Top Ten Travel Accessories

With 100′s of travel accessories available it is sometimes difficult to choose which ones to buy and which to omit. My list gives a run down on the top ten must haves for any traveller.1. Travel Adaptor. If you are travelling overseas to a country that uses a different plug socket to your home country then you will need the appropriate travel adaptor if you intend to take electrical devices with you whether it be your phone, laptop, iPad, camera or music player. If you are visiting multiple countries then you might want to look into a universal adaptor which will convert your plug to any worldwide socket.2. Travel Wallet. When travelling you carry many more documents than you normally would so your regular wallet is most likely not large enough. You will need room for your travel tickets, passport, visa’s, travellers cheques, credit cards, cash and boarding passes. It is a good idea to keep all of your documents in one place that is easy to access so that you pass through immigration swiftly. Look out for a travel wallet that is roomy and has a lot of sections to organise your documents into separate compartments. An exterior slip in pocket is useful for your boarding passes.3. Concealed Waist Wallet. After you reach your destination and settled in at your hotel you will no longer need to carry around all your travel documents. I recommend that you just carry the cash you need for the day and possibly a credit card. Many tourist destinations have a high rate of pick pocketing so a regular wallet can be unsafe. A concealed money belt however is hidden under your clothes and is invisible to a would-be thief.4. Pocket Travel Guide or Destination App. Visiting a new destination is exciting as you discover new places of interest but often with little knowledge of the destination a lot of time can be wasted whilst you get to know the area. Before smart phones a poker sized travel guide was the best option but if you now have a smart phone then there are many apps that will give you detailed information on the place you are visiting.5. Sleeping Mask. If you are travelling by plane, coach or train for an extended period catching 40 winks is advisable and can make a long journey seem short. Due to the less than ideal settings an eyeshade helps to cut out the light and make sleeping a little easier and more comfortable. If you reach your destination and are suffering from jet lag and need to sleep during the day then the mask will be useful again.6. Travel Pillow. Essential for a comfortable rest whilst travelling, travel pillows come in a variety of designs. Some are a horseshoe shape and loop around the back of your head and others are just a small version of your bed pillow. They can either be filled (usually foam) or inflatable. The filled ones are generally more comfortable but do take up a lot more room than an inflatable one, take this into consideration when choosing the right one for you particularly if you have limited space in your carry on luggage.7. Luggage Scales. Excess baggage fees can be horrendous and should be avoided at all costs so even though you will not use it much, a luggage scale can save you a lot of money. Weigh your luggage before you travel and then again before you return. Check that you know exactly what weight you are allowed to take with you and consider that when purchasing gifts from overseas. If you think you are getting close to your limit during the trip re-weigh your luggage and consider posting items back home if you are going to go over your limit.8. Toiletry Bags. Seasoned travelers always use a toiletry bag, it is a good way to keep all your toiletries in one place and they can stay in there for the duration of your trip some even have a hanger system so that they can open up and form a shelf in your hotel room. The other big reason for using a toiletry bag is spillage, your shampoo/aftershave could become damaged during transit and leak out onto the rest of your packing. Toiletry bags are usually waterproof so in the event of spillage the liquid is limited to the toiletry bag only and want soil your clothes.9. Travel Clothes Line. No one really wants to wash clothes on holiday but sometimes it can be unavoidable even if it is just a few items over the space of several weeks. You can always find something to use as a substitute washing liquid if you have no travel wash with you (such as soap or shampoo) but hanging the items can be difficult if you have no balcony and even then it is not ideal as your garments could end up dusty. The solution is a travel clothes line that garments attach to by a twist in the line and has no need for clothes pegs.10. Packable Bag. This kind of bag can either be a backpack or travel bag that folds away into our small pouch so in effect you are getting an extra bag that takes little space but can be unfolded to an extra, useful bag should it be needed.