Travel

Luxury Travel Items and Money-Saving Dupes

January 27, 2020

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We do a lot of traveling, which is a lot of fun, but it can be exhausting. One of the things that makes being on the go easier is taking a little luxury with you from home. Here are some of my favorite luxury items to travel with, along with some cheaper dupes that are still great if you don’t want to break the bank.

1. Cashmere slippers

The first item might be the bougiest item on the list, but I do not go anywhere without my cashmere slippers. I keep one pair in my suitcase in a shoe bag at all times. I hate having cold feet, so I generally wear them in the hotel room or around the house if we’re renting a bigger place. They are SO soft and comfy, and I love having that little bit of luxury when I am away from home.

Money-saving dupe: If you don’t want to drop the money on a pair of 100% cashmere slippers, these are a great option for WAY less money, and they will still give you that cozy at-home feeling wherever you go.

2. Silk sleep mask

I have sleep masks everywhere. I keep one next to my bed at home, one in my carry-on for long flights, and another one in my suitcase with my pajamas. I recently got this one, and it’s my favorite! It’s 100% silk, so it doesn’t pull or tug on my skin or hair, and I got it in black so last night’s eyeliner doesn’t get all over the back.

Money-saving dupe: The ones I have are actually pretty affordable at around $20, but these also have great reviews, are 100% silk, and are about half the price, so there’s no excuse not to treat yourself!

3. Packable leather valet tray

My bestie from law school, who also travels a lot, recently tipped me off to this great hack. She said she takes one of these leather valet trays with her everywhere she travels – this is BRILLIANT. I had seen these before, but it never occurred to me that they PACK COMPLETELY FLAT. I ordered one immediately in this pretty red color (lest I forget it in the hotel room!), and it is SO convenient! I pop it up when we arrive somewhere and put it on my nightstand, where I can then stash my glasses, lip balm (I’m also very particular on the lip balm – see below), earbuds, phone, and my rings when I’m not wearing them. Just having a specific place for all these things gives me peace of mind that I’m not going to misplace anything, and that it won’t roll off the nightstand never to be seen again. Best hack ever.

Money-saving dupe: No dupe needed here, this is already a totally affordable luxury – it doesn’t even cost any space in your bag, so it’s a win-win!

4. Cashmere wrap

I have many cashmere wraps in different sizes and weights because, well, you know – I’m bougie like that. But I have 2 of these HUGE blanket-sized ones that I can travel with. First, I feel like I am almost always cold on planes, and this one covers me and keeps me warm from neck to toes. It’s also thin enough that you can stuff it into your carry-on or purse. I also love having it on the actual trip to throw over my pajamas if the hotel room is drafty, or to wear around my shoulders or neck if it’s chilly outside. And the fact that it’s 100% cashmere means it feels AMAZING when it touches your skin. Honestly, this wrap gives me so much joy.

Money-saving dupe: A wool/cashmere blend is always a great substitute for 100% cashmere. This wrap will keep you nice and toasty and has a touch of cashmere to still give you that luxurious feeling.

5. Cute pajamas

I don’t like spending a lot on my pajamas, but I do always try to look put-together even when on my way to bed. See my previous post on why you should stop wearing pajamas that are older than your kids for a few of my favorite brands. Even though I already have my go-to brands, I am always on the lookout for new super soft (super soft is mandatory) pajamas. Jeremy got me these amazing Lunya 100% silk washable pajamas for Christmas, and they are truly so comfortable and luxurious. I know this is a pretty big indulgence (I do have some level of self-awareness), so keep reading for one of my favorite affordable brands that is also sexy and comfortable.

Money-saving dupe: I recently purchased a pair of pjs from the Ekouaer brand on Amazon, and I was pleasantly surprised at how cute AND comfortable they were, especially since they are super affordable. They have lots of different styles, so you won’t have any trouble finding a pair that suits your style. And then you won’t have to hide under the covers next time room service is at the door.

6. Organic lip balm

I’m doing this one backwards because, although I have a pricier luxury lip balm that I love (see below), the one I travel with is the cheaper option. This is another small luxury that is really affordable – I buy this 6-pack of Sky Organics lip balm for $10, and I’m set for the year. I keep one in my travel toiletry bag, and this lip balm is one of the things that goes in my leather tray mentioned above. I HAVE to sleep with lip balm, and this is the best one I’ve found that is organic and actually STAYS on all night.

Luxury option: If you don’t care about organic and you just want a great lip balm for overnight, I really like the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, but the pot is a little bulkier than I like to travel with, so the Sky Organics is what I take everywhere with me. I wear this one every night when I’m home, and I have yet to find a lip balm I like better for overnight.

7. L’Occitane hand cream

I have to put on hand cream before I go to bed, and L’Occitane is some of the best. Not only is it not greasy, so I don’t get fingerprints all over my kindle or my glasses when I’m in bed, but it has a pleasant scent, which is a must for my travels – see my post about how important scent is to my vacation memories. At the moment, I’m using the Almond scent, which smells amazing, but it’s not quite as thick as the original, so I would still recommend the original over the Almond if you need more moisture.

Money-saving dupe: I LOVE the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, but it’s just in a bulkier package at 2 oz., and the scent is more utilitarian. It smells perfectly fine (it’s basically unscented), but I like to have a pretty scent especially on vacation. But if you’re prone to dry skin and don’t want to spend $12 on an ounce of hand cream, this stuff is fantastic.

8. Montblanc pen

Ok, I lied – THIS is the bougiest thing I travel with. I have a daily journal where I write down a few words about the day before I go to bed, and my Montblanc pen travels everywhere with me in large part for this purpose. I really enjoy writing with this pen because it has a great weight to it and really smooth writing. Judge me all you want, I love my Montblanc pen!!

Money-saving dupe: Steal a ballpoint from your office like everyone else does and put that in your travel bag.

What do you never leave home without?

I hope you’ve enjoyed skimming my list of my favorite luxury items, and I hope you’ll try some of them out! Even if you go for the dupes, I promise it will make your next trip that much more luxurious!

Do you have a luxury item you always travel with? I would love to hear about it, so drop me a comment!

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