12 Travel Essentials My Mom Packs for Long Days

Ever since I was a kid, my mom was considered the go-to person if you needed something— extra water, snacks, she had it. Her tote bag seemed magical to me because it had whatever I needed, but really, she was just a prepared packer.

Her preparedness has transferred over into her travels, too, including knowing how to pack a carry-on bag and make her hotel room feel like home. My mom has been traveling for more than 40 years, and she always makes sure her personal item bag is stocked with everything she could possibly need during a long travel day, from hand sanitizer spray to tinted lip balm. She shared her must-haves and tips for making trips easier with Travel + Leisure, and everything is available at Amazon’s travel store for as little as $6.

Best Personal Bag Items for Long Travel Days

Atickyaid Mini First Aid Kit

My mom recently took a trip to California, where she got major blisters from a new pair of shoes. She immediately patched up her feet using a mini first aid kit she always has on hand. “I had my Band-Aids, cleansing wipes to clean the area, and a little bit of ointment to help with the healing process,” she told T+L.

This first aid kit comes in a compact case with a built-in clip so you can attach it to your purse, backpack, or carry-on. It’s stocked with bandages, burn cream, gauze, sterile gloves, and more.

Fyy Travel Cable Organizer Pouch

Even when she’s not traveling, my mom has this cable organizer with her. It has mesh pockets and slots to keep her charging cords, portable charger, and small devices organized. The zip case keeps everything secure, and it prevents cords from getting tangled, so she can quickly grab what she needs.

Charmast Portable Charger

Instead of relying on outlets to keep her phone charged, my mom keeps a portable charger on her at all times. This one comes with built-in charging cables so you don’t have to worry about packing a separate one. It can charge six devices at once, and the digital screen lets you know when the charger itself needs to be charged. 

She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

According to my mom, “You have to prepare for the unexpected.” That includes anything to do with safety, which is where this personal safety alarm comes in. If you’re ever in distress, pull the pin and an alarm and flashing light will be activated. It also comes with a keychain that attaches to your purse or backpack for instant access.   

Mario Badescu Facial Spray 2-pack

My mom’s biggest tip for keeping skin fresh and hydrated is a reliable face toner spray. Her favorite is Mario Badescu’s because it includes skin-soothing ingredients like aloe and rose water, and it leaves her skin looking dewy after a couple of spritzes. “If my face is feeling dry I just spray that on and it just makes me feel hydrated,” she said.

Mum's Memory Mini Zip Around Wristlet Wallets

My mom’s alternative to holding a wallet is to have a small wristlet on hand. She treats it like a clutch and uses it to hold important things, like her credit cards, ID, cash, and other small items. This set has a detachable lanyard and two small pouches with zippers to keep everything secure.

Qinline Reusable Food Storage Bags

Liquids and wet clothes don’t have to get the rest of your belongings wet or sticky. My mom’s secret is to pack clear, compact bags like these reusable ones, to avoid them from “spilling and damaging anything.” These are more efficient than your average zippered disposable bags because the leakproof and waterproof bags can contain smelly clothes, messy lotions and gels, and more. Plus, you can wash them and reuse them after your trip.

Wet Brush Mini Detangler Brush

Carrying a mini hair brush is how my mom keeps her hair looking fresh and smooth—especially after a mid-flight nap. “I hate having my hair matted or knotted, and there's just something about when I can run that brush through my hair; I just feel put together.”

Kitsch Spiral Hair Ties

Clips may be a small hair accessory, but my mom suggests not wearing them while you’re traveling because they’re uncomfortable against a car, train, or plane seat. Hair ties, on the other hand, let you comfortably pull back your hair in an instant.

Touchland Gentle Mist Hand Sanitizer Spray

This Touchland hand sanitizer is my mom’s must-have for all travel, including commutes to the office and long train rides. Just a couple of spritzes disinfect her hands without drying them out, thanks to moisturizing ingredients like niacinamide and centella asiatica. Plus, she likes how it’s compact, thin, leak-proof, and doesn’t have a “sterile, disgusting smell.”

Summer Fridays Tinted Lip Butter Balm

“In airplanes, the air is always kind of dry and recycled,” she said, so she relies on a tinted lip balm to keep her lips hydrated and add some subtle color. Summer Fridays’ popular formula has a nearly perfect star rating on Amazon and has been purchased more than 3,000 times this past month. It uses natural ingredients like shea and murumuru seed butters to help soften and moisturize lips.

Lysol Disinfecting Wipes To-go Pack

Over the course of four decades, my mom has witnessed some gross things while traveling, including someone wiping their bloody nose and stuffing the dirty tissues into the airplane seat pocket. Now, before she sits, she always wipes down her area with disinfecting wipes. Lysol’s travel pack comes with a resealable cover and is compact enough to slide into your personal item.

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