Going On A Trip?

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  So glad you popped in!  Don't forget to link up below and share what you're thinking out loud about today.

With the summer travel season beginning, I've been reflecting on some of my favorite items to take along on trips and that's what I'm thinking out loud about today!

Eric and I have had the opportunity to travel abroad the last couple years and are currently putting the final touches on our trip to Ireland we're taking later this summer.  It seems like with every trip we learn of a few more things that makes the next trip that much more enjoyable.  

Last year we invested in some spinner carry-on luggage.  After travelling with my friend Debbie and watching her ease down the airplane aisles, I knew a spinner carry-on needed to be added to my travel accessories.  My carry-on had wheels, but pulling it down the aisle was clunky.  With the spinner, you can easily turn it sideways and glide it smoothly to your seat.

                                     

This next item I've mentioned several times before, but they were a game changer for me!  Packing cubes compress your clothes so they take up a much smaller amount of space in your suitcase.  I purchased a set for myself and loved them so much that I immediately got a set for Eric.  They come in lots of different colors so you can color code your entire family.  We now organize our clothes while packing and they stay much more wrinkle free.  

Neck pillows are a must for longer flights, but who likes to have a bulky pillow attached to your luggage and flopping around all over the airport?  We switched to an inflatable travel pillow and solved that problem.  It stores easily in your carry on and inflates quickly by simply pumping the built in button.  Deflating is a breeze too.  The design allows your head to stay in an upright position so your neck isn't killing you when you wake up.  Last weekend when we were driving to Memphis, I was wishing I had this in the car with me.  It would have made taking a nap a whole lot more comfortable.  It proved to me that this travel pillow isn't just for airline travel!

We have been packing power bank batteries for our electronic devices for years and love them!  You never have to worry about finding a place to plug in when your phone is on it's last bar.  They come in all kinds of shapes.  My favorite is the ones that are a bit flatter.  When we get to our destination, it fits nicely in the backpack in case we need a little recharge during our long days of sightseeing.

We love watching movies on long flights, but don't really dig sharing one pair of headphones.  With this adapter, you can each plug in your own set of headphones.  It's lightweight and a great add to your bag of tricks.

                                    

Rick Steves is our hero.  As soon as we decide where we're headed, we pick up the Rick Steves's book on that location and study it like our like our lives depend on it.  And then we pack it in our backpack and keep it with us during the entire trip.  We have gotten so many great tips and hints from his books.  Wouldn't dream of going on vacation without it!

                                      

This year I'm going to remember to throw in a couple wash clothes in our suitcase.  In our hotels in both France and Italy, they did not have wash clothes in the bathroom.  They provided hand towels and bath towels, but not wash clothes.  I figure I'll throw a couple in the suitcase just in case we don't have them in Ireland.  

Also, don't forget to get the electrical adapters for the country you're visiting.  We have found that four is plenty.  Check your appliances to make sure they will work where you're going.  In Europe, they need to be dual voltage.  

What are some items you can't travel without?  All this talk of travel has me wanting to pack up and leave!  

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share.

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