We are officially in the middle of our Italian adventure, and I have to say—Italy is even more magical than I imagined! But as any seasoned traveler knows, a stress-free international trip starts long before you land. It starts with a smart packing list. Before we headed to the airport last week, I did a final deep-dive into my favorite travel basics to ensure our long-haul flight and our weeks abroad would be as seamless as possible.
Whether you’re prepping for a European summer or just looking for the best long-flight essentials to keep in your carry-on, I’ve rounded up the 15 travel must-haves that made the cut. From the leak-proof hacks I swear by to the tech gadgets that are keeping our family sane on the go, here is exactly what I packed for our trip to Italy and beyond.
Carry-On Tote Bag $118
When Chris and I travel, I usually bring a purse or a backpack as my carry-on, but I needed something more substantial for the long flight to Italy. The size of this tote is generous, and the color? Perfetto.
Silicone Bottle Covers $9
This is a new-to-me-hack: Skip the plastic zip-top bags, and put these little sleeves and covers on your products. I typically pack a few TSA-approved small-size travel versions of my makeup in my carry-on bag, but full-size products can go in your checked bag! This stops products from leaking all over your clothes.
Travel Makeup Case $28
I got this faux leather makeup travel bag in this camel color last-minute, because I love how there are so many compartments. It’s also easy to clean when my brushes inevitably get my foundation on the insides…
Compression Packing Cubes $16
I’m a huge proponent of packing by either outfits for each day (what I usually do for my girls) or by categories: all the tops in one bag, all the dresses in another, and all the bottoms in the last bag. These compression cubes helped me get the most bang for my buck with suitcase space to spare.
GlutenEase Enzymes $19
I eat a restricted diet because of my autoimmune diseases (no dairy, grains, eggs, pork or soy), and I’ve had so many incredible meals in Italy that stick to those restrictions. But I knew I couldn’t go to Italy and not try a little bit of pasta… I brought a ton of my daily digestive enzymes as well as these that are specific to breaking down gluten. So far, so good!
AirTags $99
These are just so helpful. I know so many people who have lost a bag while traveling abroad, and putting an AirTag in each suitcase gives me so much more peace of mind. I also have one in our passport wallet (more on that below)—and I know my friends with younger kids will put them in a watchband on their preschoolers!
Portable Phone Charger $19
This portable phone bank charger has been my go-to pick ever since it won the product test last winter. There’s no way I won’t run out of phone battery trying to capture all of these memories with my family! I also have a MagSafe one that can be good if you’re stationary, but I brought this one because it works better with my phone case.
Clean Towels Travel Size $14
I received these compostable face towels as a gift at a favorite things party, and I never went back! The idea of having a clean towel to dry your face is amazing! Why would I use a regular towel with all the chemicals from laundry detergent? Clean Towels are now on my Amazon subscription. I use one for my face in the morning, and it feels like a gift to my skin.
Passport Wallet $152
This was one of the first things Chris bought for the trip because it holds your passport, cash, and credit cards and has an Apple AirTag slot. Helpfully, it’s also RFID-protected, which means your data can’t be skimmed by criminals. It’s unlikely that would happen, but it’s a good “peace of mind” feature addition when you’re carting around so many important docs.
European Outlet Converters $29
What I love about these is that they have so many extra ports—two USB-A and one USB-C, the latter of which charges my iPhone 16 Pro. And if you missed it in the photo, check the perimeter again: they also have 4 AC outlets. So I don’t have to bring quite as many wall adapters! (Plus it’s a 3-pack.)
FlyWell Electrolytes $36
I bought this bag of electrolyte packets for the plane to stay hydrated and try to fight jet lag. Each one includes vitamins C, B3, B6, B9, B12, and Zinc to help avoid picking up sickness on the plane. Plus, the added chamomile, magnesium, ashwagandha, ginger, and peppermint are supposed to help with calming your mind, plus gut health. The packets are TSA-friendly and use monk fruit as a sweetener, which is good on my digestive system!
Portable Handheld Fan $16
We knew we’d be going to Italy over one of the hotter months of the year, but that worked best with the girls’ school schedules. I got this handheld fan for each of the girls because I knew they might burn out from all the walking on the hotter days.
Travel Journal $26
I’m so excited about this purchase—these travel journals are beautiful! I bought these to go with the instant print camera below, and brought some washi tape so the girls could record their travels in the moment and fight boredom. There’s nothing like looking back on adventures and seeing their handwriting and candids!
Instant Print Camera $149
I love that these instant print cameras are pretty slim for travel, yet they still provide that Polaroid-esque nostalgia. The best part? They’re a digital camera, so the girls can delete the pictures they don’t love, and print the ones they do! This saves on packing a ton of printer sheets and gives them a way to mark their favorite moments through their travel journals.
Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter $52
In “cool gadget gear,” this little transmitter syncs up wireless headphones (these are what the girls have) to in-flight entertainment so my girls could all watch movies over the 10-hour combo of flights. I wouldn’t consider this one an essential, because most wireless headphones still come with an audio cable. But inevitably, we lose those. I’ll keep these in a travel bin so we can keep them close for future flights!
What are your travel finds from the past year? I always love getting new ideas from you!
I found your travel essentials so helpful and would love to hear how the silicone bottle covers work out! Hope you guys have a great trip.