Favorite Travel Accessories

A friend recently asked me about my favorite travel essentials for our road trips. I have compiled a list of items that have been helfpul over the years. The needs of our family have evolved as our girls have grown, but I also included some products that were useful when they were younger. I love finding products that are long lasting and a good value. Take a look and see if anything looks helpful for your family!

The entire list can be found here. Keep reading for a description of why I like each item.

Packing:

My first recommendation is to make sure that you have plenty of luggage. We had a family set and always needed to figure out who was taking which piece. A couple of years ago, I bought an inexpensive set for each of my daughters. They each have their own fun color and there is no more arguing over who gets what. An added bonus is that when we do need additional sizes of luggage, we have a lot more flexibility in what luggage sizes we utilize. Fun colors are also easy to find in baggage claim if flying!

For soft-sided carry-on type luggage, we have some favorite bags that have served us well in terms of having a lot of compartments and holding up well. Check these out.

These packing cubes have been so helpful! This set comes in a variety of sizes so each of us take a couple. We use them to keep swimsuits or undergarments separate to help keep our suitcases organized. No one wants rogue socks all over the suitcase.

I have had this sling bag for years. It is perfect for a day of sightseeing when you don't want a bulky backpack, and your purse can't hold sunscreen, bug spray and all the necessities. The straps adjust easily and make for a comfortable fit.

Toiletries/ Personal Items:

These are my newest purchase. As my girls have grown, their hair and beauty care collection has also grown. Most hotels have limited counter space. On a recent girls trip, one of my friends had a similar hanging bag. I quickly realized that this could be a crucial travel hack for us.

These travel bottles are useful when needing to condense products.

We have also found that a travel jewelry organizer is super helpful!

This is one of my favorite purchases! As someone that wears glasses, it can be difficult for me to find a hotel mirror that is well-lit and accessible so that I can see to apply my make-up. This little travel mirror has been a game-changer and packs easily in my make-up bag.

Road Trip Essentials:

A collapsible cooler like the one below has been such a handy addition for us. We love that it can collapse when space is an issue. When we flew to the Southwest, we were able to easily collapse the cooler to travel in the suitcase. It kept items cold and was easy to carry.

This next item is a great gadget to have for road trips and everyday life while at home. This handheld vacuum has helped us keep the car clean on many a trip. Further, we have two pups that will often travel in the car with us to be dropped off at the kennel before the trip. This vacuum is so helpful to clean up any stray puppy shedding prior to a long trip.

Selfie sticks aren't just for the young teens! They are for middle-aged moms that want to capture a family photo on the beach. I have not been disappointed with this purchase. Way cheaper than hiring a photographer on the beach! It has come in handy on several trips so that we could capture the perfect shot.

When my kids were in need of a booster seat, we purchased this inflatable one. It was easy to pack in the suitcase and then inflate when we picked up the rental car.

These seatbelt pillows were helpful when my girls were younger. They would fall asleep on long car trips and these pillows made it more comfortable.

Now that my girls are older, they enjoy neck pillows like these.

Beach Essentials:

We don't do a ton of beach vacations since we are on a quest to see all the states. But, when we do, I find that I want the gear to be comfortable. I love this beach blanket. It is very large and easy to fold. We have even used the blanket in the backyard.

This beach tent is great for providing some shade for littles.

Lastly, I bought these towels for my girls. They are light weight and quick drying. So much easier than lugging bulky beach towels. A huge variety of colors!

What other items would you add to the list?? Happy travels!