Whether traveling for business or pleasure, I’m thrilled to be back at it to help quench my insatiable wanderlust. After backpacking through Europe after college, doing a short stint as a Midway Airlines flight attendant, working as a United Airlines marketing manager and while living in Eastern Europe for 5 years, I’ve been fortunate to visit over 40 countries and consider myself a travel connoisseur. I often share my various travel tips and experiences with family and friends so they can best enjoy these destinations too. I divulge everything from my favorite guide books (hands down Rick Steves), to incredible free walking tours (SANDEMANs New Europe), to quirky adventures (like hopping on a slow bus in Malta with the locals), to how to pack efficiently to save luggage space (the roll method).
Mono suitcases packed and ready for Peru
I prefer to squeeze everything in a carry-on bag to avoid the baggage claim carousel chaos or even worse, the black hole of lost luggage. My chosen one is from Monos, a Canadian brand billed as the Apple of suitcases that I discovered a few years ago. It's so loved that I bought three more for my husband and kids. And then convinced my sister to buy five for her family as well. I guess I'm a "suitcase influencer".
Conscious Beauty Collective Travel Essentials
Always packed in my carry-on is a Travel Essentials kit from the Conscious Beauty Collective, a group of 30+ indie beauty & wellness brands that are coming together to create retail and virtual experiences. The kit includes all my necessary shower products: Pharmacopia cleansing bar, MASAMI premium shampoo & conditioner, H. Honeycup lotion stick, OLITA SPF lip balm, Hear Me Raw wash-off face mask and Cris's Blends natural deodorant. All formulated with clean, non-toxic, good-for-you ingredients that are also vegan and cruelty free.
Other self-care essentials that I never leave home without are my Tweezerman Travel Tools packed in my COSMO drawstring cosmetic bag from Lay-n-Go. Perfect for beauty on the go.
If your upcoming travel plans include flying the friendly skies to your next business destination or to a much needed Spring Break in the sun, don’t forget to take your must-have essentials in travel size. Your carry-on bag and the TSA will be happy that you did!
