I love finding little ways to make traveling easier. This one may sound weird, but whenever I travel, I make sure to throw a couple of plastic trash bags and a few Ziploc bags in my luggage.

You’d be surprised how often a plastic bag can save you when something unexpected happens on a trip. Recently, I was on a cruise and went for a swim. Then I had wet clothes that I had to put in my luggage because it was time to go home. I was so glad I had some extra bags. Or maybe you have some extra food that you want to take with you. I’ve also used them when something leaked in my luggage and I needed to clean it up.

A few weeks ago, Hope and I traveled to Alaska. It was daylight 24 hours a day. We used the plastic trash bags and some tape as blackout curtains for our windows so we could get some sleep.

Carrying plastic trash bags and Ziploc bags is a simple yet effective way to be prepared for all kinds of unexpected situations. These items can be incredibly useful and take up very little space in your luggage. So next time you pack, don’t forget to include them!