I’ve traveled to more than 50 countries. Here’s what I always carry with me | CNN Underscored (2024)

When it comes to traveling internationally, there’s no single device that’s more important to me than a travel adapter. I’ve carried my Saunorch adapter with me for more than five years and love it for its variety of ports and ability to work in more than 150 countries. In fact, it’s worked in every country I’ve visited. You’ll get one USB-C port, three USB ports and one universal AC socket — enough power to charge up to five devices at once. I’ve used it on my travels to charge the likes of my phone, laptop, portable charger and AirPods at once overnight. There’s no better feeling than waking up on a morning of travel or exploration and realizing all your devices are fully charged and ready to go.

Up until about four years ago, I was firmly anti-packing cube — I just didn’t see the need to use them. But when my parents gifted me a set of Away The Insider Packing Cubes for my birthday, my opinion on packing cubes changed, and now I don’t travel without them. For trips of any length, they’re perfect for keeping me organized and taking up less space in my suitcase than if I were to pack without them. And ultimately for me, staying organized while traveling makes any journey more enjoyable.

I never head off on any trip without my favorite TSA-approved power bank, the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000. At just $30, it’s the perfect solution for keeping all my devices — most notably, my phone — charged up while I’m flying, exploring a new destination or uploading to social media. It carries enough power to charge my iPhone 12 Pro Max nearly one and a half times, but it’s slim enough to slip into any travel purse I’m carrying.

Sticker shock aside, this hard-shell carry-on bag has been a staple in my travel wardrobe for years. And, it will continue to keep a spot in my arsenal for years to come. That’s largely because Rimowa bags are built with quality at the top of mind and are built to last. The outside is made of a durable aluminum material complete with a set of TSA-approved locks and some of the smoothest 360-degree spinner wheels I’ve ever used on a piece of luggage. On trips when I want to bring along a rolling carry-on bag, this is the one I’m taking with me.

This simple device has saved me thousands of dollars on overweight baggage fees. I’m the first to admit that I tend to overpack, which can often lead to heavier luggage. And at a time when airlines are charging upwards of $75 — or more — for overweight bags, you don’t want to fall victim. So, I always carry my digital luggage scale with me. While I find that it’s not perfect, it gives me the right idea within a few ounces of how much my bag weighs. Too heavy? I’ll rearrange my stuff at home before being forced to do it at the airport.

I never leave my house without my AirPods Pro — and that’s especially true when I’m traveling. While I haven’t yet splurged for the second-generation model (though those are especially good for travel), I’ve found that my first-gen pair is a great travel companion. I especially love the active noise cancellation, which allows me to block out the chaos of any airport terminal, and they carry enough battery life to last me for most flights.

Lounge access can completely change any travel day — think access to food, drinks, spa services, gyms and more right from the airport. Having a Priority Pass Select membership grants me access to more than 1,300 airport lounges around the world— and it can truly be a lifesaver. There are quite a few credit cards out there that will give you a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership as a benefit of being a cardholder, but you can also elect to purchase a membership outright directly from the lounge network. Trust me, once you start accessing airport lounges, you won’t want to go back.

My favorite travel gear is versatile, allowing me to use it from day to night and from the airport to exploring a new destination. The Lo & Sons Waverley 2 ticks that box and, in my opinion, is the ultimate travel purse. The Waverley 2 is so great because it can be worn four different ways: as a crossbody bag, as a belt bag, as a shoulder bag or as a wristlet. While it’s not the biggest bag, I find that it fits all my essentials for a day — or night — out, from a portable charger to my travel wallet. By bringing just this one purse, I can save a ton of room in my suitcase when packing for a trip.

Away’s suitcases have a cult following for a reason — they really are that good. I’m a big fan of the Large checked luggage for longer trips when I need to bring a lot of clothes. As you can imagine, inside, there's plenty of space to arrange packing cubes for an organized packing experience. With nearly 100 liters of packing capacity, I’ve been able to pack for trips of up to 12 days in this single suitcase. Though, if you’re strategic about your packing, you could probably fit clothing for up to 14 days or more. I love how durable the polycarbonate exterior is as well as the fact that it comes equipped with a TSA-approved lock so I don’t have to worry about my belongings staying safe.

It's no secret that dry airplane air can wreak havoc on your skin. That’s why I always carry a slew of dermatologist-recommended Aquaphor with me. While I won’t go so far as to slug during my flights, I do use Aquaphor as a heavy-duty hand lotion before naps and on my lips to avoid cracking and general discomfort.

There are a ton of travel toiletry bags out there, and many of them are built to serve different purposes. Want one that can hang when you arrive at your destination? There are bags for that. This toiletry bag, however, is pretty straightforward, and that’s the reason I love to carry it. I appreciate that it’s made of a water-resistant material for those never-ending puddles on the sink, it features a fully-enclosed zipper and it’s got the right amount of storage space inside and out.

A good night’s sleep is imperative when it comes to beating jet lag and waking up refreshed and ready for a full day of touring. Unfortunately, loud neighbors, construction noise outside your window and paper-thin walls can be hard to predict. Because of that, I always carry at least a couple of pairs of Mack’s Earplugs with me to drown out any unwanted noise. While they work great in hotels, I also use them on planes when I want to get some sleep without hearing loud neighboring conversations and the constant hum of plane engines.

I value staying hydrated while I’m traveling, and my favorite water bottle helps me to do just that. I go through airport security with it empty and then fill it up once I’ve passed through. The Ocean Bottle features double-walled stainless steel vacuum insulation to keep my drinks cold at all points of the travel journey — and it doesn’t sweat. Plus, for each Ocean Bottle purchase, the company pays for 1,000 ocean-bound plastic bottles to be collected before they reach our seas.

I love this travel wallet from Shinola and take it on every trip with me. It’s small enough to slip into a pocket when I’m traveling bag-free, but likewise, it can be easily tucked away in a travel purse without taking up too much room. It has four dedicated credit card and ID slots as well as a center slot that I find perfect for the likes of transit cards, insurance cards, business cards and more.