Carry-on Gear We Love

Monos Carry-on Suitcase  If every luggage we own could be MONOS brand, what a dream! We got this as a gift, and here’s why we LOVE it

  • Quick-access laptop compartment where we don’t need to open the entire suitcase at security to get our ipad and passports out
  • Compression packing system inside that smushes all our bulky clothes down to fit even more bulky clothes
  • 23″ carry-on size with an aero-space grade polycarbonate exterior that is built to last (if you’re going on smaller budget airlines, this 23″ size might be too tall).
  • Built-in TSA approved lock and durable zippers
  • Wheels that glide so smoothly 

Rolling Carry-on Suitcase  Front access laptop compartment is great.  Rolls smoothly. Good zipper. More roomy inside than the Monos, but shorter at 20″. This is a good size for those budget airlines in Asia and Europe. Overall, really happy with the price and functions of this suitcase. 

Weekender Bag My under-the-seat bag. Love that it has a quick access laptop compartment, a shoe compartment on the bottom, and the luggage sleeve that slides over my rolling carry-on suitcase. 

Tote Laptop Purse   My go-to laptop tote — I particularly liked that it has a water bottle compartment inside the purse. The two deep magnetic pockets in the front and back are perfect for my phone and wallet.

Crossbody Shoulder Bag To say I take this bag with me EVERYWHERE is an understatement — multiple flights, Disney, little French villages, island hopping in Thailand, even quick doctor visits. It literally fits everything I need for a day out-and-about (passport, wallet, phone, Power Bank, Portable fan, bandaids, chapstick, etc) — all in front of me at my fingertips!

Swiss Gear Backpack for Men  Witt really likes this backpack. Not only does he take it to work everyday, he then uses it as his under-the-seat bag for flights.  It really stores a lot, is very durable, and has lots of functional compartments. 

Compression Packing Cubes   Don’t just get any packing cubes, make sure they are compression packing bags. They compress the air out of your clothes to give you more room in your luggage. Each person in my family has their own color packing cubes to keep us all organized while on trips. Plus, our kids can their own clothes (use my Free Packing List per family member) and keep up with them the entire trip.  These are a game changer when packing for families!

Apple Tags  This is such a great product to ‘tag’ onto your luggage, purse, backpack, keys, even on our kids’ shoes at Disney! You can name each tag individually, and we can instantly see where that person or item is on our ‘Find My Phone” app. Really a great product. We’ve had our set for 3 years, and the battery is still going strong. 

Leather Luggage Tags (pack of 4)  Just a good quality, beautifully designed set of 4 luggage tags to put your name and phone number on (we choose not to put our address on them).

A/V Travel Gear that Makes Life Easier

Power Bank (Portable Battery Charger)   Keep your phone, iPads, computers, and other electronics all charged on the go.  This is a must-have for any flight, international trip, road trip, camping trip, etc. My suggestion is to get one with at least 20,000 MaH (how much battery power it has to give) and 45-60W output (how strong the power it’s giving — phones need about 15-30W. Ipads need about 30-45W and computers need 45-60W).

Synology   Your own private Cloud to keep your documents, photos, videos, etc on a private server at home, but that can be easily accessed online or at the tap of an app. We save a lot of money monthly not needing to pay Google or Apple for their Cloud services.  

External Hard Drive   2TB to save all those photos and videos from your trips!

Kids Bluetooth Headphones    Important to have for long international flights because the airlines provide headphones that are too big for little heads and also to protect little ears from loud decibels that could cause permanent damage

DJI Phone Stabilizer with Advanced Tracking  A stabilizer is really helpful to get smooth, not bumpy videos.  This one has advanced tracking, a built-in tripod, and can rotate 360′ degrees. 

Electronics Bag  I’m a sucker for some organized cords!

Travel Products We Don't Leave Home Without

Bug Bite Thing   Clinically proven to stop the itching and swelling caused by insect venom and saliva. We have one of these upstairs and downstairs, in our car, and an extra we take on trips to the park, mountains, etc.  Works on: mosquitoes, bees, wasps, biting flies, chiggers, sea lice & more!

Awola Water Bottle   We have one for every family member!  We love that you can sip or gulp, and it keeps our water cold til like the next day! 

Thermos Kids Water Bottles   After trying 10-15 different no-spill water bottles, this one is the best and easy-to clean.  

Travel Wear that is Comfortable and Lasts

ECCO Brown Sandals for Women   The most comfortable sandals for long walks. I wear these for every trip — especially exploring European cities and Disney. 

ECCO Black Sandals for Women   Black leather. Lightweight. Ergonomic. These are my go-to ‘dress-up shoes.  Truthfully, I’ve not yet had a bad experience with the ECCO brand sandals.  I have these in black, but they have multiple colors. 

Addidas Cloud Shoes for Women   Love these for long walks in parks or playing sports like pickleball.

Chacos Women’s Sandals   These are my go-to hiking, camping, and caving shoes. Anything out in nature, these are the best. I’ve had these for 10+ years, and they are still just as strong and durable as the first day.  

Must-have Baby Gear for Travel Days

Yoyo Baby Stroller  Forgo every bulky stroller and get THIS one! It is so lightweight, durable, and folds up to be the size of a carry-on for flights.  No need to gate check!  This means it doesn’t take up too much trunk space either. 

Boda Baby Carrier   Ergonomic Baby Carrier with a mesh exterior that is light and airy and not too hot. Babies can face in, face out, or on the parent’s back. 

Bjorn Baby Bouncer   This was a lifesaver with our newborn to 6 month old. He was happy sitting in it while I got ready in the morning, cooked meals, etc.  It bounces slightly if you push it. It folds up to be completely flat, which is why we took it on EVERY trip with our baby. If mama can be hands-free for even 10 minutes every couple hours, that is the biggest blessing!

Portable Changing Pad   This is a must-have for traveling with babies! We could literally change our babies anywhere with this pad — a chair, the floor, a table. Having the diapers, wipes, and diaper cream right there all in one was so handy on-the-go!

Diaper Backpack   For your upcoming travels, a diaper ‘backpack’ is much easier to handle and manage through airport screening and long day trips. I personally love how stylish this one is. Plus the inside was spacious, well organized, and even had an ipad compartment.  Do note: the leather means it can get quite heavy on those long travel days. 

Snack Bento Boxes   These are perfect for our kids on travel days — whether on the road, on a flight, or just to the doctor’s office.  They get to pick their 5 favorite snacks to add — usually I try to say choose a fruit, veggie, protein, carb, and candy to add to each compartment.  Basically a healthy meal-on-the-go. This is especially helpful with our picky eater who is so hard to find foods she’ll eat on the go.

Best Travel Resources for Exploring Asia

Our Favorite Travel Resources for Exploring Asia

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