My Top Travel Essential MVPs for Long Trips, Short Trips, & Every Trip In Between!

Travel Clothes MVP: High Waisted SleekTech Joggers (Whether you’re flying or driving, these pants are a step above sweats but are so incredibly comfy. Pair up with a button down or down with a sweatshirt or something in the middle. Also, they’re 40% off and the price can’t be beat. I have multiple pairs!)

1. Plane Travel Trips with Checked Luggage (Longer Trips)

Travel MVP: Large Beis Rolling Luggage

I actually purchased new luggage specifically for mine and Dave’s 10-night trip to Italy. I wasn’t interested in trying to pack in carry-ons, but I was committed to us each having one large piece of luggage, plus an accompanying carry-on piece. Our other “large” luggage wasn’t really large and I ultimately ordered THIS luggage in the large, medium, and carry-on sizes (in the color, Maple). I ordered them for the reviews and because the pieces are loaded with smart features, but I fell in love with them for their durability, portability, quality, and comfort. Plus, I love how they look 😉

Beis Rolling Luggage

You can see all their features and videos HERE but my favorite bonus inclusions are probably the padded handle grip, the compression flap, and the weight indicator.

I also use THIS custom-fit clear luggage case which I can’t brag on enough. It’s simple to use, but even after flying around the world and tossing our luggage around on trains, our bags came out unscuffed and in perfect condition. 10/10 recommend, if you invest in the luggage.

They also now have THIS machine washable cover (comes in several colors and typically stays sold out) that people rave about, but I can’t attest to it personally since I have the clear cover.

Travel MVP: Calpak Luka Duffel

I packed the large luggage (it’s huge), and packed the medium for Dave (more like a large by many people’s standards) and then we each used THIS duffel as our carry-on and used the trolley pass-through to slide them onto our luggage handles. Fun fact in versatility — it actually fits underneath a plane seat so it also counts as a personal item, (meaning you can use it coupled with a rolling carry-on piece of luggage) if you don’t plan on checking bags. Again, this lightweight, comfortable, padded bag is loaded with features. And, I feel so strongly about it, I have multiple bags just for myself and have gifted it to all my family members. It’s the perfect sleepover duffel for Eliza and I wanted to make sure my mom had one for an upcoming trip later this year. The padded handles are great and double as shoulder straps, but it also comes with a long strap that can be worn shoulder or crossbody style.

Luka Duffel Bag

While I included this universal bag under the longer trip section because it’s an incredible and easy accompaniment to large luggage, this bag gets used more than almost any other for every trip.

2. Plane Travel Trips with Carry On Luggage (Shorter Trips)

Travel MVP: Carry On Beis Rolling Luggage
Travel MVP: Calpak Luka Duffel

When I booked a last minute, 48-hour trip to New York with Eliza during the Christmas season, packing in carry-ons only was a non-negotiable for me. I worked hard to consolidate and pack super smart and I couldn’t be more thrilled with my plane carry-on system. As I mentioned before THIS duffel counts as a personal item since it fits under your seat and has the pass-through trolley for your luggage handle, making navigating the airport a breeze. Also, the duffel’s zip underneath shoe compartment is especially awesome with filthy shoe bottoms.

The Beis carry-on has all the same features as the large checked luggage and the compression flap is especially useful for getting every bit of room out of your packing space.

Pink Sparkle Glitter Luggage | Maple Beis Carry-On | Gold Calpak Luka Duffel Bag | Eliza’s Sherpa Lined Hooded Coat | Eliza’s Sneakers | Eliza’s Hoodie | Hooded Coat (similar)

 Pink Sparkle Glitter Luggage | Nylon Backpack | Eliza’s Sherpa Lined Hooded Coat | Eliza’s Sneakers | Eliza’s Hoodie | Maple Carry-On | Gold Duffel Bag

Travel MVP: Calpak Clear (Small) Cosmetics Case

In terms of carry-on specific toiletries, I have this folding clear toiletry case on my wishlist since I gifted the small to my mom. The small is TSA approved for carry-ons and still stores a ton! It comes in three sizes and while the large is huge, I really want the medium, in addition to the small. Here’s the small bag in action, along with some of the size comparisons. I used a different bag and ziplock and this would have been perfect.

Calpak Clear Cosmetics Cases

3. Road Trips

Travel MVP: Leatherology XL Kress Tote

For road trips, I would use any combination of the above bags I’ve mentioned, depending on location and duration of stay, but specific to road trips, my love for THIS leather tote grows daily. It’s a great market-style bag, snack bag, road trip essentials bag, or just a general day bag. I actually use mine as a day bag frequently and I especially love that it easily and generously tucks my favorite leak-proof tumbler inside and out of view, especially going to church.

By the way, if you’re already a fan of Owala water bottles, did you know they just came out with that design in a tumbler with improved features, including a lock on the spout? I ordered it as soon as it launched and I’m unapologetically obsessed and unashamed to declare it as my latest favorite tumbler. Find it HERE in limited colors.

Leatherology XL Kress Tote

4. Weekend/Overnight Road Trips

Travel MVP: Calpak LARGE Luka Duffel

As much as I love the standard Luka duffel, and it’s space capacity is generous, there are some occasions where you just need a bit more room. Enter… the LARGE Luka Duffel. Its literally the same bag with the same awesome features, just bigger. It’s the brilliant weekender bag, or even makes a great carry-on if you store it on the plane in the overhead compartment. I absolutely adore this bag and it is deceptively lightweight.

Calpak Large Luka Duffel

5. Kids Trips

Travel MVP: PB Kids Carry-On Hard Sided Luggage

Eliza has had the same luggage since she was born and has wheeled it around herself most of her life. Not only does the handle adjust for even really short, little kids, but despite its petite size, I can fit a TON in here. Literally, a week at the beach. Getting her packed for 48 hours left her with tons of room for souvenirs. The quality has been awesome and she actually has the larger piece, too.

PB Kids Hard Sided Luggage | Stoney Clover Mini Backpack

PB Kids Hard Sided Luggage | PB Kids Medium Backpack

I’m also super interested in THIS kid-friendly Beis Mini Roller Luggage since we’ve had such an incredible experience with ours.

6. Lots-of-City-Walking Trips

Travel MVP: Beis Sport Sling

Before settling on a crossbody/sling style pack — large enough for essentials, but small enough for many miles of walking and concealing — I ordered and tried several similar styles. The winner was clear and evident with the Beis Sport Sling. It’s a durable material and like the luggage, it’s loaded with lots of features. My favorites are the card slots in the zip front pocket (no wallet necessary) and the elastic water bottle holder that has a hidden zipper pouch. I have carried this on every trip I’ve taken over the past year, along with throwing it on to go to the park/run errands. It comes in several colors and is unisex for men and women to carry. I typically carry it on the front for safety travel, but you can also sling it on your back. This little bag is the absolute best. See all the features and videos of it action HERE.

Beis Sport Sling

7. All Trips

I’m including a few fave travel essentials (I’m not saying ‘essentials,’ as in nice-to-have, but actual essentials) that I swear by and would be lost without whenever I’m heading on a trip.

If you plan to take lots of photos, videos, use your maps/data, and aren’t going to be constantly next to a charger, THESE lipstick-sized portable power banks are incredible for quick charges and with their small size, they take up virtually no room in small bags like my sport sling (above).

Portable Charger

Not new to the blog, but years later, still an absolute, is this 3-in-1 folding charger. I love not having a million cords, the compact size, and having all my charging needs met in one piece. If you still haven’t gotten this thing, well, I don’t know why.

3-In-1 Charging Station | Travel Case for Charging Station

I will never travel with a physical book again. Also, if you don’t know, the Kindle is no-glare (you can see in direct sunlight), water resistant (yay poolside!), and holds its charge way longer than the duration of a trip. A couple years ago, I didn’t think there would be a difference really between my iPad and Kindle, but gave in… and can fully admit as a 100% devoted Kindle girly, I was wrong.

Kindle Paperwhite (Signature)

I shared this cosmetics case last year in my Christmas wishlist and received it as a gift from my mom (thanks, Gran Nan!) There are so many features I love about this — it maintains its structure, opens flat so you can easily see everything, comes with its own super slim mirror… but my fave feature is probably the brush organizer flap that magnetizes to the inside so you can keep your brushes separate and even easily remove the whole flap while you’re using your kit. I wouldn’t take it on a carry-on only flight, but for checked baggage or car trips, this single bag can hold all of my toiletries and makeup!

Beis Cosmetic Case