I love to travel (who doesn’t?!) and I take packing my suitcase as a personal challenge. Traveling can be stressful if you aren’t organized and over the years I have found a few essentials that I have come to swear by. On my recent ten-day road trip through Ireland, I truly put all my travel accessories to the test. This is a list of all the products that helped me stay comfortable, safe and healthy while keeping my sh*t together through connections at a busy international airport and multiple hotel changes.
Whether you are a frequent flyer or a beginner who is just branching out, these are all the travel accessories that will help make your experience as enjoyable, and low-stress, as possible.
An Expandable Essential
Hardside Luggage
I have three of these DELSEY suitcases (all in different sizes) and have found that they are perfect for all my travel needs. From weekend trips to my parents’ house to week-long getaways. They have great spinner wheels, a durable exterior, and TSA approved combination locks. They come in so many different sizes and a variety of colors, perfect for anyone in the market for new luggage.
A Cube For Every Item
Packing Cubes
Everything, and I mean everything, goes in a packing cube or storage bag when I travel. It may be nuts to some, but it keeps me sane to be organized when I am outside of my normal routine. This set comes with cubes of a few different sizes and a few other nifty essentials, like a laundry bag and a cosmetics case.
A Set of Cubes that Compress
Compression Cubes
While I am no stranger to packing cubes, I recently used compression cubes for the first time and they are a GAME CHANGER. If you are traveling to a colder climate, put all your bulky layers in these cubes to compress them down. They’re also good for fluffy dresses! Just be mindful that compressing clothing into denser cubes makes the weight add up in checked luggage.
A Best-Selling Backpack
Kanken Backpack
If you are looking for a durable backpack that will last a lifetime, this Fjallraven favorite is for you. My husband and I both have one and they are truly the best around. They are water resistant and come in an insane amount of colors. You’ll be surprised how much you can pack inside and this makes the perfect “personal item” for air travelers.
A Tracking Tag
Apple AirTags
I fully understand that this is not necessarily an item you need, but for me the peace of mind makes them worth the investment. When checking a bag through connecting flights, or getting a carry-on gate checked, it is nice to be able to track your bags and know that they are nearby. I typically put one in each of my suitcases, and one in my personal item, just in case they wind up out of my sight.
A Silicone Sleeve
AirTag Holder
If you choose to purchase some AirTags, you are going to want to get a sleeve of some sort to keep them in. These silicone ones are a lightweight, no-frills option that will keep them contained as you clip them onto the inside of whichever bags you want to keep track of.
A Necessary Protector
RFID Blocking Cards
We live in a digital world filled with a bunch of assholes just waiting to take advantage of the unprepared or unaware. These RFID blocking cards are easy to slip inside your wallet and passport holder, keeping your personal and financial information protected. With how inexpensive these cards are, there really is no reason not to add them to your list of essential travel accessories.
A Portable Plane (or car) Pillow
Travel Neck Pillow
Neck pillows can be a nuisance to carry around, which is why I have avoided them in the past, but this one is a new favorite. It is comfortable while also being able to roll up and easily contain in it’s storage bag. Whip it out to catch some ZZZs on your flight, then roll it up and stow it away in your purse or backpack. Say goodbye to a neck pillow flopping around outside your luggage!
An In-Ear Entertainer
Apple AirPods Pro
Over-ear headphones are great, but they take up so much more of your precious packing space than a small AirPods case. These are my personal favorites (mostly because my ears are oddly shaped and all others just fall out), but any wireless in-ear headphones will get the job done for most people.
A Universal ALL-In-One plug
Travel Adapter
If you are traveling internationally, you will probably need a travel adapter. This one is compatible with US, UK, AUS and EU outlets, and there are additional USB A and USB C ports to make charging your devices easy. You won’t need to pack a bunch of USB blocks, saving space in your luggage, and it is suitable for over 200 countries!
A Double Charging Pag
Apple MagSafe Duo
If you have an Apple Watch and an iPhone, this fast-charging pad is a worthy purchase. It lives in my electronics organizer and makes device charging easy since you only need one cord. It’s nice to be able to plop it on your hotel nightstand and have your phone and watch charging simultaneously.
An On-The-Go Battery Back-up
Portable Charger
I hardly ever travel without a portable charger, especially on trips where I know I will rely on my phone for navigation and photo documentation. All that screen time drains the juice, making a back-up charger an essential travel accessory. This one charges an iPhone more than once, but they have so many others that store more or less power, depending on your needs.
A Nifty Med-Minder
Daily Pill Organizer
I take a lot of herbal supplements, so a good pill organizer is a must for me. My mom found this one and we both use and love it. There is a large and small size, and seven compartments s you can organize by day of the week or by pill type. For Ireland I used the large size for my supplements and the small size for other pills I thought I may need (allergy and pain medication, etc.).
A Handy Hydration Helper
Liquid IV Packets
As hard as I try to stay hydrated when I travel, I almost always end up partially dehydrated. The combination of drinking less water than normal and drinking more alcohol than normal is to blame. Knowing that, I started religiously packing these hydration multiplying electrolyte powder packets and it truly helps. This sugar-free variety is my favorite.
A Clean Skin Favorites
Cleansing Towels
If you read our October Monthly Favorites, you know that I am a huge fan of these cleansing towels. You can use them to dry your face (avoiding bacteria that sits on regular towels) or wet and combine them with a cleansing product to replace other facial wipes. I love that they come in these travel packs!
A Minty Must-Have
Dental Floss Picks
This is the most inexpensive product on this list, but one that I never forget when I am packing my toiletries. Good gum hygiene is important, and I like having this little carrying case so I don’t have to pack my entire bag of flossers. Each trip I take, I just refill the case and I am ready to go. Don’t forget your flossers, folks.
A Jar to Jam liquids Into
Cosmetics Containers
These containers are perfect for taking just the right amount of your cosmetics with you on the go. I use them for my cleaner, moisturizer, hair masks, etc., but they can pretty much be used for anything. It’s a nice alternative to buying a bunch of single-use mini versions of your favorite products, and they keep you in compliance with TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule.
A skin soothing almond oil
Cleansing Shower Oil
I will write about this cleansing shower oil until the cows come home because it is my absolute favorite. It soothes, softens and is perfect for my sensitive skin. I have the travel-friendly mini bottle that I just refill each trip and the comforting almond scent is such a pleasure when I’m far away from home.
A BFF For your Underarms
Mini Deodorant
I have used these aluminum-free deodorants from Lavanilla for as long as I can remember and I have even converted my husband to them as well. The pure vanilla scent is subtle and they are actually effective for a natural deodorant. This mini size is perfect for all your travel trips, making more room in your cosmetics case for other essentials.
An Old-School Essential
Travel Map
Using navigation on your phone is generally pretty reliable, but I love the peace of mind of having a good ol’ fashioned paper map to find my way. These National Geographic travel maps are waterproof, tear resistant, and updated regular, making them super reliable (even in inclement weather) when you are off the beaten path.
It seems like almost every time I travel there are new and exciting travel accessories on the market, but oftentimes I prefer to just lean into my tried and true favorites. Amazon has an incredible selection of products to keep you organized, but there can be a lot of duds out there, so I hope this list helps you narrow down your essentials for your next trip.
xoA
Over To You
What do you think of the items on this Amazon Love List for travel accessories? Are any of these products always in your luggage when you travel? Am I missing anything? Let me know what some of your favorite travel accessories are in the comments section below!
