Iceland Diaries

Iceland had been on my bucket list of places to visit for years! I heard so many amazing things from friends, family, and blogs and the photos were always so unreal. I had to see it for myself. So in September, I bit the bullet and bought tickets to finally go to Iceland with my girlfriends. Best decision ever!

I spent 5 days and 4 nights in Iceland this December and brought in the New year in Reykjavik. Honestly, I wish I could’ve spent a full week there because there is so much to see! If you have the time, I recommend driving the whole Ring Road and spending at least a week there.

My few days in Iceland were jammed pack and so fun! See below on the areas I went to (Golden Circle and South Iceland) and tips I have.

Arriving in Iceland

Driving/ Renting vs. Tours

We opted to rent a car and drive ourselves which I think was the best decision at the end. I will say, it was NOT easy. We went in December and the weather was not great. Lots of snow, heavy winds, icy roads, and rain. The driving conditions were rough and at times we only drove 20 mph. Another thing to remember is that you will be driving a lot! I mean 5-10 hours a day depending what you want to accomplish. It is not an easy task but the scenery you see will make up for it. On the plus side, there are lot of signs and directions from Google maps are very easy to follow. The roads are also maintained very well- not as many pot holes as I was expecting. Renting a car cost us about $500 a day with insurance and gas (filled up two full tanks of gas). Overall, a car was the cheaper and more efficient thing to do. It was also nice to be able to create our own route and get out as we pleased. This allowed us to feed wild horses in the middle of the fields (I honestly don’t even know where we were ahah).

Tip: get insurance! Our car got damaged by a person’s door flying into our rear-view mirror due to the heavy winds. Do not risk it!

Tip: get gas when you see a gas station! You may not see another gas station for another 90 miles. Remember gas is also quite expensive in Iceland.

Tours are a great way to go if you have a really large party and do not want to take the chances of driving. However, they also take a lot more planning. The tours in Iceland are fairly reasonable ($50-$150). I recommend doing the tour in the day as you will see so much more. When it gets dark, you cannot see the beautiful mountains that you may see just driving on the highways.

Tip: Most tours leave from the city center so I highly recommend staying in Reykjavik.

Tip: Book at least a month in advance!

Day Trip 1: Southern Iceland

Stop 1: Vik

Stop 2: Reynisfjara Beach - black sand beaches

Stop 3: Dyrhólaey- my personal favorite

Stop 4: Solheimajokull- Glacier

Stop 5: Skógafoss- Waterfall

Stop 6: Seljalandsfoss- Waterfall (did not picture)

Iceland may look small on a map but there is so much to see and covering all that ground takes a long time. I knew I had to see southern Iceland before going while doing my research. It was STUNNING!! I highly recommend discovering this part of Iceland! I saw parts of nature that I didn’t even know existed (mind was blown)! The stops listed above is a great way to see parts of south Iceland if you are driving.

We started out driving out to the furthest point and working our way back to Reykjavik. A bonus of driving to the furthest point first is seeing signs for other points on this itinerary along the way and getting a sneak peak of what you will be seeing.

Vik

This is a charming little town in the southern part of Iceland. Being right by the coast, you see nothing but dark blue water for miles on end. It is also quite windy here so make sure you don’t get blown away. 

Reynisfjara Beach

Before visiting Iceland, I didn’t even know that black sand beaches existed. I’m used to the typical brown or white sand beaches. Well the sand along the southern coast of Iceland really is black! The beaches are beautiful and so unique! My favorite part of Reynisfjara Beach was the beautiful mountain with the rectangular jagged edge cliffs. It was so interesting to see a different kind of rock formation.

Tip: wear waterproof layers here

Tip: do not get too close to the water because the waves can get pretty crazy in a matter of seconds. There have been a few deaths here so be careful. Do not face away from the water when taking pictures-that’s how people have gotten swept away.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Dyrhólaey

This was my favorite stop of the first day trip! The view was so incredibly beautiful! My favorite part about this viewing point was that you can see the ocean, mountains, valleys, and little lakes at the top.

You do have to drive up a pretty steep curvy hill to get to see this view. It was a bit scary to get up and down the hill but it was worth it!

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Solheimajokull

Talk about seeing all kinds of natural forms right? In one day (following this itinerary) we saw a beach, mountains, glaciers, and a waterfall! Iceland probably has all 7 world wonders right in the southern part of Iceland! 

I honestly did not know what to expect when arriving at this location. As we walked along the trial, I began to see small forms of bright teal ice. All of a sudden around a corner, the massive glacier stunned us! It was amazing!! 

Tip: if you are interested, you can go glacier climbing! If I had more time, I would’ve totally tried this! 

Skógafoss

One of the famous waterfalls in Iceland is not to be missed! This waterfall is quite grand. Iceland is known for all of their amazing waterfalls so make sure to check out at least one or two. You will also see a ton of mini waterfalls along the drive to Vik. 

Tip: wear waterproof clothing. Chances of getting wet are quite high. 

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Day Trip 2: The Golden Circle

Stop 1: Kerid Crater

Stop 2: Gullfoss Falls- Waterfall

Stop 3: Haukadalur- Geysir

Stop 4: Bruarfoss- Waterfall (did not picture)

Stop 5: Thingvellir National Park

Kerid Crater

We were so lucky with the weather on day 2! We stopped at the Keri’s Crater around 11am and got so unbelievably lucky to be woken up to the most gorgeous sunrise. It was nothing but cotton candy pink and purple skies for miles on end. This crater is a very interesting landmark. It was my first time seeing anything like this too.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

Gullfoss Falls

Another famous waterfall in Iceland and this one I not to be missed! This waterfall was definitely the biggest one that we saw! You can go on a trail to the bottom as well but in December it was too icy and closed off.

This spot has a really nice cafe so it is a good stop to plan around lunch.

Haukadalur- Geysir

This was another natural landmark that I was seeing for the first time. The eruptions were so big which I was surprised by. The first time the geysir erupted, I actually got scared. The eruptions happen quite frequently so the chances of you seeing one is highly likely.

Note that the water smells like rotten eggs but it was still really cool to see this landmark!

Thingvellir National Park

We were so blessed to see an incredible sunset at the Natural Park. The colors of the sky were so beautiful next to the outlines of the mountains and trees. You can end up spending hours at this park going on different trails. We opted to go for a little bit and just take in the scenery instead. In December, the trails were pretty icy so be mindful of this.

Day Trip 3: Locations close to Keflavik Airport

Stop 1: Hafnarberg - Sea-cliffs

Stop 2: Valahnúkamöl- Sea cliffs

Stop 3: Blue Lagoon

For the last leg of the trip, we decided to stay by the airport since the blue lagoon is right by it. Iceland is filled with so many amazing natural areas that we found a few stops to checkout before heading back to the US. Right along the water, there were beautiful cliffs surrounded by gushing waves. The water along the coast were wild! There is a very high chance you will get wet. Still worth checking out the views though. This part of Iceland was also very quite and didn’t have any tourists.

See my Iceland Google maps with all the location pins HERE

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon was one thing that I just had to do when visiting Iceland! It looked exactly like it did in all the pictures I saw online too! The water was incredibly blue, it felt nice and warm, and the views from the lagoon were stunning! However, it was really cold getting in and out of the lagoon (I ran as fast as I could getting in and out). We got the basic package which included a drink and mud masks. I recommend this package because it gave the full blue lagoon experience without breaking the bank. You won’t want to spend more than 2 hours at the lagoon because your head/ top half will get cold and you’ll begin to prune. Another thing to remember is to heavily condition your hair before entering the lagoon- leave the conditioner in your hair too! Even though I conditioned my hair, it was still very dry/ straw like after the lagoon. It took about two washes to get it feeling back to normal.

Ending note- you have to visit the lagoon as it is definitely an experience you will never forget!

Things I Did Not Know But Wish I Had:

The water in Iceland does not smell the best. It smells like rotten eggs (not exaggerating). We stayed in an Air BnB and it was pretty gross. The water was perfectly clean, just did not smell the best. However, when we stayed at a hotel, it did not smell as bad. Not sure why, but just be prepared.

There are a lot of roundabouts! I guess it keeps drivers in check from not going too fast. Started to get a bit annoying but keep your eyes peeled. They also have a yellow light which comes on before the green light to get you prepared to go.

During the winter, there are only about 4-5 hours of daylight. This meant we had to get a very early start to each day! Photos were great to take during the daylight but as it got darker, photos were harder to take. I didn’t realize how dark it was going to be- even during the daylight hours, because it was cloudy, things seemed quite dark!

Food is quite expensive but relative to New York prices. Be prepared to spend an average of $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner.

Be prepared to experience all different kinds of weather and for the weather to change in a matter of minutes. The weather would change of heavy winds to rain to sleet in span of 5 minutes. Crazy!

Also, be prepared to get soaked! If it calls for rain and you are visiting waterfalls, wear all of your waterproof gear. My waterproof parka got soaked through (don’t know how) but be ready to get wet. It was worth it though.

New York City Winter Travel Style Guide

Are you planning a trip to visit New York City and are having a hard time figuring out what to pack? I've been there before! It's so hard to pack comfortable stuff to walk around in but still be fashionable because well, it's NYC- a major fashion capital. I've rounded up 10 items that you must pack for a trip during the winter months. This list is useful for other locations too, not just NYC! 

1. Parka Coat

First, you want to stay warm and a nice parka coat is a must. I recommend wearing something heavy that's actually gonna keep you warm because there's nothing worse than being cold and possibly catching a cold. But don't worry a parka can still look cute, it's all about the accessories you pair it with. 

2. Hat, gloves, and a scarf

These accessories play a crucial role when the wind decides to pick up. Grab a matching set or create your own. 

3. Comfy Shoes 

This is always where I struggle! I have a great love for shoes so I like to take 3-4 pairs no matter where I go. But for a major city, I recommend two pairs minimum. You need a pair that are comfy to walk around in all day aka fashion sneakers! 

4. Fashion Booties

For the second pair of shoes, pack something cute! A pair of animal skin booties are great for the winter because you can dress them up or down and they go with everything! Booties with a low heel are the perfect shoes to change into for a night out in a city during winter. 

5. Sweater Dress

The best of both worlds! A sweater dress is a piece of clothing that keeps you warm and stylish. You can wear this for a day of doing touristy stuff and even wear it for a nice dinner. I recommend cinching your waist with a chic belt. 

6. Faux Fur Coat

Nothing says "fashion" more than a little fur. Trust me, in New York wearing fur is like wearing jeans. You don't have to feel like you're sticking out like a sore thumb. Check out my post on affordable faux furs and how to style it here. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

7. Oversized Sweater

It's super comfy and cozy! I love printed sweaters or chunky knits. Try out a stripped, plaid, or embroidered sweater to add some interest to your look. A sweater can tie the whole look together. It's one of my favorite things to wear in the winter and perfect when visiting a chilly city during the winter. 

8. Jeans 

It's a no brainer but very important. No matter where I travel, I always carry a pair of jeans with me! I usually wear them on the plane because they are a heavier item but I continue to wear them throughout a trip. Jeans go with everything and can be worn all day long. My favorites have lots of stretch and are mid rise. 

9. Cross Body Bag

You can be hands free and take all the pictures in the world! I prefer traveling with bags that I can carry all my gear in. It helps me not lose anything and prevents anything from getting stolen because I put everything right in front.  

10. Heat Tech Gear

Yes they really work! They have saved me on the coldest winter days here in NYC. I love to layer them under just about everything! They are thin so they don't add extra bulk. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

XOXO,

Krity 

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

*I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post*

Madrid

1. Visit the bustling area of Plaza de la Puerta del Sol. This is equivalent to Times Square of New York City. This city center is bustling with people, music, art, shopping, transportation, and lights!

2. Start in Plaza Mayor and walk down to Calle Mayor passing Plaza de la Villa. Head over to Palacio Real (a sight you do not want to miss). 

3. Eat! Make sure you have jamon (ham) everyday along with tapas! They had amazing seafood and every restaurant I visited and the flavors were amazing. A few tapas you have to try are shrimp in garlic sauce, fried peppers, and croquettes. We were walking on Gran Via (shopping street) we stopped into eat at a local restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised with a 3 course meal (and only had to pay for one!). The food was amazing and very well priced. Also, many locals were eating here so that's a good sign. 

4. Visit the Parque del buen Retiro (Park)! The flowers are absolutely stunning! The garden goes on for miles and miles- great for a perfect peaceful walk. There is also a gorgeous pond where you can rent a boat and paddle around. The views are just amazing. 

5. Go view at the amazing historic art at Prado Museum. This museum is huge and there is a lot to see! If you are into art- this is a must see. If you arrive at the end of the day (an hour before closing) they let you in for free! This was a nice surprise I learned there. Obviously, I couldn't tour the whole museum but I got a good chunk done. Museum is open 10am-8pm; €14- free on Monday- Saturday between 6-8pm

6. Take a break and have a coffee at Plaza de Oriente. It's a great place to people watch and take in the beautiful architecture. 

7. Shop on Gran Via. It is the fifth avenue of Spain and is by far the best affordable shopping I did in all of Spain. Make sure to stop in at Zara, Primark, Mango, and Bershka for all the hottest trends.

8. Make sure to stop in Mercado de San Miguel. It's a huge food market where you can buy a little something each vendor and sit to have a quick bite. There are endless amounts of fresh olives, homemade desserts, rich wines, and savory jamon.

9. Take a day trip to Segovia! It is absolutely stunning! The city is filled with castles, cathedrals, little alley ways, and rich history!

10. Take public transportation! It is very simple and cheap! Depending on where you go, it cost about 2 euros. I recommend getting a map and having a data plan on your cellphone to track your location. 

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu was an incredible experience that I will NEVER forget!! I wanted to share my experience and share a ton of tips for anyone who is interested in going themselves one day!

Day 5 October 5

We arrived in the city of Machu Picchu/ Aguas Calientes after a wonderful ride on the Peru Rail. The views of the train ride were spectacular and ride was only a quick 2 hours from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. We got roundtrip tickets from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu that cost $135. When we got off the train it we went straight to our hotel- Gringo Bills. It was walkable distance and pretty easy to find since all of the hotels are in the same area. The local Peruvian people were very helpful as well and most seemed to know the hotel. The town is very small and is made for tourists- filled with restaurants that served American food and souvenir shops. 

After settling into the hotel, we decided to walk around the town and have dinner. We had an AMAZING dinner at Treehouse Cafe. I had the alpaca burger which was so good! It tasted like beef and turkey mix. The burger was layered with cheese, bacon, fried egg, arugula, and had the most delicious herb/ olive oil mixture to add for extra flavor!! My friend had ribs with a tangy orange flavored glaze which was equally delicious! 

TIP: Buy your bus ticket to take you up to Machu Picchu a day in advance to save a lot of time and hassle!! If you don't, you will have to wait in an incredibly long line the next day for buses. Place to buy tickets is right by the water by the bus station. It is a little wooden booth. Cost about $25 roundtrip.

We went to sleep quite early as we had to get up at 3:30am to get ready for Machu Picchu and the climb next day. 

Day 6 October 6 

Wake up call 3:30 AM. We got ready and packed our bags for Machu Picchu and Waynapicchu hike! I recommend packing the following items:

1. Granola Bar/ snacks

2. Water- at least 32-48 oz. I also recommend putting Cocoa leaves in the water to help with altitude sickness.

3. Cocoa leaves/ cocoa candy

4. Sunscreen- the sun can get very hot and powerful midday

5. Bug spray!

6. Sunglasses

7. Camera

8. Sweatshirt- I wore mine in the morning and by midday I was only wearing a tank top. The temperatures change so wear layers

9. TICKETS & Passport! This is your entry in so don't forget it!! Also, when you leave Machu Picchu, you can get your passport stamped!  

We arrived at the bus station (bus that takes us up to the entrance of Machu Picchu) around 4:30 AM. There was already a LONG line! About 150-200 people long. The ticket was actually for the 5:30AM bus (which is the first bus up). Close to departing time about 10 buses pulled up- we were able easily get in the first group up the mountain. It was a windy rocky road up but the view were amazing! 

We arrived at the entrance of Machu Picchu in about 30 minutes and went straight to use the bathroom. TIP: use the bathroom before entering because there is no bathroom inside! It costs 1 sol. 

We got tickets to climb mountain Waynapicchu (also spelled Huaynapicchu on the website) 7-8am entrance. TIP: Get tickets a couple months in advance as they only allow 400 people up Waynapicchu a day and tickets sell out fast! Also, have someone who speaks/ reads Spanish fluently with you when purchasing tickets online because the site runs much better in Spanish from my experience. Waynapicchu overlooks Machu Picchu (it is the very large mountain in the back in the picture below). It is a 1 hour climb up old Incan stone steps almost 1000 feet up. It sounds really tough but surprisingly is quite manageable. There were people of all ages doing this climb so don't feel defeated by reading the description. We were blown away by the natural beauty of Machu Picchu the minute we entered in. Everything is so green and fresh!! It felt so peaceful there in the morning when the mist was just lifting up and the sun was rising!

We followed the signs for Waynapicchu and also listened to other tourists going the same way.

Major Tips: I recommend doing the climb up Waynapicchu first before discovering the rest of Machu Picchu for several reasons: 

1: Save the energy you have to climb up Waynapicchu because you are climbing hundreds of rocky stairs 1000ft up!

2. The weather is much cooler in the morning so it will feel better. Trust me! We were making our down around 10am and we could already feel the change of heat, especially during the parts of the trek that weren't shaded by trees. 

3. It's not as busy in the morning and you won't have people climbing down the mountain while you are on your way up! 

4. Put on tons of bug spray before you start the climb

View fullsize

We started at 7969.13 feet and climbed the mountain Waynapicchu up to the highest peak at 8788.16 feet! We made in up to the top in under an hour (54 minutes to be exact after a lot of heavy breathing and multiple stops along the way LOL). The feeling of accomplishment was unbelievable! I am not a big hiker but after this experience, I can totally understand why people love hiking!! We stayed up at the top for amount an hour just admiring the view, soaking it all up! I've never seen anything like this ever before and the pictures don't do this landmark justice. 

We went back down Waynapicchu (which only took us about 35 minutes) and went to the popular spot to look at the Machu Picchu ruins. Note that you need to fully exit the site and re-enter because of the way they have it set up. Don't forget to get your passport stamped!!

View fullsize

After a day of climbing, we had great 3 course dinner at El Indio Feliz. I got  onion soup, fettuccine with mushrooms, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and other sauce Peruvian sauces. Last but not least, apple pie and ice cream for dessert. 

We were beat from the climb so we went back to the hotel and lights were out by 4pm.

Day 7 October 7

I woke up tired and sore but ready to take the day on!

We went to Aguas Calientes (hot springs) in the morning. TIP: go in the morning when there is fresh water. We arrived there around 5AM. Cost is about $5-6. Once we got over the greenish tinted mineral water, we really enjoyed soaking in the hot water. It's a great way to relax the sore muscles. 

We then went to the train station to exchange our tickets for an earlier train back to Ollantaytambo. We left Machu Picchu/ Aguas Calientes at 11AM. The city itself does not have much to do and the mosquitos ate me alive so I was ready to move on to the next city. I think 2 days in Machu Picchu is a good amount.

Off to explore Cusco! Stay tuned for the next post!

Read more about other cities I visited in Peru: Lima and Ollantaytambo

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

XOXO!

Adventures in Ollantaytambo

Day 3 October 3

After a couple days in Lima, I flew to Cusco making my way to Machu Picchu. I flew out from Lima International Airport in the early morning. I arrived to the airport about 1 hour in advance (recommended by the concierge at the hotel) since it was only a domestic flight. When I arrived the airport, it was a chaotic mess! The line to check in was at least 2 hours long. There were many flights leaving in the morning and the airport was really busy. Luckily, I let the airlines know my flight was leaving soon and was able to skip a majority of the line. I ran to the gate and somehow made the flight! TIP: From experience, I recommend getting to the airport at least 2 hours in advance so you won't be a complete mess like I was. 

One thing to be careful when traveling to Peru are the high altitudes. TIP: Work your way up to high altitude to prevent getting altitude sickness and get medication to help you adjust in advance. I was prescribed Acetazolamide by my doctor and it really helped me! I didn't have any trouble adjusting to the high altitude. Since my friend and I were jumping to such a high altitude, from Lima to Cusco, we decided to travel straight to Ollantaytambo. 

Lima- 348 feet

Cusco- 11,152 feet

Ollantaytambo- 9,160 feet

Machu Picchu- 7,972 feet

We took 2.5/3 hours taxi to Ollantaytambo from Cusco airport (cost $28 each). We took a taxi instead of a collectivo or bus because we had large suitcases. Even though it cost a little bit more than we had expected, the taxi ride was so amazing! Our driver gave us a tour through the Sacred Valley. First we stopped to look at two large mountains: Chicon and Mount Victoria. Then we drove a little more to Chinchero and went to Ticka Huerta to learn how the Peruvian people make textiles from alpacas and llamas! It was so fascinating to see how the yarn was spun and dyed all by natural elements like salt, lemon, and parasites on the cactus plant. I definitely recommend doing this if you are in Peru!! 

We arrived at Hotel Samanapaq around midday. The minute we entered the hotel, our jaws dropped! It was GORGEOUS! We stayed in a double standard room. The hotel room was clean, well lit, set to a comfortable temperature, and ready for us right when we checked in. The bathroom was a great size and taking a shower after traveling for hours felt amazing! 

There are several different hotel options, but this was one of the best hotels I stayed in Peru during my whole trip. Hotel Samanapaq was a resort in itself and felt like a getaway! It is also really close to the center area of Ollantaytambo where there are many restaurants, bars, and shops. 

Day 4 October 4

We had a big breakfast at hotel (all included) that was sooo good! The buffet was filled with eggs, potatoes with vegetables, croissants and other fresh bakes breads. homemade jam, ham and cheese, fresh fruit, and cereal. We also had cocoa tea which helped prevent altitude sickness. We took a tour around the hotel admiring all the beautiful plants and the green house. We relaxed on the hammocks just listening to the birds and looking at all the beautiful butterflies that were hovering over the flowers. That easily became my spot! I felt so relaxed and right at home.

Later in the day we took taxi to salt plains (Las Salineras) in Maras (cost $15 total). It was so amazing to see how salt is naturally made. The landscape of the salt plains were beautiful! The salt looked like little crystals when the sun was shining on it. This is a MUST SEE in Peru!

To get back to our hotel we took a public bus (cost 75 cents) and collectivo (mini bus- cost $1). Whenever I travel, I love to ride the country/ city's public transportation. 

One of the unique things about Ollantaytambo is that the streets and alleys that exist today were made from the Incan people in 15th Century!! They are not the easiest streets to walk on since they are made of stones and a little uneven but it was still really cool!!

After a long day of exploring the city, we decided to head over to the Plaza de Armas and have a cold Peruvian Cusquena beer with papas fritas (fries) while looking at the view of the mountains and Inca ruins. For dinner, we ended up eating pizza since it was one of the most popular items in every restaurant.

Day 5 October 5

We had an amazing breakfast at the hotel and hung out in hammocks before we had to leave our paradise hotel.

Later that afternoon we took the Peru Rail to Machu Picchu station in Aguas Calientes. TIP: Make sure you buy the ticket before hand online. You need to pick up tickets before entering the train. Only 1 carry on size luggage allowed per passenger. No big luggages!! However, they will store luggage for you free of charge. 

Off to Machu Picchu!!

Photography by Ashley Gallerani

XOXO!

14 Packing Tips

I've been traveling since I was 11 months old and weirdly enough I love to pack for vacations. Over the years, I've learned a few things that I'm going to share with you. 

1. Never wait till the last minute. The chances of forgetting something is very high

2. Make an on going list on you phone when you remember something like those special pair of earrings that will go with a certain dress you're dying to wear

3. Pack the basics like your favorite white tshirt, little black dress, comfortable walking shoes, and a great pair of pants. 

4. Wear your heaviest clothes so you can fit more in your luggage while staying under the weight requirement. Things like jeans, coats, sweatshirts, and sneakers are the heaviest

5. Plan outfits by days or events. These outfits don't need to be set indefinitely but it's good to have an idea of what you want to wear. 

6. Pack more than enough underwear/ undergarments. Who knows if you'll get a chance to get them washed so plan ahead. 

7. Buy traveling containers so you can travel with you favorite beauty products. Most traveling containers are made to size requirements where as original packaging on your favorite face lotion might be a few ounces over weight to fit into your carry on

8. Don't forget the bug spray, sunblock, umbrella, or second coat depending on where you're going to vacation. These little things go a long way. It's also great when you don't have to pay double or even triple the prices in a foreign place. 

9. This goes back to tip 5. When creating outfits to wear.  Make sure that piece of clothing can be worn with multiple other things. 

10. Pack a few extra plastic bags. This is great for putting dirty laundry in, a way to cover up a bag on a rainy day, nausea, wet clothes, shoes, etc. 

11. Roll don't fold. Rolling up your clothes takes up much less room than folding does. 

12. Write a name tag with your address on the luggage just in case it gets lost. Also keep the check in barcode with you until you pick up your luggage. Taking a picture of your suitcase can also come in handy 

13. Put jewelry or any breakable items in the center of the suitcase and wrap it with clothes

14. If your traveling during a rainy or winter months there's a chance of water leaking into your bag. I sometimes put a large plastic sheet inside the suitcase before I start putting other items in.