If you’re looking for the best travel accessories, then you’ve come to the right place! I’ve traveled the world and I’ve used all of these items, so you’re getting a real recommendation. If you have any questions, be sure to reach out to me on Instagram @traveltomoney.
When you’re budget traveling, the key is to invest in quality gear that will last. Sure, you can save money in the short-term by buying cheap gear, but it will likely fall apart or not work well for you. It ends up costing you more in the long run. In this blog post, I’ll highlight some of the best travel accessories for budget travelers like me. Whether you’re looking for a new luggage set, power bank, or headphones, I’ve got you covered!
Before I did my first leg of world travel, I spent 7 months planning (let’s be honest, I overdid the planning). I researched everything from top to bottom, watched videos, and read blogs like this one. I ordered all of my items in advance and a month before leaving, I practiced packing so that I made sure that everything would fit in my bags. Even though I thought I was ready, the truth was that I still made mistakes. However, there were some purchases that ended up making more of an impact than I thought. I’ll talk about each one, and let you know my thoughts.
Luggage
Pacsafe
The first thing I researched was luggage and I ended up purchasing two items from Pacsafe.
These are the latest versions of the two items I purchased:
There were a lot of appealing things about purchasing a Pacsafe bag:
Protect Your Bag with Pacsafe
- You can fasten your bag to an object like a pole or a chair. The straps have internal wires that prevent them from being cut.
Protect Your Belongings with Pacsafe
- The bags are made of cut resistant fabric. The specific backpack I purchased had internal wires that provided an extra layer of protection.
- Lockable zippers prevent your bag from being opened. You can literally strap your bag to an object and leave it and all of your belongings would generally be considered safe.
Protect your Identity with Pacsafe
- Pacsafe pockets are made with RFID SAFE materials that prevent items like your passport and credit cards from being scanned.
I ended up traveling all over Europe with these bags. Six years later, I still have them and they look as good as the day I bought them.
Jansport Rolling Backpack
Since those initial travels there have been times that I wanted to take a carry-on backpack that also had wheels. For this I ended up buying a used Jansport backpack at Goodwill for around $8. The truth is you probably won’t be that lucky. Now that I’ve used one, I would easily buy another new one if I needed it. It has turned out to be one of the best travel accessories for me! This is the latest version of the Jansport backpack I have:
The benefits of this backpack are:
- Lifetime repair or replacement for anything that breaks
- Tuckaway shoulder straps – Roll it with wheels or carry on your back
- 15-inch laptop sleeve
Passport Case and Luggage Tag
I wasn’t planning on buying a passport case, but a friend purchased this for me as a gift and I love it. RFID helps keep your identity safe.
These are some of the benefits of the passport case:
- Your personal information stays secure with RFID technology
- High quality, leather
- Interior pockets for putting credit cards, cash, or other documents (I personally like to carry a few cards in my wallet and a few cards in the passport holder – then I keep them in different bags, so that if one bag is stolen, I still have other identification and payment options in another location)
Compression Bags
Compression bags can save you a ton of space in your luggage and rank high as one of the best travel accessories for me. I used these so that I only ever needed a carry-on bag. Just make sure you monitor your luggage weight as well. My only other thought is that if you’re staying in a place like a hostel where you have to be considerate of other people, they can be a little noisy, so just pull out the things you need during daytime hours.
- Compression Bag 12 Pack – Included 6 luggage size and 6 carryon size
Benefits of using compression bags for travel:
- You can simply roll the air out of these bags – no need for a vacuum
- Save a lot of space in your luggage
Waterproof Wet Bag
I didn’t use this on my first round of travel, but I added it in 2019. The main reason was that in Europe, washcloths are not common in Airbnb rentals and are hard to find in stores, too. I started traveling with my own washcloth, but that’s a problem when you have to pack it wet. This wet bag has a waterproof lining so that you can store damp clothes or a washcloth without worries.
- Waterproof Wet Bag – Includes one wet bag and one drawstring bag for dirty laundry
Benefits of having a waterproof wet bag:
- Keep your wet items separated in your luggage
- Takes up very little space
- Environmentally friendly as it reduces the need for plastic bags
Games
For me, there is only one travel game I take on the road and it’s SKIP BO. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite games even when I’m not traveling, but easily makes the list for best travel accessories. In 2019, I traveled with my best friend. I specifically remember that for a six-week stay in Egypt, we played almost every night at a 24-hour coffee shop until 2 or 3 in the morning and had the time of our lives.
Benefits of SKIP BO for travel:
- Not too big
- Between 2 and 4 players
- Will keep you busy for hours
Inflatable Neck Pillow
This is another one of those things that I hadn’t planned to buy for myself, but friends of mine gave this to me as a Christmas gift. I used my first one for years. There are two things that I really like about having an inflatable neck pillow. First, it takes up less room than a traditional neck pillow. Second, I can control how firm it is. Personally, I’ve never been able to use neck pillows well because my neck would have to lean too far over in order to be supported. But with an inflatable neck pillow, I can make it extra firm. This is one of the best travel accessories that I have received as a gift!
These are the benefits to having an inflatable neck pillow:
- When not in use, it folds down to a very reasonable size
- Easy to inflate/deflate
- Control the level of firmness
- Adjustable to your neck size
- Soft cover
- Extra supportive neck cushing
Sleep Mask
I’ve used a few different sleep masks but was particularly happy to find this kind that keeps the fabric off of my eyelids. That was always something I could never get used to. I do a lot of overseas trips, but even on some domestic flights I might end up flying at times where I need a nap. I always bring this, even on trips where I don’t bring a neck pillow.
Benefits of using this sleep mask:
- Keep pressure completely off of your eyelids while still getting a completely dark experience
- Memory foam cushioning
- Durable material
- Adjustable strap
Wax Ear Plugs
Not everyone needs ear plugs for travel, but I have always been a light sleeper who needs complete silence in order to fall asleep. Not only that, but I’ve also had to deal with snoring roommates and parties going on in hostels. These wax ear plugs have been a LIFESAVER. I used regular ear plugs before that would block out some of the noise, but you have to shake me to wake me when I have these in. Just be sure you’re ready for silence when you put them in.
Here are some of the benefits of using wax ear plugs:
- Each ear plug is reusable up to ten times
- Greater noise reduction than foam ear plugs
- Fit to the shape of your ear
- Watertight seal – can use for swimming or protection from water in the shower
Melatonin
I use melatonin pretty regularly, but I prefer the low dosage as it doesn’t take much to really help me fall asleep. I also love that it’s completely natural. Even so, please make sure you consult your health professional or do your own research before taking anything. I put a few melatonin in a plastic bag and then put it inside my travel sleep bag. Here is the melatonin I use:
Benefits of melatonin:
- Fall asleep naturally
- Non-habit forming and drug free
- Vegetarian
- Fast-dissolve tablets (that taste really yummy)
- No water needed
Power Bank
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a power bank while traveling. It could save you in so many situations, like when your phone dies while exploring a new city or if there are power outages at your accommodation. The power bank that I use has multiple charging ports and can charge my phone multiple times.
Benefits of using this power bank:
- Three charging ports – can charge phones, tablets, and kindles all at once
- Will charge most phones over six times before needing to be recharged
- Full recharge in 6.5 hours
- Compact size – easy to travel with
Important note: Lithium-Ion batteries are not allowed in checked luggage, so make sure you put it in your carry-on. Check your local guidelines.
Headphones
I use my headphones along with my phone for so many different things and these really come in handy for travel. If you’d rather listen to white noise than have ear plugs in, these are incredibly comfortable for sleep. I also like that they have a built-in microphone so it’s easy to talk without needing to have my phone out.
Benefits of these incredible Bose headphones:
- Quiet or Aware modes are awesome! Using the aware mode allows you to have your headphones on while in public spaces where you need to also hear what is going on around you.
- Personalize your EQ with custom settings for features like bass or treble.
- Easy bluetooth setup
- 22 hours of battery life
- Switch between two devices (watch a movie on your laptop, but still be connected to your phone)
- Wireless range up to 30 feet
My Airplane Sleep Bag
I’ve already mentioned each of these items above as one of the best travel accessories, but on every long trip I have a small bag that I put right into the pouch in front of me on my flight. These are the things it includes:
- Inflatable Neck Pillow
- Sleep Mask
- Melatonin
- Wax Ear Plugs
- Scarf – I take my most comfortable scarf to help cover my mouth while I’m sleeping. I do this more frequently when I’m traveling during colder months.
In Conclusion…
Like I mentioned before, it is important to have high quality travel gear. This is most important if you are traveling full time or long term. I have personally used the items on this list, and I hope it helps you in thinking through what travel accessories you need.
If you are interested in long-term travel and haven’t heard of WWOOFING before, be sure to check out this blog. WWOOFING stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms and is a great way to travel the world with free accommodations.
If you have other travel accessory recommendations, let me know. We’re all here to help each other have an awesome travel experience. Happy travels!
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