The holidays are quickly approaching - which means, for a lot of people, that it is time to travel. If you are a blogger, travel can be extremely important for your blog - sharing your holiday outfits, favorite recipes, DIY gifts, and more.
Traveling as a blogger can also be extremely difficult because of the amount of techie stuff you use - ie. cameras, laptops, external hard drives, etc. This is especially complicated if you are flying and don't want to check any baggage. How on EARTH do you fit everything you need into a carry on?
Below I have a list of items that I take consistently when I travel - or at least, items similar to those I use. I've also got some tips to make your life easier while flying, as a female blogger...so read on!
| Old Navy: Satin Tote |
| Raven & Lily: Ashoka Canvas Tote |
| TOMS + Target: Arrow Zippered Clutch |
| Buckle: Mint Sunglasses |
| Travel toothbrush, check your local drugstore |
| Apple: iPad |
| Canon: EOS Rebel T3 |
| iPhone Charger: Similar |
| Various Stores: Travel Compact Hairbrush |
| Sugar Paper: Gold Polka Dot Journal |
Tip: Only bring the essentials
I know this sounds difficult. I always overpack when I travel, but when I'm flying, I want to avoid paying for checked baggage at all costs. So limit your bags to one carry-on (I typically use the brown weekender bag pictured above - I love it because you can squish it into small spaces) and a purse (I want that Old Navy tote for Christmas!).
Tip: Bring a purse in your purse
I highly recommend bringing some sort of canvas tote that you can roll up and stick inside your carry-on purse. That way, if you buy anything extra while traveling, you have somewhere to put it. If nothing else, the second purse will make your life easier (you can use the tote as your purse for the week so you don't have to unpack your carry-on purse!).
Tip: Bring an iPad, not a laptop
Tablets are way easier to pack and take up less space - which is perfect when you are trying to pack light. You can do all your blogging on your tablet and use a family member or friend's computer if you need to upload photos.
Tip: Plan ahead for car rentals
If you need to rent a car for your traveling, I recommend getting this figured out BEFORE you get to the airport. I've only used a rental car once - a co-worker rented it, and the process seemed like a hassle. And it wasted my time when all I wanted was to get to the hotel and sleep. I recommend checking out RelayRides - they are available in many different cities (including Cincinnati), and you can schedule the whole thing IN ADVANCE. Boom. Super quick & easy. You can even make money if you want to let someone else rent your car. Check out where you can find them in your city HERE!
Tip: Don't pack hair care items
You really don't need to spend money on travel size shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. If you're staying in a hotel, most hotels provide that stuff (and replenish every day!). If you're staying with friends or family, you can buy some when you get in town. It's not worth the space in your carry-on!
Tip: Roll your clothes
Seriously, this saves SO MUCH SPACE and allows you to pack a lot of clothes in a tiny space. Also, bring items you can mix & match, and wear multiple times. The fewer things you bring the better.
Tip: Always carry a journal, pen & camera
As a blogger, you never know when an idea for a post will strike. You could talk to some really cool shop owner and want to remember details of your conversation. Or maybe you like to make to-do lists (like myself). Whatever the reason, a journal is necessary. And so is a camera, so you can have plenty of pictures to blog about (you can use your camera phone if nothing else, and it saves space!)
So, there you go. I hope my tips will help you a little bit this holiday season!
What are YOUR travel necessities?
