Today I am sharing the travel essentials for women I packed in my travel bag on my most recent trip to New York!
I recently got back from a girls’ trip in New York City. I have a few friends that live in the city and it’s always so fun to go visit them. I have visited New York three times now. Once with my kids and twice on girls’ trips. I always enjoy walking around the city, eating good food, people watching, taking advantage of the public transportation, and spending time with my friends.
While I typically go on trips where I surround myself with nature, I do love a trip to the city every now and then. It’s a whole new world with so many fun things to see and do. But me being me, it’s still a place I like to be prepared for. While I pack differently than I would for a hike or camping trip, I still pack a few essentials to keep on me while we are out walking around the streets of the city.
On this most recent trip, we would usually leave in the morning and be gone all day. Some days we would go back to our friend’s apartment or airbnb in the afternoon, depending on what part of the city we were in. If we were close, it was nice to relax for a bit before venturing out again.
Whenever I travel, I like to be out all day and not have to go back to our hotel or AirBnB every time we need something. So I make sure to strategically pack our day bags/travel bags with the essentials. I try not to overdue it because I don’t want to be carrying a heavy, uncomfortable pack all day. But I feel like I’ve gotten to know what I like to have when we are out and about. This definitely looks different when we are traveling with our kids, obviously, because we just need more things for the kids.
Since I only had to worry about me on this trip to New York City, I was able to pack minimally and fit everything I needed (minus my water bottle) in my little travel sling bag.
So today I’m going to share the travel essentials for women that I like to keep inside my travel bag when I’m out all day long in a big city.
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The Travel Bag I use
My bag is the Walker Family Goods Mini Messenger (Discount Code HAILEY15). It is the perfect size for me when I don’t need to pack anything for my kids. Even when I go out with just my toddler, it’s a good size! It has the main compartment with an inside zipper and the outside diagonal zipper packet which surprisingly holds a lot. It’s made with a durable Cordura fabric (kind of like canvas) and is super easy to clean.
WHAT I KEEP IN MY TRAVEL Bag
- Kindle: I love to read but don’t read a book as often since having kids. When I go on a trip without my kids, I make sure to bring my Kindle. It’s always so fun to read on the plane, train, or laying on a beach.
- Phone: My phone is of course a necessity and I use a Walli Case (Discount Code: HAILEYOUTSIDE). It holds 2-3 cards in it which is really convenient. It also has a finger loop on the back. This makes it really easy to hold and keeps me from dropping it when I’m walking around with it.
- Phone Charger: I recently upgraded to this cord free phone charger and I love how small and portable it is. It’s also great to not have to worry about carrying around a chord. Just make sure to get the correct phone charging attachment.
- Sunglasses: These are my favorite sunglasses and I love that they don’t break the bank. I have lost or broken one too many pairs to want to travel with an expensive pair of sunglasses.
- Hand Sanitizer: This hand sanitizer spray is my favorite because it’s easy for my kids to rub it and I think it looks so cute. Unfortunately it is pricey for hand sanitizer but it’s a little joy I love to splurge on.
- AirPods: I don’t always bring my AirPods out with me but it was nice when I wanted to call my husband in the loud city. I also used them when I walked by myself to get food. The AirPod Pros can be noise canceling, but they also have a “transparency” setting. This allows you to hear everything around you while still hearing whatever you are listening too. This always makes me feel a little safer.
- Lip Balm: I always travel with lip balm because my lips are constantly dry. My two current favorites are the Badger lip balm and the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. The balm doesn’t leave my lips sticky at all and can actually be used as an overnight lip mask.
- Hair Tie: I have long thick hair and I always want it out of my face at some point. These Gimme hair ties are my favorite. They hold my hair great, and don’t cut in and cause breakage.
- Bandaids: I have been out and about with my shoe rubbing a blister so I always bring a couple bandaids.
- Snacks: Even when I’m not with my kids I still like to have snacks on hand for me. I usually just carry a granola bar and a fruit leather for some quick sugars.
- Gum or mints: I always carry around a pack of gum or mints to refresh my breath after eating.
Essentials I Wish I Carried
When I was writing this post, I did think of a few items that would have been really nice to have in my bag and you might want to consider bringing on your next trip!
- Tampons: When I have a period, I like to use a menstrual cup. But it’s not something I want to carry around all day with me. While I didn’t start my period on this trip, I think it’s smart to carry a tampon or pad in case it does surprise me. Then I can get my cup from my toiletries bag when I get back home and use that the rest of the trip. Even when I’m not having a period (like when I’m pregnant), I think it’s still nice to carry a tampon in case a friend needs one.
- Apple AirTag: I love the idea of carrying an Apple AirTag or some kind of tracking device inside my bag. It is so easy to leave your bag at a restaurant, on a train, or somewhere you forget about. This would be so helpful in being able to quickly locate it before it was gone forever and really ruined the trip. When we travel overseas, we always put an AirTag in our checked bag. This really came in handy when our luggage was lost in London!
If you want to see a video tour of the travel essentials for women that I keep in my bag, I shared a video post on my Instagram you can check out here!
