Packing....

For all of the traveling I do,  I have to admit that I hate packing. It's not that I'm terrible at it or even that it is that big of a chore to do. I just seem to be great at avoiding it until the night before.


I travel a lot so at any given time if you were to walk into our apartment you can find a suitcase of mine in the center of what should be our dining area*. Most of the time it is there, just hanging out in varying states of the packing process. Or, sometimes, it is a suitcase I am avoiding because I have to unpack it.

While it may look and feel like a chaotic mess, there is actually a method to my madness. I always have a plan for packing. Here are my top three packing tips!

Always plan your travel outfit first
Are you leaving straight from the office? Heading out on an early morning flight? Taking a red-eye? Let your travel arrangements decide what you wear. Now I'm not saying that you should show up to the airport in your fuzzy slippers and pajamas but you do want to feel comfortable.

Your shoes should be the first thing you pick out. They need to be comfortable and you have to be able to get them on and off quickly. With current TSA regulations dictating that you have to take your shoes off during the security check make sure you wear socks. No flip flops or slip on shoes without socks. Nobody needs to be walking around barefoot in the airport.

I know there are some people who feel that you should "dress up for the occasion" while traveling. And I would be inclined to agree.... IF you still had any room once you were on the plane. These days. as you are hugging your knees to fit into your seat comfort is key. Embrace it!

My go to - comfy and casual

Pack your toiletries bag as you get ready in the morning
There is nothing worse than getting to your destination and realizing that you forgot your.... toothbrush, toothpaste, hairdryer, etc. I've learned that you are less likely to forget your toothbrush if you pack in the moment after you use it. The same goes for shower items and make up. Get yourself in the habit of having everything organized the night before with your toiletries bag out on the counter. If you are only bringing a carry-on bag make sure to leave your 6 ounce bottle of your favorite moisturizer at home or you will be saying a tearful goodbye.

Have a product that you love and can't live without - check online to see if your favorite brands make travel kits. Check out Travel Beauty for your favorite products (or to try some new ones!) You can even buy and fill your new travel bag - so much fun :)

Check the weather
Seriously. Go check the weather. There is nothing worse than showing up to your destination packed for the wrong climate. Don't make assumptions about what the weather should or could be.

And always pack a jacket or sweatshirt. They keep most airports a bit chilly and unless you want to start a fun collection of sweatshirts purchased at airports its best to bring your own.

xoxo,
Travel Courtney

*Full disclosure... 90% of the time the luggage is there because I don't want to unpack and do laundry. I swear I'm secretly hoping that one day the mice from Cinderella will show up and do my laundry for me. And my husband is awesome for putting up with it :)

These are a few of my favorite things

It is really hard for me to limit this post to just one favorite item. I guess that is the "struggle" with starting a new blog - an abundance of ideas just waiting to be shared. Somehow I am going to have to have the discipline to keep this to just one.

When traveling it is really tough to stay properly hydrated. In our normal every day life most of us struggle to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. Now add in the chaos of traveling and the dry recirculated air in the airplane and there is a very good chance that by time you touch down you are going to be parched. 

Lets face it, the bottled water they serve on planes always tastes a little funky and now that you can't bring your own bottle of water from home your only real choice becomes the over priced bottles in the airport shops. I know this all seems very obvious but here is where my favorite product comes into play. S'well Bottles ( Check them out here! ) They. Are. The. Best. My S'well bottle might actually be my best purchase of 2013 and it travels everywhere with me. 

I know. Right now you are probably thinking - seriously, did she just recommend a water bottle?

Yes I did. And here's why. On a quick one hour flight your 20oz bottle of water does the trick. But add in a 2 hour layover, a delayed flight and your travel time goes from "just one hour" to almost an entire day spent in the airport. That 20oz bottle of water isn't going to be enough so you've either splurged on the larger bottle or already had purchase another one (more little bottles = more $$ wasted on water). Who doesn't love warm water that has been sitting at the bottom of your bag all day. Not exactly refreshing.

Here's my trick. When I first get to an airport I pick up a large bottle of water and the first thing I do is fill my S'well and put it aside for later in my journey. This bottle will keep your water cold and refreshing for 24 HOURS!! That's right. The water I bought at 7am in Austin is still refreshing when I land at 1pm in Boston. 

The awesomeness of this water bottle isn't contained to just travel days - it is fantastic for when you are working out, going on a hike, spending the day at the beach. You can literally leave this bottle in a hot car or on in direct sunlight all day and your water still stays cold. Amazing. They have all sorts of cute colors and are quite stylish as well. 

Get your new favorite water bottle here!


Just remember to make sure your bottle is empty before going to the airport :)

xoxo
Travel Courtney

Travel Courtney

Growing up my cousins always said that their father had a second personality that came out only when he was traveling. It was a running joke poking fun of the fact that he could be found walking at least 20 paces ahead of the group muttering all sorts of nonsense. "Travel Charlie" would make his appearance before they were even at the airport and would tag along on vacation popping up while navigating the crowds at Disney or when boarding the plane. While it may have started as a way for his three lovely daughters to poke fun of their father I've come to realize that we all need a Travel Charlie sometimes.

I travel a lot for work. One trip a year turned into one a quarter. One every few months turned to a pretty consistent stream of business trips. These days if I have an entire month without a flight I start to get the travel itch. 

These days I have traveling down to a science but it wasn't always that way. I have been "that girl". The one struggling to fit her carry-on bag in the overhead compartment, the one who almost missed her flight because she was distracted buying snacks, the one who you rolled your eyes at when the TSA agent held up a bottle of water saying "ma'am, you can either drink this now or go back and check your bag". UGH. Lets never go back there.

But it is time for you to learn from me. I'll be sharing all of my travel tested tips and tricks, reviewing destinations in some of my favorite cities, and sharing the best products to make you a savvy traveler.

xoxo
Travel Courtney