TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

​In 2013, I traveled a lot. I racked up more frequent flyer miles this past year than every other year combined. Let's review…
June // I left Charleston, SC to move to Seattle for the summer (no really, I'll be back!)
July // I visited Las Vegas and Los Angeles for the first time
October // I visited San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, then I traveled to Tulum, MX for the first time, then I traveled to Brooklyn (all before the month was up!)
December // I've been traveling around Mexico for the past three weeks [Tulum > Puebla > Zacatlan > MX City] (the pics from this trip haven't been uploaded yet)

So now that I'm back from what was literally an entire year of straight traveling, I've got travel essentials down to a Science.

Okay, first for some Really basic travel advice - if you're traveling to another country (assuming they have the same electricity outlets), take a surge-protected power strip. One of the biggest problems we've had in hotels around Mexico is not having enough power outlets for all of our electronics. I'd also pack some of your absolute favorite DVD's to watch when you have shoddy wifi service. You wouldn't believe how many times we've seen "Now You See Me" because it was one of the only American movies for sale at a Mexican Blockbuster on a rainy day. I don't recommend it.

Then, for my favorite essentials:

Archie Grand Travelers I Met and Liked notebook - $11

Archie Grand notebooks are my favorite after Moleskine. The "Travelers I Met and Liked" notebook is a must have for the extroverted wanderer. I also love the "Faux Pas I Made and Liked" and "Shrinks I Had and Liked" notebooks.

If you're taking your iPad on an international trip, download the New Yorker or Conde Nast Traveler for travel advice and download the XE Currency app to see live rates for currency exchange. If you're like me, you'll definitely want to bring a book. I brought Island by Aldous Huxley and a collection of Kurt Vonnegut stories. I also like to travel with collections of short stories or essays, like this edition of 50 Essays, for easy but enlightening reads. I finished I Got Schooled by M Night Shyamalan on my last trip to Mexico and I recommend it to anyone interested in educational equity.

(MALIN+GOETZ) 1oz essential kit - $30

Okay, at some point, I'm going to stop raving about these products. But I've already bought five sets of these miracle products for my next travels. This kit includes their grapefruit face cleanser, vitamin e face moisturizer, bergamot body cleanser, vitamin b5 body moisturizer, peppermint shampoo, and cilantro conditioner. I love the peppermint soap so I bought some to include in my kits, which are conveniently carry-on approved!

Aesop Ginger Flight Therapy / .3fl oz - $31

Mmm my favorites - ginger and aromatherapy - all rolled into one bottle of goodness. You apply Aesop's Ginger Flight Therapy to your pulse points to stimulate and rejuvenate your senses. It's a perfect pick me up for a stressful or exhausting flight. Then try Dr. Hauschka's Aromatherapy Bath Kit for an extra luxe bath.

Bobbi Brown's Basic Brush Collection - $185

I'm a product junkie and not so much a huge make up user, but I know that no matter what make up you use, it's only as good as your brushes. So indulge in Bobbi Brown's Essential Brush Collection - if you're like me, it'll be the only set you ever need… plus there's room in the case for a few makeup essentials like the Long Wear Eyeliner and NARS' Semi Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave.

You can get a free mini eye cream and free shipping with the code NEWYOU if you order online.

For your main cosmetics bag, make sure you include spf, Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment, and hand sanitizer for everything in between. My favorites are Cleanwell's all natural hand sanitizer and Crabtree & Evelyn's Citron, Honey, & Coriander hand sanitizer, which I've been using since high school.

As for my final advice, I recommend the Samsonite Tote-A-Ton Duffle Bag for all the souvenirs you'll inevitably buy because it's light, doesn't take up any space, and is super durable so you can feel safe checking it with all your personals. Plus it's on super sale right now. I usually never check bags - I like to fit everything into a carry-on, even on long trips, so what actually happens is I almost always forgot the 4.0 oz or under rule (hate you TSA), which also means I almost always get one of my Favorite products taken away :'( For this last trip though, I found the Perfect solution - you're welcome everyone who has products you really like but only have full sizes of. This amazing travel kit from Sephora is perfect - it's easy to administer your products into the jars and they're really durable AND they meet TSA standards.. AND x2 they come with pre-printed labels. Thank you Sephora. Finally, and this may be more specifically for Mexico, but I've gone through a Million bottles of water and recycling units are Really hard to find here so I wish I'd brought a reusable bottle. These KOR Nava bottles have filters made from pure coconut shells. Plus they're pretty and I found KOR through their support of one of my very favorite organizations, charity:water.

What are some of your essentials?