How To Pack a Carry-On Bag for 26 Hours of Traveling

Hello! Currently, I am sitting on either in an airport, or on a plane on my way to Thailand for our honeymoon! Our flight schedule looks like this:

Minneapolis (MSP)-----Tokyo (NRT)   13 Hours
Tokyo (NRT)-----Bangkok (BKK)   7 Hours
Bangkok (BKK)-----Koh Samui (USM)   1 Hour

Which means a total of 21 hours on the plane, not including time spent in airports! With that being said,  what I pack in my carry on is going to be especially important for this flight. Flying comfortably can be difficult, and flying comfortably for this long just may be next to impossible! However, here are just a few of the essential items that I pack every time I fly to make sure my trip is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. In order to do this, you'll want to make sure you are dressed appropriately, have things to do on the plane, and finally be comfortable upon landing at your destination.

Just some of the necessities for my carry on bag!

Hello! Currently, I am sitting on either in an airport, or on a plane on my way to Thailand for our honeymoon! Our flight schedule looks like this:

Minneapolis (MSP)-----Tokyo (NRT)   13 Hours
Tokyo (NRT)-----Bangkok (BKK)   7 Hours
Bangkok (BKK)-----Koh Samui (USM)   1 Hour

Which means a total of 21 hours on the plane, not including time spent in airports! With that being said,  what I pack in my carry on is going to be especially important for this flight. Flying comfortably can be difficult, and flying comfortably for this long just may be next to impossible! However, here are just a few of the essential items that I pack every time I fly to make sure my trip is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. In order to do this, you'll want to make sure you are dressed appropriately, have things to do on the plane, and finally be comfortable upon landing at your destination.

Important documents, all printed out and ready to go!

One of the first things I do when starting to travel is pick out my actual traveling outfit. For me, that usually means I wear the bulkiest (and most comfortable) items I am bringing with. Today, this means I am wearing a pair of jeans, t-shirt, scarf, a sweater, and my tennis shoes. Each of these items are ones I may want while in Thailand (especially the tennis shoes, for running or heavy walking days!) or serves another purpose. For example, the scarf I am bringing with is a large one- so it serves great as an extra blanket, pillow, or to cover my eyes while sleeping. Along with dressing yourself, you will want to make sure to have these items with you in order to remain prepared throughout your flight:

• passport
• printed travel information (including flight schedules, itineraries, and hotel information)
• pen (for those custom forms!
• Cash & credit card-- have some cash in the local currency, for those emergency purposes.

the carry-on activities I packed for Nick and I

After you have dressed yourself for the flight, you will want to make sure you have various things to do while you are on the flight while awake. These are my go-to's, for any flight of any length!

• Magazines (usually mostly trashy) these are great for quick reading, and while you are not supposed to use electronic devices. Plus, their battery never dies!
• Books
• iPad
• cell phone charger
• headphones
• dual headphone jack- this is great if you have a companion with!
• Compression socks- these will help with your circulation, and make sure you feel fresh throughout
• Extra sweater- great if you are like me and always cold. Use it for warmth, or an extra pillow!
• lotion
• chapstick
• ponytail holder to tie your hair back
• Phone charger
• Sleep aid- Make sure you are knocked out. As well, it can help you get on the right sleep schedule. Thailand is 12 hours ahead of the US, so this is especially important for us now!
• Various snacks. Protein (such as peanuts and beef jerky) is good to keep you full for an extended period of time. 
• Empty water bottle- this way, you can bring it in past the TSA, and fill it in the airport instead of paying tons for a water at a store inside.
• Altoids/gum- just to help combat any bad breath that might occur (or, to offer to your surrounding travelers)

If you looked closely above, you might have noticed these items. Never hurts to start planning your next vacation!

Some of my "freshen up" necessities after a long flight

There are items I bring with to make sure that once I land (or in the middle of the night) I am still comfortable and set to go as soon as the plane lands. After long flights, taking just five minutes to freshen up can leave you fresh and ready to go for the day.

• dry shampoo
• brush
• makeup
• toothbrush & toothpaste
• deodorant
• pair of shorts (for warm places, this way you can change in the airport and stay comfortable)
• flipflops
• sunglasses
• camera -- this one so you can truly enjoy every moment of your adventure!

And of course, after landing, its time to take off on the adventure! Of course, all of these items are in my carry-on purse for Nick and I throughout the flight (I don't need that much of any of this!) Both Nick and I are only bringing carry-on suitcases, plus this bag, for our entire trip to Thailand. That's right, I have ONE carry-on-sized suitcase for everything I will need in the next few weeks. Meaning packing right is all the much more important for this trip! What are your carry-on essentials when traveling, and how do they vary based off the length of your flights?