People know that I travel a lot. And I’ve gotten VERY good at packing light, and packing well. Through my extensive years of travel, I have found gear and products and clothes that are tried and true. I would never recommend anything unless I use it regularly and 100% love it! 🙂 Here are my FAVORITES….
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I ALWAYS get asked what cameras I use when I travel. I have five main photo-capture devices I take with me when I travel, and they are NOT my huge, full-frame DSLR Canon 5D Mark IV that I use for my portrait photography. They are way more compact, light, and travel friendly. And they take amazing photos……
Sony RX100V: point and shoot, compact, amazing little camera:
I love, love, love this camera! There have been many trips where this was all I brought, and my photos were incredible. And it’s so compact!!!
The tiny size packs a punch! And has an awesome Zeiss lens, 24-70 1.8-2.8 zoom. It fits in your pocket but still produces 20.1mp high res photos & 4K video. And it shoots beautifully in low light. Seriously impressive!
I used to have the III, and now I also own the V. Both work perfectly.
SONY RX10 IV 24-600mm Zoom: Your ‘everything’ camera.
This is my go-to camera for all my trips, if I don’t mind carrying around something a bit larger than a pocket camera. I used it almost entirely in my Greece Blog, for example.
Zeiss lens, high resolution 20.1mp, 24FPS of continuous shooting, and an amazing optical zoom to capture things far away. I have used this to get incredible, close-up photos of Koalas in trees and details of off-limit islands.
DJI MAVIC PRO Drone: Giving you a whole new perspective!
They have come out with newer models, smaller models, zoom models, but this one stands the test of time!
It folds down to the size of a small bottle of water, can fly 40mph, and 4miles out, and has a battery life of up to 27 minutes. This little guy can go places you can’t, and captures incredible images & video that you otherwise wouldn’t get to see. The Fly More Combo is most definitely worth it, for the extra battery & carrying case.
GO PRO HERO5: Waterproof, go-anywhere, do-anything camera
If you want a REALLY compact little camera that is also waterproof without housing, this is it!
It doesn’t offer the same amount of creative control as Sony’s cameras, but its capabilities include stunning 4K video and 12MP photos in Single, Burst and Time Lapse modes. And you can take it literally anywhere! Look at it’s size! Plus, it comes with different mounts, so it can be hands free, too!
iPHONE 11PRO: This phone takes amazing Photos!
If you don’t want to invest in a camera, invest in a terrific phone WITH an amazing camera (or three!)
You need a phone anyway, right? Well, if you’re an Apple user, I can’t recommend the new iPhone 11Pro more! With portrait mode, wide angle, zoom, and awesome low-light capabilities, this phone can take your photos to a whole new level. Sometimes on my trips, I only take photos with this iphone for the day. No one knows the difference in my blogs! … But don’t forget to edit! 😉
These are the various things I use along with my cameras, like cases, tripods, data cards, water-housing, etc…
This is the camera/drone bag I have used for the past two years for travel. It fits all of my cameras & drone in it easily.
It’s completely padded, and chic, and has tons of compartments for chargers, sd cards, extra batteries, etc, and it also has a laptop compartment.
I have a small, super lightweight Patagonia backpack that I’ve used for years, and they don’t make it anymore. But this one is a close runner-up!
It’s 18L, thin, and has a hydration bladder, and can fit my drone & small camera & accessories. Perfect for hikes where I want to fly the drone too.
I absolutely LOVE my Osprey carry-on. It has been with me ALL around the world for the past 6 years, over every terrain, and on every plane.
I have packed up to six weeks of continuous travel into this one bag. It might be a little pricier than some, but all you ever need is that one perfect bag.
For everyday wear, and as the perfect bag to carry around cities when sightseeing or enjoying a day on the town, this high quality, soft and durable PU leather and Nylon Fabric, with Waterproof and Anti-theft function, is an awesome option to protect your wallet, electronics, and other essentials. And it’s got adjustable straps. These days, I only ever carry backpacks, as they are the most comfortable and never hurt my shoulders. I have a Coach backpack I love for when I’m home, but this one is way more travel-friendly. And it’s an awesome price!
This is a great beach bag, carry-all, oversized, trendy tote that you can use as a personal bag when you travel. It’s soft fabric allows you to fold it up & stick it in your suitcase, but when opened up, it fits so much! From towels and swim coverups, to books, water bottles & snacks. It’s got a zipper to keep things safe, and soft cotton lining. I love big bags that can carry whatever I need, and this is a great one.
if you’re planning on spending any time on the water during any of your vacations, or even just for a day trip from home, you should definitely invest in a dry bag. This dry bag comes in sizes ranging from 5L to 40L, and comes in a big variety of colors.
I can tell you, I was super happy I had one when flew out of my kayak with my bag in my lap. Fortunately, it was this one, so all my stuff was safe!
Fanny packs are back in style. And this one is definitely stylish. I had one made for me on my trip to Hoi An, Vietnam, and I love it. This one looks a lot like it, and is made from genuine leather. It has three pockets, including a secret zippered pocket on the back side.
Even if this one isn’t your particular style, there are a lot of great stylish options out there. There’s a high end Louie Vuitton fanny pack for the descerning bum-bag buyer. 😉
Here are some of my absolute staples, that I bring on every trip, dependent on the weather….
This is my favorite all-weather jacket. It is windproof, water resistant, has a drawstring closure for the hood, to keep warm. Plus, the color is easy to spot from far away, and great for photos!
This amazing travel hoodie has 18 pockets and incredible functionality. It can almost replace a backpack, and it’s comfortable! It’s worth the price!
Free People always has such fun, comfy clothes that are also super chic and easy to wear. This is a classy mini linen dress for warm weather, no matter the locale- beach clubs in Monte Carlo or at a street market in Thailand.
I love Kimonos! As outerwear. They can be paired easily with jeans or jean shorts & a white t-shirt to add color or dress up an otherwise simple outfit.
I pretty much live in swimsuits, since I live in Hawaii, and also love to travel to other tropical destinations. You should have several favorite go-to swimsuits that you can rely on, and take anywhere. L-space makes great quality, stylish, sexy swimsuits from simple to sporty to elegant.
Always fun to have a naughty-cal bikini for your yacht trips in the Mediterranean. Lol. Stripes are fun and will look great with your lavender mojito.
Ipanema t-strap sandals are my #1 choice for any trip, unless it’s somewhere freezing. I have owned so many pairs already. The are completely rubber and waterproof, super comfy (I walk miles in them), super easy to clean, and they go with anything!
These saavy water shoes are awesome and are great for any trip where your feet may get wet. I used them in the cenotes in Mexico, and I have used them in Hawaii when hiking to waterfalls. They are easy to hose off, and dry quickly, and they are comfortable to wear just walking around with socks or without.
Best waterproof hiking boot/sneakers! I love mine! Hiked miles & miles in these in all weather. Through rivers and at altitudes, and they always kept my feet warm, dry, and blister-free!
Sorel is a world-renown brand for a reason. They are tried & true, and provide comfort & warmth in a stylish package. I have the ones with the fur-lined trim, and wore them every day & everywhere for the past 5 years- including during my trip to Keystone and also through Switzerland in the coldest weather.
If you wear wedge sandals as much as I do, it’s important to invest in a great pair! Wedge sandals with a lower heel can dress up any outfit, but are still functional for strolling around cities and sightseeing, given it’s not all-day long. I own more wedges than I can count. They are dressy, but waaay more comfortable than skinny high heels, and you can wear them on grassy terrain too.
If you are like me, and would be happy wearing 6 inch heels all the time, these are a good option! For dressier occasions, but where I still want comfort, I always go for a higher heel wedge, and the suede is a nice touch, too! These particular ones are comfortable, sexy, affordable, and come in various colors.
I never leave home without a hat, no matter the weather. This wide-brimmed sun hat offers maximum sun protection, is super cute, and rolls up for easier transport.
Everyone needs a trucker hat in their life. I need like 3 or 4. I wear them mostly when I hike, but basically whenever I just need to keep the sun off my face, and my hair off my neck. Mesh back keeps your head cool too.
These cool sunnies are polarized and with UV400 protection, and are designed from 100% natural wood. This company also plants 5 trees with every purchase! So you can look good while being environmentally friendly! Woohoo!
If you are going to buy one luxury item for traveling, it should be cashmere. I always take an ultra wide sacrf/wrap with me whenever I travel, that can also act as a travel blanket. A scarf/wrap can help cover you up when visiting areas that require it (like at temples, or anywhere in India). This one is light, but it is 100% cashmere, which means it will keep you very warm. It can also be your dressy cover up during cooler nights. I love mine!