One of my biggest life’s beliefs is to not reinvent the wheel. I’ve learnt time and time again that I don’t always have to hurt my brain to develop new solutions when there are so many real life ‘been there, solved that’ examples, just waiting for me to use! You know how it is: I have so many other challenges in life to work through daily that when it comes to my passion, if there is already a solution on how to make travel easier, I welcome the knowledge!
A popular resource that exists today is AMAZON. Yes, many of us can spend hours combing through their offers and spend way too much money including me HOWEVER, they do provide solutions that make travel so much easier so really consider the value of these options for your own travel addiction!
So without further ado, drumroll please… here are those items that I NEVER leave home without when going on a trip!
- eBags Pack-it-Flat Toiletry Expandable Kit
I have had this bag since 2014 and traveled everywhere with it. It’s always packed with my everyday toiletries. It holds everything I need whether I’m travelling with just a carry on or a full suitcase. The flat shape is a winner because regardless of the amount of shopping I do, my toiletries bag will always fit on top of everything. The shape is deceiving but there is space for everything you need, whether it’s a 3oz bottle or full size container. Another winning feature is that there is a plastic lined compartment that can protect other items from any unfortunate spills. Lastly this bag has a built in hanging hook so if there is limited space in your hotel bathroom, you can always zip it up and hang on a door handle or on a ledge. I have recommended this as my go-to kit to all of my friends over the years. This one NEVER lets you dowI have had this bag since 2014 and traveled everywhere with it. It’s always packed with my everyday toiletries. It holds everything I need whether I’m travelling with just a carry on or a full suitcase. The flat shape is a winner because regardless of the amount of shopping I do, my toiletries bag will always fit on top of everything. The shape is deceiving but there is space for everything you need, whether it’s a 3oz bottle or full size container. Another winning feature is that there is a plastic lined compartment that can protect other items from any unfortunate spills. Lastly this bag has a built in hanging hook so if there is limited space in your hotel bathroom, you can always zip it up and hang on a door handle or on a ledge. I have recommended this as my go-to kit to all of my friends over the years. This one NEVER lets you down…
- eBags eTech 2.0 Weekender Convertible Backpack
I also purchased this item in 2014 through Amazon and probably use it on 9 out of my 10 trips. I use it for both work and pleasure trips because of its ability to convert from a backpack to a professional looking tote bag and vice versa. Back in 2018, I spent almost 3 weeks travelling around South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe with this as my main luggage piece. On that adventure we could only use a soft backpack and no checked luggage as we were using a lot of smaller planes with our itinerary. I have been using this bag for more than six years now, all over the world; on six continents and in more than 30 countries! Whether I am on a camel in Egypt or soaring on a sky-swing in Thailand, I have had no quality issues and it looks the same as it did on the day that I bought it! It fits everywhere; luggage holds, under boat decks, in overhead compartments in all sized planes and on the top of songthaew. It even has a protected compartment for any laptop or tablet which is quite important for me with my work trips. Definitely, a game changer!
- NEWVANGA International Universal All in One Worldwide Travel Adapter Wall Charger
This is a more recent purchase I made in 2018. It’s a travel adapter that can be used in more than 150 countries! There are five different input plugs that is built into this one adaptor and there are also two USB ports. This little device has helped charge a phone, camera, laptop, tablet, portable charger and just about any digital device all at one time! This works especially well when staying in those hotel rooms that have just ONE outlet while you have to iron your dress, charge your phone, power up your laptop to send that last email out before the deadline and oh yes, plug in your selfie stick because you have to be down for drinks in 30 mins! You can thank me later…
- Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger
I bought this charger earlier this year only because one of the ports on another charger I bought on Amazon in 2015 was damaged. I like that this one is small, light and bright blue which makes it easy to find in any of my purses. It was already tested on my trip to Bali so I know that it gives about three phone charges to last any length of day. Like everyone else, we carry around so many digital devices so it’s important for me to always have a handy back up close at hand.
- eBags Classic Packing Cubes for Travel
Last but not least are my packing cubes. I learnt about this greatest packing hack way back in 2013 and have bought a few sets since for myself, friends and family since then. They help to keep me organized, they save on packing space and basically they act as drawers wherever I am. I typically pack by category so I use one cube for pants, one for dresses, another for tops and I don’t have to frantically dig through many clothing items when looking for something. It also helps to limit my space so I know that I have only 1 cube for all my tops and that’s it. No going back and adding any extras if it can’t fit. Lastly, I can simply unpack a cube and fit it into any drawer in a hotel room/guest house without having my personal items touching any possibly dirty surfaces. You never know just how many people have used that same space before and with COVID 19 around, one can’t be too cute or too safe! Just sayin’…
So those are my Amazon buys that I recommend to everyone I know. I can pretend to blame Amazon for encouraging me to spend money but these little investments have saved me so much money time and time again! And when you are addicted to travel like me, they are worth their weight or lack thereof, in GOLD!
