9 Useful Travel Accessories to Make Every Trip Easier (and Save Money)

This is the must-have travel gear to make any trip more comfortable, cost effective and all round successful. Trust me.

A few well-chosen pieces of smart travel gear can make a huge difference to how smoothly your trip runs. I’m all about the clever packing solutions and tech to make life easier, even if you do have to pay out a bit for the luxury. Anything that saves time, money and hassle is a winner in my book.

If you travel regularly – whether that’s weekend breaks in the UK, city breaks in Europe or long-haul holidays – these useful travel accessories are well worth packing.

1. Blue light glasses for screens and bright airports

When I’m travelling I spend more time looking at screens than usual, so I’m enjoying travelling with these blue light glasses from smartbuyglasses.com.

Wearing blue light glasses in the evening can help people wind down before sleep, which can be helpful when adjusting to a new time zone. Lightweight and easy to pack, they’re a simple travel accessory that can make screen-heavy journeys more comfortable.

2. Packing cubes for an organised suitcase

Packing cubes are one of the simplest pieces of travel gear you can buy, but they make a big difference when it comes to staying organised on the road. Look at these two cases before and after…

Instead of throwing everything loosely into your suitcase, packing cubes allow you to divide your belongings into neat sections. You might use one cube for tops, another for underwear and sleepwear, and another for gym clothes or swimwear. This makes it much easier to find what you need without unpacking your entire suitcase.

We will often share a suitcase between the three of us, to save money, and packing cubes help us to keep our things together, but separate.

They’re especially helpful if you’re moving between multiple destinations or hotels during one trip. Rather than rummaging through your bag every morning, you can simply lift out the cube you need.

Packing cubes also help maximise space in your suitcase, particularly if you use compression cubes, which squeeze the air out of clothes and make packing more efficient.

For frequent travellers, they’re one of the easiest ways to keep your luggage organised and avoid the chaos that often happens halfway through a trip.

3. Portable power bank to keep your phone charged

Your phone is the most important travel tool you have. It’s your camera, your boarding pass, your map, your hotel booking and often your way of paying for things too. Running out of battery is an absolute NO, when you’re travelling.

I genuinely couldn’t travel without my portable power bank. I have a few of them, but this MagPro 3-in-1 is my most recent travel gadget. It’s actually better for iPhone users rather than Pixel (like me) as you can rest your iPhone on the charger to charge it up rather than have to plug it in, and it can charge your Apple watch and Airpods too.

When you’re buying your portable power bank, look out for how much capacity it has, and how heavy it is. I’ve got this beast in the middle above, but it’s so heavy it’s just not very good for out and about day use. It is wonderful on camping trips though, just to keep in the tent to charge my phone overnight.

Modern power banks are small enough to fit in your pocket or day bag but powerful enough to charge your phone several times. Many also include multiple USB ports so you can charge more than one device at once. You need at least one of these in your life!

4. Universal travel adapter for international trips

If you’re travelling internationally, a universal travel adapter is essential. Different countries use different plug sockets, which means your normal charger may not work once you arrive.

A universal adapter solves this problem by allowing you to plug your devices into sockets around the world using one compact piece of equipment. It also takes up way less space in your bag.

Many modern adapters include several USB ports as well as traditional plug connections. This means you can charge multiple devices at the same time — for example your phone, tablet and camera.

A four bar extension lead plugged into one of these means you can just bring one and plug all your devices from there.

5. Collapsible water bottle to save money

Buying bottled water after security can easily cost £3 or more, especially in large international airports. A collapsible water bottle is the best way to avoid this extra expense.

Because it folds or rolls down when empty, it takes up almost no space in your bag. You simply carry it through airport security empty, then fill it up at a drinking fountain once you’re through.

This not only saves money but also reduces plastic waste while travelling.

6. Digital luggage scale to avoid baggage fees

One of the most stressful parts of travelling is the moment your suitcase is placed on the check-in scale at the airport.

If it’s overweight, airlines can charge expensive excess baggage fees. On my recent trip to Geneva it was £20 a kg – I just carried my son’s books in my hand to avoid the charge.

A digital luggage scale can help though. It’s a small handheld gadget that lets you weigh your suitcase before you leave for the airport. You simply attach the strap to your bag handle and lift it briefly to see the weight displayed on the screen.

This way you can rearrange your luggage at home rather than frantically repacking at the airport. Great if you love picking up a souvenir or two when you travel.

7. Noise-cancelling earbuds for journeys and time out

Planes, trains and busy airports can be noisy places. Crying babies, engine noise and loud announcements can make it difficult to relax, especially on long journeys. One of the smartest travel accessories money can buy are noise-cancelling earbuds.

They reduce background noise, so you can drown out the unwanted sounds and listen to your music, podcasts or films more comfortably. They’re also incredibly useful if you want to sleep during a flight or long train ride.

You can get noise cancelling headphones, but earbuds are more compact and come with a small charging case that easily fits into your pocket or handbag. These are one of those travel gadgets that make travelling easier.

8. Luggage trackers for extra peace of mind

A luggage tracker such as a small Bluetooth tracking device can really help if the worst happens and you lose your luggage.

Just place the tracker inside your suitcase and connect it to your phone. If your bag goes missing or gets delayed, you can see its last known location through an app. I have these Mi-Li trackers to track my rucksack, and my son’s rucksack day to day. It’s just an extra bit of reassurance.

Luggage trackers are a small piece of travel tech, but can make a big difference to how confident you feel about checking your luggage.

9. Foldable tote bag for extra carry space

A lightweight foldable tote bag is one of the most versatile travel accessories you can bring.

When folded up, it takes up very little room in your suitcase. But once opened, it can be used for all sorts of things – from carrying groceries and beach gear to storing laundry or extra shopping.

It’s also incredibly useful on the journey home, when you may have bought souvenirs or gifts that no longer fit neatly into your suitcase.

A foldable tote is great to keep in your bag on flights. That way once you’re past the power hungry luggage checkers, you can whip it out and get all of your stuff out of your pockets and hidden away. It just means a little extra space for snacks, books or travel essentials.