What Is In Your Travel Bag?

Getting through airport security is challenging, especially considering restrictions on what a traveler can and can not bring aboard. The Transportation Security Administration keeps a comprehensive, up-to-date allowable list of items acceptable to pack in your carry-on bag. To simplify the packing process, here is a look at some of Travel-Advocate’s must-have carry-on items when traveling. Note: These products have been tested first-hand and are just suggestions.

The Bag: It is difficult to find a good carry-on bag that serves as a purse for women that is stylish and not bulky or manly and fits within the size restrictions. Travel-Advocate has found one…the Coakley travel bag. The only complaint about this product is before even packing it up with essentials, it is a heavy bag. But, just as with high heels, function and style trump comfort at times. Truly, the functionality of the Coakley can not be beat with the various compartments and the ease of reaching the passport, keys, baby wipes, cell phone when it is needed. Visit: www.coakleybusinessclass.com

The Wallet: The Original Taxi Wallet from Vallavista is the perfect everyday and travel accessory to keep track of money, receipts, coins, credit cards, and identification. This quality product is the perfect size, measuring 4 x 3 ¼, light weight, various stylish color options, and is functional. There are multiple currency pockets to easily separate monies when traveling abroad and it features an interior security pocket as well. Available at www.sylenedc.com under accessories.

The Sunscreen: Regardless of where travels might take someone, a travel-size sunscreen is important for both adults and children. For kids, a favorite is Hawaiian Tropic’s Kids Sunblock 60+ SPF. Either Kinesys 30 SPF or SmartShield’s 30 SPF travel well as a carry-on product. Both protect from both UVA and UVB harmful rays. SmartShield is eco-friendly and waterproof and its SPF 30 is also available in lotion, gel and convenient towelette form (and 2 oz bottles for carrying on airplanes). Visit: www.hawaiiantropic.com, www.kinesys.com, www.smartshield.com

The Eyes: Regardless of season, a good pair of sunglasses is an item to not leave at home. The Quattro polarized performance sunwear line protect the eyes from damaging UV rays and are light weight with no glare. Visit: www.quattrosunwear.com

The Lips: Keeping lips moisturized and protected while traveling is often forgotten. A great product serving multiple purposes is Softlips® flavored lip conditioning products providing SPF 20 protection and even have a tinted option eliminating the need for a lip gloss. Visit: www.softlips.com

The Head: This sun hat is the easiest product to pack due to its ability to fold up and how how light weith Soleil Chic’s UV hat is, which blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Visit: www.soleilchic.com

The Children’s Warmth: For infants and toddlers, SwaddleDesigns has a comfortable, light weight blanket called SummerSwaddle, as well as an easy-to-pack receiving blanket. Bringing your own blankets removes the wondering if a blanket will be available onboard. Beyond adult sun protection clothing items, Sun Safe Designer Clothing offers either a pink or blue baby blanket which is protected by a fabric that is 50+ SPF. All three products are easy to pack inside of the recommended Coakley bag. Visit: www.swaddledesigns.com or www.sunsafedesignerclothing.com

The Kid’s Entertainment: It goes without saying that an entertainment bag accompanies kids when traveling, but there is one product that is a favorite for infants and toddlers that is multi-purpose. The Munchkin Twisty® Traveling Flash Cards help kids with numbers, the alphabets, word association, counting and more. The product size is perfect to fit into a purse or diaper bag and is a hidden gem when traveling. Visit: www.munchkin.com

The Snacks: For the most part, the free meals are gone when flying. Pack some healthy snacks when traveling that are convenient, healthy and that kids will like. FruitaBü^TM Organic Fruit Twirls give kids a fun and convenient, mess-free way to unwrap a healthy fruit snack. Snacktrition products features some tasty travel-size products including Sea Salt Cashews with Fiber, Sea Salt Almonds with Calcium, Salt & Pepper Cashews with Fiber, Smoked Almonds with Calcium and Fruit & Nut Mix with Fiber and Calcium. Visit: www.fruitabu.com and www.snacktrition.com.

The You Never Know Items: Traveling With Toddlers kit ensures travelers are prepared for anything featuring items such as a small flashlight, disinfectant spray, toilet seat covers and bathroom tissue, paper towels, first aid kit, moist wipes, sunscreen, sun pain relief gel, sewing kit, Splinter Out, anti-cavity toothpaste, toothbrush, calming shampoo & body wash and hand sanitizer. All of these included products are within the TSA travel requirement sizes. Visit: http://www.minimus.biz

Of course there are other items that a traveler never leaves home without, but these are just a few essentials Travel-Advocate has found useful during recent travels.