As a travel advisor, I never leave home without these tried-and-true travel essentials. Thoughtful travel items can make a world of difference, helping you stay organized, comfortable, and prepared so you can focus on enjoying the journey instead of managing small inconveniences. Below you will find my favorite travel products that make packing easier, flights more comfortable, hotel stays smoother, and days out exploring more secure and stress-free. These are simple upgrades that can greatly enhance your overall travel experience.
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Helpful Packing Items
Staying organized while packing saves time, space, and frustration. These tools help streamline your suitcase, protect important belongings, and keep everything easy to find throughout your trip.
Small Zipper Bags
These little bags are extremely useful. They are flat with a zipper top, so you can pack things together in a small space. I use these for holding jewelry, medicine, etc.
Compression packing cubes
Compression packing cubes: Packing cubes help you to keep everything organized and compartmentalized. With these cubes, you have the added benefit of compression to save space in your luggage.
Apple AirTags
Essential if you are checking a bag (use one for each bag if you are checking more than one bag). It allows you to see where your bag is at all times. You can use the AirTags in anything you might accidentally leave behind (in your purse, jacket, phone or tablet, etc.).
Helpful Items for the Plane
Comfort is key when spending hours in the air. These essentials help create a calmer, more relaxing in-flight experience so you arrive feeling rested and refreshed.
Noise-canceling Headphones
AirPods Pro or over-the-ear headphones. The plane is surprisingly noisy with a loud white-noise hum. Noise-canceling headphones are a lifesaver.
AirFly Pro Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter
I love this! This product allows you to connect to the airplane’s entertainment without a cord. Pair to your (noise-canceling) AirPods Pros or over ear noise canceling headphones. Then use your headphones without the cord getting tangled up around you.
Travel Scarf with hidden pockets or Pashmina
I always bring a large scarf or pashmina with me on a trip. I love using it on the plane as a blanket or I wrap it around my head and cover my mouth to combat the dry plane air. At my destination, I’ve even used it as a hood when it’s raining.
Antibacterial Hand Wipes
To clean plane surfaces and hotel-room items.
Neck pillow
There are a ton of these on the market, try one out to see which one is the right one for you.
Eye mask
Great for shutting out the world on a flight, or when you’re traveling in a land with the midnight sun (hello Norway and Alaska).
Glasses/phone/sunglasses cleaners
Keep a few of these handy to keep your glasses and phone clean.
Combat Dryness
Remember to bring these items to combat the dryness of the plane: eye drops, lotion, lip balm.
Helpful Items in your Hotel Room
A few small items can make your hotel stay feel more comfortable, secure, and organized, especially after long travel days.
Travel Door Stopper/Door Wedge Alarm:
This is especially great on the first night after an international flight. We all need to sleep very soundly the first night, this helps us relax. I especially like this if I am traveling alone.
Mini Lint Roller
Compact enough to pack in your toiletries.
Baggies in All Sizes
You’ll be surprised at how useful they are while traveling.
Earplugs
A good night’s sleep is imperative when it comes to beating jet lag and waking up refreshed and ready for a full day of touring. Unfortunately, loud neighbors (or traveling companions), construction noise outside your window and paper-thin walls can be hard to predict. Earplugs make a world of difference to help you have a good night’s sleep. These earplugs are especially nice, because they fit flat against your ear, so you can still sleep on your side.
Helpful Items While Out and About
When exploring, comfort and security go hand in hand. These essentials help you stay organized and protect valuables without sacrificing style.
Travel Purse
I don’t often carry a handbag while traveling, but when I do, this is the one I carry. It has safety features like slash-proof straps, locking zippers and RFID pockets. This particular purse is small and lays flat against me, so it doesn’t bump into someone else. It is very comfortable and can be worn either on the shoulder or cross-body. There are many zippered pockets in this purse with organization pockets in the large opening. This handbag makes it easy to organize everything for quick access.
Moneybelt/ stashbandz:
You are required to carry your passport with you while abroad. These are a great way to keep it hidden on you, lessening the chance of having it stolen. I wear one of these under my clothes.
Moneybelt… Stashbandz…
Belt with Hidden Zipper
Belt with hidden ZipperThis kind of belt looks like a normal belt, but it has a hidden zipper on the inside. It’s a great way to keep extra cash hidden on you, just in case.
