10 Must Have Travel Accessories

This post contains affiliate links/ads. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

It’s time to pack for your trip. What are your must have accessories? You only have so much space, so you can’t pack all of the things. With limited space, it’s better to pack smart and light than to cover all of the “what ifs” that come to mind. I’m the queen of what if so I know about packing things and being annoyed that I didn’t use them. After my last few trips I’ve edited a lot, and these are the 10 items I just can’t leave at home.

1. TSA Approved Toiletry Bag and Silicon Bottles

I’m about that carry-on only life so I don’t have the luxury of putting full-sized liquids in a checked bag. It also means I don’t have a lot of space to pack. My previous solution for this was a 1 quart zip top bag. Definitely not the most packable thing in the world. This must have is a sleek clear toiletry case that’s TSA compliant. No one has time to be held up at security because you disobeyed the 3-1-1 rule.

Of course you have to put things into the toiletry bag, and my preference is refillable silicon bottles These are a must have because I’m not a fan of constantly buying little travel-sized products. I love these because the don’t leak, they can be filled using the products I have at home, and they’re flexible so I can fit a bit more into my toiletry bag. The only travel sized items I really buy now are toothpaste and deodorant (saves space). Saving space and stopping waste is a win in my book.

2. Tissues, Hand Sanitizer, and Antibacterial Wipes

I have 2 words for this one SEATLESS TOILETS. I think this must have is a gimme, because people are gross (airplane bathrooms anyone). Depending on your destination, there may not be toilet paper in some of the bathrooms or soap for that matter. Bringing tissue, hand sanitizer, and wipes generally makes for a better experience when you’re unsure of the conditions you might face. I usually carry a few travel sized packs of tissues, a travel sized pack of wipes, and a 3 oz bottle of hand sanitizer that I refill from the massive bottle in my linen closet. They definitely made a difference in Mexico.

3. TSA Approved Cable Locks and Steel Cable

As someone who primarily travels with a backpack, these two things are non-negotiable must haves. Backpacks are easy to carry which makes them easy to steal. I love the cable locks because they fit pretty much any kind of lockable zipper. They’re also flexible and can be used along with the steel cable to secure items within your hotel, hostel, or airbnb. Just make sure you remember the combination you set.

4. Reusable Water Bottle

I prefer an insulated steel water bottle because one I’m a klutz, and two, I am not a huge fan of tepid water. Another feature I appreciate in a water bottle with a loop I can use to attach a carabiner clip. This lets me attach the whole thing to my daypack. Enough about me, there’s a wholly non-bougie reason I consider a reusable water bottle an essential travel item. If you’re carrying water, you’re more likely to drink water.

It’s easy to forget when you’re caught up in all of the new sights and sounds, but being dehydrated really puts a damper on the fun. If you’re hydrated you’re less likely to feel the impact of jet lag. You’re also less likely to over indulge on delicious new foods. Best of all, you won’t end up passing out in a foreign country due to dehydration. Last but not least, you don’t have to worry about leaving empty plastic bottles in your wake. Remember, you should never leave a place worse than you found it.

5. Multi-Country Plug Adapter

If you’re traveling internationally, you absolutely must have a plug adapter. Power sockets vary from country to country. Having a plug adapter means you won’t be caught unawares and unable to charge your electronics. Most phone/tablet charges are dual voltage these days, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Check the little label/print on your power block to confirm that it’s dual voltage. If it says 110-220 you’re good to go. If it doesn’t, you’ll need a converter as well. Sure you can buy an adapter that only works in one region, but umm why would you? Multi-country adapters allow you to keep one adapter regardless of where you’re headed. They can be a bit clunky, but the convenience far outweighs the hassle.

6. Unlocked Phone

These days most phones are unlocked. Unlocked phones can be used with any carrier. If you do have a carrier locked phone, the carrier will usually unlock it for free though some may charge a small fee. Phones that work outside of the U.S. must be able to operate on GSM networks. If your device is CDMA only, you’ll need to purchase an unlocked device.

The good news is that you can easily find affordable unlocked phones these days. Prices start as low as $40, but you can get way up there in price if your looking to purchase one of the heavy hitters (Apple/Samsung). Ideally, you’ll spend a bit more to insure you’re getting a quality device. You don’t want a device that’ll let you down in the middle of your epic adventure. 

I should probably tell you why unlocked phones are necessary. Most U.S. carriers are really excited for you to travel abroad with their sim card and service. Why? Because, they’re going to charge you an arm, a leg, and a weeks worth of groceries from Whole Foods to use their service outside of the States. Always check before you jet.

If they’re asking for your first born in return for a week’s worth of service, the unlocked phone comes into play. You can pick up a prepaid SIM when you land. You’ll typically have a number of plans to choose from, and you can usually top up easily. Make sure you get a plan with data if you need to use your phone for more than calls/texts.

7. Portable Battery Charger

You know what’s worse than a dead phone? A dead phone in the middle of a foreign city when you can’t figure out how to get back to your hotel. I consider carrying a portable battery charger to be a no brainer at this point. If you’re traveling and leaning heavily on navigation, messaging, and translation apps while using your camera every 5 seconds your phone will die eventually.

A portable battery means that you don’t have to rush back to your hotel, or end up in a stressful situation. It’s also great for recharging tablets, or headphones. You can usually find high capacity, but small in size batteries for an affordable price (under $50). It’s definitely worth adding one to your budget.

8. Noise Cancelling Headphones

Hear me out here (no pun intended). While noise cancelling headphones aren’t a survival item, they can greatly improve the quality of your travels. Do you really want to spend your 8+hour flight listening to all the sounds that come with being in a metal tube hurtling through the sky? No? Good, I didn’t think you would. Music, podcasts, movies, and even audio books are much improved when you’re not cranking up the volume to account for the surrounding noise.

For most people noise-cancelling equals expensive. They aren’t wrong. A pair of durable, high quality headphones can set you back up to $300+. They’re well worth the price, and nothing will give you better noise cancelling or higher quality sound. Once you’ve listened to a pair of Bose or even high end Sony models going back is hard.

Trust me it’s a sad song. My Bose QC20s literally fell apart after several years. I replaced them with a $50 pair of TaoTronics noise cancelling earbuds. They get the job done at work, but on a plane they don’t exactly shine. They’re merely okay for flying. There are plenty of options in all price ranges, just know that you get what you pay for in this case.

9. High Quality Camera

I know that you have your phone, and it has an amazing camera. That’s awesome, and you should use it. By use it I mean you should learn how to take great photos using the settings in your phone’s camera. Phone, point and shoot, micro 4/3s, or full frame DSLR, a great camera is worthless if you don’t know how to use it. Many more advanced cameras have a manual mode. You should definitely learn to shoot manual. It’s worth the effort.

Just because your camera is expensive doesn’t mean it does the work for you. It usually means that there’s more to learn because you can’t shoot manual. There’s nothing wrong with shooting on auto mode. I do it myself sometimes. Just be aware that you can only fix so much with photo editing tools.

I use my phone (Google Pixel 2) and my Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III. Both take excellent pictures, and they play well together. I can remotely control my camera from my phone so there’s less, “can you take my picture” and more usable shots. I also love that I can carry both in a small crossbody bag.

10. Crossbody Bag

I usually have my carry-on backpack and a smaller daypack as my personal item. I also pack a smallish leather crossbody bag. This must have is a matter of security. Sometimes I carry it if I’m not going far from the hotel. I’ve also been known to carry both the crossbody and the daypack if I’m going far enough from my hotel to need water but still want things at close at hand. I don’t place valuables in my daypack if I know I’m going to be in a crowded place. Even if I lock the zippers, someone could still cut the bag open. There are anti-theft backpacks out there that are built to prevent cutting if you really can’t stomach the idea of a crossbody.

My crossbody came from Wilsons Leather years ago, and it’s still in great condition even though I’ve dragged it everywhere. What’s really great is that my bag has several zippered pockets including an internal one. This means that my valuables are always close to my body and hard for thieves to access. The bag I carry isn’t anything fancy, but there are crossbody bags that have built-in anti-theft features. They may be more your speed depending on your travel style.

Honorable Mention

While I said 10 things, I would like to give an honorable mention to large scarves. I never fly without one, even in the middle of summer. They’re great blankets when the plane gets cold. They also make excellent pillows if you have a window seat. Of course you can use them to cover yourself (head/hair and shoulders) if you’re visiting a conservative country.

You’ll notice that I didn’t list things like my backpack or packing cubes. I consider these to be must have items, but I also think that they deserve a thorough post of their own. I hope this list helps you pack for your next trip. I’d love to know what you think. Did I miss the mark here? Are there must have items that I’ve left out? Let me know!