It took a lot of trial and error but I have finally gotten packing for a trip down to a science. A few years ago, I realized that there were a few items that I always needed no matter where I traveled. I started leaving those items in my carry-on so when it was time to pack, my essentials were already accounted for. Some of the things on my list are no-brainers while others, I discovered overtime. Keeping these items in my bag have cut my packing time in half and has definitely saved me the frustration of forgetting something important.