Summer. Vacation. Warm Ocean Waters. These are a few of my favorite things. I just returned from an awesome vacation with my husband. I spent days snorkeling in beautiful blue waters and nights looking up at starry skies from the deck of a catamaran while we sailed around Guadeloupe. As I hold on to the memories of this recent trip I’m also keeping a tight grasp on summer. It’s my favorite season. And whether it’s a weekend or a week long trip, as a style expert, I’ve learned what summer travel essentials make the trip easier and more stylish.
There are my top picks for traveling with ease.
Backpacks are back! The Jetsetter Convertible Backpack is a shape-shifting luxury handbag that will put you on the highway to haute. By simply changing the position of its adjustable and detachable strap, you can wear this durable, water resistant nylon dynamo as a chic urban backpack, a classic satchel and a stylish crossbody to meet your designer handbag needs wherever the road may take you. And it seems Taylor Swift likes the bag too, so when you catch yourself singing “Bad Blood” perhaps you’ll feel a kinship with her style. Jetsetter Convertible Backpack Henri Bendel, $278
A stylish hat to protect your face is a must have. This wide brim hat is perfect for the beach, a sundress or jeans and a t-shirt. Toreo Wide Brim Straw Hat from Free People, $48
I’ve caught myself sounding like my mother when it comes to sun protection. She used to always tell my brother and I to put on sunscreen and I’ll admit as a teenager I thought anything above 2 SPF was silly. But now I chase after my husband to put on at least 30 SPF and reapply, reapply, reapply. With that said, I now own two of these sun shirts. Both in navy since it matches well with so many of my bikinis. I know that a tan looks good, but I’d prefer smoothing on sunless tanner than the possibility of getting skin cancer so I pull on one of these when I’m snokeling, kayaking or getting a good arm workout on a stand up paddleboard. It’s lighter weight and slightly less fitted than a rash guard and it offers UPF 50 sun protection (think of it as sunscreen for fabric). Sun Shirt from J. Crew, $68
This chic clutch does double duty on my vacations or even business trips. It holds my jewelry when I travel and is my evening clutch when I arrive. Clare V. clutch from Shopbop, $142
After my huband unintentially went swimming in the pool with his phone is his pocket I’ve learned to protect our gear from water hazards. We were given this genius item as a gift (thanks Terri Barnes) and it’s ideal for the pool, at the beach or even on a boat. The Travelon waterproof pouch for iPad and tablets protects against water, dust, sand and dirt and fits an iPad 1, 2 and Mini. You have the ability to operate the touch screen as well as take pictures. Plus it’s submergible in up to 65ft of water for 30 minutes. So if you fall off your raft in the water while reading Girl on a Train, no problem. Kohl’s, $25
I’ve mentioned F.A.S.T., First Aid Shot Therapy in other posts and recommended them for both travel and entertaining. Reason? Well, it’s easy to have on hand to offer guests if they perhaps went back for second or third helpings of BBQ (or maybe that’s you I’m talking about) and realize they went overboard and heartburn kicks in. Or when you travel and those pills just don’t give you relief fast enough from a headache or even your wee bit of hard partying the night before. So I’m suggesting them again in case you didn’t listen the first time. Aches, pains, hangovers – these FAST acting FDA-compliant liquid relievers are small one-dose bottles – and come in Pain, Heart Burn and Hangover Relief – and because they are liquid, the medicine gets absorbed faster into the bloodstream. And they’re just easy to carry around in your bag or suitcase since they’re small; so they can go through the security check at the airport.
I may have a known traveler number that lets me speed through TSA every time without having to unpack my liquids, but I still have to keep them to 3.4 ounces. So I scooped up my favorite Perricone MD skin care products in smaller sizes and I just refill them when needed. There’s no reason to use just any old product or fiddle with cheap travel containers that break. I get my moisturizer, cleanser, eye treatment and anti-aging face treatments in the perfect size.
Sighnature Essentials from Perricone MD from Ulta, $99
Neuropeptide 4-Piece Collection, QVC $109
As a “woman on the go” I loathe those tiny containers for shampoos and conditioner. They usually only hold enough to wash my one hair once. Then I found Super Silk’s travel bag. I get 2-3 washings and regardless of location or climate my hair is smooth and soft. This kit includes all smoothing essentials- plus an added heat protectant and silkening oil. Super Silk, $24.95
For those that travel frequently with extra clothes to spare or have had their bags lost while traveling, this may be the next phase for travel when you just don’t want to lug your bag. The DUFL appp gives travelers and jet setters alike the freedom to roam untethered. Their secure platform delivers your bag where and when you need it.
It’s easy:
REQUEST A DUFL Welcome Kit
Receive a DUFL travel bag and pack it with ALL your travel essentials, returning it to DUFL headquarters with a pre-coordinated return label
The team dry cleans and presses all received garments, photographing them and creating a virtual closet
With any upcoming trip, visit your virtual closet within the app, ‘packing’ what you need
Select when and where you’d like your suitcase
When returning home (or to your next destination):
Pack up items
Fill out cleaning preferences form
Leave your suitcase for pick up with your hotel concierge