If you’ve been following my Instagram stories, you know how much I love to travel, and you may have noticed that…well…I don’t believe in packing light. As a matter fact, I embrace overpacking. For me, being comfortable means being ready for everything, including things I haven’t even thought of. We thought it would be fun to focus on sharing some of my favorite items to travel with, plus travel hacks from Laura, one of my traveling buddies.

Travel starts with being comfortable on the plane. I always bring a sweater and a blanket. A Turkish towel is beautiful and can be used as a blanket, shawl, or beach towel. A favorite for me is THIS local Chicago brand. (link)

I bring noise-canceling headphones, so I can listen to an audiobook and zone out a little.

Since I don’t like eating airplane food (or eating at the airport), before I leave, I eat a truly delicious meal, like a soup or a green juice, so I don’t fly on an empty stomach. I often try to fast on the airplane, but I tend to carry a few nuts, a piece of string cheese, and an apple—foods I know will digest well—just in case. I want to begin a trip feeling well nourished.

Even though I won’t need them on the flight, I carry on my facial products, in case there’s a problem with my checked bag. (I have duplicates of my facial products and makeup, so that when it’s time to pack I can just grab them and go.) I always bring hand sanitizing wipes, and I make it absolutely impossible to run out of phone battery by packing enough portable chargers (small or large) and plugs for a family of five.

Many Crumbles suggested bringing an empty water bottle with ice, so once you’re through security you can refill it. I pack Ziploc gallon and quart bags, not only for dirty clothes, but to pack anything that can potentially spill. (Dry shampoo is an absolute must.)

I take my Mary Ruth’s Organics supplements in travel cases (use this link or the code TERI20 for 20% off). One key is to know yourself. I know I’m likely to eat something on a trip that might create a reaction, so I always have my turmeric and charcoal (for potential food poisoning) plus digestive enzymes and a multivitamin.

I’ll bring my knee sleeve, just in case I need it, and my most recent travel purchase, AirTags.

As a toothbrushing enthusiast, I said to myself, “There’s got to be an easier way to bring my big electric toothbrush!” –which by the way is my favorite gift for young people. I impulsively bought these sleek beauties, and I can’t wait to use them! In addition, when traveling overseas, I always use this homeopathic remedy. No Jetlag helps me adjust to the time change.

Teri Tip: Even though I’m not a light packer, I don’t overstuff my bags. Leave room to bring something back! Plus, I always pack an extra flat bag in my checked suitcase that I can fill and potentially check on the way home.

Teri Tip Two: For going overseas, I use this Away carry-on to pack as much as possible just in case my luggage gets lost. It’s the biggest suitcase allowed for carry-on, and I prefer the biggest carry-on possible.

My friend Laura is a world-class traveler. We call her our nomad! She has taken some amazing trips. She always travels in basic neutrals: black, beige, and white outfit pieces to mix and match.

She prefers expandable bags. They can be pricy, but Samsonite makes a more affordable expandable bag. It’s truly the key to longer trips. White sneakers, Vans, or Adidas Stan Smiths are Laura’s travel staple, because she can wear them with a skirt or a casual dress, and they allow comfortable walking. She warns, “When we try to wear new cute sandals or shoes and walk for miles, the result is blisters!” And if Laura’s going to literally carry her carry-on, she limits it to necessities like chargers, plugs, a sweater, and a little blanket. Laura also never forgets to back a Fabulous brightly colored shawl or a scarf and some statement jewelry to add a little pop of color to a neutral outfit.

Planning for my month in Italy has taken the better part of the year. There’s that saying, “A job expands into the amount of time you have!” Yes, it certainly has. I started planning early, and we’ve had so much fun researching where to go, what to eat, and what to do. Half the fun of traveling is dreaming about the trip and getting organized. Doing a bit of research on what to do at your destination is a fabulous way to have fun getting prepared—savor the sense of expectation!