Don't Forget These when Packing!

Here are a few things that I always make sure I have with me when traveling.  They may sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many times you find yourself without them, and when you are without them, you really need them.

Toilet Paper: Yes, I always take a roll from home.  Let's face it, hotel toilet paper can also be classified as very fine sand paper.  There has never been a time I regretted packing toilet paper, but there have been several times I regretted not packing some.  A roll is not that big so it will not take up much space in your suitcase.  On a side note, try to avoid the wet wipes.  I know they are more compact, but some hotel plumbing systems cannot take them and that is an awkward call you do not want to have to make to the front desk.

Extra Cell Phone Charger: Go ahead and buy an extra $10 charger and just leave it in your suitcase.  There will be a time when you leave one hotel and travel to another only to realize your charger is at the room from the night before.  This usually happens at night as you are trying to get to bed.  Now comes the decision of whether to get dressed and go buy another one, or rely on the wake-up call from the front desk in the morning which doesn't have a snooze button.  This little trick has saved me more than once.

Sound Machine: Most smart phones have an app for this, or you can buy small ones not much bigger than a playing card online.  Make sure you use this at home as well.  Otherwise, your body will not be used to the sounds from the machine when you are traveling; at this point you are trading the strange noises from your hotel for strange noises coming from your phone or sound device.  However, if you use the sound machine regularly at home, it will help significantly when trying to sleep in a strange bed with unfamiliar noises in a hotel.

Fingernail Clippers: We have all had a nail get bent back, or get caught on something and leave a piece dangling.  Again, as with the cell phone charger, and as luck usually has it, this happens right when you are turning in to go to sleep.  Once again, do you hope you do not snag it on the covers when sleeping, or get dressed and go buy a pair?  You can get them for $1, it is worth it to have a set that you keep in your shaving case or make-up case solely for traveling.

Air Freshener: This is pretty self explanatory.  Without going into great detail, most hotels now have done away with bathroom exhaust fans, need I say more?  One thing to consider though, if you are flying, then you will not be able to pack an aerosol can; so find a non-aerosol pump air freshener.  Again, this is something to leave in your suitcase when not in use so you will always have it when traveling.

These are just a few things that generally people may not think about when traveling.  However, if you pack them, they will make your trip much more enjoyable!

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