Whether I am packing for a solo female travel adventure, a girls trip, remote work, a road trip, or dog travel – these are my “go-tos” for every trip. This is the essential list for travel gear and resources from a female architect.
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Favorite Travel Gear for EVERY Trip
Luggage – I’m a carry-on only girl (always). For my main luggage, depending on the trip, I am either packing my Osprey travel backpack, or Samsonite Freeform hard sided carry-on. One of these comes with me on EVERY TRIP!
Reusable Water Bottle – I have been using the Vapur Anti-bottle since 2017. I love that it rolls up when it is empty. Not to mention it is freezable (perfect for throwing in a cooler on a road trip), and dishwasher safe. I have them in every size. If you only purchase 1, get the liter size.
Walking (and running) Shoes – I have obsessed over what shoes I am going to take for travel in the past. I want something comfortable that will work with multiple outfits but I could also go for a run in them and they won’t take up ALL the space in my suitcase. On Clouds have been consistently in my rotation since 2018. I have also run multiple half marathons in them.
Organizers – This is the toiletry bag I’ve used for years. It hangs up and opens up so I can see everything inside. I also always pack with travel cubes to stay organized. And I usually throw one of these foldable totes in just in case I need a little extra space when I am out walking all day.
Want more? My full list of travel gear is here.
Work Travel, Remote Work, and even WFH Essentials
Insulated Water Bottle – If I am working from home or going on a road trip where I have a little more space than a carry on, I will bring my usual insulated water bottle. I know, everyone has a Stanley Cup or Owala bottle, but I like my Vapur bottle. It’s what I use at home and on the road (and in yoga class).
Insulated Tumbler – For a road trip, I am always bringing coffee. I love this cup from Vapur. I have it in sea glass green.
Laptop Backpack – I’ve been using this North Face Surge Commuter backpack since 2019. It has so many compartments and a padded laptop sleeve that make it perfect for organizing myself for work travel. It can get pretty large and heavy if I am not careful. On the plus side, even when I have packed this thing full, it still fits under an airplane seat (barely). For a slimmer option for local site visits, I prefer my Timbuk2 backpack.
Wireless Mouse – I can’t seem to function in Revit, Lightroom, or Bluebeam without a mouse so I always bring a wireless mouse when I plan on working remotely. I use a separate packing cube just for my many technology needs and cords to stay organized.
Looking for the complete setup? Check out the list of my full WFH setup for architects and creatives and what’s in my architect backpack for a site visit.
Dog Travel Essentials
Somehow my dog seems to need more stuff than I do when travelling, but there are a few things that I find I need to remember to pack for her for every trip. Aside from her usual harness and leash, these are a few things I keep in the car for her.
Travel Bowels – I have a couple of these collapsible bowls in my car for road trips (and every day hiking outings)
Travel Towel – Even if I am at a dog friendly hotel or Airbnb, I always bring a towel for Pepper (she needs it!). I have one of these compact travel towels I keep in my car just in case.
Want the full list for dogs? I wrote an entire post about how to pack for a road trip with a dog.
Booking Resources
This is where I book the most, and the resources I check first.
For Flights – I always check Google Flights first. It is easy to check multiple airports, toggle preferences, and set alerts for travel plans and check the price history.
For Accommodations – Depending on my trip, I like to book through these resources depending on what I want for that trip.
- Vacation Rental – Airbnb
- Home Swap – Home Exchange
- I wrote more about my experience with home swapping and you can use my referral code for bonus extra points if you are thinking of joining
- Hotels – Booking.com
- Hostels – Hostel World – This is how I’ve booked hostels in Europe, its perfect if you want to be social while you travel.
Tours – Get Your Guide – I have booked tours through Get Your Guide in Europe and Asia and have always had a good experience. I have links to specific tours I have booked with them throughout this site. I highly recommend searching for tours here.
Rental Cars – Discover Car
Money and Phone Resources for Travel
Phone – If I am travelling internationally, I get an e-SIM. I used to get a local SIM card when I landed in a location, but now that there are e-SIM options, it is so much easier. I use Airlo when traveling internationally. You can purchase ahead of time and set it up before you go. You can even add more on your trip if you need it. It’s a game changer.
Credit Cards – Make sure you have a card that has no foreign transaction fees, and take advantage of the miles or points for travel. In my wallet, my most used cards are the Chase Sapphire Preferred for personal and the Chase Ink for business. I also have a Capital One Venture One Card as a backup with no annual fee.
Cash – In many countries, you still need cash. I keep a Charles Schwab debit account just for taking cash out at ATMs with no fee. Schwab refunds the ATM fees so you can save a lot of money this way if need to pull cash out of ATMs while travelling.
Enjoy Your Trip!
If there are resources you need or anything that was helpful, let me know. I’m always trying to find things that help other travelers just like me.