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What to pack in a carry on: Travel Essentials for long layovers

Thank you Amazon for sponsoring this post. Be sure to pick up your own Fire HD 8 tablet for your next adventure!

A lot of people hate layovers because they see them as a waste of time, but for us, it is a great way to either discover a new place during a long layover or to do some work and even relax at the airport. It is always better to see the glass half full instead of half empty.

The thing with layovers is that you never know exactly how the experience will be. Your second flight can be delayed or you can miss the connection and then you have even more time in the airport. Many parts of travel are out of your control so make sure to be prepared and have these carry on essentials with you.

1. Your Travel Sized Toiletries

Your Travel Sized Toiletries

Yes, always bring your toiletries in your carry-on. It not only will help you keep fresh and clean during a long layover, but it is also good to have them with you just in case something happens to your luggage. In our toiletries, we always carry essential medicine, a hairbrush, toothbrush and paste, deodorant, wipes, and face moisturizer. Remember that airports only allow 3.4 ounces (100ml) of liquid or less per container.

2. Passport and Travel Wallet

Passport and Travel Wallet

Before leaving your house make sure you have your passport and travel wallet with you. In many cases, I have arrived at the airport and realized I forgot one or the other.

Why a travel wallet? Because you are going to be using it multiple times during a trip with layovers to confirm your ID and make purchases. You never know what can happen on your trip and you do not want to lose all your regular cards. So be wise and choose one or two credit cards that you know you will use, have some cash, your ID and your student ID, if you have one, for discounts.

We always recommend keeping a copy of your passport and a passport photo in case it gets lost and you need a replacement fast.

➳ Tip: Have one credit card and cash somewhere else in your carry-on bag, for if you lose your wallet, you still have a plan B.

3. Bring your Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet and Headphones

Bring your Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet and Headphones

Pack your Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet to be prepared not only for the flight, but also for the layover, and have some of your favorite TV shows and movies downloaded. With 16 GB of expandable storage, there is plenty of room to download your favorite movies and TV shows for offline viewing from services like Prime Video, Netflix, SHOWTIME, and STARZ.

There is even a feature called Whispersync that remembers where you are in a book even if you switch to the audiobook version. This is perfect for the many times you need to pack up and move during a long journey.

We love the Fire HD 8 tablet because we can also download music and have a playlist ready for a road trip with up to 10 hours of battery life to provide entertainment on even transcontinental flights.

4. Bring your Kindle or Favorite Book

An airplane is a perfect place to read! It is a good way to use the time doing something good for my mind and soul. For those of us with a busy life, travel time is the perfect opportunity to disconnect and dive into a good novel. If you start with just 40 pages at a time, it is surprising how fast you can actually finish a book.

5. Empty water bottle

Yes bring it empty; do not pay a premium for bottled water at the airport. Bring your own water bottle and refill it at the water fountain. There are so many different types of travel water bottles today, from insulated to a collapsable one.

6. Bring extra clothing

We always pack a pair of socks, underwear and a jacket in our carry-on luggage. If you have access to an airport lounge, it might offer a shower, so you can stay fresh on the flight. It is always good to change clothing to feel more clean and fresh, especially if you had a red-eye flight. Airports and planes can get super cold, which why we always bring thick socks and a hoodie to keep warm and cozy!

7. Electronic Devices and Chargers

Electronic Devices and Chargers

No matter how long the layover is, we always use the time to charge our devices because not every plane has charging ports built in. Make sure to pack a power bank and the correct cords for your devices. It is also good to travel with a universal plug adapter and a power strip to plug in several devices at the same time. In airports finding an available outlet is as precious as gold.

8. Travel Size Pillow

Many people love their neck pillow, but we prefer traveling with a travel size pillow that you can get at someplace like Walmart for only a few dollars. Yes, it might be bulkier, but they are more comfortable. We would rather rest our head on a real pillow rather than just having our neck rest.

9. Snacks

Even if you get food on the flight, a long layover can make you hungry. Bring snacks with you to save money at the airport. Food and drinks are super expensive at airports and the choices are often limited. Avoid having to overpay for something you do not even like by bringing your own snack bars and crackers.

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