What’s In My Carry-On?

With summer is full swing, and many of us getting ready to leave on vacation, I thought it would be the perfect time to come up with a quick list of what to pack in your carry-on.  First let me say that I always over pack, even after so many years of traveling, I just always feel as if I’m leaving something behind. And I’m also not the kind of person that likes to go shopping for toothpaste when I get to my destination…I want to spend all my time sightseeing and relaxing.  So naturally, packing my carry-on is very important to me.  Since most of the  flights I take average 9 hours, after a while, I start to feel a bit claustrophobic, so I need to feel comfortable and keep busy to make the time go by faster.  I also like to carry some snacks for all of us, as we sometimes forgo the plane meals, or fall asleep during the meal times.  Here are my carry-on must-haves:

Snacks for the flight...

Snacks for the flight…

I love to buy a large bottle of water at the airport and keep myself hydrated during the flight. Snacks like almonds, Cheerios and peanut butter are healthy and yummy.  We always pack gum too, as it helps with the ear popping during take-off and landing.  And of course, a little piece of chocolate never hurt anyone!

My carry-on essentials...

My carry-on essentials…

My husband always makes fun of me saying I carry a small CVS in my bag.  I always bring my travel document holder (which includes itineraries, boarding passes, emails from hotels and our passports), my iPad to watch movies, with of course a good set of Beats headphones, a good book and some cozy socks. But I also need to pack things like Advil for headaches (which I tend to suffer from), Visine for my eyes, which get very dry when I’m flying, some hand cream and a travel toothbrush.  If you’re wondering about the Afrin, I also get very congested sometimes.  And of course I never leave home without some hand wipes and my camera!

So, what are your carry-on must-haves?  I’d love to compare notes in case I’m forgetting something!

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58 thoughts on “What’s In My Carry-On?

  1. My must haves are gum, Kleenex, my Blistex, my iPod, my portable phone charger and lots and lots of snacks. Oh, and I usually have an extra sweater crammed in there because I am always cold.

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  2. Great carry on packing list!! My must haves include – eye mask, ear plugs, EO, water but, like you I pack a small CVS in my carry on. Of course, by the end of the trip, I am cursing the fact that my bag is sooo heavy. Thankfully, my husband normally has his rolling computer bag as a carry on and will place mine on top of his. 🙂

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  3. Oh yeah, that iPad holder really would come in handy on a plane! I always want my camera when I’m on a flight. I like pictures from the sky. 🙂

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  4. My carry-on always has my Mac Pro and a change of clothing – just in case! I always forget to pack food, so I’m going to steal your food suggestions for my upcoming trip to St. Maarten.

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  5. I don’t fly much at all, but if I did, the only thing I would add are markers and a notepad for my daughter. It never fails – as much as she brings her own things to occupy her time, she eventually gets bored of them. I always have to have a back up.

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  6. I don’t travel often but when we do snacks and entertainment is a must (ipad, crosswords, etc) I’m not sure what I would have to carryon if we all took a trip… Probably lots!

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  7. i also always pack an extra shirt because I have traveled too many times where I’ve gotten spilled on, thrown up on, or just felt icky after a long trip.

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  8. I do take a lot of the same things that you do. I have to have wet wipes of some sort and of course some advil. Snack are a must because you can find yourself stranded with nothing to eat and of course all of my chargers get carried on in case my luggage gets lost. As well as my prescription meds.

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  9. Those are some good carry-on items. We usually take our tablets, fruit snacks, my big blue water bottle (we fill it up at water fountains), granola bars, extra socks and a small pillow. My boyfriend is allergic to flour, so we have to bring all of our own food on airplanes.

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  10. These are all such great ideas. I definitely have a book in mine, and snacks. I personally love pretzels and chocolate too! I had no idea that Lindt had salted caramel flavor. I also need to make sure I have water.

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  11. Great tips for a carry on!! I drive most places these days but I will definitely keep these tips in mind for the next time I fly!

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  12. I hardly carry on anything, just the barre minimum. I find the more “stuff” I bring the less space I have and it’s just crammed in my bag so tight I can’t reach it anyways!!

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  13. I’ve actually never flown so I don’t know what my essentials would be lol. But this is a great list to refer to if I ever do.

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  14. Well, I have a pre-packed bag of my essentials ~ toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, shampoo, razor, comb, brush, shower cap, face wash and panties. I bring what I would need if I get stuck somewhere without the rest of my luggage. My carry on includes one outfit, pair of socks, and some “keep busy items”. Depending where I’m going, a book, laptop, tablet, etc. I don’t often bring snacks.

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  15. You have an impressive list! I think that my computer, my toiletries, an extra pair of undies, chargers, wipes, water, money, and a couple of snacks will do it for me. I also need a mini lotion tube all the time for my dry hands/body, and a small first aid box 🙂

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  16. I always bring snacks when I travel because you never know when you’re going to want something to give you energy or satisfy a craving. My carry-on stores a lot of tech stuff, chargers, and toiletry items…oh, and anything that I do not want to get lost (in case my luggage decides it wants to travel somewhere else).

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