Travel Accessories – The Must Haves and the Nice to Haves
I have made more packing mistakes than I can count, but after doing a LOT of traveling, there are some items that I won’t leave home without and others that are nice to have but not necessary. So, here’s a list of my “must-haves” and my “nice-to-haves.”
Please note that if you use a link on this page, I may get a very modest commission from Amazon, but I truly recommend all these products.
The Must-Haves
A Cell Phone with an International Data Plan
I use my cell phone for EVERYTHING – directions, payment, communication, transportation, translation, tickets. You will want to have access to data (without wifi) when you are traveling. I use T-Mobile because it has the best international plan of the US carriers, but you can also get data with a SIM card – either a physical SIM or an e-SIM. I have used Airalo (an e-SIM provider) and been happy with the service. If your phone is locked, check with your carrier to see what your options are. Some carriers will unlock your phone for international travel. Others offer international plans for an additional fee.
This is a good news/bad news area. The good news is that many modern electronics (cell phones, computers, iPads) have dual voltage capacity, so it doesn’t matter what voltage is being used. (The notable exception is that many hair styling devices like hairdryers and curling irons are single voltage. My advice is to borrow from your hotel or let your hair return to its original factory settings.)
The bad news is that plugs vary from place to place, so you will need a plug adapter. You can purchase one that is unique to your destination or get a universal adapter that can be used almost anywhere. Get one with lots of USB slots so that you can charge multiple items at a time.
I love my Travelon Bag. It has clips that secure the opening to the bag, zippered pockets inside for extra security, slash-proof fabric and straps, and a clip on the cross-body strap that allows me to securely wrap the strap around something to prevent snatch and runs. No bag is theft-proof. You are always going to have to be careful no matter what, but I believe my Travelon bag makes me a less appealing target to potential thieves – and I think that’s more than half the battle. Travelon bags come in a wide variety of styles and colors. They’re not the most stylish bags, but I will happily trade a little style for a lot of security. If you don’t find any Travelon bags that appeal to you, try PacSafe. They also make excellent theft resistant bags.
Even though I feel secure with my Travelon bag, I always travel with a money belt or neck pouch. I’m a big believer in redundancies for essential items, so I always travel with at least two credit cards and at least two debit cards. Often, I will leave the backup in my hotel, but if I’m traveling from place to place, I put one of each (plus some cash) into a money belt or neck pouch. It’s very hard for a pickpocket to access things that are under your clothes and strapped to your body. They’re also great for airplanes and trains where you might fall asleep. If someone is rummaging around under your clothes to steal your valuables, you’re likely to wake up.
A Portable Phone Charger
I’ve reached the point where I usually travel with two of these, a very small single-charge model that requires no cable and a larger multi-charge unit. We are so dependent on our phones for directions, transportation, payment, translation, photos, etc. that losing power is somewhere between an extreme annoyance and a disaster. Make sure your phone is always charged with a backup charger.
Track your items with your iPhone. I have air tags in my suitcase, my backpack and my Travelon bag. That way, if something goes missing, I may be able to find it. If you have an Android, I understand that Tile has excellent trackers.
This is a relatively new addition to my must-haves, but now I don’t know how I survived without it. The lanyard prevents me from dropping my phone and makes it much harder for someone to snatch my phone. (I realize that at this point, I’m probably sounding paranoid. I’m not. I’m just careful, and thanks to these relatively minor security precautions, I don’t worry a lot when I’m traveling. They give me peace of mind.) The lanyard I purchased comes with a wrist lanyard and a neck lanyard and slides into my existing phone case.
At some point in your life, you will realize that your feet and lower legs are swelling when you sit on a plane or in a car or bus for a long period of time. Compression socks will help with that.
Is it stylish? No. It is not. Is it compact and effective? Yes. Yes it is.
The Nice to Haves
I’m not super organized in my real life, but because I try to travel carryon only when I travel, I’ve found that a set of compression packing cubes can be super helpful. It helps keep me organized and save room in my small suitcase.
Sometimes, I need a small daypack for hiking or when I want to carry rain gear or I’m planning to shop. So, I travel with a packable backpack that folds down to almost nothing. It’s been very useful to have at times. Also, you can pack it full of souvenirs and check your regular bag on the trip home.
Because almost without fail, my cable will malfunction when I’m traveling. Unless you’re traveling up the Amazon or similar, you can usually purchase one on the road, but it’s nice to have a spare without having to search one out.
Luggage Locks
Sometimes it’s nice to have an added level of security on your bags. They’re especially useful when paired with a cable (see below) so that you can lock your bag to a stationary object if the bag has to be out of your sight (on a train luggage rack for instance or when you absolutely have no choice but to leave your bag in a car – which I do not recommend).
Pair a cable with a travel lock (see above) for added security.
Because sometimes you need a quick drying towel to take to the beach or similar.
Some airlines are super strict about luggage weight, so this scale can come in handy.
Yes, you can use them for your hair, but I put my shoes in them when I pack to keep the dirty shoes isolated from the clean or clean-ish clothes.
Sometimes, I just want a yogurt for dinner, and travel cutlery has saved the day. (Or you can just pack whatever utensils come with your takeout.)
An iPad and a Netflix Subscription
Get yourself a lower-end iPad so that if you lose it or it gets damaged or stolen, it’s no great loss. Download Netflix shows to watch on the plane or during downtime. Use it as a Kindle for books.
Listen to Netflix on your iPad with these earbuds. Also, reduce the irritation caused by the screaming baby in the row behind you. If you’re like me, you are likely to lose small, expensive gear, so Airpods seem unwise. These Earfun earbuds are recommended by Wirecutter as a budget alternative. (Sorry, even though they may drown out screaming babies, they will not keep the kid behind you from kicking your seat.)
AirFly Bluetooth Audio Transmitter/Receiver
You know those uncomfortable plastic headphones airlines give you for their in-flight entertainment? You can avoid them with this device that allows you to connect in-flight audio to your own bluetooth earbuds or headphones.
Shoes and Clothing
Let me preface this by saying that shoes and clothes are incredibly personal, and what works for me may not work for you. But there are some items that I love so much I feel compelled to share. I go for comfortable, versatile and functional over trying to make a fashion statement. YMMV
One universal truth is that you should always, always, always wear shoes around for a while before you take them on a trip. Having foot problems or blisters is one of the surest ways of ruining a trip. I usually travel with just two pairs of shoes -- one I wear on the plane and one in my suitcase. Which shoes I take is primarily weather dependent -- although when I'm traveling in a place like Asia, where putting on and taking off shoes is common, I look for slip-on functionality.
So, without further ado, here are the shoes and clothes I love for travel (but I wear them at home too).
Keen Women’s Whisper Closed Toe Durable Comfortable Easy On Washable Adventure Sandals
OMG! I love these shoes. I've worn them on 5 continents. They are super comfortable, durable, have good arch support, grippy traction, and they are great when you have to walk through the wet. All the benefits of a sandal but with closed toes -- which is extremely important to me because I have a tendency to walk into things. Sometimes I wear them with socks. (Don't judge.) What they are not good for is cold climates.
These shoes are warm and comfy if you’re traveling to a cold climate. I wore them with a thick pair of socks during my winter trip to Japan and South Korea. (The fact that they are slip-on was a huge bonus.) They're not suitable for anything more than the lightest snowfall, but they were perfect for my purposes.
Merrell Women’s Moab 3 Hiking Shoe
I’m not a serious hiker, so I don’t need serious hiking boots. These Merrell shoes have been perfect for the light hiking I’ve done. Comfy, good traction and great support.
Wool in summer? Yes! I am here to sing the praises of Merino wool. It's cooling in hot weather, warm in cooler weather, moisture wicking, odor resistant and you can wear it many times before it needs to be washed -- unless you're like me and are prone to spilling stuff down the front of your shirt. But when you have to wash it, it washes well and dries quickly. You can get it in short or long sleeve versions. For cold weather, you can also get thermal pants or hoodies. It's not cheap, but Merino is fantastic for travel.
Old Navy Wide Leg Linen Pants
These are my go-to warm weather pants. Cool, flowy, forgiving, inexpensive and easily washable. You can also dress them up a bit if necessary. (It’s almost never necessary for me.) They even come with a drawstring waist in case you need extra room after a particularly delicious meal. (Not that I would ever over-indulge, of course.) I don’t have a link to purchase for this one. Just head to the Old Navy website.
For colder weather, I usually just stick to my favorite pair of jeans. Don't let any idiot tell you that "No one wears jeans in Europe." That may have been true for my grandmother's generation. It's not true now. (Same goes for sneakers.)
Now, stay tuned for my list of indispensable apps!