After the excitement of packing and finally leaving the house, we arrived at the airport. I’d secretly hoped to catch a glimpse of our final destination on my boarding pass or luggage tag, but Mike had expertly kept it hidden. The only thing I discovered? Our layover was in Miami.

Traveling internationally in 2021 came with its quirks, masks, health forms, socially distanced seating, all part of the new normal. But the thrill of heading somewhere unknown made every little inconvenience feel like nothing.

The flight into Miami was blissfully smooth, free of the turbulence that usually sets my nerves on edge. I could actually feel my heart start to settle. To keep calm, I did what I always do: pressed my face to the window, watched the clouds drift by, and snapped pictures. Funny enough, I’m terrified of heights, my palms sweat just watching an actor dangle from a cliff in a movie, but floating miles above the earth feels peaceful, as long as I’m gazing out that little oval window. Go figure.

Once in the airport, I found myself staring at all the departure boards, imagining which gate held our mystery destination. We had a couple of hours to spare, so we stretched our legs, grabbed a bite at TGI Fridays, and reset for the next flight. That’s when I really appreciated the travel essentials my mom insisted I pack. They turned out to be game-changers and have since been added to my Wanderlist.

By the time we finished eating, my impatient anticipation must’ve been showing, because Mike reluctantly paid the check so we could head toward the gates. As we walked past destinations I’ve dreamed of visiting, I’d point and exclaim things like, “This one! OMG, you nailed it!” earning a few odd looks from passersby. Mike would just smile and quip, “Not yet, you haven’t earned that one.” It became a little game that made the long walk far more fun.

And then, we finally stopped. There it was in glowing letters: St. Martin. For a split second, I thought Mike was joking, but the scrambled letters fell into place and the surprise hit me all at once.

I was buzzing with excitement. But there was still one more surprise left, and all Mike would give me was this clue: “It‘s a secret.” Not exactly helpful, but somehow, it was the perfect hint. That little non-clue set the tone for the entire trip, unexpected, exciting, and full of discovery.

🌴 The Wanderlist: Layover Must-Haves

Because every airport and flight comes with small headaches, here’s what I couldn’t live without on this trip:

• [RFID Passport Wallet] – streamlined, stylish, and stress-free access at every checkpoint.
• [Portable Charger] – whether navigating airports or exploring your destination, staying powered up is non-negotiable.
• [Travel Toiletry Bag] – perfect for freshening up between flights or just keeping your essentials organized.
• [Travel Tumbler] – stays cold, fits perfectly in the side mesh pocket of the underseat carry-on, and helps keep you hydrated while you wait.

(Tip: Keep your essentials accessible in the underseat carry-on. It makes layovers less stressful and gives you more time to enjoy the moment.)

✈️ The real adventure didn’t start until we boarded our next flight. Between surprise customs forms and a missing pen, things got messy fast. Stay tuned, I’ll spill all the details in my next post.