As someone who has travelled a lot over the last two decades, I have gathered not only a lot of travel knowledge, but some great tips for travel accessories worth buying. They are travel essentials to me.
These aren’t all the ones you see frequently suggested either! I have some original, good ideas for travel accessories that you may not even know about.
I have provided some examples and links to products on Amazon UK, but you can find similar in other stores too. Amazon just has the best prices by far for most of these, and a wide range of choice.
Here are some of the best travel essentials you can get from my own personal experience:
- Hotel door security lock
This is a must have for females staying alone in hotels! I really recommend it to everyone to be honest!
This stops people being able to get into your hotel room, which they can do in seconds with basic tools. It is scary how quickly someone can break into your hotel room to steal your items or worse, so I recommend it to everyone, especially solo female travellers.
These tools add a lock they can’t get through and it works! Takes seconds to put up and really does work.
There are a few styles you can get, so pick whichever you prefer, such as this one, or this, or this style. They all do the same thing, but some are slightly different styles to others, so choose whichever seems the best for you.
I am going to get a video of mine on my next travelogue, so check my social media for updates.
- Travel neck pillow
This is something a lot of people take on vacation, and having tried over 6 types over the decades, I found some of the best styles. I found that memory foam pillows gave the best support with the most comfort.
This one for example is a perfect design to hold your neck and it comes with a carry case. - Universal travel adapter
If you are travelling abroad, you will need a travel adapter as different countries use different plugs.
I recommend you get a universal travel adapter such as this one, which not only lets you use any plug in it, it also has multiple USB ports so you can charge your USB devices such as your phone, as well as any devices with a plug socket that needs an adapter as it is built into this. - Travel lock with TSA lock
I highly recommend you get a luggage lock, but make sure it has a TSA lock for anyone who may ever visit the USA. This way if they need to check your luggage, they can open it with a key they have, without damaging your suitcase as they will break the lock to get in if they can’t open it.
This one is a 2 pack for just a few pounds, plus it has a larger head so you can fit it on multiple types of lock/zipper, and it comes with luggage tags too! Comes in a range of colours. - Power bank
If you have a few electronic devices that run out of charge quickly, a portable battery power bank is perfect for you. Get one that has a high battery capacity and is at least USB 3 for transfer speed.
One like this for example, is not only really small, but has a large battery capacity of 10000mAh and has QC USB 3 for quick charging speeds. - Luggage scale
If you haven’t got a luggage scale already, I recommend you get one that is small so you can take it with you. This way you will be able to weigh your luggage to see if you have room to bring home more souvenirs, and be able to make sure that your luggage is not overweight.
This one for example, is not only light but it is also digital so you can see an accurate readings so you aren’t guessing how heavy your suitcase it. - Compression packing cubes
If you have used packing cubes before, you will know that they are zipped bags that store your clothes in your suitcase. Compression packing cubes go one step further as they allow you to compress the size of the cube after you zip it up! This allows you to take more as it gives you more space in your suitcase.
This one for example is a set of 3 at a great price. - Travel space saving bags
Another option for space saving instead of compression cubes are space saving bags.
These let you use a vacuum or roll out the air to reduce the bag size.
These for example are a pack of 10 that roll so you can roll the air out, which is great as we don’t have vacuums on vacation! You get 10 which is more than enough and for a great price! - Travel wash
If you wash your clothes on holiday (which is great as it means you can pack less), then you could either buy a detergent on holiday, or the best option is to buy a travel wash before you go on holiday so you don’t need to shop for it once you get there.
This one for example is a small concentrated washing detergent for most fabrics so you can hand wash in your bathtub or sink. You don’t need a lot as it is concentrated and it works well.
You can also get it in multipacks to save more money such as this three pack to save even more for those that travel more frequently. - Mini perfume dispenser
I always take my mini perfume dispenser as it allows me to decant my perfume and take it in my hand luggage or handbag as it is small and portable. This is perfect for anyone who has a handbag, but especially great for travel as you can take it on your hand luggage too.
One such as this which is just a few pounds and can be used forever. Just fill it in seconds and throw it in your handbag! - Portable makeup brushes
For those that wear makeup and carry a lot of makeup brushes, I highly recommend you get travel makeup brushes. This one for example keeps all brushes in one single unit! Takes up less room and you won’t loose a brush as they are all kept together in a small unit. - Portable grab bars
You can buy suction cup based grab bars that click and lock into position, making them strong. If you have issues getting out of the bath or shower in hotels, this can really help.
They aren’t expensive. This one for example, is very cheap & lightweight. - Portable urinal for any gender
I have a weak bladder so I always need bathroom breaks on any journey such as a roadtrip. I carry a portable urinal with a female urinal took so I can pee on the go. This saves any accidents as you don’t know when you will get a toilet when you are on a roadtrip, so I always carry one.
This one for example, comes with the urinal for women to use as well as the container. Most don’t contain both tools, so this is a good set and works for any gender!
Updated 11th August 2023