10 Travel Essentials That Will Instantly Upgrade Your Trip
- ultimatevacationn
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
We’ve traveled with too much, too little, and all the wrong things; and learned (sometimes the hard way) what’s actually worth packing. After roadtripping through national parks, flying across continents, and always filming content on the go, there are a handful of items we refuse to travel without.
These aren’t just trendy gadgets, they’re the things that make our trips smoother, more organized, and way less stressful. Whether you’re hopping on a plane, hitting the road, or planning your next big adventure, these 10 items will change the way you travel for the better.
And yes, most of them are affordable, compact, and from Amazon, so you can easily grab them before your next trip.
Lovevook Travel Backpack
I’ve heard people rave about this backpack for years and honestly thought it was overrated, but a few months ago, I finally gave in and now I understand why everyone talks about it! I have a horrible habit of overpacking, and somehow this bag fit a full week's worth of clothes for Logan and I, plus all of my makeup, which fits perfectly in the waterproof pouch attached to the inside of the backpack.
We have saved HUNDREDS of dollars on checked bag fees since getting it, especially when flying with budget airlines like Spirit, where a checked bag can cost nearly $200 per person round-trip. We’ve never had an issue bringing it on the plane; it fits perfectly under the seat and counts as a personal item. It even fits two laptops, which is perfect for working on the go or editing while we travel.
Whether you’re packing for a weekend getaway, trying to save money on a budget airline, or just want something that keeps your stuff organized and easy to access, this bag is up for anything.
Packing Cubes
Once we started using packing cubes, we couldn’t believe we ever traveled without them. We use them to pack as compactly as possible, but they’re also great for organizing clothes by type; tops in one cube, bottoms in another, and dresses or bulkier items in their own cube.
Packing cubes have helped us avoid checking a bag more than once, especially when flying budget airlines with strict personal item or carry-on limits. And instead of unpacking everything into drawers or living out of a messy suitcase, we just leave everything in the cubes and grab what we need. It saves us a lot of time, especially on trips where we’re changing hotels every few days. If you tend to overpack or just want your suitcase to feel more manageable, packing cubes make a huge difference.
Portable Luggage Scale
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of the airport, switching items between suitcases in a last-minute scramble to avoid overweight baggage fees? We’ve been there, and it’s not a fun way to start a trip.
A portable luggage scale takes all the guessing out of packing. No more trying to balance your suitcase on a bathroom scale at home! We always bring ours, and it’s helped us avoid surprise fees while giving us peace of mind, especially on the return trips when souvenirs tend to add a few pounds.
AirTags
We have an AirTag in every single bag we bring with us–checked, carry-on, and personal item. It might sound like overkill, but once we added it to our travels, we couldn’t go back. We use it to keep track of our suitcase at the airport and also to make sure nothing gets left behind.
It’s helped us know where are bags are at all times, even before they show up at the baggage claim. If you’re someone who tends to forget things (we’ve definitely left a bag behind in a hotel room before), an AirTag can tell you exactly where it is with no stress and no guessing.
They don’t take up space, they’re easy to use, and one of the best things we’ve added to our travels.
Smart Luggage Tag
While AirTags help you locate your lost bag, a smart luggage tag gives someone else the ability to return it to you, even if you’re halfway around the world. These tags come with a scannable barcode that links to your contact information, like your name, phone number, or email. So if someone finds your luggage, they don’t have to guess who it belongs to or give it to the airline to deal with; they can just scan it and reach out to you directly.
One of our favorite features is the option to offer a return reward. You can customize this in your tag settings if you want to give someone an incentive to do the right thing. This could make a big difference if you lose your bag in a hotel lobby, a rideshare, or any other public space.
Even though it’s not a GPS tracker, it adds another layer of protection and peace of mind, especially when checking your bag or if you’re carrying anything valuable.
Hanging Toiletry Bag
Hotel bathrooms are rarely designed for travelers who bring more than one tiny toiletry pouch, especially when you’re sharing a space with someone. A hanging toiletry bag makes it easy to keep everything organized and accessible without taking over the entirety of the sink area. It unfolds vertically and can hang from almost anything–a towel bar, shower rod, or hook on the bathroom door, which gives you space for your skincare, toothbrush, deodorant, and whatever else you bring.
We love how it keeps everything upright and in place, and when you’re ready to pack up and go it folds up flat and fits easily in your suitcase. It’s especially helpful for us when we change hotels every few days because of how quickly we can pack and unpack everything, it makes our travel routine a lot smoother.
Travel Laundry Bag
There’s nothing worse than digging through your suitcase and realizing all of your clean clothes are mixed in with your dirty clothes. A travel laundry bag keeps everything separate from each other, so no more stuffing dirty clothes into random corners of your bag and guessing what’s clean and what’s not.
We use a lightweight one that folds down flat when it’s empty, so it takes up no space until we need it. It’s especially helpful on our longer trips, there are no more clothes all over the hotel room floor and there’s no more need to wash the clothes we didn’t wear when we get home.
Portable Charger
This one might be obvious, but keeping your phone charged while traveling is non-negotiable–especially when you’re navigating, taking photos, scanning boarding passes, or trying to check your hotel information. A portable charger helps you not stress about finding an outlet at the airport or your phone dying when you’re in the middle of nowhere.
We always bring one that’s compact, but powerful enough to charge our phone more than once. It’s very helpful on long travel days, during layovers, or anytime we’re out exploring and don’t have easy access to an outlet.
Travel Hangers
If you’ve ever wanted to hang up a shirt, jacket, or dress while traveling and realized there were either no hangers or only two flimsy ones, you’re not alone. Travel hangers are lightweight, foldable, and easy to put into your suitcase, so they’re perfect for travelers who like to unpack everything and keep it all organized.
We use travel hangers to hang clothes that wrinkle easily, clothes that need to be air-dried, or just to keep everything nice and neat. They’ve come in handy in hotel rooms, smaller Airbnbs, and even on cruises.
AirFly
After checking in for your flights, getting through security, and finally getting ready to relax and watch a movie on the plane, you realize you can’t use your Bluetooth headphones. That’s where the AirFly comes in.
This tiny device plugs into the airplane’s headphone jack and instantly connects to your wireless headphones or earbuds. We never fly without it because it means we can actually enjoy the in-flight entertainment with headphones that don’t make our ears hurt. If you use AirPods or any other wireless Bluetooth headphones, this makes flights a lot more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts on Travel Essentials
Traveling is so much smoother when you have the right gear. These 10 items may seem small, but they’ve made a huge difference in how we pack, stay organized, and feel prepared, no matter where we’re headed.
Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just headed out on your first big adventure, we hope these recommendations help make your trip a little easier and a lot more enjoyable. If you found this blog post helpful, don’t forget to share it or save it for your next trip! And if you want to follow along with all of our adventures in real time, make sure to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube!
FAQ
Do packing cubes really save space?
Yes, packing cubes do save space, but maybe not in the way you’d expect. They don’t vacuum-seal your clothes, but they help you organize and optimize every inch of your suitcase. By neatly folding or rolling your clothes into cubes, you can stack and arrange items far more efficiently. In fact, some studies have shown that using packing cubes can save up to 30% or more space in your luggage!
Can AirTags track checked bags in real time?
Is a portable charger really worth bringing?
I swear by packing cubes and just got the Lovevook Backpack, it fits so much more than I was expecting. I never knew about the AirFly, I might have to get that for my next long haul flight!