Every hotel and every destination is different. It’s hard to know what to bring, what you might need and what will already be there. Once the travel accommodations roll in I begin checking things off a list. Whether that’s food related, suitcases, or travel essentials I can determine what I need based off the hotel we’ll be staying at.

For example, while we were in South Korea, we had a fully furnished apartment with kitchenette. I didn’t have to bring any cooking tools or furniture. I knew this because I looked up the hotel online to see what they provide. Once I got there, I realized the kitchen didn’t have a wooden spoon, tongs or Tupperware. I easily picked those things up at the Daiso (local dollar store).

Our kitchenette in Busan, South Korea

Speaking of dollar stores, while traveling, dollar stores are my savior. I spend $10-$20 and get all the essentials from baggies to plates to dish soap.

While in Vietnam, we didn’t have a kitchenette, but breakfast was included for both of us, which was a plus, but not always the case. (His work doesn’t cover me most of the time and if the breakfast is billed then they only pay for him) I had to eat out twice a day, which was actually pretty easy considering I leaned on Hannah, a local American who owned an amazing cafe in Phong Nha called Capture.

Last summer in Michigan, again we had a kitchenette that was fully stocked. It even had a dishwasher! I bought a few extra things I like to have at the dollar store, including some spices and was able to make a lot of meals at home.

Stacked beets made in the hotel room. Get that recipe here.

This summer in San Fran, we are in a hotel. The plus side is I drove. SO guess what I brought? An electric skillet and a crockpot. The hotel has a microwave and mini fridge…

Look for a post in the future that discusses what I’m cooking in my little hotel room.

As said before, each destination is going to be different. What I can bring will be different and dependent on if I’m driving or flying. I would never fly with my crock pot or skillet. Too much weight and so not worth it.

Here’s a list of things I might bring if I’m driving:

• Crockpot
• Utensils
• Electric Skillet
• Cooler Bag (for beach days)
• Extra Shoes
• Office Supplies
• Larger Bathroom Supplies (full size shampoo and conditioner)
• Curling Iron and Blowdryer

Things I might bring if I’m flying:

• A supply of Corn Tortillas
• Back stock of toothpaste
• Enough Shampoo and Conditioner to last
• Enough Makeup
• Plenty of deodorant
• Oatmeal and other snacks from home

I find if I pack the extra things like corn tortillas and toothpaste then I don’t get as homesick as easily. Corn Tortillas are my favorite snack, and I hate any other toothpaste besides crest. So I make sure to have these with me.

When I’m driving I can definitely be more relaxed about what I pack, so sometimes I pack the whole car. (Oops!)

Have anything that you absolutely need to take with you when you travel? I’d love to know!  Drop a comment below!