Top 5 Travel Items Retired Couples Swear By — and Why Decluttering Before You Go Matters

One of the best parts of retirement? The freedom to travel more. We hear it from our clients all the time—when the house quiets down and careers slow down, it’s the perfect time to start exploring the world together.

But before you book that dream trip, there's something that can make it even better: getting organized and letting go of the excess stuff that's weighing you down—literally and mentally.

At Perfectly Purged, we know that decluttering and travel go hand in hand. That’s why we’re sharing five travel items that retired couples absolutely swear by, along with a few tips that help us stay organized before, during, and after every

trip.

✈️ 1. Lightweight, Expandable Luggage

We used to think all luggage was the same—until we invested in a lightweight, expandable suitcase with smooth-rolling wheels. Total game changer.

Our advice? Look for something durable with 360° spinner wheels and expandable compartments. Brands like TUMI or Rimowa are worth the splurge if you plan to travel often.

Decluttering tip: We recently went through our old luggage stash—some were ripped, some missing handles, and others just never used. Letting them go freed up closet space and made room for the pieces we actually love to use.

🛏️ 2. A Quality Travel Pillow

We used to suffer through long flights with stiff necks—until we discovered a real travel pillow. Now, the Cabeau Evolution Pillow is one of our go-tos. It offers amazing support and actually helps us sleep in the air or in the passenger seat.

We keep our travel pillows in a dedicated “ready-to-go” travel bin along with eye masks, chargers, and other must-haves. It’s made packing so much easier and helps prevent the last-minute scramble.

🧳 3. Packing Cubes

We used to be skeptical about packing cubes... but wow, they really are magic. They’ve totally changed the way we travel. We now group similar items together (tops, pants, undergarments, tech stuff) and stay far more organized on the road.

They also help keep shared luggage neat when we’re packing together for a trip.

Bonus: they take up way less space than overstuffed bags or plastic grocery bags (yep—we were guilty of those too!).

🧼 4. A Luxury Toiletry Bag

Having one well-designed toiletry bag instead of five random pouches? Life-changing.

We switched to a leather travel bag from Saddleback and haven’t looked back. It’s waterproof, hangs easily, and has compartments for everything from toothbrushes to skincare.

We also went through our bathroom cabinets and downsized all our travel-sized stuff—getting rid of the freebies we never actually use. Now our kits are clean, compact, and ready to roll.

📖 5. A Travel Journal or Digital Photo Album

We’ve been lucky to take some amazing trips, and documenting those memories has become just as important as the trip itself.

Sometimes it’s a classic leather-bound journal, other times we create digital photo albums to share with family. We’ve even started a travel memory box at home with ticket stubs, maps, and postcards from our favorite places.

That said—we don’t keep everything. We’ve decluttered a lot of old souvenirs and focused on keeping only the pieces that still spark joy.

💡 And Before Every Trip... We Declutter

There’s something so satisfying about coming home to a clean, uncluttered space after traveling. It makes the return part of the journey feel peaceful—not overwhelming.

Before each trip, we go through:✔️ Travel gear we no longer need✔️ Toiletries and expired items✔️ Paper piles and “pending” bins✔️ Random junk in the closets or guest room

The less we leave behind, the lighter we feel.

Want to Feel That Too?

We’ve learned that organizing for travel isn’t just about the suitcase—it’s about setting up systems at home that make coming and going smoother. And if you’re retired and ready to explore, there’s no better time to simplify.

If you need help getting started, we’d love to help you declutter and get organized—whether it’s your guest room, your garage, or your storage unit full of “just in case” stuff.

📩 Send us a message or book your consultation today—and let’s get you Perfectly Purged before your next great adventure.