Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Venus through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about Venus, all opinions are my own.
I feel like the half of 2013 that I didn't spend on my rear post-surgery was spent traveling. I've always been a horrible packer, waiting until the last minute to throw everything together in an oversized suitcase. Thankfully I have picked up a few time-saving tips to keep me from going completely insane before each trip.
- Plan your outfits instead of just throwing everything you own into the suitcase. This might seem like common sense, but I always seem to forget this. Taking 10 minutes before grabbing things from the closet can save lots of hassle, and the embarrassment of arriving to your destination realizing you didn't pack any pants.
- Keep a dedicated set of travel toiletries. If you can't use the hotel toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and soap (I can't because I need gluten-free products), a set of travel toiletries is a must. Toothpaste, hairspray, dental floss, and face wash also go into this kit. I can't believe I'm admitting this, but for trips shorter than 3 days, I was traveling without a razor because it took up too much space and also because I worried about the plastic protector coming off and slicing everything up. This meant having to go to a drugstore at my destination or using whatever cheap complimentary hotel razor that was available. The new Venus Snap with Embrace Razor has changed this – it's super small and has it's own vented travel case. You can just wet the razor and it will lubricate, so no need to pack the shaving gel. Try the Gillette Venus Razor Finder Quiz, created to help women find their Perfect Match.
- If carrying on, pre-separate your liquids. There is nothing worse than trying to go through your carry on to pull out your liquids to show to the TSA reps. I always have quart-sized bags on hand to put my liquid items from my dedicated toiletries in. It's so easy to grab them out of the top of your carry on for screening. I hate that feeling of holding up the line.
- Bring snacks and hydrate. As I shared in the April issue of Health Magazine, I always travel with individual servings of raw almonds to snack on for a high protein boost on the go. They're so small and I can always make room for them in my suitcase. Also, I make sure to guzzle lots of water as soon as I hit my destination. Otherwise, I feel tired and dried out the entire trip.
- Never bring new shoes… especially when going to New York City. Ouch.
I've kept the travel to a minimum this year so far, but in the next 2 months I'm headed to Ohio (for a grown up summer camp!), New York City, Savannah, and then in the fall, I'm out on the west coast. Looking forward to seeing bloggy friends old and new while on the road!
