1. A stylish, versatile scarf or pashmina
From Haralee in A dozen tips for traveling light
“It can dress up an outfit or keep you warm or wrap around your waist for a cover-up, or over a blazer or jacket for extra style and warmth.”
From Janet Varn – Authenticity Travel in What to pack: My 13 travel essentials
A large scarf – my security blanket! I use it often on every single trip, as a blanket, a pillow, or a shawl, and it makes even the most wrinkled clothes look pulled together. It’s the last thing that goes into my carry-on bag – I tuck it in right on top – and it keeps everything else in place.
2. Pack-It Folders from Eagle Creek to simplify packing
From Content in 3 packing tips for simpler travel
“I went to Italy for twelve days last fall and used two of these. They worked very well. I put all tops in one and bottoms in the other. They come with a folding board which helps you fold things the same size. I place the board on the bottom of the stack of clothes before closing the pack. When you arrive, you can just pick up the stack of clothes (they are still folded) and put them in a drawer.”
3. Wrinkle-free separates to mix and match
From roadtripdreamer in Where can I find wrinkle free business attire? and Top 5 packing tips for your summer road trip
“I’m a big fan of the Chico’s travelers line. I can travel for an entire week in a small duffel bag or carry-on. The pieces never wrinkle and always look sharp. [...] Coordinate around a color theme. Take the phrases ‘mix ‘n match’ and ‘wash ‘n wear’ to heart. Make sure that everything can be worn with at least 3 other things. Save your color splashes for shirts and accessories.”
From Beth Whitman in 5 must-have travel clothes and accessories
“The gals over at Contourwear are all about packing light, and AMEN to that! To that end, they’ve created tops and bottoms you can mix and match to create different outfits. Seven pieces can these fit easily in a small Eagle Creek Pack-It Folder, which can then fit into your carry-on bag or even in a messenger bag.”
4. Ziploc baggies – large and small
From Janet Varn – Authenticity Travel in What to pack: My 13 travel essentials
I use them for everything from keeping receipts organized, to keeping liquids contained, to separating clean clothes from laundry. You can even sit on them and squish the air out to create space-saver bags!”
From roadtripdreamer in Top 5 packing tips for your summer road trip
“Zip-loc bags are your friend! Take many! Pack nothing in its cardboard packaging. Remove it and put it in baggies. If there are instructions you need, cut them out and put them in the bag. They keep everything in a minimum of space, they keep wet from dry, and they keep everything organized. (Hint: If you’re traveling with children, put each day’s outfit in a Zip-Loc bag and you can tuck them anywhere.)”
5. Comfortable yet stylish shoes to go from casual to dressy
From Content in My feet in France
I wear Dansko or Sofft sandals – always with a back strap – or Mary Janes if I don’t want an open toe. I found some black patent leather Soffts that look a little nicer and wore them out to dinner in Italy, they have lots of padding-good for cobblestone streets. I’ve seen some fold up ballet flats that are for travel, but haven’t tried them. You just put them in your purse for a quick change to something that looks a little more dressy.”
PatoFeliz in My feet in France
“I got plantar fasciitis and bought my first pair of Naot sandals a couple of months ago. I can walk almost pain-free with these. Great arch support and they are gorgeous! I now own another pair in a different color. Worth every penny.”
6. Duct tape – to repair almost anything (even help keep you safe in an emergency!)
Janet Varn – Authenticity Travel in 3 reasons to pack duct tape whenever you travel
“I’ve used it to repair a suitcase handle and to keep sunglasses together in a pinch. It’s super strong and tears easily, no scissors needed. You usually find it only in enormous rolls, which used to be a problem. Then one day I saw a few feet of duct tape wound around a piece of cardboard for sale at a check out counter. Light bulb – of course I made my own and stuck in a Ziploc bag. I think I’ve used it on almost every single trip I’ve ever taken.”
Dr. She in 3 reasons to pack duct tape whenever you travel
“Duct tape is great too if you get caught in a hotel fire and cannot get out of the room. Using duct tape around the door cracks can keep the smoke out and give you extra time to wait for rescue.”
7. Lightweight, carry-on size luggage
From Kathy Dragon in Top 7 must-have travel accessories
“My favorite luggage right now is a Samsonite 19″ Expandable Spinner. I can take everything for two weeks as a carry-on and the “spinner” (4 wheels) saves my wrists and arms while moving it through the airport. I can put my laptop bag on top of it and push the entire unit easily. When I bring home a few gifts and a bottle of olive oil, I can expand the compartment and check the bag in on the way home. (Always carry on – if you can – on the way to a trip.) In this little suitcase I’ve gotten five pairs of shoes, sandals and sneakers, professional dress attire, and hiking/workout clothes – all carry on!”
From Photogirl in Carry-on luggage
“High Sierra A.T. GO. It is carry-on size, can be a backpack, rolls, has carry straps on top or side. It really is perfect. It is my husband’s, but if I or my teenage daughter are traveling on our own, it is the go-to suitcase, because it is so nice and literally has everything.”
What are your essentials for simpler, low-stress travel?
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Thanks, I will definitely let you know. The nurse said that she was going to do a little on the lips. I sure don't want the trout pout.
Thanks for your advice. I'm getting more excited than nervous now.
Roadrunner - absolutely nothing drastic about it. When you first get the botox (forehead and eyes) you will see a change that will level off in a few days or one week. It looks completely natural. You CANNOT frown no matter how hard you try! Be very 
Haralee.Com Sleepwear because it is very light weight and modest enough that you could easily wear the pajamsa to open the door for room service or go to the lobby for coffee or at a friends home, lounge about in them.
Love all these ideas….wish I had read this before my last two trips!
I like almost all of the above ideas and already do use some of them. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 35+ countries so have learned a lot about packing and have a packing list that I print out from my computer. I really do have an issue though with the High Sierra A.T. Go back pack as I’ve found that people who use these sorts of items 1) do not consider that they take up way too much room in the overhead (can’t tell you the number of times that my small overhead – which contains everything that I need for a carry on – won’t fit because someone has stuffed an entire wardrobe into a back pack) and 2) do not remember when they have 2 feet of stuffed back pack on their pack as soon as the plane lands and they turn, they lob a 20+ pound back pack into a persons head just as they are getting up. Again, can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve been hit in the head by someone with a huge back pack. This is also a problem on public transport in foreign countries. I’ve found that it’s only the Americans who are obsessed with this type of packing.