In light of my upcoming flight to Thailand next week, I thought I would give a peak inside my carry on bag and what I consider “essential” items for a long flight. The most important item, of course, is the bag itself. My two requirements for a carry on bag are 1. is it compact and 2. can it double as a day pack. The Patagonia Lightweight Travel Tote fits the bill. It can be carried over the should or as a backpack and can be folded into itself to fit inside a larger bag if necessary.

Next to your bag, the outfit you wear can make the difference between a good flight and one where you vow to never travel again. After all, once you’re on that flight you are pretty much stuck in what you have on. So, choose wisely. Always layer. If you’re too hot you can take off, if you’re too cold you can put  it back on. This is what I will be wearing for my flight to Thailand. Old Navy black leggings, Athleta hoodie dress, white t-shirt and slip on Sperry’s. This outfit is so comfortable I would live in it everyday if it weren’t for my son making fun of me. I also pack my favorite blanket scarf which can be used for multiple reasons on your trip.

Next up, the neck pillow. There are literally hundreds of different brands to choose from and everyone has their own opinion on which is best. My vote is for the Cabeau Memory Foam travel pillow. You’re not going to break the bank buying this one and your neck will thank you after a 22 hour flight in economy.

Since I am often traveling with my daughter, I usually am the one with the task of carrying all of our travel documents. After a few failed attempts at finding just the right thing, I finally stumbled upon this travel wallet. It is compact but has enough space to hold our passports, credit cards, boarding passes and any other necessary items. Everything now is all in one place (I also think it’s pretty cute).

I know most people will tell you to pack your kindle or whatever other device you use to read with but I still prefer to bring real books with me. Yes, they take up a lot of space but that encourages me to actually read them all. That way, at the end of the flight I can just leave them with the flight attendants. I don’t pick a long flight as the time to revisit War and Peace (not sure I made it through the first time) but something that will keep my attention to make the time go by a little quicker.

Lastly, I have my little bag of essential items which includes face and hand cream (my skin becomes prune like on long flights), electric travel toothbrush and toothpaste, advil (in case you’re seated next to a snorer), and blistex (because I just can’t go anywhere without it). This time I am also bringing lavender scented hand sanitizers (it is flu season) that my sister introduced me to.

So, besides my phone charger, headphones and a couple snacks, that’s a peak inside my carry on bag. I’d love to hear what your  “essential” items include so leave a comment and share them with me!