My Travel Bag Essentials: Minimal Packing and Maximal Wellness in Europe

Be Well Living / 
My Travel Bag Essentials: Minimal Packing and Maximal Wellness in Europe

We have officially embarked on our first European vacation as a family of five this summer. Chris and I are so excited to explore France with our little groms, however, amidst the excitement of travel, it's important not to overlook our health and well-being.

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Whether it's a weekend getaway or a long-haul adventure, traveling requires careful planning and packing. One of the keys to a stress-free travel experience is having a well-organized and thoughtfully packed travel bag.

My strategy: Minimal packing, maximum wellness. Throughout the years, I've refined my packing list and narrowed down the necessities that I now never travel without. From practical necessities to comforting essentials, I am sharing my master list of all the items I pack to ensure we're prepared for whatever the journey may bring. So grab your suitcase and let's get packing!

My Travel Bag Essentials

Clothing:

If you are a chronic over-packer, especially with your wardrobe, these tips will help keep your luggage to a minimum while ensuring you cover all your bases for a cute and comfortable trip!

  • Choose a color palette and stick with it, such as black/white, brown/beige, or blue/jean clothing items. This allows for more versatility to easily to mix and match pieces. Tops, shorts, pants, and bathing suits apply so you can easily mix and match your wardrobe with fewer items.
  • Pick clothing and accessories that can serve multiple purposes and transition seamlessly from day to night or casual to formal occasions.
  • Layers are key. Opt for lightweight, wrinkle-resistant fabrics that can be easily layered for warmth or dressed up for evening activities.
  • Shoes can take up a lot of space in your luggage, so I try to limit myrself to just a few pairs of versatile shoes that can be worn with multiple outfits. I'll pack a comfortable pair of all-day sneakers that I can wear with joggers or dresses, and a simple pair of daytime sandals that I can wear into the night.
  • If you're heading to warmer climate, opt for hats that can easily complement various outfits and activities during your vacation. Classic styles like floppy sun hats or baseball caps are versatile options that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. I'm bringing an everyday ball cap and a few packable hats from Janessa Leone.

Tip: If you're going to be away for an extended period, consider packing a small supply of laundry detergent or travel-sized packets of laundry detergent so you can do laundry on the go. This will allow you to pack fewer clothing items and re-wear them throughout your trip.

Toiletries:

Toiletries and personal care items can add a lot of weight to your luggage, so try to pack only the essentials and consider purchasing travel-sized toiletries or decanting your favorite products into smaller containers to save space. I like to pack my toiletries by the categories listed below in individual Stasher bags for easy organization. Here's what I'm packing:

Supplements:

There are so many supplements I could bring with me, but these are my non-negotiables for a long vacation to ensure we stay well.

  • LMNT Electrolytes* - easy to throw in your carry-on and sip on throughout a long flight to help relieve jet lag symptoms and ensure you stay properly hydrated. Use my link for a free sample pack with your purchase!
  • We Natal Prenatals and DHA* - to fill any nutritional gaps that may arise from changes in diet or eating patterns during vacation. Use my link to receive a FREE 30-day supply of WeNatal’s Omega DHA+ fish oil ($34.95 value) with your purchase of any prenatal subscription!
  • Be Well Mystery Booster (Coming soon) - I am so excited for our upcoming summer release. I have been working for over a year on this incredible new product that will fit seamlessly into your routine. Sign up for early access here!
  • NOW Foods Vitamin D3/K2* - to help support immune function, especially during times of increased stress, exposure to new environments, or changes in diet and sleep patterns. Use code KELLY for 20% off your order at nowfoods.com.
  • Vio2 Mouth Tape - to promote nasal breathing and improve sleep quality on a long flight.

Immune-boosting First Aid and Medications for the Family:

No one likes dealing with cold and flu symptoms, especially on vacation, so I always like to come prepared with an immune-boosting toolkit to help stay healthy and fight off any symptoms that may arise.

  • Genexa Allergy Care and Kids allergy - whenever you're traveling to a new vacation destination, you may be exposed to allergens that you're not typically exposed to at home. If you're little ones have any allergies like us, come prepared with medications to manage allergic reactions.
  • Boiron USA Sleep Calm - can help restore a natural sleep pattern if you're traveling to a new time zone and ease into rest during a long flight.
  • Boiron USA Cold Calm - to reduce cold symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and minor sore throat.
  • Beekeepers Naturals Nasal Spray - relieve nasal congestion while gently soothing and moisturizing the nasal passages.
  • Patch Naturals Bandaids - for any scrapes along the way!

In-Flight Food for Travel:

Heading to the airport on an empty stomach is like grocery shopping on one. That's why we're bringing a full Fab Four meal to the airport to make sure we're properly fueled before a long flight. We are hopeful that the boys will sleep overnight, but any parent knows it's better to come prepared with snacks than face the wrath of a hungry child. To mitigate melt downs, I like to pack supplemental protein to regulate hunger hormones and keep everyone full in flight, along with some single-serving fiber-rich snacks and easy-to-pack fruit, like apples.

Here are a few of our favorites:

There you have it, everything I pack for maximum wellness! Having the right items in your travel bag can make all the difference, regardless of your destination. I hope this list and the tips provided can offer you some guidance on what to pack to stay well during your future travels!

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