Three "MacGyver" travel essentials

Go ahead. Call me the MacGyver of family travel! For young readers, MacGyver is a fictional spy from the late 1980's who used all sorts of everyday tools to get the job done. No gun required. I'm certain that if MacGyver wrote a travel blog, he'd include these three packing essentials too. Curious? Read on!

Binder Clips

These little beauties are so versatile. Binder Clips are so useful that I give them as wedding gifts! True. Some things I use them for during travel include:

• Chip clips -- keeps snacks, cookies, and cereal fresh.
• Shade makers -- clip a beach towel to the edge of the umbrella to provide more shade.
• Beach towel anchor -- keep the towel from blowing off my chair.
• Paper organizer -- holds necessary papers together better than a paper clip
• Garbage bag holder -- clip a garbage bag to the pocket on the back of the front car seat so kids can get to it easily
• Emergency belt -- yes, it's true! We forgot our daughter's belt one trip and used a binder clip to tighten her skirt. :) Shhhh.... don't tell.
• Anchor for clothes line -- need to hang the swimsuits? Tie a string around a binder clip and attach it to the shower curtain. Tie the other end around the shower head and voila! Instant clothes line.

Ziploc Bags

Of course, these little guys are handy for snacks, but ZIPLOC Double Zipper Bags do so much more, including:

• Ice pack -- just add ice to treat bumps, bruises and sunburns!
• Laundry -- pack wet clothes for the trip home in a gallon size bag so other items stay dry
• Carry-on organizer -- when we travel by plane, each family member packs emergency essentials in a gallon size bag. Sickness, food spills and travel interruptions are easier to manage with fresh clothes. Bonus: the dirty clothes can be repacked in the bag keeping other items clean.
• Collections -- kids love to collect things. Why not give them a bag to control the size of the collection?
• Barf bag! 
• Receipt storage -- instead of carrying all the travel receipts in wallet or purse, keep them in a ziploc bag. After vacation, everything needed to reconcile the credit card statement is in one convenient place.

Medical Tape

I carry band aids for small cuts and abrasions when traveling, but First Aid Cloth Tape is the real hero! It can be used for:

• Treating larger scrapes -- medical use, of course!
• Keeping an ice pack in place
• Replacing a belt (yep -- I did that once too. Our daughter is really thin and, apparently, I am quite forgetful!)
• Securing luggage -- overpacked bag? Broken zipper? Medical tape packs small but holds strong.
• Fixing a shoe 
• Repairing broken glasses

With these three little items packed in your luggage, you can be the MacGyver of your family, too. Do you have a travel item you always carry with you? Do share!

Happy travels!