Ready for Takeoff: Summer Travel Essentials That Will Save Your Sanity (and Your Style)

At Shutter and Compass, we’re all about encouraging adventure—and doing it smart. Whether you’re jetting off to sun-drenched beaches or hopping between charming cities, being proactive about what you pack makes all the difference between smooth sailing and stressful surprises. And trust us... we've learned that the hard way.

When Preparation Pays Off

Take Shelby’s recent flight from Atlanta to Washington, for example. Her suitcase never made it onto the plane. (We know. Sigh.) But thanks to an Apple AirTag tucked inside her checked bag, she could pinpoint its location and work with the airline without the usual guesswork or panic.

Lesson learned: Don’t leave for the airport without one.
Also, if you fly Frontier, know what everyone else on the plane already knew … be safe, and just use a carry-on. There was a reason why only Shelby was left looking for her luggage - only about 10 people seemed to need to pick up baggage. And apparently theirs weren’t lost.

Our Favorite Summer Travel Finds

We’re not just about the destinations—we’re about the gear that gets you there in style, comfort, and sanity. Here are our favorite travel companions this season:

☀️ The Folding Sun Hat

This chic, packable sun visor is a favorite for both Shelby and Megan. It folds flat, fits in your tote, and gives major coastal-grandmother-meets-stylish-globetrotter vibes. Bonus: it keeps you protected from UV rays and bad hat hair.

🎒 Compression Packing Cubes

These rose gold packing cubes (Shelby’s favorite color, of course!) keep your outfits organized, your suitcase neat, and your sanity intact—especially when you're living out of a carry-on. Not gonna lie, we weren’t 100% sold on the idea of the cubes - seems like just another step to add in packing - but honestly, it did help us keep a little more organized overall. A little extra planning, but worth having them. Plus, did we mention…ROSE GOLD!

💊 Travel Pill Organizer

Don’t play the guessing game with loose vitamins or allergy meds. This 14-grid pill case even includes labels for easy organizing—and it fits right in your carry-on. We’ve been traveling a lot lately. Some fun, some less fun, but trust us when we say — if you’re one who needs daily medication/vitamins/just extra Tylenol to have on hand…is pill case is so helpful. When we went to Key West and Bimini last February with Virgin Voyages, it would have been so helpful to have a few extra over the counter medications on hand. Between a few members of our group having stomach issues (all not related to each other, thankfully), and having to find and use a vending machine (for medication - who knew that was such a thing) and of course a bout of just motion sickness from nausea, it’d have been nice to have some extras. Also, bonus tip. If you are reliant on daily mediations — ALWAYS pack extra. We’ve seen it too many times where travelers pack exactly the amount they need, and wind up having some type of issue, and wishing they had a few extra on hand for unexpected delays.

🔋 Portable Charger (with built-in cords!)

No more frantic airport outlet searches. This compact charger plugs into the wall and has built-in cables so you’re always ready to recharge on the go. Of all of our favorite finds, so far, this one has to be the most purchased and well used!! Numerous friends and followers have connected to tell us how great these are! And, we’ve purchased one of each member of BOTH of our families!! We always have one or two on hand, and have gotten so much use out of these.

✈️ Pressure Relief Ear Plugs

Say goodbye to mid-flight ear pain with these FlyFit earplugs. They’re reusable, hypoallergenic, and a must-have for frequent flyers. Megan is a wealth of knowledge, and these are something she has used in the past with great success, and now that Shelby knows about them, she’ll keep them on hand for flights as well. Especially for her son! He has some eardrum issues, and this just seems to be handy to have - just in case.

💄 Clear TSA Toiletry Bags

These clear, TSA-approved toiletry bags keep your liquids leak-free and airport-friendly. No more digging through your bag at security. While we haven’t been surprised by anything recently with our travels as far as TSA is concerned, it never hurts to be in full compliance, and let’s be honest - anything to get us through those lines quicker is a huge bonus. Have we mentioned the joy of TSA PreCheck and CLEAR?! Be on the lookout for that post! The point though is, we are fans, and with our traveling, the TSA approved bag going through ANY line is a plus!

🧼 Hanging Toiletry Bag

Speaking of toiletries, we love this hanging organizer for small hotel bathrooms or cruise cabin sinks. It keeps everything up, organized, and spill-free. One of our biggest peeves is being unorganized. Both in life and during travels. Again, we like to streamline everything, and organizing in small cruise line bathrooms can be a challenge. This organizer has the space and the compartments to make your bathroom tidy. We also love that it comes in … baby pink! Not quite rose gold, but Shelby still approves.

🛂 Passport Cover & Wallet

Keep your ID, cards, and passport in one stylish place with this RFID-blocking wallet. Ideal for those who prefer both style and security. Rose Gold. If it’s shiny and in the right color, and FUNCTIONAL…with an added level of protection for your information, Shelby is all over it. Consolidating all of your necessities into this slim, stylish passport holder and card protector just makes sense to us, especially if you do a lot of international travel… OR if you still don’t have your REAL ID. Do you have yours? Long story short, Shelby doesn’t, but she travels with her Passport and Military ID, just to be safe.

💍 Jewelry Roll

No more tangled necklaces! This foldable jewelry case is sleek, soft pink, and perfect for packing just enough sparkle. Untangling jewelry is a pain! And we enjoy having the ability to be a lil’ fancy with our jewelry, so this case keeps us well accessorized!!

🌿 Bonus Find: Yellow Leaf Hammocks

Want to bring summer vibes home? We love the entire Yellow Leaf Hammock collection—ethical, handmade, and perfect for backyard lounging after your latest getaway. If you’ve traveled on a Virgin Voyages Cruise, you know what we are talking about!!! We LOVE Virgin Voyages balconies and hammocks…and while we don’t own this particular find, we were excited to find that you could in fact purchase this! How cool! Would you buy one?!

Proactive Packing = Peace of Mind

Let’s be honest—travel always has something that doesn’t go according to plan. But having the right tools in your bag (literally) can help you stay calm, cool, and collected.

So, before you take off this summer, take a few minutes to prep like a pro. Your future self—and your travel photos—will thank you.

✈️ Where are you headed this summer?

We’d love to hear your travel plans—and if you need help narrowing down your must-pack items, just shoot us a message or explore our Amazon Favorites! We are always striving to add and update as we find helpful items we love (or if we hear you love them!).