Have you ever seen something small and seemingly insignificant that just blew your mind – something you didn’t even know you needed until it came into your life? We feel the same way about the many essential travel accessories we hate to leave home without.
TPG staffers Ashley Kosciolek and Kristy Tolley have teamed up to bring you a short list of gizmos — from shoe bags to rubber balls — that every smart traveler should consider getting before their next trip. Some may surprise you.
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Shoe wallet
Ashley: When I travel, I often go for a run in the places I visit to shed pounds from all the local food I know I’m going to try. It’s hard to hold essentials without taking some kind of package, which is why a small wallet that attaches to your sneaker is great. This version, by Amphipod, attaches to your laces with Velcro and expands to securely hold cash, ID and a credit card or two with its zippered pocket.
When you’re not out exercising, a shoe wallet can be used to hold small items in a large purse or backpack so you can easily find them later. Read also : Margaritaville lessons for hotel lifestyle.
Bug Bite Thing
Ashley: If you’re anything like me, mosquitoes find you everywhere you go. It doesn’t matter if you wear long sleeves and pants or if you douse yourself in DEET. You still find yourself in a mess every time you go out.
Instead of worrying about going overboard on water regulations with bug repellants and post-bite creams, throw a Bug Bite Kit in your bag. See the article : The Netflix series about killing BR will air next month. The small, reusable plastic device, which comes in a variety of colors, creates a suction that draws out insect venom and saliva to help reduce itching after you’ve been bitten.
Riemot luggage caddy
Ashley: When I get up, I have to go in and out of my purse 20 times to get my ID, and then there’s the added headache of finding a place to put my phone when it won’t fit in my pocket. See the article : US dollars will now go further to the European vacation. Throw in a bottle of water and coffee for me to drink before boarding, and it’s like I’ve got my own juggling act.
This Riemot shirt holder for luggage has been a lifesaver on many occasions when I don’t have enough hands. It slides easily over the phone holder of any piece of luggage, and has three pockets to keep drinks, your phone and travel documents in one easy place. When not in use, the pocket folds flat so it can be stored in my backpack.
Duct tape
Ashley: Duct tape isn’t exactly new or trendy, but it’s more convenient than you might realize, especially when you’re traveling. I keep a roll in my luggage to use in an emergency – like when my luggage breaks, I tear a piece of clothing or I need to attach paper bag tags before boarding a boat.
These days, Duck Tape brand tape comes in tons of fun colors that can be used for almost anything. Made of polyethylene, it comes in 10 yard rolls that are 1.88 inches thick. It’s one of my takeaways; when I don’t have it with me exactly when I seem to need it.
Hat clip
Ashley: Over the years, I have collected many beautiful hats during my travels, but over time, I rarely take them back into the woods with me when I leave home. I find that putting them on the plane to my destination makes me look silly, and packing them in my luggage is impractical because I don’t want to crush them.
Well, one day, I was walking through the airport, and I saw a woman with a hat clip. I immediately went to Amazon and bought one that would allow me to clip any hat in my bag, eliminating the need to put on or take the hat off or stuff it into my bag. This, which is available in several colors, offers two metal clips that are separated by a durable band.
Portable door lock
Kristy: I travel solo quite a bit and safety is always top of mind for me, especially since I tend to listen to more reality podcasts than I should. There is no such thing as being too careful, in my opinion.
Most hotel doors have latches and deadbolts. However, bed and breakfasts, vacation rental properties and older or smaller hotels may not be possible.
No matter where I live, these portable door locks provide extra security and help me sleep better during my travels. They are also TSA compliant.
For added security consider this portable door lock and alarm station.
Price: $12.88 (single door lock), $12.99 (door lock and door stop combination).
Pinky Ball
Kristy: It may seem unconventional, but this classic toy can do wonders for tired muscles after a long hike.
Lie on the floor and place a couple under the upper back between the shoulder blades. Push up with your feet and roll yourself up and down and let the balls do their magic.
For long walks, use them to show your feet some love. Stand on them to stretch your bow.
Shower caps
Kristy: I rarely leave a hotel without packing my toiletries, so I stocked up on a bunch of bottled water. When I walk, I put my shoes in before I take them off. It keeps my other stuff from getting dirty.
If you don’t have a hotel sink, you can snag a three-pack of shower trays on Amazon.
Silica gel packets
Kristy: This is something you can get for free. Just collect the silica gel packets from the packaging of the last purchase and store them in a mason jar. If you can’t secure freebies before your next trip, buy a bag (of 55) gel packs from Amazon.
Their moisture resistance can protect your camera equipment and electronics from moisture damage, especially when you travel to a hot location.
Put a few in your clothes or put them in your shoes to help prevent odor-causing bacteria. Is your swimsuit not completely dry before you get ready to go home? Place it in a Ziploc bag with a packet of silica gel and your suit will be dry in hours.
Baby swaddling blanket
Kristy: Our family is past the baby stage, but we will never outgrow these blankets. They act as an all purpose towel. They are very heavy and drinkable.
If you get caught in the rain, use one to dry off. If you don’t already have a scarf or jacket, it makes a great airplane blanket.
Bottom line
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on essential (shall we say life-changing?) travel products. If you have an inexpensive or unusual item that you never leave home without, let us know. Drop us a line at tips@thepointsguy.com or join the TPG Lounge community on Facebook.
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or otherwise reviewed by any of these organizations.
