Travel essentials you'll actually use (no more overpacking)
Travel Essentials
You’ll Actually Use
No more overpacking. No more regrets.
Whether you’re heading to Carmel for a weekend, Mendocino for a slow retreat, or somewhere further afield, the principle is the same: less stuff, more freedom. Here is everything I actually pack — and nothing I don’t.
1. The only bag you need
Perfect size for 5–7 day trips. Works on cobblestones, trains, and flights without checking a bag. The one investment that pays off every single trip.1
Keeps everything organised without unpacking your whole bag to find one thing. Fits inside the carry-on above with room to spare.1
2. Clothing that actually works
No smell, wrinkle-resistant, dries fast. The ultimate travel fabric — worth every penny.1
Compresses into nothing but keeps you warm on flights and cool evenings. Mendocino mornings demand this.1
3. Shoes — where most people overpack
You will walk significantly more than you expect. Blisters on day two ruin trips. Prioritise comfort every time.1
4. Tech essentials — minimal setup
Charge laptop, phone, and earbuds simultaneously with one compact brick.1
Works in Europe, Asia, UK and beyond. Buy once, use everywhere.1
5. Toiletries — light and leak-free
No leaks. No TSA liquid limits. Lasts three times longer than a bottle. The single best toiletry switch you can make.1
For shampoo, skincare, and sunscreen. No full-size bottles needed.1
A genuine game-changer in small hotel bathrooms. Everything accessible, nothing lost.1
6. Flight comfort kit
Actually helps you sleep on planes. Worth its weight in arrival energy.1
Better sleep on the plane means a better first day. Non-negotiable.1
7. The personal item strategy
Folds into nothing inside your main bag and becomes your daily exploration bag once you arrive. Perfect for garden visits, farmers markets, and day trips.1
8. Smart extras most people forget
Save money, stay hydrated, reduce plastic. One of those purchases that pays for itself on day one.1
Folds flat when not in use. Perfect as a backup bottle that takes up almost no space.1
Blisters, headaches, small emergencies. Weighs almost nothing, covers most things. Pack it every time.1
9. Where to stay — book smart
Once your bag is sorted, the next essential is a reliable place to book your hotel. I use Hotels.com for all my California getaways — Carmel, Mendocino, Healdsburg, Calistoga, and Point Reyes all have wonderful options and Hotels.com has the best inventory I’ve found for smaller boutique inns and B&Bs.
From charming Carmel inns to Monterey waterfront hotels. Book early — spring weekends fill fast.2
Search Hotels.com →Boutique plaza inns, spa resorts, and vineyard stays. Spring and fall book out weeks ahead.2
Search Hotels.com →Inverness, Mendocino village, and Fort Bragg. Stay at least two nights — one is never enough.2
Search Hotels.com →Just an hour from San Francisco but worlds away. Inverness has the most charming small inns.2
Search Hotels.com →Less stuff, more freedom, more presence.
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