Honestly, Vanessa

We just got back from Saudi Arabia, which meant a very long journey with multiple flights, long hours in airports, and a lot of physical and emotional energy being used.

On trips like this, having the right essentials isn’t about convenience, it’s about staying regulated. If I don’t have these things with me, long travel days can feel unnecessarily stressful, especially when you’re navigating unfamiliar places, tight schedules, and spiritual focus all at once.

These are the airport travel bag essentials I rely on for super long trips, the things that help me stay comfortable, present, and grounded so I can actually experience the journey instead of just enduring it.

Hand moisturizer and nasal spray, because the plane air and travel alone can be so dehydrating. For the same reason, I also bring eye drops. Cabin air dries everything out, and uncomfortable, irritated eyes make long flights feel so much harder than they need to be.

I make sure we bring empty water bottles, which we fill up at the airport. I’ve never had an issue doing that and I don’t understand why people avoid it. Staying hydrated matters more than anything else. I also bring electrolytes, they’re little travel packets that you can easily add to your water. Super simple, no fuss.

A mini, ready-to-go toothbrush with toothpaste already on it, no water or sink required, because feeling clean and refreshed matters more than people admit after long flights or awkward airport naps. I also bring a portable bidet, which makes a huge difference when traveling and helps me feel clean and comfortable anywhere.

I always bring healthy snacks for the fam and I. Hunger makes everything harder, and airport 
food isn’t always the move. Too expensive as well. I bring things like dates or date bars, mixed nuts, fruits, cheese sticks, whole grain crackers, and dark chocolate almonds.

I also make sure to wear or pack light compression socks, which help with circulation on long flights. I keep the compression comfortable so they can be layered with Wudhu socks for easy prayer, because making wudhu barefoot on a bathroom floor is just not my vibe.

For travel days, I like a comfy two-piece with something cozy to throw over it. Easy, soft, no fuss.

I don’t bring a full makeup bag in my duffle bag anymore, I keep that in my check in luggage. I just carry the essentials which are my:

Lip balm. Face mist. Mascara. An eyebrow brush and pencil. Highlighter. Touch-up powder.

AirPods, always. We bring our iPads for entertainment and studying. Fatima has one too. Travel days are not the time to be strict about screen time. No. She gets super bored with the coloring books, easily.

I also bring gum or lozenges, which help with ear pressure during takeoff and landing and keep my mouth from feeling painfully dry.

But I also always bring one physical book for my studies, just in case my devices aren’t available due to lack of signal or no wifi. There’s something grounding about having something tangible to read, especially when everything else feels digital and overstimulating.

Backup batteries are a must though. I refuse to be stranded with dead devices and no options.

A neck pillow and a small cushion for my butt and lower back. It condenses and packs away quickly, and I don’t care how funny that sounds. Airplane seats are not comfortable long-term, and I’m done suffering for aesthetics. Planes are not built for comfort and I’ve stopped pretending otherwise.

Travel is already demanding enough. I don’t need my suitcase to argue with me too.

These are my travel essentials, and if they help make your next trip feel a little easier, I’m glad I could be of some help.