"Compression Socks": 30 Small Things That People Say Greatly Improved Their Traveling

You can request a fan at a hotel.

Makes a huge difference when you’re room temp doesn’t drop below 70 and you’re used to sleeping in the tundra.

TSA pre-check

A mesh laundry bag.

It allows me to comfortably divide my clean and dirty clothes, and not have to sort through them in my luggage when it comes time to do laundry. It's helpful on business trips and vacations, and short or long duration trips. Whether I just do my laundry when I return home or have to do it while traveling, the laundry bag helps me keep everything together and easily carryable so I can do my laundry when I am able.

Also, it takes up hardly any space on its own, and anything going into it was already in my bag before.

My "small" upgrade was literally teaching myself to pack super small, light, and in a single 20L backpack for any trip, any event or activity I might attend or do, in any location, or any weather. My bag stays permanently packed with these items. The only thing that changes is that I might throw in a swim suit.

Everything about this has improved my travel, 100%.

For example, I am going to the UK next month. My flight lands at 6:30am. My bag is so small, no airline would ever flag it to be checked. Lost luggage isn't a thing in my world. Because my kit is so small, I can walk out of the airport and spend all day carrying my pack, sightseeing, and not even notice I'm carrying it until 3pm when i can check into my hotel. The pack is so cute, it just looks like i choose to carry a pack instead of a purse.

But for items, I can't live without... my document organizer. It's my lifeline. I love it. Another thing I dont leave home without is a big pashmina scarf... there's a million and one uses for it!

Rubber band for your passport.
You’ll naturally hold onto the rubber band when you hand someone your passport so it reminds you to get your passport back, plus it keeps your travel documents snug inside!

A foldable travel pillow- not the kind that wraps around your neck, but an actual small memory foam pillow that folds into a traveling bag. I use it on trains/planes and to provide neck support at hotels

Apple AirTags

A Xanax prescription

A denim button up. That sucker can go with everything and is an easy layer to add over singlets and under jumpers.

A good and sturdy leather satchel. It's got a flap and zip so everything is secure. It sits across my shoulders and at my front hip, so easily looked after. It fits the necessities for the day but is compact enough to slide under the plane seats or sit on my lap on a train.

Not upgrades really, but wearing leggings with pockets is so great bc I can put my phone and airpods in them along with boarding pass and/or passport. I don’t have to dig in my bag and I know they’re securely on me.

I also bought an airplane blanket that has its own little holder bag that can be used as a pillow - it hooks to my backpack and there’s enough extra space that I stick my snacks, water bottle, whatever else in there that I’ll need at my seat. So I can put all that in prior to boarding and then I can just throw my backpack into the overhead bin and keep the blanket pack thing at my seat

I take contact lens cases and put a bit of ointments and gels in them. Label with a permanent marker.. P for polysporin, etc

Scrubba Bag. It is great to be able to refresh your clothes between washing machines and allows me to wear them a few times more.