Maia Favorite Things: Travel products
Traveling has always been a big piece of my life. I was incredibly fortunate to have parents who were brave enough to pack us all up into our giant maroon conversion van and take us around the country for two weeks each summer. We’d pull our pop up camper and I didn’t realize it at the moment, as most children don’t, but it was some of the best times of my life. I was talking with a friend the other day and we were discussing how old we were when we first flew on a plane. For me it was my 8th grade year, and it was a trip to Washington D.C. with my mother. I had won the State History fair and was able to represent the state of Iowa at the National competition in D.C. It was such a big deal, my small private school threw a fundraiser for us. People got to wear jeans rather than their school uniforms for one day in exchange for $1 donation. (Ka$h & Kans for Katie) I remember the flyer like it was yesterday. The trip was incredible and oddly one of the main things I remember is not only the hotel we stayed in, but the daily breakfast. I ate a croissant with cream cheese and apple juice every morning. We definitely didn’t have croissants at home or apple juice around the house ever and I remember feeling super fancy and taking full advantage. My family very rarely stayed in hotels growing up so the entire experience was just the best.
Since the travel bug was instilled in me throughout my childhood, I have loved to be on adventures ever since. I studied abroad in Tokyo in college and have done significant other national and international travel since. Although the last two years have slowed down travel a bit with COVID-19, I absolutely love to travel and will always find a way. Travel now for me though is rarely road trips, I fly mostly and generally work towards becoming a master of travel so I can focus on my experiences and not travel logistical inconveniences.
Here are a few of my favorite travel items that make my journey smooth and more pleasant.
Travel looks - I have worked to find the hybrid between dressing for flying and dressing for comfort. Thankfully one positive of the Pandemic was the uptick in more athleisure that is fashionable enough to fly in but still meets all the comfort needs you want. Some of my favorite brands for travel are Lou & Grey, this incredible Staud + New Balance collaboration. Now my travel looks also include masks, these are the current safest and my favorite.
Monogrammed travel bags - I absolutely love these Cuyana bags. They are durable enough to be great long lasting travel bags, but are also beautiful sitting in any hotel bathroom.
Backpack - I am a person who actually uses a backpack for my everyday to and from work needs, however a backpack is also my go to for my carry on with any travel. Whether I’m traveling for personal, work or with my boys a backpack allows me to be hands free for swiftly moving through any airports to my destination. I love my Tory Burch backpack for its vibrant colors and also several pockets.
Luggage - In some sort of previous lifetime of mine, I was a person who could throw a few things in a carryon and call it good for a week of travel. Somewhere that version of Katie is long gone and I’ve become a person who nearly always (definitely always) checks a bag now. With this life change, so too did the luggage need to be updated. My carryon - should I ever dust it off again, is a Tumi version I’m obsessed with. They no longer sell and I will forever regret not buying a truckload before they stopped making them. My much larger piece of luggage I check is hard-sided. I debated for quite a while on what I wanted in this piece of luggage and ultimately decided to invest what I felt got me a good bag, but it wasn't so much that the rough handling of my suitcase by several people between here and there wouldn’t be too upsetting as time went on.
Cord organizers - managing chords sings to my heart and these look cute while they’re doing it.
