I travel almost constantly: whether for month long “slow travel” trips, short weekend breaks, or visits to friends all over the world… I am constantly on the go.
And although I love this lifestyle, it also means I live out of a suitcase most of the time.
And believe me, if you have lived out of a suitcase or backpack for years you know how to pack light and appreciate practical travel essentials!
Anything that is multi-purpose, small, easy to carry, and easy to clean scores points with me.
So, in this article I want to share 10 of these practical travel accessories.
The Best Travel Accessories
1. Travel Bottles for Toiletries
I don’t want to carry around my big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, etc. when I’m only going away for a weekend so I simply transfer some to my reusable travel bottles and take those!
And, since I often fly with only carry-on luggage to save on expensive checked luggage I wouldn’t even be allowed to carry my big bottles. That’s another reason why travel bottles for toiletries are one of the best travel accessories.
Travel bottles are also perfect for camping trips, to take to the gym with some lotion or to carry in your purse.
I also have some reusable containers for pills, so that I can take a smaller quantity of any medication or food supplements I want to bring on a trip.
You can find a wide range of travel bottles for toiletries on Amazon. In different colors, styles, and sizes.
Tip: these reusable bottles also make great gifts for travel loving friends! 🙂
2. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes make living out of a backpack or suitcase so much more comfortable!
If you’re anything like me, after a few days of traveling your bag or suitcase is an unorganized mess.
Packing cubes are such an easy, and inexpensive, way to keep things organized.
Pack different types of clothes (underwear, tops, etc) in different cubes to keep them together. This way you know immediately where what item is, and your clothes stay folded better.
You can find a range of packing cubes on Amazon.
Tip: Getting ready for your next trip? Check out this Ultimate Travel Packing List
3. Tote Backpack
This is my personal favorite!
Since I often combine business and pleasure during my travels a bag like this is perfect for me.
Big enough to hold my laptop and stylish enough to take to business meetings but then it easily converts into a practical backpack I can take on hikes and long journeys.
There is a range of tote bags available that double as a backpack. So you can choose the design that best suits you.
4. A Water Bottle With a Filter
When you are traveling and filling up your water bottle in different places, the water is not always of the best quality.
That’s why I love a water bottle with a filter.
The filter makes sure any water I put in my bottle is safe to drink, and it stops me from having to buy plastic water bottles in places where you can’t drink the tap water.
Lifestraw is the best-known brand for water bottles with a filter, and they have several different water bottles to choose from.
Tip: these filters work so well that they can even make water from rivers and lakes safe to drink. Therefore they are a great travel essential for hiking and camping trips!
5. A Universal Travel Adapter
A must-have for international travelers! Different countries have different plug types, and a universal adapter means you won’t get stuck without a way to charge your devices.
Some adapters even come with built-in USB ports, so you can charge multiple devices at once—super handy when outlets are limited.
Check out the best universal travel adapters.
6. A Portable Power Bank
When you’re out exploring all day, finding a charging spot can be tricky. A portable power bank ensures you never have to worry about a dead phone or camera.
I always carry one—especially on long travel days, hikes, or when working remotely from cafés.
7. Noise-Canceling Headphones
Flights, buses, and busy cafés can be loud. Noise-canceling headphones make travel so much more comfortable! They block out background noise, so you can sleep, work, or just enjoy your music in peace.
I love using them on long-haul flights or when I need to focus while working remotely.
Check out top-rated noise-canceling headphones here.
8. A Travel Pillow
A good travel pillow makes a huge difference on long flights, road trips, or even train rides.
There are many options, from memory foam to inflatable ones, so you can find what works best for you.
Find the best travel pillows here.
9. A Compact First Aid Kit
It’s always smart to have a small first aid kit for minor cuts, headaches, or upset stomachs.
You don’t need anything bulky—just a compact kit with the essentials like band-aids, painkillers, and antiseptic wipes.
Check out a selection of compact travel first aid kits here.
10. A Luggage Strap
The perfect travel essential.
I really don’t like having my hands full when I am traveling or navigating through crowded areas. But, I do have certain things I want to carry with me and then I find strapping things to each other a perfect solution.
A good luggage strap will pretty much strap anything to your bag, suitcase, etc. I find it ideal to clip on a neck pillow, rain gear, or just my jacket to my bag. Very versatile!
You can buy a wide range of luggage straps here on Amazon.
Where to Buy These Travel Essentials?
All of these top travel accessories can be found on Amazon
Enjoy your travels!
Also Read:
- 10 Perfect Gift Ideas for Digital Nomads
- What to Bring on a Hike – Hiking Essentials You Should Never Forget
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Hey, some great add-ons there that can really make travel easy. Love the idea of the strap to attach an extra bag to the carry on and also Growler looks pretty good especially for travels during the summer months.
These are some great travel accessories, Sanne! I would love to have them all!
I need one of those third hand straps!! I always look like a completely disorganised mess when travelling because I don’t have enough hands but this little device would help so much.
I’ve traveled to about 20 countries for a variety of reasons. But I have never owed a tote backpack or a purse backpack. I will definitely look more into these assessories.
I was given a third hand travel strap for Christmas last year. It took me a few minutes to work out what it was for but wow it’s so handy! One thing not on your list that I would also really like is one of those Grid it organisers.
Thank you so much for this list. I have never seen or heard of 4 of these. Just in time for my birthday! I so need the 3rd hand thing!
Thanks for the tips, its really messy to pack litle samples of shampoo for short trips so i like the tubs a lot for my buying list.
Some really great accessories listed here, thanks for the post! I really see a need to add the luggage strap and tote backpack to my collection!
These are all fantastic accessories that we’d love to have for our next trip. I like the containers for shampoo and soap as they are handy and stylish. The purse back pack seems quite handy as well.
I would also add: a powerbar/travel battery! For those of us who are too stubborn to fork out and buy a decent camera my iPhone has been my main travelling buddy and the battery just would not have lasted the three day hike along the Inca Trail without the extra power! Great tips! and another great read!
Nice list! tips and provision is the main thing for traveling.
Thanks for all the tips. These accessories look pretty cool and I think would come in handy even for short trips. I’ll have to look into the purse backpack!