for my meals that’s collapsible so you could easily travel with it we are suggesting tested for our weekend trips in a cooler that keeps drinks food cold for up to five days stopping for ice
@@tiffanysteen1845 Thanks for the suggestion Tiffany. I'll consider doing a video on my favorite travel accessories
You can't use a pen on a delsey suitcase to open the zipper since Delsey has Double Zipper technology. It's almost impossible to pierce through the zipper using a pen
The point of a lock isn’t to make your bag impenetrable. It’s meant to be a deterrent. It signals to thieves your bag will be harder to get into than those without a lock.
Or maybe something inside worth locking up?
No it doesn't it tells a thief you have something inside very valuable. Which I never put anything in my checked extremely valuable. However any key will work in all of them that's TSA approved so all a thief would have to do is get a TSA approved key and go in your bag. It's not rocket science.
@@odell2970 I point I was trying ti make is why bother getting a TSA key, and have to take a few extra seconds to open the bag - seconds where you might be caught, when there is another unlocked suitcase next to it? Thieves go for the easiest targets first.
@@glszq4 nope. It's the same thing as having a tief-proof backpack with the zippers facing your back, versus walking around with a backpack where the zippers are on top. They will go for the easier target. because they need to be fast. Why spend minutes unlocking a locked bag, when yoz get 10 other bags without a lock? and nowadays hardly any keeps any valuables in checked luggage. If someone wants my panties (ew) and my bra, well. we know it was a pervert...
Exactly. It's about trasmiting the message "you won't have time to steal my things".
Old flight attendant here. I use blue painter’s tape to wrap around the bottle necks after I put the cap on. I then put all the toiletries in a zip lock bag to be checked. I use xxx large ziplock bags for each days clothes. I put the outfit, along with underwear in a bag, folded, then I roll all the air out. They compress so well and stay clean. Just grab a bag and dress for the day. Oh! Don’t use the bags with the zipper lock. Use the ones that you have to squeeze together.
Thanks for the tips Dottie! Taping up the bottles makes alot of sense
Decent suitcases can often be bought for $10 or $15 at Salvation Army or Goodwill.
One thing I do is print out self-adhesive mailing labels with my family's and friends' addresses on it for sending postcards. Makes it very easy and efficient, plus once you use the label and it's gone, you don't have to wonder if you sent Aunt Suzy a postcard or not.
Great idea!
Did that!! Great idea!!
I bring home all shampoo, soaps etc. And make bags for homeless or shelters with them. They add up fast
Nice Lorna!
My mom brought them home for years and gave them to a family member who was a nurse working with the homeless. Great for shelters and homeless ministries. ❤
We do the same. I hope more people will do this from now on.
I use an inflatable neck pillow - it comes in a soft zippered case so it takes no space when not using it.
Me too....their pretty cool
I collect hotel toiletries & soaps. Those I don't use at home are donated to the local homeless shelter.
$70 for a travel pillow? Wow!! I actually sewed my own years ago. So simple. Still have them!
The TRTL "pillow" is the best thing every! As someone who has done hundreds of trips with long flight times, the TRTL is more of a neck support than a pillow, and it's pretty compact and flexible too!
Thanks for the tip!
I know what you are saying about travel pillows, but as an Australian- most of our flights are long haul so an extra pillow is actually quite nice and helps with sleeping.
I always have some sort of jacket and I'll use that for a pillow on a plane.
I understand having lived in Alaska and I have a bad neck.
Noise cancelling headphones - best things I ever bought (and I only use them on planes!)
Definitely!
excellent suggestion, Elliot :)
Chris, the things I travel with are the things that work for me. I'm retired now but my position while working for the DoD caused me to travel more than I really wanted to. I traveled with a small team and all of us had various types of gear that worked for us and most of it was peculiar to the individual. For example I would never use a hard sided suitcase that I had to check. While traveling to Korea my hard sided suitcase came around the luggage carousel with one of the sides crushed. I don't mean dented I mean crushed, so that cured me of using a hard sided suitcase unless I used it as a carry on, then it worked very well. I really enjoy your show even if my travel experiences were different from yours. Another example is luggage locks, I used them for keeping my Samsonite luggage from opening and spilling my unmentionables on the ground while on my way to my destination. Also I have never had a lock pop open in 35 years of traveling for the Govt.
Michael
Thanks for sharing your experience Michael!
I use and love my passport holder. It also carries my vaccinaion card. And yes always have a copy in under the lining of my suitcase. I always pack a travel towel. It is not about quality of hotel but about if i head to the lake, or need an extra for my hair etc. It takes up no room or weight. Worth it, been carrying for years.
Hoka shoes are used in hospital operating rooms. They are so comfortable and you can stand for longer. Great recommendations.
Thanks for sharing that factoid Mama Bear!
Hoka shoes?
Mama Bear are the Hoka shoes comfortable and supportive for walking? Thanks!
It's so funny that someone commented that your videos help with anxiety because I literally have this on while finishing up a challenging day at work because I find them soothing as well!!!!
Thanks for that feedback Ashley! Calm thoughts.... Calm thoughts...
The reason I own quick dry towels is that many times on trips were taking a car between hotels and might stop at a beach or waterfall, in this case you need a towel and the hotel won't let you take one and not return it.
Thanks for sharing that towel use case!
Also useful when staying at Airbnbs where there might not be beach towels available or are out and about and decide to stop at beach or day trips to beach locations (such as Yelapa). They are compact, lightweight towel to pack in your daily carry.
Chris - I was surprised by your comments on travel insurance. While I don't buy from the airline or cruise line, I think its an absolute must for international travel and not a bad buy for domestic as well given the increased frequency of cancelled flights. Most domestic insurance doesn't provide coverage outside of the US. It can cost $50K to $250K just for medical evac for example if you need to be brought back to the US for a serious medical condition. You do need to shop for the best coverage specific to your needs. My wife and I purchase an annual policy from Allianz that provides up to $5K for trip cancelation for non refundable losses, $250K for medical evac and $50K for emergency medical. The premium for both of us is about $700 a year. You can select your coverage amounts for each coverage area. We travel 15 to 20 times a year by air both domestic and international and I consider cheap protection in case of emergency. I appreciate your work - thanks for helping us!
Similarly, was very surprised by his comments on travel insurance. The odds of something medical happening to you on a holiday is the same as when you are in your hometown, and we obviously know how important having accident and hospitalisation coverage is.
Even though he did follow up by clarifying that he isn't here to tell us not to buy, but rather to warn us to look at the policy details, I feel like it shoul not have been raised in this video because insurance DOES improve your travel. Even in cases where nothing happens, the peace of mind that comes along with it as you explore your destination is priceless.
Thanks Bob. Yes. I think the legitimate reason to get travel insurance is for health care coverage if your primary health insurance doesn't provide good travel benefits. I think that's not why most people get travel insurance. Most people want it to get their money back on flights, hotels, cruise ship tickets. And that sort of travel insurance is worthless because they make it too hard to file the claim and actually get your money
Travel insurance is an absolute MUST when traveling, especially to countries with an underdeveloped healthcare system, like the United States. A visit to a US hospital can easily bankrupt you, hell, a quick ride in an ambulance or visit to the emergency room can easily cost you tens of thousands of US Dollars. Europeans especially have no concept of how insane the US healthcare system is. Remember, most of us europeans dont have "primary health insurance", because we dont need it. Its part of what the society provides for its citizens. Also, medevacs are insanely expensive. If you happen to have an accident, it can easily cost 100.000USD or more just for the flight home. With regards to flights, any flight to and from the EU/EEA is covered by EU regulations and you are entitled to a standardized compensation, plus hotel/food and either a refund or rerouting depending on your choice. The compensation is 250EUR for short flights, 400EUR for intermediate flights and 600EUR for other flights.
My quote came back over $1k for six months with Allianz.
@@heythaveWorth every penny. Not having health insurance can EASILY bankrupt you. Most of us can survive loosing our bikes, luggage etc. It will be a pain, but it will not ruin you. Missing liability insurance and health insurance will destroy the rest of your life, if you are just a bit unlucky. It might not even be your fault, someone else may be at fault, and you will still be bankrupted. My travel insurance costs about 100-150USD/year, and gives me "Unlimited medical coverage" and "Unlimited repatriation coverage", plus five million dollars of liability insurance. Its only valid for travels up to 45 days, but this can be extended.
Highly recommend trying some of the new bar shampoos and conditioners. They are really nice products, last for months, no plastic waste and the best part is TSA friendly.
Travel locks do work... I literally saw someone in Peru by the conveyor belt digging through stranger's stuff.
They've cut mine every single time even though they were tsa approved
TSA locks are indeed useless. You can buy tsa keys online that give access to all of them.
You can use wire ties and cut the excess off. AeroMexico zip ties everyone’s suitcases, which was surprising. I’ve watched suitcases get rifled through from the plane in Mumbai and had my suitcase tossed through in Riga. Zip ties are cheap and pack easily, too
Yet another reason to do carry-on only
@@susie9893 only works if you are travelling a short distance and not on a cheap airline.
Those sport towels you showed are great for going to the beach/pool, specially when you're trying to keep it minimal /travel in carry on.
The purpose of a luggage lock for me was mainly to stop the zipper on my soft bag from opening when loading on a plane.
That's a good use and expectation for the luggage lock
I use zip ties lol
Use the neck pillow for upper back. Really helps me. Former flight attendant.
I like the small travel sized items. They get my trip off to an easy start and I don't have to go shopping for toothpaste the moment I arrive. I travel with a lightweight sarong instead of a towel.
Instead of a travel pillow, buy a washable, zippered cover for a neck pillow (yes, you can purchase just the cover). Then stuff it with a puffy jacket in cold weather, or other bulky items in hot weather. h
Hook it on your personal bag & you have a 2 in 1 use.
Great tip Joyce
I have a inflatable- one that is no weight at all. Use small washable cover.
Yes, I did this on our flight to/from Las Vegas. A 32 Degrees puffer coat that fits in one of their thin drawstring bags...puffer vest, too. 😊❤️✈️🧳
I print out my documents too! My kids think I'm nuts, so thank you for confirming that it's a good idea to have hard copies of your important traveling paperwork. Excellent travel tips. So much is marketed as "must have" travel gadgets that are simply unnecessary.
I know you're not nuts ;)
For me personally a neck pillow is a must, especially on long intercontinental flights.
It is far more convenient than headrests
if you turn the neck pillow around where the hole is in the back,
then your head won't fall forward and the back of your head can be on the headrest.
that's my invention. I won't charge you for that one😉
Or if you get a Muji neck pillow that has a snap closure then the hole won’t open!! Tada!
Always a must for me too, bad neck and as a petite woman those headrests are never right. I even have a small blow up for a lumbar pillow. Takes up very little space.
I use it not for my neck, but for my back. Having a severe lordosis makes sitting for hours unbearable, the pillow really helps.
I have Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which has caused me tons of neck problems- I just had my neck fused. The neck pillow is a non-negotiable.
Nalgene travel bottles are the bomb for toiletries! And leak proof. They are especially good if you aren't checking a bag. (I get them at the Container Store -- they are sturdy, inexpensive and last forever.) And I can't do without my neck pillow!!! Do I just have a weird neck? IDK, but I totally sleep better with one. I even like the cheap blow up ones when space is an issue.
The neck pillow is a lifesaver on my trips to Thailand. I will try switching it around so the opening is at the back next time though 😆
Great tip and I agree about the neck pillow. For me I’m petite and seats don’t fit well and my neck hasn’t been great for decades so it’s a must.
As far as packing, I I like to use XL Ziplocks, for makeup, toiletries, and underwear. I also like to use the bright colorful suitcase skins that cover my plastic rimowa case, because I can easily spot it when it comes off the conveyor...then toss it in the wash when it gets grimy. Thanks. You always have good tips.
Good tip on big zip lock bags!
Molton Brown, Aromatherapy,
YESSSS!!!…I also use the XL Ziplock Bags for packing clothing items and it cuts down clothing wrinkles.🌞👍🏿👏🏿
My husband always uses the gallon size ziplocks for his toiletries. 😂 I have bought him two toiletry bags. Wasted money. They work for him.
I always keep the hotel lotions.
I keep travel size bottles to refill my favorite lotions, conditioner etc.
But always buy the sealed mouthwashes!
Díky!
I use: simple clear zipbags for toiletries which take up less space and easy to see items and same for cords, blow up pillow so stores flat, a slim RFID sleeve over passport and just take it off while in security line, foldable tote/daybag, thin down jacket in pouch, raincoat in a pouch, wrinkle resistant clothes and just in case a toiletry size sprayer with cap filled with Downey Wrinkle Release...
I use the plastic bags that sheets, blankets and other fabric items come in with zippers. By the time it goes south my wife has purchased something else with this type of packaging.
Currently, Aldi has Crane brand socks made of 53% merino wool, 44 % nylon and 3% elastane. Available in low cut, crew and compression. You may not fancy the color choices and styles though. But you can't beat the price. They're only $4.99.
Thanks for the tip G
Where I live Aldi is a grocery store
@@insylem its from germany and over here we have food as well as clothes, Tools, garden stuff, etc but These things change every Week so i guess the socks r available as well
If you want to upgrade your socks, look for the Hartwool socks. They are designed for golfers and have all the right fits to prevent blisters, and not slouch or wear loosely.
I recently bought many pairs. My first pair are like new after a decade!
Yes, they are expensive at approx 20-25 per pair; yet after a decade the annual cost is 2.23$. You’ll never waste money on ill fitting and cheap socks . I’m packing 12 pair for a 30 day trip. Maybe less as I’ll was them in the hotel sink and hang to dry. Hack: dry them with the hairdryer or the iron ( if no damage to the sock textile, of course.
If you partially empty the original bottle of shampoo/soap, make sure you DO NOT put it in your carry on. TSA rules go by the volume on the label not by how much you think you have in the container.
Didn't know that but makes alot of sense. They can't be certain the quantity in there! Thanks for the tip! 😊
Yes. I meant to suggest to check those in. I thought it. I just didn't say it 😉
Dang you are right
This man is stupid
I buy shampoo from Costco why would I pack a huge bottle like that just cause it’s almost empty and take up space
Just transfer
Good call you observed and corrected dang
Great information - lots of common sense stuff. You mentioned Paris as a place where a multi-day pass might be worth it. You can get a specific museum pass. My wife and I bought the 5-day museum pass - not only did it allow us to skip the lines of people waiting to get tickets, it allowed us to feel free to come and go and not feel obligated to see every last piece of art in the Louvre in one visit!
Thanks for the tip on the Paris Museum pass
Definitely bring home the hotel toiletries and re-use the bottles with your own shampoo, etc. I bought a pile of vacuum bags for the house, but find them pretty useless for anything but keeping dust off whatever you put in them. They fail all the time and the closures are a real pain. If I'm away, I figure out an outfit for each day plus one extra or a couple of things I can dress up. I put each complete outfit, including underwear, minus shoes and jacket/coat, folded, into an XL freezer bag, preferably the non-zipper kind. I usually carry a down coat with me anytime I go away, even in summer, and it works as a great blanket on cold aircraft and draughty airports or just an extra layer on the bed. They lay pretty flat in the suitcase, but usually everything comes out just fine (unless it's linen ...). I put each pair of shoes or jacket into a separate medium to XL freezer bag. I also put my entire toiletry bag into an XL freezer bag and liquid items within that in a smaller freezer bag with plenty of space for hotel toiletries, which will probably be binned if you don't take them. I prefer the non-zipper kind, because they close right up - the zipper kinds always have a gap at the top. This way of packing keeps me organised and it saved my entire suitcase of clothing one time when a glass bottle of perfume (I know ...) got smashed (airline luggage handlers!) and spilled. Because the perfume was like water, it still leaked out, but my clothes, etc, were fine in their own bags, but my suitcase smelled very strongly of CK1 throughout the stay - expensive air freshener. I use a small freezer bag inside of my make-up bag all the time, which means never forgetting one at the airport, although I avoid airports like the plague these days. After the WEF have stopped us flying and driving cars, they'll probably go after freezer bags - they've already managed to ban plastic straws ... If the airport "loses" your luggage, never accept their "offer" of a pitiful amount to buy what you need on your trip. I was once offered £50 by Air France, having flown from Scotland to Paris (an hour!) and they "lost" my luggage. I kicked up a fuss and got my luggage back, delivered to my hotel, in the early hours. If I had accepted their "offer", I'd have lost a fortune and it wouldn't have been possible for me to replace anything of mine at very short notice. As it was, it was a very bad start to my break. Basically, their "offer" is a contact and if you accept you've sold the entirety of your suitcase for whatever paltry sum the give you. It's unlikely you'll get it back. Pretty sure it's an extra income stream for them and they do it deliberately.
💚♥️💜my TUMI luggage & cross body bag. I’ve had it for 7yrs. & I travel 2-4X a year. I 💚traveling!!
New shoes definitely improved my trip, got some very comfy sketchers, walked an average of 10km a day for 15 days, never had any problems, glad I bought them
Packing cubes are my way to pack, in so many ways. All good advice😊
I give hotel toiletries to homeless shelters. I also carry hotel soap in my bag in case I’m in bathroom that doesn’t have soap
I got a quick dry travel towel and washcloth because I stay in hostels, which don't supply towels. The towel is also good for at the beach.
The travel pillow that is worthwhile is the inflatable one that you hold on your lap and lean forward and rest face down. I can actually sleep on a plane with that thing. It is a game changer if you're in economy on an overnight flight because you don't need to lateral space to get comfortable. If you're normally not a back sleeper, you can't really sleep leaning back so this is more like sleeping on your stomach. When it is uninflated it isn't very big so fits right into your backpack.
Thanks for the tip!
Inflatable neck pillow. Been using mine for over 20 years. Put down tray table put down pillow out for the flight. Or if setting up prevents that horrible neck wobble. I’ve also used it on car trips when I am the passenger. Takes up no room.
*For the passport, we just use a pencil case that has 2 pockets, the passports go in the front & printed paperwork & a small notepad & pen in the larger back pocket. We also have a padfolio that we keep in our carry-on that we can keep that pencil case in. We do have the 'digital' but it's still always best to have the paper as a 'backup' for the same reasons you mentioned.
*Toiletries, I do have a 'cube' toiletry case that was a gift that I've been using for 20 years & love it! For the bottles themselves, once we get where we're going, we find a Walgreens, Walmart, or any store like that & get the regular size, we both use it through the trip so by time we're getting ready to go home, those bottles are near if not empty, so we just toss on our way out the door.
*Vacuum bags... No. We're going to try the packing cubes on this next trip but I tried the vacuum bags years ago for 'out of season' things & yes, the wrinkles were just a pain & yes, they also leaked. And no, even without the vacuum bags, we don't roll our clothes for the same reason, they always wrinkle. We take (and share) each a suitcase & large garment bag, fold clothes & layout/hang the dressier stuff in the garment bag. The suitcases themselves, are nothing out of the ordinary & we have the colored labels so we can spot them when they come through the baggage claim. Neither is the 'hard case'.
*New shoes... 2012 we went to DC, and I wanted them to stay so nice & clean for our trip so I didn't break them in... Ya, THANK HEAVENS FOR BANDAIDS!
*Take a plastic bag with you, a plastic shopping bag so when you have to put your bag under the seat ahead of you for take-off & landing, it won't get all grimy. Also a pair of socks in a plastic bag for going through the TSA, you do NOT want to go through there barefoot!
*Rental car, check with your insurance agent, our guy gave us a code to use when renting a car on our last trip, saved a lot!
*The big sun hat you can pack upside down in your suitcase & put stuff 'in' the part that goes over your head, but yes, even without already having issues with melanoma, you will definitely need something for sun protection. They're really not that hard to pack & even with sunscreen, 'warmer climates', especially the tropics, the sun's UV rays are stronger & before you even start to feel it, you'll already be getting sunburnt.
Thanks for all the extra tips Wendy!
Or just get a hat on your destination, like I did in Cabo once. Got some shoe laces the same color of the hat tied them under my shin and I could be riding on a boat with strong wind but ok. When I came home to California, I wore my beautiful hat on the plane. Its still lookig nice (I know that now amazon is selling those nice magnets to carry your 👒 )
California Linda is late to this post, but I appreciate the microfiber travel towels for snorkeling when I go on cruise excursions. If you cruise Royal Carribean, there is a $25 charge for lost towels, and on any cruise line, wet towels are heavier to carry back to the ship. Compression packing cubes are the best and I always carry and print out documents in a sheet protector in a half inch binder. Last year in Phoenix, the internet was down at our gate, and everyone needed a paper ticket ... 30 seconds later ... we were set, and others passengers had to scramble to find a ticket counter for a print out. Not ODF, just well traveled and I always take my small travel pillow, best REI purchase.
I thought I was the only one to print out all my travel docs… thanks for the confirmation… I print and put into a silicone zip bag and that goes with me in my travel purse… very handy… thanks!!!
We are on #TeamWellPrepared 😀
I agree with Chris about the quality of Egyptian cotton - I bought some Egyptian cotton towels when my fiance and I moved out in our early 20s. I'm talking plushest mall dept store I could find for my budget. JC Penney. 25+ years later and my now ex was still using them. Yeah, they were worn, but not so faded out and definitely not threadbare. There weren't any holes and definitely still more plush than cheap towels. My only complaint was that they shed like heck for the first 6 mos to year and always had to be washed separate. Lol.
Yes! Zip ties! It will not prevent someone from getting into your luggage but it will tell you if someone got into your luggage. If you zip tie your zippers to the handle then people won’t be able to used the zippers to close your bag if they used a Bic pen to open them.
Just DON'T cut off the excess length off the zip ties because they will then become razor sharp, lethal to skin and fabrics.
I love my travel pillow. I have neck issues and it helps. I travel a lot and i also use it in the car.
Someone in the live session pointed out that it is less easy to overstuff a hard case, than a soft one.
While that is true, I prefer a soft bag as a carryon for a different reason. It is easy to understuff, thus making my carryon fit into a smaller space than a hard carryon.
Great point Charles!
My podiatrist recommended me an ergonomic HOKA pair of shoes. A year after the back hard plastic around the back of my foot pop out and caused blisters.
Yeah. Hokas don't last all that long
I not only use the luxury hotel shampoos, I have been known to chase the housekeepers down the hall to get extras!! 😝
Me too! 😉
Especially if one has super long hair which can use up a full small bottle in one use.
I've always had a passport case. I recently upgraded to one that is more like a wallet. It has space for money, credit cards and extra Sim cards. It's not that much of an inconvenience to pull the passport out and replace it since it's only the back cover that slips in. the travel wallet is just too big for just me traveling.
I've also had luggage locks for years. I use it more for my backpacks for when I'm in crowded public places. I have a cruise coming up so I plan to use my luggage as a safe verse the actual safe just to ensure that I don't forget anything.
I got some reusable bottles because if I take the larger size ones, I will have one luggage just for my toiletries. Decanting products is my new hobby. Hotel bottles are too tiny for my needs. I do take the $1.25 Tree products in tubes and use a giant syringe to decant my products in them and use a label to let me know what's in it.
I use an inflatable neck pillow. It is inside a soft cloth zipper cover. I keep my eye cover inside the cover deflated in my travel backpack.
Used to travel with one of those for years but was more of a hassle in-flight than a benefit (never improved my sleep) and then I'd be stuck carting something around for my entire trip that only used twice (there and back) so it's been ditched
@Susie Being inflatable, my pillow easily packed away.
My PP goes into a basic rfid sleeve. No zippered suitcases. Always carry a small towel.
I made the new shoes mistake when I visited NYC a few years ago. Bought them a week before my trip and I got blisters on day one of the trip after walking around manhattan all day.
Ouch!
I use mini Nalgene bottles (from REI, and I also got some from Sportsman's Warehouse) to refill with my liquid or cream toiletries to put in my liquids bag. The bottles are leakproof and you can get different kinds of caps for them.
Vacuum bags are great for one purpose: If you need to bring a memory foam pillow. But use the ones for vacuums. You can get a travel one, but they're not as good as a regular vacuum. Cheap, though.
Smartwool socks are life changing! I wear them year round! Best wishes
That makes 2 of us!
Darn Tough also makes very durable wool blend socks that are great! MEC sells them. I’m a convert.
My favorite toiletry bag is a gallon ziploc bag. Works a peach and you don't have to worry about anything leaking.
Keep in mind that a lot of rental insurance policies, especially from credit cards, have some potential gotchas. For example many only cover the rental, not liability nor injuries. Also many are secondary, meaning if you already have car insurance, guess which insurance will be covering the damage? The rental insurance might pay the deductible if you a high deductible or cover something that your auto insurance doesn't but I find that less likely (e.g. the rental insurance didn't think to exclude something that your own insurance did).
Thanks for that perspective Jon!
I travel a lot for work and I love my Away suitcases!
For documents I just use a sheet protector with printouts slid inside. Adds no extra bulk
How do you use the vacuum bags for the trip back home? An insider friend told me the airport luggage handlers like to take their frustrations out on any lux suitcases that come their way.
There's travel versions of the "vacuum" bags that don't require a vacuum (& don't have the vacuum hole like the usual ones do).
Instead you roll it towards the bottom end which has a special feature that lets air out but not air in.
You can flatten back out for laying flat in suitcase but still stays "vacuumed" of air (assuming no rips/malfunction of course).
Travel ones come in smaller sizes.
I always take paper copy and always take a folder. It keeps me organised with everything I do step by step. Even what I will be videoing step by step for my channel.
#Iam Irish … I bought a Samsonite Silhouette 17 21" Carry-on Expandable Softside Spinner as it has handles on all sides … one handle carry ones don’t cut it for ease of lifting into overhead bin. Don’t over stuff this case and you won’t be flagged for “must gate check”… 10 year warranty too. This is my carry on for a few days to a few weeks… I also agree with Chris the compression bags are a waste… packing cubes absolutely help with separating socks, undies, tops or outfits for the day.. thanks for this video. Very helpful Chris!
I always wonder how you use the vacuum bags to return home. I've never seen a vacuum in the room when I stay in a hotel.
There's travel versions that don't require a vacuum (& don't have the vacuum hole like the usual ones do).
After filling and closing the bag, you roll it towards the bottom end which has a special feature that lets air out but not air in.
Afterwards you can flatten back out for laying flat in suitcase but still stays "vacuumed" of air (assuming no rips/malfunction of course).
Also, travel ones come in smaller sizes.
Hope that helps :)
I disagree with your ban on small containers. All the bottles add up quickly. I do recommend solid shampoo and conditioner though. It's light, compact and doesn't spill.
I take a tiny piece of Saran Wrap over the bottle top before screwing in the lid. Then wrap the bottles in strapping tape. (Only works one way... hahaha) then put in zipLock also.
We put copies of our passports into every suitcase and leave a copy with our relatives back in Australia. We have never had a lock broken. We would never leave our cases open. We also lock them in our hotel/apartment. Only use the refillable Mini bottles if we are going for less than three weeks. Otherwise, the semi-full bottle travels in our luggage well wrapped. Have seen the plastic version of the sort of case you displayed with a large hole in it. Since we always for 5 to 6 weeks at a time, we always check at least one bag. Insurance - always read the fine print and see that it relates to your age! Most City Passes are for a single day and the number of museums/attractions you have to see in a day means that you are mearly looking at the attraction from the outside and moving on to the next. You do not see anything and are exhausted by the end of the day and have no idea what you have seen.
You are correct! I bought a neck pillow that snaps so I can turn in it around otherwise it pushes your head forward instead of supporting it on the sides
Great tip!
This is a great video, just discovered your channel and enjoy it. Keep it up!
Thanks KM! Welcome to YellowProductions!
I've stopped traveling with toiletries. And what I'm doing is staying at hotels that already have them. Also, since my hair is pixie short, I don't go through a lot of trouble with it.
I’m going to use my small/medium tsa approved bottles to carry my hair color/stain. Very short hair except my on top length color - green! The original containers are just over at 4ounces.
I will mix my batch ( it’s a bit different each time) and bottle them. That way I can freshen my color during my 4-6 week travel duration.
The new shoes are so true! I bought shoes for two trips and my feet were so irritated and blistered from the friction. I thought it was the shoe. I tried wearing them again after the trip, my feet were fine!lol I just hadn't broke them in.
I always carry precut pieces of Moleskin for my shoe or foot when I'm about to get a blister! Always happens! It is a sticky thick, pinkish product on a roll. Learned about that when my girls were in dance! Comes in VERY handy! Be sure to precut them as you cannot being scissors! Usually can find Moleskin in a shoe department! 😊 You are soooo right about new shoes!
Hi Chris. What is your opinion on luggage straps? These colorful belts/straps that wraps around your luggage and comes with its own lock. Are they really useful?
I think they are only useful to recognize your luggage as your own... I don't think it's useful for any other reason... and just something else to get caught in the baggage handling system
We keep our toiletry bag filled 100% of the time and if we had a fancy one we would use it until it exploded. I don’t judge people for what they chose to spend money on.
I know you said vac packs are no good but you did mention that you use packing cubes. do you use the ones that compress or just the cheap ones that look like compartments?
I also take the hotel/cruise individual pack Shampoo & Shower Gel. It is such as waste to use a few dip and then the room cleaner will throw it away the next day. I sometimes keep them even I stay multi nights and they will give me a new one. I use the opened one at home and for the brand new one, I keep them for my next trip that may not have those supplied. I accumulated a tons from my last 10 days cruise. I donated to the local shelter after since I won't be using them or able to finish them. I use some better one at home.
Nice of you to donate some to the shelter!
In Cuba, I guess they were so poor that I witnessed the cleaning staff actually pouring the leftovers into a huge bottle to reuse. I was surprised as we didn't go to a 2 or 3* hotel.
@@flowergirlabc123 I don't have a problem that cleaning staff pour the left over to bring home after I left. It is better than pour it elsewhere as a waste. If they pour it to fill as a new bottle and serve the next guests, then I wouldn't be too impress.
Regarding socks (@31:08), In my day-to-day use, when a sock starts to fail - small hole, loss of elasticity, etc, I put it aside in my "socks for travel" drawer. Then when I travel, I use those socks. I wear them, walk around in them in exotic (or foreign) places, and when I return to the hotel, I drop them in the bin. So when my socks starts to fail, I take them on a last trip, and "retire" them. It saves on laundering the socks, or bringing back the stinky socks in my luggage. My only fear is being killed in an accident in a foreign land and the M.E. over there notes that "deceased is probably destitute. Has hole in sock."
Good plan. But yeah. That's a valid fear 😉
Thank you for the suggestion to place a passport copy in suitcases. Never thought of it, but such a practical and smart idea that can come in handy just in case.
Chris, you have to try “Features” socks. Now, they make a large variety of socks, you want to buy the extra padded ones. When I say extra padded they are padded in all of the right places and very thin and breathable. My feet sweat a lot too, I will never go back to regular socks. They are made for runners and you can get them in running stores.
I'll look for them Vincent! Thanks for the tip!
Another vote for" Feetures", have severa pair.l But, Bombas are my faves.
Chris, what tips do you have about New Orleans, LA?
Make sure to get the Beignets from Cafe Du Monde!
I am one of those travelers that take my own linens (towels and pillowcases from home) whenever I travel. I just feel more comfortable knowing that I know how clean my personal linen is , also I think I've watched too many blacklight exposes over the years one can be and often is found on hotel linen. I bought a pair of sneakers before a trip to d Dallas in 2018 and broke them in for a couple of weeks by walking home from work, of course where I was working at the time, a preschool was a few blocks from my house.
I love Dallas!
If you use most of bottle but the bottle is bigger than 100ml, even though it’s practically empty they will take it from you, personal experience. The bottle itself must be 100ml or less.
Indeed.. Unless it's in your checkin luggage
Since most of my trips are quick 2-3 day get aways I bought a cheap Suave mini shampoo bottle and emptied it out to fill it with my home shampoo. Works great, the snap top stays shut
Question about travel towels: I know you said no one needs to pack one. However it seems I’ve been seeing people recommended one for Japan. They say towels are important for a few reasons - public washrooms don’t always have paper towels? Also maybe with all the heat and humidity, people like a “sweat” towel?
Good point on a travel towel for Japan Jenny. Yes. Japanese people often carry a small towel/handkerchief around with them.
I once had the wrong lock be placed on my luggage. I had to get it cut with the bolt cutters before I left he airport - customs area.
I keep the travel size toiletries in a basket in my guest bathroom for overnight guests to use.
Didn't you recommend the Opal card for use in Sydney?
Another thing about Australia.... Bankwest card works internationally as well as domestically.
Question about the wool socks: are they for hot and cold weather? When I hear wool, I think winter!
I wear the wool socks in both hot and cold weather. Obviously thinner ones for hot weather 😉
@mini toiletries £1 for 100ml, 99p for 400ml as example. Some airlines if you just have carry on won't let you take nearly empty large bottle (in uk) so travel bottles are better for that but check with hotel, most do provide what u need, unless you have allergies so check with hotel to avoid any bother.
3:56 vacuum cutting device?!?! Is that like the “suck cut” from Wayne’s world? “Well it certainly does suck!” Lolol
Yup!
We use blow up neck pillows and really like them. I haven’t heard anyone mention this. They aren’t too big to carry.
With regard to attraction passes. Be aware that it can be very worthwhile to get a Jordan Pass if you are going to visit more than a couple of tourist sites in Jordan. Important to note that you must purchase the Jordan Pass before you arrive in the country. If you wait to purchase in country you can’t it is not allowed
I find that my foam neck cushion helps me sleep on flights. But the inflatable one wasn't good.
would you stay with Tmobile if you were to travel for over a year internationally? Trying to decide if to go with international plan once we get there?
T mobile is nice that it has unlimited international data. But it's slow. So yeah. If you find it too slow then you might want to get a local plan in country. What I usually do is keep my t-mobile. But get a 5G wifi router
@@YellowProductions could you break down what you’re talking anout
I like those TSA locks. They’re also good to lock purse zippers shut to deter pickpockets.
Wow Chris I think we are on the same page. I always have two paper copies of of my itinerary, and tickets. No New Shoes!
I like my own shampoo and cream rinse and aragon oil after conditioner which doubles as a face and body moisturizer for everything when I travel. I own a packet of bottles and they are always full of my favorite, never had a leak. I keep these in my fold up bathroom pouch in a ziplock bag so I can have them pulled and ready for tsa. Much easier than taking my full bottles or hoping I can find my shampoo and conditioner where I'm going. No hotel has a conditioner I like as much.
Travel towel are more for camping, hiking or hostels.