Travel Expert Oneika Raymond Shares 13 Items That Will Upgrade Your Next Trip

The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke to TV host, travel influencer, and content creator Oneika Raymond about her packing essentials and everyday vacation recommendations.

Oneika Raymond left her career as an international middle and high school language teacher in 2016 to pursue journalism. Now, she works as a travel storyteller and “experience connoisseur,” having visited over 120 countries. In other words, she has more than proved her expertise in the area of packing for vacation. Born and raised in Toronto, she accrued a gradual following and was offered press opportunities after the creation of her blog, Oneika The Traveller.

Since then, she’s produced a great deal of content for brands like the Travel Channel, Expedia, Marriott, Greyhound, and Alamo with a consistently unique and colorful point of view. It’s all in line with her personal aesthetic, of course. It’s impossible to scroll through Raymond’s feed – catching a glimpse of her enjoying crystal-clear waters or visiting architectural wonders of the world – without the travel bug biting.

But Raymond’s adventures are not just for show. “One of my biggest learnings in the travel space has been to prioritize creating content that serves the diverse needs of my audience,” she tells PS. “My most successful work has been content that answers their questions or solves their problems.” To make this process even more seamless, she’s partnered with Expedia on a Travel Shop, where she educates followers on her favorite vacation spots, hotels, and experiences.

The site also allows for curated collections, like Raymond’s roundup of Bucket List hotel stays. On her list of favorites? The Chalet al Foss ($751 per night) in Italy. “I’ve been to Italy nearly 30 times and can’t get enough of the culture, food, and architecture,” says Raymond. “The Dolomite Mountains are particularly gorgeous.” She frequents the Chalet al Foss hotel for its “incredible alpine views and the chance to have floating breakfast in the property’s infinity pool.”

Raymond names Grenada as another bucket-list destination. “I visited the Caribbean island of Grenada a few years ago and was extremely impressed by its azure waters and verdant rainforests.” She says Silversands Grenada (prices vary based on dates) is “one of the most luxurious hotels” she’s ever been to. “If you can’t stay there, be sure to at least book a treatment in its beautiful spa,” she says.

Ahead, she curated a list of her go-to essentials, from portable devices you didn’t know existed to paper straws and wine corks that she actually uses to organize her jewelry. Keep scrolling to shop Raymond’s fail-proof packing list and ensure you’re well-prepared for your next vacation.

Experts Featured in This Article

Oneika Raymond is an Emmy-winning NYC- and Miami-based correspondent for New York Live TV and the host and producer of podcast About the Journey.