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Which Accessories Are Best for Travel? Nobody Knows.
There are so many travel accessories out there, how do you know which ones are the best? You can’t. There’s no such thing. As each person’s preferences and needs are different, the term ‘best’ is extremely subjective. This word is thrown around so often that when you’re on the hunt for something, it’s nearly impossible to weed through all the ‘best’ lists to find things you’ll actually love.
Comfort & Organization: Traveling as a Grownup
So, I won’t attempt to identify the ‘best’ travel accessories for anyone, but I can tell you what I love. Traveling as a grownup, I’ve come to appreciate little ways to add comfort and organization to enhance my travel experience – this is a great way to travel ‘luxuriously’ without spending lots of cash. Affordable, lightweight things for the airplane, hotel, and to take on adventures that can improve your travel experience without taking up much space. Traveling can be tiring, but it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.
Below are some of my favorite travel things and why I love them. Perhaps you’ll love them, too!
Why Amazon?
The product links in this list will direct you to Amazon. This is one of my favorite places to shop for travel accessories thanks to plentiful product reviews, competitive prices, easy returns, and free shipping.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can easily try new things and return those that don’t work out. Shopping online can be difficult when you can’t physically touch or inspect a product. Amazon’s return policy makes it easy to get a few different styles or brands of something and return what doesn’t work out. Last year, I ordered 10 travel purses and returned 9 of them. I ended up with a purse that I love and don’t feel bad about it.
The product links in this article are Amazon affiliate links and I will get a small commission for any items that you purchase from them. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, I’m just getting credit for referring you. And, because I only recommend products that I love, this feels like a win-win.
My Favorite Travel Things
The Ultimate Travel Pillow
It might be funny looking, but it does the job well. This inflatable travel pillow is designed to give you something to hold onto, letting you lean into it when trying to sleep on a plane, train, or automobile. Easily inflates, deflates, and doesn’t take up much space.
iPhone Wrist Strap
Game changer. Attach this to your phone case for worry-free picture-taking. On boats, bridges, or the back of a motorbike – take all the pics you want and never worry about dropping your phone. The adhesive is permanent – I recommend attaching it to a case you use only when traveling so it doesn’t get in the way at home.
Universal Plug Adapter
This highly rated universal plug adapter works with US/UK/EU/AU outlets covering more than 200 countries. Comes with USB and USB-C ports.
iPhone Cooling Fans
A lifesaver for hot climates. Plug it into a charged iPhone and create a personal breeze.
Cooling Towels
Downy Wrinkle Releaser
This stuff is amazing. Spray it on your clothes after unpacking to smooth out wrinkles or freshen items that you’ve worn a few times already. The travel-size bottle is nice, but costs more on its own – bundle it with 2 of the large sizes and use those at home and for refills.
Earplugs for Small Ears
Small Purse
This is the small travel purse I settled on and love. The boxy width makes it easy to fill with little things and it doesn’t get lumpy or look stuffed. I like having three different zipper sections to separate things.
Blue Q Zipper Pouch
Neck Wallet
Use this on travel days to keep passports, boarding passes, vaccination cards, luggage claim tags, and foreign currency organized. I keep it in my carry-on, but you could go full neck strap if you wanted to.
Power Strip for Cruises
Cruise cabins typically don’t have a lot of plugs. Create more USB charging and electrical ports with this! This ‘power strip’ is cruise ship compliant, meaning it doesn’t have an extension cord or surge protection. Cabin stewards will often notice non-compliant electrical accessories and remove them for safety reasons. You’ll be good with this one. NOTE: This one only works with US electrical ports.
Large Zipper Pouches
Use these to keep printouts of tickets, reservation confirmations, or maps to take on your trip. After the trip, use them to keep all your keepsakes together as a trip archive.