11 Travel Accessories I Always Bring You That Might Surprise You

Advertised as a car seat fan, stroller fan, or desk fan, this is truly a “use it as you wish” fan. I tend to run hot – I sweat a lot – so I’ve personally used it in outdoor theaters, while waiting in line at restaurants, airports, and countless other places. I was actually sitting on the couch earlier, now that I think about it. Since my wife bought it to begin with, this has been used in many other ways in our home. If you’re looking for a compact, lightweight, and versatile way to set up a bindi tripod, this is a great buy. It pushes about the amount of air you expect. It has three speeds and amazing battery life. For a couple dollars more, upgrade from the standard black option to white, blue or pink.

As mentioned elsewhere, a mobile phone/tablet charger is an absolute must for traveling, and this particular mobile device can charge just about any mobile device. This one, like many of them, is the right size, lightweight and good value for money. There’s nothing worse than a dead phone or tablet — especially when you’re traveling. Keeping at least one of these in place can be very helpful. The charger itself charges quickly – a must!

There are many hand sanitizers out there, but I’m going to recommend the one I use – the pocket-sized Bath & Body Works Hand Sanitizer. These are perfect for those times when you can’t wash your hands but want to. Played on your phone at the ATM, gas pump or before a meal? This little item is useful for all those situations and more—and it comes in a variety of scents. Don’t worry, guys, most scents are very neutral or smell a little like cologne. In any case, clean hands are better than sick. Keep these things on you at all times!

Another must-have on-the-go hand lotion is a hand lotion that fits in your pocket, purse, or wherever you put it. If you’re on a plane or on the road and need anything, you or someone in your traveling party will be glad you thought of packing this. I can’t count the number of times my wife has bailed me out because she had the presence of mind to throw a tube or two of travel-sized lotion in her purse.

Like I said, I run hot. So no, you won’t be surprised because there’s another fan on my list. But this is very different. It’s still very small but it doesn’t have to stay that way – it’s collapsible. This fan, rated as a desk and table fan, can also be placed on the floor as a standing fan and can fit neatly into a small space when it shrinks down to the size of the fan’s round head. If you want to expand, it can stand up to 3 feet tall, comes in many colors and has four speeds. I also personally own this and am very impressed. It’s battery operated, comes with a remote control, and is super handy!

It didn’t occur to me until recently that this is a must when it comes to travel. The first time it occurred to me to pack my own night light was when we were visiting family from out of town. I told them the hall light they could leave, but was told they had their own night lights. What a novel concept! You don’t have to worry about leaving a light on in the hotel bathroom anymore, it’s dim enough not to keep you awake but bright enough to keep your legs from slipping into your dress. This particular option is simple, inexpensive, and even comes in a multipack if you think you might need more than one. A helpful tip is to leave a note for yourself somewhere so you don’t forget to bring it with you when you go out!

These TSA approved travel bottles are for flying but can also come in handy on road trips. If you’re like me and stress about liquids and airport security rules, there’s definitely no harm in using these. Touted as leak-proof, these bottles give you one less thing to worry about when flying or preparing for a road trip. Available in several colors and available in a variety of size options, this is an affordable way to relieve headaches. A great buy for sure!

These are mentioned in another travel article I wrote, but I can’t stress enough – pack at least one backpack for your trip! These are amazing – expandable, pretty strong and incredibly cheap. Rest assured, your travel companions will appreciate having one, because not only will they not have to scratch your back for you, but they’ll need to borrow one at some point. I have one of these at home, at work, by the bed, and yes – in the car. These are must-haves for day-to-day life and definitely on the go. Don’t hesitate – grab one or more of these!

If you tend to travel with a lot of electronics, chargers, charging cables, etc., you’ll definitely want to consider this FYY electronics organizer. Available in different sizes, styles and many different colors, you won’t be trying to remember which small suitcase holds all your electronic gadgets. Add this to your “one less thing to worry about” list when packing for vacation.

Are you someone who likes to pack? Claimed to save up to 80 percent of your luggage space, Hibag Travel Compression Bags are sure to help you pack everything you need for your trip. There is no vacuum required to do these for you, and they come in packs of eight to 18 bags. Stock up on those extras and pick these up today!

It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me or knows a little about me through my writing that I didn’t buy this item. My wife, on the other hand, has purchased this item, brought it on a trip, and I have fully enjoyed the benefits. A hanging toilet bag allows you to have a place for everything and everything to have a place. It is compact when closed, comes in many colors and is available in two sizes. This is very useful to have!