A new collaboration series with some fellow bloggers. It’s called “What’s in your Suitcase?” and we’re talking travel tips and packing ideas.
today’s featured blogger is tricia from the adventure list.
how did you get started traveling?
I have always had a bit of wanderlust as my mom took me to almost all 50 states before I was 5. I started my traveling lifestyle about 4 years ago after my youngest kid went to college and I realized, “Hey it’s time for mom to leave the nest!” Lucky for me, I had a huge income tax return coming and I took off for Chicago to start my solo child-free life. From there I started with long weekend trips planned every other month until I left Chicago for Alaska and my seasonal job life. Now I travel every 4-6 months to a new location with several side trips in between jobs.
when you travel, how do you pack? what do you like best about it? have you ever used another style of luggage?
I am a cheap-ass person so I have yet to buy new luggage for this traveling lifestyle. I have been using a rolling backpack that I purchased when I was in college about 6 years ago. So far it has worked fine for my carry-on only preference. I fear it may be an inch too deep for regulations but oh well. I like this backpack because I can roll it most of the time plus it holds a ton of stuff. It is not the most comfortable for carrying as a backpack for a long haul but I rarely find that I have to do that. Back in the day, I used to be one of those enormous suitcase packers. Nowadays, I can’t imagine traveling with all that luggage.
what one item you cannot leave the house without?
Chapstick! I must have a tube everywhere so I stash some in all my bags, wallets, etc.
what are your carry-on must haves?
I put all my must haves in my personal carry-on item, usually this purse that my daughter and I call the Never-Ending Bag like Hermione’s from Harry Potter because you can literally add an enormous quantity of stuff to it. Must haves: book or Kindle, Chapstick, coat or light blanket to cover up as I’m usually cold on planes, and my cell phone for music and earbuds (I have terrible ear pain coming down in airplanes. I have found playing music loudly with earbuds gets rid of the pain and allows me to hear after landing. Before I discovered this trick, I would not be able to hear for an entire day after a flight.)
do you swear by any particular toiletry products for in-transit travel?
No
what is your go-to packing tip, when people ask?
Pack light. Most people take way too much stuff for their trips. I pack light and still feel like I have too much stuff. Inevitably when I’m at the end of a trip, I realize I’ve packed too many clothes or inappropriate-for-the-weather clothes that I never wear.
what is the oddest things you’ve seen someone traveling with?
One odd thing I travel with is this little ceramic tea cup my sister bought me. It is perfect for a bathroom glass, drinking tea if you can’t find a mug, shot glass or wine glass, etc. I have found it to come in handy many times. It seems impractical because it’s glass.
I have also traveled to Mexico and Honduras with a bulky winter coat. So inappropriate but I was traveling from a ski resort then to Alaska or vice versa. People think I’m a weirdo when they see me hauling this coat around.
You can follow Tricia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Thanks for sharing, Tricia!