Packing lists will vary based on where you're going and how long you're travelling for, but the best travel accessories can improve every trip. From tech gadgets to keep your electronics powered up and luggage accessories that ensure you're not hit with an overweight baggage charge, having the right gear means a smoother journey, every time. Below, we've rounded up 27 essential items to pack inside your carry-on bag, weekender, or checked luggage. Consider these the travel gear staples to bring on your next trip – and all your future holidays after that.
- A trusted tote
- A travel wash bag
- Packing cubes
- Jewellery case
- Reusable travel bottles
- Hydrating skincare products
- A portable charger
- A power adapter
- Headphones
- A luggage scale
- A way to find your luggage
- An e-reader
- A portable fan
- A portable steamer
- A tech kit
- An eye mask
- A neck pillow
- Cosy socks
- Earplugs
- A shawl or blanket
- Hand sanitiser and wipes
- A reusable water bottle
- Snack containers
- A passport holder
- A back-up travel bag
- An umbrella
1. A trusted tote
A tote bag is the ideal personal item. It's roomy enough to store all your odds and ends, and everything you'd want with you during a flight, and is usually pretty pliable, meaning you can squeeze it under the seat without taking up all of your foot room. Look for one with comfortable shoulder straps, should you overload it with snacks. A trolley sleeve is a nice feature, too, so you can slide it over your suitcase while cruising through the airport.
July Everyday Large Tote
Book tote
2. A travel wash bag
A travel wash bag is key to staying organised — and avoiding spills in your luggage. We like these options from Away and Bagsmart for their water-resistant materials and ample space for your toothbrush and toothpaste, razor, soaps, and more. A hanging bag, like those below, also allows you to keep items tidy and off the bathroom counter.
Away Hanging Toiletry Bag
Bagsmart toiletry travel bag
3. Packing cubes
Don't underestimate the power of a good packing cube. Articles director Lale Arikoglu has waxed poetic about her love of Paravel's packing cubes (other editors are fans of Away's set), which come in a range of sizes to store everything from bathing suits and socks to T-shirts.
Paravel packing cube quad
Antler Chelsea Packing Cubes
4. Jewellery case
A rule to live by: never check your valuables, especially jewellery. Keep necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings safe and neatly organised inside a jewellery case. We like Monica Vinader's for smaller accessories; if you're packing sunglasses and watches, you'll want something slightly bigger, like this Smythson option.
Smythson Jewellery Case
Leather trinket box
Avoid tangled chains and lost earrings by keeping all valuables in this safe and chic leather trinket box from jewellery designer Monica Vinader.
5. Reusable travel bottles
Rather than buy plastic travel-sized toiletries, get yourself a set of leakproof travel bottles that allow you to bring your at-home favourites on the go. They're great for storing toiletries and beauty products, and tubs can also be used to keep small items like jewellery or vitamins.
KITSCH Ultimate travel bottle set
Refillable 4-in-1 Travel Bottle Set
6. Hydrating skincare products
Even if you're not the type of person with a multi-step in-flight skincare routine, a few basics can go a long way in keeping your skin happy and healthy after a long day of travel. Since hand sanitiser remains a travel essential, a hand balm to apply once or twice a day is equally important to keep them moisturised. Aesop's smells incredible, and will last for several trips to come — a little bit of the thick, creamy balm goes a long way. Don't forget a hydrating lip balm, either.
Nuxe Cica Rich Hand Cream, Reve de Miel
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
7. A portable charger
There's nothing like a dead battery to slow down a trip. Keep all your accessories charged up with a power bank — Anker is our favourite, but iWalk's mini charger is a great option if you're short on space.
iWALK mini portable charger
Anker PowerCore 20100 portable charger
8. A power adapter
For international travel, a power adapter is a must to make sure you can get devices charged up in the airport and your hotel room. Apple's World Travel Adapter Kit comes with seven AC plugs with prongs that fit into different electrical outlets around the world, and each one is labelled with the regions they are compatible with. (As for compatibility, it works with Apple USB-C power adapters; MagSafe and MagSafe 2 power adapters; 10W, 12W, 30 and 35W USB ports; and portable power adapters.) We also recommend this Bluetooth converter, which lets you use your regular cordless earbuds to watch a movie in flight.
Apple World Travel Adapter Kit
Worldwide Travel Adapter with Leather Case
9. Headphones
Whether the plan is to listen to music, watch a movie, or just drown out noisy neighbours, most of us won't board a plane without headphones. Make sure you have your go-to on hand, plus a pair of corded earbuds (if you don't have one of these Bluetooth adapters).
SHOKZ OpenFit Headphones
Apple AirPods Max noise cancelling headphones
10. A luggage scale
Give yourself some added peace of mind with a digital luggage scale; it’ll let you know how much damage your souvenirs did before arriving at the check-in counter on the way home.
Mopro digital luggage scale
11. A way to find your luggage
Speaking of luggage, the Tile Pro and Apple AirTags can help locate lost bags (or wallets, or keys, depending on what you attach it to). In fact, a luggage tracker is one of the items contributor Harrison Pierce wishes he had when he began travelling full-time.
Tile Mate
Apple AirTag
12. An e-reader
Even travellers with a library full of books at home have to admit it: E-readers are an essential travel accessory for bookworms. They are so much lighter than even one paperback book, and let you bring as many options as you want along for the ride.
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Kindle Paperwhite
Kindle Oasis
13. A portable fan
If you're headed somewhere warm, or just tend to run hot, do yourself a favour and pack a portable fan. Whether you choose a handheld option or one you can wrap around your neck, it'll give you the breeze you need whether you're in the back of a crowded bus or van, standing in line at Disneyland, or kicking back in a beach chair.
Portable hand fan
Gaiatop mini handheld fan
14. A portable steamer
If you're travelling to a wedding or heading out on a business trip, you may want to bring a portable steamer along to make sure your formalwear looks its best after you take it out of your suitcase. Traveller contributor Erinne Magee put nine travel steamers to the test to find out which ones are the best options for travellers — below are two of her favourites.
Steamery Cirrus 3 iron steamer
Black + Decker handheld garment steamer
15. A tech kit
All of those tech items mean you're going to have plenty of charging cubes and cables to keep track of. Save space in your backpack — and save yourself the headache of digging through your bag — by keeping everything wrapped up in a tech kit like the ones below.
Bellroy Tech Kit
Away The Tech Case
16. An eye mask
For a comfortable journey at 30,000 feet — especially one where you hope to get some shut-eye —an eye mask is crucial. For more help sleeping, try the Bluetooth sleep headband recommended by US contributor Iona Brannon, which lets you listen to music or white noise without anything in or around your ears; in a pinch it can even double as an eye mask, she says.
Honey Bee Eye Mask
OLIVIA VON HALLE Odyssea floral-print silk-satin eye mask
17. A neck pillow
Another comfort essential: a travel pillow. It can take some time to find the style you like best, and your pick might vary depending on whether you're in-flight or in a car. Two we like: The classic memory foam wraparound neck pillow, which can be tightened or loosened per your preference, and the innovative fleecy neck wrap recommended by commerce writer Charley Ward.
Trtl Travel Pillow
Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow
18. Cosy socks
We love a good pair of compression socks to fight that pins-and-needles feeling that comes from sitting still for too long, be it on a long-haul flightor a road trip. For those who prefer a cosier option, we recommend socks from Barefoot Dreams.
Ostrichpillow Bamboo Compression Socks
Charmking compression socks
19. Earplugs
When you need some peace and quiet, swap your noise-cancelling headphones in for earplugs. This set comes with multiple sizes, so you can find the right fit, and share with any family members you're travelling with.
Loop Quiet Ear Plugs
20. A shawl or blanket
For those who run cold, an oversized scarf will get plenty of use in transit, and can even double as a blanket. Opt for a quality material you can pack for years to come, like cashmere.
Lambswool Blanket Scarf
Cos pure cashmere scarf
21. Hand sanitiser and wipes
As for general wellness, hand sanitiser is a must — buy a set and drop one in all your most-used totes and sling bags so you're never without. Some biodegradable wipes are nice to have on hand too, especially if you're travelling with little ones.
Jo Loves Hand Sanitiser and Hand Lotion Duo
Cheeky Panda Bamboo Hand Wipes
22. A reusable water bottle
Rounding out our collection of the best travel accessories are some odds and ends, like a good reusable water bottle, so you can stop buying overpriced bottles at the airport (and be kinder to the environment).
Stanley IceFlow water bottle
Water bottle
23. Snack containers
If overpriced airport snacks aren't your jam, come prepared by filling reusable Stasher bags with popcorn, crackers, fruit, or whatever else you'd like in-flight before you leave your house. A reusable utensil set is another nice-to-have travel accessory that'll allow you to turn down the plastic cutlery you might be handed in the airport or elsewhere on the road. The spoon and chopsticks are particularly TSA-friendly (while utensils are technically allowed through security, it's at the discretion of the agent if they'll let plastic knives or forks).
Stasher silicone reusable storage bags
Nuoshen Cutlery Set
24. A passport holder
Also handy: a high-quality passport holder (bonus points if it has space to hold your credit cards) to keep your most important document protected. Aspinal's can be personalised with your initials for an added £20.
Leather Passport Holder
With looks that far surpass its £25 price tag, this leather croc-effect wallet has space for your passport and three of your most-used cards. A chic, crowd-pleasing design.
Aspinal of London Plain Passport Cover
Aspinal’s passport wallet comes in a choice of 13 colours, but our choice is this rich chestnut brown number; a classic, elegant pick. It’s made from quality full-grain leather with a contrasting suede lining, and is personalisable for an additional fee. There are no card holders, but there is a handy slip pocket for your boarding pass and a grosgrain ribbon marker to make life easier while fiddling for your photocard at the gate.
25. A back-up travel bag
For trips where you plan to shop, something lightweight, like Paravel's Fold-Up Bag or Baggu's Cloud Bag, is a smart addition to your packing list. Stuff it with souvenirs on your way home, or use it for overnight or weekend trips within a longer holiday.
Stubble & Co Ultra Light Tote
Paravel Fold Up Bag
26. A travel umbrella
Depending on your destination, a travel-size umbrella might be worth the space in your luggage. And if you're driving, tossing one in the backseat is a no-brainer. Contributor Claire Volkman tested out around a dozen options on our US sister site to determine which are the sturdiest and most compact. Shop two of her favourites, both available in the UK, below.
Repel windproof travel umbrella
Weatherman The Travel Umbrella
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in travel accessories, I can provide information related to all the concepts used in this article. Here are the key concepts and their explanations:
Tote Bag
A tote bag is a large, usually unfastened bag with parallel handles that emerge from the sides of its pouch. It is typically made of cloth, canvas, or leather and is used for carrying personal items. In the context of travel, a trusted tote bag refers to a sturdy and reliable bag that can be used as a personal item during flights and can accommodate various essentials.
Travel Wash Bag
A travel wash bag is a bag specifically designed to carry toiletries and other personal care items while traveling. It usually has compartments and pockets to keep items organized and prevent spills in luggage.
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are small, lightweight containers used for organizing clothes and other items in a suitcase or bag. They come in various sizes and help maximize space, keep clothing wrinkle-free, and make it easier to locate and access items during travel.
Jewellery Case
A jewellery case is a small container or pouch used to store and protect jewellery during travel. It helps keep necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings organized and prevents them from getting tangled or damaged.
Reusable Travel Bottles
Reusable travel bottles are small containers that can hold toiletries and beauty products. They are designed to be leak-proof and reusable, allowing travelers to bring their preferred products from home instead of relying on single-use travel-sized toiletries.
Hydrating Skincare Products
Hydrating skincare products refer to moisturizing products that help keep the skin hydrated during travel. These can include hand creams, lip balms, and other products that prevent dryness and maintain skin health.
Portable Charger
A portable charger, also known as a power bank, is a portable device that can store electrical energy and be used to charge electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and cameras while on the go.
Power Adapter
A power adapter, also called a travel adapter, is a device that allows you to plug electronic devices into different types of electrical outlets when traveling internationally. It ensures compatibility and enables charging and use of devices in different countries.
Headphones
Headphones are audio devices worn over the ears or inserted into the ear canal to listen to audio content, such as music, podcasts, or movies, without disturbing others. They are a common travel accessory for entertainment and noise cancellation during flights.
Luggage Scale
A luggage scale is a device used to measure the weight of luggage before check-in at airports. It helps travelers avoid overweight baggage charges and ensures compliance with airline weight restrictions.
E-reader
An e-reader, short for electronic reader, is a portable device designed primarily for reading digital books or e-books. It uses electronic ink technology to display text and provides a convenient way to carry and access a large number of books while traveling.
Portable Fan
A portable fan is a small, handheld device that generates airflow to provide a cooling sensation. It can be useful during travel, especially in warm climates or crowded environments where air circulation may be limited.
Portable Steamer
A portable steamer is a compact device that uses steam to remove wrinkles and freshen up clothing. It is particularly useful for travelers who want to maintain the appearance of their clothing while on the go.
Tech Kit
A tech kit is a collection of accessories and cables used for organizing and carrying electronic devices, such as chargers, cables, adapters, and headphones. It helps keep tech items organized and easily accessible during travel.
Eye Mask
An eye mask, also known as a sleep mask, is a cloth mask that covers the eyes to block out light and promote better sleep. It can be helpful during flights or in unfamiliar sleeping environments.
Neck Pillow
A neck pillow is a U-shaped pillow designed to support the neck and head while sitting or lying down. It provides comfort and helps prevent neck strain during travel, especially on long flights or car rides.
Cosy Socks
Cosy socks are warm and comfortable socks typically made of soft materials like wool or fleece. They are often worn during travel, especially on long flights or in cold environments, to keep feet cozy and prevent discomfort.
Earplugs
Earplugs are small devices that are inserted into the ear canal to reduce or block out noise. They are commonly used during travel to provide a quiet and peaceful environment, particularly in noisy planes or hotels.
Shawl or Blanket
A shawl or blanket is a large piece of fabric used to cover and provide warmth. It can be useful during travel, especially in situations where the temperature may be unpredictable or in-flight blankets may not be provided.
Hand Sanitiser and Wipes
Hand sanitiser and wipes are products used for personal hygiene, particularly for cleaning hands and surfaces. They are essential for maintaining cleanliness and preventing the spread of germs during travel.
Reusable Water Bottle
A reusable water bottle is a container designed for carrying water or other beverages. It is environmentally friendly and reduces the need for single-use plastic bottles, making it a convenient and sustainable travel accessory.
Snack Containers
Snack containers are reusable containers used to store and carry snacks during travel. They help prevent spills and keep snacks fresh, allowing travelers to bring their own food and avoid relying on expensive airport snacks.
Passport Holder
A passport holder is a protective cover for a passport that helps keep it safe from damage, bending, or unauthorized access. It can also have additional pockets or slots to hold other travel essentials, such as credit cards or boarding passes.
Back-up Travel Bag
A back-up travel bag is an additional bag that can be used for various purposes during travel. It is lightweight and foldable, making it convenient to pack and carry. It can be used for additional storage, shopping, or as a spare bag for unexpected needs.
Travel Umbrella
A travel umbrella is a compact and lightweight umbrella designed for portability during travel. It can be useful in case of rain or strong sunlight and can easily fit in a bag or suitcase.
