Every time I travel, it becomes this different situation or scenario – roughing it in the mountains; staying at hostels; lux hotels; road tripping; business; pleasure… and so on. I am not by any means an expert traveler. No? I grew up traveling. I do like to call myself an experienced traveler. Like many, I have my must haves gizmos and gadgets on any type of trip business and professional. Some are just silly, but they help me.
I decided to break up my gizmos and gadgets into categories Health, Toiletries, Practical Things, and Tech.
Health
First Aid Kit – Store bought or create your own. Just having those bandaids on hand will come handy for that simple booboo.
Tums or Lemon drops – Tums for antacid. If you are not a fan of the chalk after taste, I recommend lemon drops or even lemonade to help with the stomach woes.
Balm or Anti Itch stick – Find a balm or anti itch stick to carry along for those annoying bug bites or blisters.
Wet Wipes – Wet Wipes for you and the surfaces around you. Please don’t flush them down the toilet though.
Vitamin C – No matter what time of year it is, boost your immune system with some Vitamin C. Starting to feel sick on the trip you will be happy you packed it.
Toiletries
Gallon Ziplock bag – Besides the one you already use for TSA check, it’s always good to have another one for just in case scenarios – riding on a wet ride or backpacking on a raining day store your tech in that extra baggie.
Folding Hair Dryer – Not only for drying your hair, you can dry out that shirt you got soaked in.
Dry Shampoo – I prefer a non aerosol dry shampoo. Perfect for when you really don’t have a shower facility. Dry shampoo can be substitute for a deodorant under your arms and your shoes.
Practical Things
Re-Useable Water bottle – Join me in saying goodbye to plastic waste Greengo Smart Solutions Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle is my favorite. It collapses and is easy to clips on the bag.
Re-Useable Tote-bag – Use it for a quick jump to the store or carry wet bathing suits.
Mini Resistance Band – Just because you are away from your normal gym routine does not mean you get to slack off. Resistance Bands also come in handy when your luggage no longer wants to close or the lock no longer wants to do its job.
Cooling Bandana – Cooling towels were a game changer for us snow birds. I use it to tag my luggage and then promptly take it off to wear. My favorite is Cooling Bandana Ergodyne 6700CT
Travel Cubes – I have tried the big Ziploc Compression bag and then I found Compression Packing Cubes, Gonex Extensible Storage Mesh Bags Organizers . They were a game changer. They are perfect for compacting all my gear and the best part, they prevent me from overpacking. I also figured out they come in handy as a laundry bag for my garments that need gentile cycle.
Tech
USB Powerstrip/Surge Protector – I have gone through quite a few different ones over time so there is no specific one I would recommend. Please make sure they are compatible with where you are headed. Be sure when you travel internationally to have a simple one.
Portable WiFi Hub – My phone provider has options for me to use a hotspot. Since I do most of my work from my laptop and sharing a spot just drains the battery I found a company called Skyroam. The little hub is compact for travel and comes in handy in those spots where cell phone use is just not working. “Simply turn on Skyroam Solis or Skyroam Hotspot and it’ll automatically find the best local signal wherever you go, so you don’t have to do the legwork. What makes the magic happen behind the scenes? Skyroam’s patented virtual SIM technology delivers local data, internationally, allowing you to connect to dozens of different cellular networks without changing your SIM card!”
Portable Sound Machine – I have shared rooms with people who snore. . I have stayed in rooms that were so thin I could hear everything from the rooms two doors down. I used a sound machine for our kid when she could not find a rhythm to finally rest. It worked on me as well but not compact enough to travel with. I found the best little machine LectroFan Micro Wireless Sleep Sound Machine and Bluetooth Speaker with Fan Sounds, White Noise, and Ocean Sounds for Sleep and Sound Masking The LectroFan packs quite a punch for how small it is. I looked for something with the same sounds I have at home – fan on all the time. This LectroFan has that option. It also acts a a speaker for that impromptu dance party or conference call for the whole room to be involved in. It also helps with white noise so if you are on a conference call, your neighbors at the hotel won’t hear the convo.
If travel has taught me one thing, it’s always best to feel comfortable from very day you book the trip. What are some of your go to gizmos? Feel free to comment below and share with other travelers.
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