Sometimes the most useful piece of travel gear is the most unassuming piece in the entire collection… and maybe in your entire home. Staring in plain sight.
For the last two million miles, there's one piece of "travel gear" that has made it consistently with me on almost every trip.1 The few times I chose not to travel with it, I instantly regretted it. It was my…. drumroll, please… Tupperware.
That's right: Tupperware, in our opinion, is single handedly one of the most useful, and underrated, items that can be brought on a trip.
Leave the fancy Tupperware behind. The ideal Tupperware should be plastic, leak-proof, compact and lightweight. My favorite to-go is a discontinued (sad face), square-sized piece of Target-branded food storage. Something like this may also fit the bill.
There's also a good market for collapsible Tupperware for those really wanting to make the investment.
Tupperware enables you to take lunch on to the plane.
Packed and ready to go. (FOX / Pexels)
The last time I asked for the Southwest Chicken Salad Shaker on United, the flight attendant pulled out a tiny little $10 cup that was dripping all over her hand. (If that's not unappetizing, tell me what is.)
It was in that moment that I wish I had packed my lunch for the plane ride like I usually do.
Besides, the mere presence of the Tupperware will remind you to do the responsible, adult thing. That's to pack your food, and save money at the airport.
Lunch, or food, doesn't count as a personal item going through security. Technically, yes it is an extra item. In real life, though, no one has ever bat an eye for me bringing a separate lunch, purse and carry-on through security.
In fact, if anything, I've had security wave me through with smiles and glee when I've brought something particularly delicious.
Bring that hotel breakfast to go (or bring it back to the room).
It is awkward bringing Tupperware to the hotel breakfast bar?
Do you know what's even more awkward than bringing Tupperware to the hotel breakfast? Awkwardly holding two paper plates full of food in the elevator next to a bunch of strangers as you make your way back up to the room, and hoping you don't spill it.
It's great for when you don't have time to grab breakfast before checking out (but you know you will need to eat something later). I've walked into many of these spreads, stated my quandary, and been waved though without issue.
I recently fondly wished for my Tupperware about at the Bellagio buffet, which was one of the cheapest breakfast options in the hotel. Besides spending $69 on breakfast, I'm not even sure eating four plates of food at 10 am-for breakfast, lunch, and dinner-was pleasurable.
Rinse and reuse. (debbiehelbing / iStock)
Besides breakfast, it is also great for leftovers. If you have a great piece of Tupperware (ie, leak-free!) then I'd rather store leftovers in there where I know things won't drip everywhere instead of dealing with terrible paper packaging.
Trust me: Thank me later when there's that moment on the tour bus when everyone is really hungry, and you manage to pull out that little Tupperware and made yourself a mini smoked salmon bagel to keep the hanger away until the next dining stop.
Tupperware is a handy container for snacks.
Ever reach into your purse and try to dig around for that granola bar? Guess what, a suitcase is that like x10.
It is also great for keeping loose items together. In the times I don't use Tupperware for its primary purpose, I use it to stash random tea packets, single-serve coffee, fruit bars, and ginger chews. Go to town, and even include some face masks if you want.
Instead of feeling like a heathen, you'll feel organized, calm, prepared and like the best Girl Scout that You Can Be.
