The 23 Best Travel Accessories for Type-A Personalities (2024)

FAQs

Are packing cubes really worth it? ›

Space-saving advantages: By maximising space, packing cubes enable you to pack more efficiently and effectively, making sure that you can fit more items into your soft shell suitcase in a compact and organised manner.

Generally, most airlines implement a maximum size policy of 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches, including wheels and handles. Your baggage allowance could also depend on your ticket type. Some basic economy tickets only allow for a personal item, such as a purse, rather than a piece of carry-on luggage.

It turns out that Ziploc bags have been used by backpackers for ages as travel packing cubes.

Its version of the 5-4-3-2-1 method includes "five tops, four bottoms, three accessories, two shoes (a practical pair and a nice pair), and one swimsuit," though like the Times this formula allows the wiggle room to swap out accessories based on your destination and type of travel.

Cash. It's true that our world is increasingly digital and pretty much every day-to-day transaction can be handled with a smart phone or a card. But when you travel, it's always smart to carry cash. Maybe the cute little roadside stand where you're shopping doesn't accept cards, or you need a little dough for tips.

Firearms, ammunition, and fireworks are prohibited, as are all knives and safety razors (including pocket knives and Swiss Army knives). Straight razors and replacement blades for straight razors are also not allowed. Most tools also cannot be packed in carry-on luggage, as they have the potential to cause harm.

What not to forget when leaving the country? ›

Backpacks, totes, and crossbody bags are typically considered personal items too. The key to remember is it must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on is a type of hand luggage that you bring into the plane cabin with you and is larger than a personal item.

Technically, any piece of luggage that you “carry on” to an airplane is a carry-on bag. Most airlines allow one piece of carry-on luggage or “hand baggage” that can fit in the overhead bin, plus a “personal item” (a smaller purse, computer bag, diaper bag, small backpack, etc.

How many 3-ounce bottles can I carry on? You must be able to fit all your 3-ounce bottles into a 1-quart bag, which is 6 x 9 inches. This usually equates to nine bottles. FYI, you can use a Ziploc or anything that's about that size, but the TSA doesn't officially approve or disapprove of any bags.

Whether you have kids that have a bad habit of packing five extra shirts and no socks, or you're a professional that constantly finds yourself digging through mounds of jackets to find a single pair of shoes, packing cubes really save space by creating small pockets within your luggage to keep everything organised.

Rolling the rest of your clothes helps you make the most of the gaps in your suitcase that folding can leave. Plus, it lets you pack more. Packing cubes help you stay organized, and you can use either method above to prep your clothes before putting them in a cube.

Kondo is also a fan of packing cubes — she's even got her own line of them. From a KonMari standpoint, packing cubes ensure that the clothing you pack stays folded and upright.

Compression packing cubes let you pack more clothing or gear into a tighter space, so you can bring more or scale down the size of your primary bag. Both of which can be huge benefits. But they can also make your pack a lot heavier due to the now dense cubes in your pack.