This past September, our VIP team made its way to Slovenia, and I came home thinking about something I had never quite put into words before. When you travel with the right people, you are never without what you need.

I watched it happen again and again over those ten days. Someone's phone would hit ten percent somewhere between Ljubljana's Old Town and a winding road into the Julian Alps, and before they could even say anything, Kevin had the cable out. Not a cable. The cable. The one that charges everything. He carried it like it was as essential as his passport, because for him, it is.

Lisa came home with more than she arrived with. Significantly more. Slovenia has a way of doing that to you, the handmade ceramics, the local wine, the linens you convince yourself you need. By the end of the trip she had acquired an entirely new bag, and then another. We stood together in the hotel lobby laughing as we figured out how to get everything onto the transfer, redistributing weight between bags like we were solving a puzzle. I was happy to help. I have been in that exact position, and I knew exactly what to do.

Justin documented everything, Dena arrived prepared for every possible mode of transport, Monique never checked a bag. Each of us had our thing. And together, we had everything.

Watching all of it unfold made me realize that most of what we know about traveling well, we learned the hard way, on some earlier trip, before we knew better. And I thought: why not just share it?

So that is what this newsletter is. A look inside the bags of the people on our team, the small things we each carry that quietly make every trip run a little smoother. Some of it is practical. Some of it is personal. All of it is tried and tested, Slovenia and everywhere else.

Never Leave Home Without It!

You asked for travel advice? Here is mine: skip the influencers. Listen to the people who actually go. This is what our team never leaves home without.

Dena: The Preventive Thinker

Dena was the first to respond, and her answer was so perfectly practical it made me smile.

"I never travel without non-drowsy motion sickness medicine. A bumpy flight, crowded public transportation, a choppy boat ride, or the backseat of a taxi won't ruin my day."

She's right. You don't realize how much of travel happens in motion until you're winding along the Amalfi Coast or catching a ferry between islands. Dena makes sure the journey is part of the joy, not something to endure.

Kevin: The One-Cable Solution

Kevin keeps it efficient. His travel philosophy: fewer items, fewer problems.

"I prefer the all-in-one cable that charges an Apple phone, Apple Watch, and iPad. Fewer items to pack, and I never have to hunt for three different chargers."

If you've ever arrived somewhere and realized you packed the wrong cord, you understand exactly why Kevin's approach is brilliant. Streamline the tech, protect the energy for what actually matters.

Lisa: The Long-Haul Lesson

Lisa learned this one the way most of us learn the important things: firsthand.

"Don't forget compression socks for long overseas flights. I learned after my feet swelled on a eight-hour flight to Slovenia. Never again."

There's no glamour in this tip, and that's exactly why I love it. Lisa isn't trying to impress anyone. She's sharing what's true. And the truth is, you'll feel better when you arrive, and that matters more than how your packing list looks.

Monique: The Carry-On Queen

No matter the length of the trip, Monique travels with one carry-on and one backpack. Her secret?

"Compression packing cubes. Everything is organized, it all fits, and repacking mid-trip is simple. Plus, it leaves room for shopping."

That last part is not a footnote. Anyone who has traveled with Monique knows she means it. The cubes aren't just about efficiency. They're about arriving with space for whatever the destination hands you.

Lindsey: The Prepared One (And Proud of It)

Lindsey calls herself the mom of the group, and I mean that as a compliment of the highest order.

"Baby wipes, hand sanitizer wipes, Clorox wipes, Kleenex, and snacks. Always snacks."

Travel is beautiful and occasionally unpredictable, and Lindsey is never caught off guard by either. She keeps the group comfortable, fed, and well-equipped for whatever the day brings. Every group needs a Lindsey.

And me? Two things.

My Foldie bag starts small enough to tuck into a carry-on, then unzips and expands as the trip fills up with olive oil, a piece of pottery, something I didn't plan on but couldn't leave behind. It grows with the journey. I love that about it.

And a scarf. Always a scarf. It covers shoulders at the entrance of a church in Rome, becomes a shawl on a cool evening in the Dordogne, and doubles as a wrap on a long flight home. It is, quietly, the most useful and most beautiful thing I pack.

Every one of these items tells you something real about the person who packs it. I think that's what travel does, it reveals what we actually value when we strip everything else away.

What's the one thing you never leave home without? I'd genuinely love to know.

And when you're ready to plan your next trip, we're here to handle every detail, so all you have to think about is what goes in your bag.