What I bring
- My phone: maps, travel spreadsheet, camera, translator, e-tickets, blogging platform, city-specific apps…the phone does so much. I love traveling in the era of smartphones!
- Incase origami keyboard cover and Apple keyboard: because there’s no way I could blog by screen keyboard alone.
- Kindle: used more on my own than when I’m with SMS but since we travel light, this eliminates physical book weight
- AirPod pro: So important for the plane and with noise cancellation, they double as ear plugs!
- Battery/Chargebank: I bought this during the trip and it was such a game changer for my peace of mind. It was stressful to drain the battery with gps and then worry if I’d have enough power to get through the train-turnstile with my train e-ticket QR code. Highly recommend backup power.
- Plug-in phone charger
What I don’t bring
- Laptop: too heavy, too work adjacent. Just no!
- Hair dryer or straightener: I have a travel one for the US, but even domestically, I rarely bring.
- Travel steamer or iron: I’ve thought about it but I travel too light!
- Travel waterpik: my dentist has one and I get it, the waterpik is so awesome. But I have not crossed the rubicon into true dental obsession. But I do bring floss, always.
That origami keyboard is so neat!
We’re heading to Europe for 4 months in the spring and I am dreading carting my laptop around, but I don’t think I can swing that long with just my phone?? But now seeing your setup I am feeling mildly tempted. We’re only taking carry-ons for that long so – eeks! Every ounce will matter.
Do you have a tablet? I think this would be doable with a tablet and the keyboard. It’s a set-up I’ve used before. I do think the phone/keyboard would be tough (but not undoable) for four months. I do think there’s some life stuff (banking, etc) that is harder, but not impossible, on the small screen.
We did a roll-aboard each for one month. I also had a large handbag for me. It was definitely doable. We did laundry once a week. If you have to deal with a seasons transition, you could supplement your wardrobe along the way or donate items that are bulky and you don’t mind shedding (thinking Winter gear here!).
My electric toothbrush is always packed! My teeth do not feel clean with a manual toothbrush these days!
I do this too if the trip is two weeks or less. I leave with a full charge and it lasts and lasts. Maybe I will add it with the time qualifier to my list above!
I do love the e-toothbrush. It’s been a week so I can’t remember if I updated my list or not- but yes if the trips are fewer than 14 days.
Having a keyboard when you travel is key for me! I always used to lug around my laptop (I refused to get an ipad because I thought I truly didn’t need it between a laptop and my phone), but I caved last year and got one (the cheapest one) because it’s just perfect for travel.
The phone is a little small. If I had to do real computerwork/paperwork, the iPad would be perfect. I have one but so rarely use it.
I love your keyboard – that’s so smart! I’m never traveling for very long (maybe a week – 10 days at most) so I don’t bring a lot of electronics. Usually just my iPad/Kindle/phone. Sometimes the iPad stays behind, depending on the trip. But I always bring a straightener/hair dryer. I want my hair to look good in photos, haha.
Hair is important. Before my last trip, I had a haircut so that seemed to make my hair behave passably, even though I tried to blow dry when I could.