Survive Holiday Travel: My Top 15 Travel Gear Accessories!

My Top 15 Travel Gear Accessories I Depend On To Survive Holiday Travel
In no particular order, here are some of what I consider to be the best travel accessories I don’t leave home without:

1. Portable Charger – Jackery® Giant+ Premium Portable Charger with Dual USB Ports – Gives me peace of mind on long flights and road trips that I have several extra FULL charges for my iPhone and other USB-chargeable devices.
2. Computer – I find no substitute for my lightweight, versatile Apple MacBook Air.
3. $5 Starbucks Gift Cards – Keeping cash on hand to tip baggage handlers and door persons is one thing, but there are times when I wish to give something to a service employee who may not be able/willing to accept tips (e.g. flight attendants). Chocolates are good too, but I find small gift cards don’t melt as much.
4. Hand Sanitizer – When finding a place to wash your hands is tough, I like Purell Gell Jelly Wrap carriers (1 oz).

   

5. Noise Canceling Headphones – While they demand a high price, my Bose QuietComfort 20i Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones become priceless on noisy flights and train rides.
6. Travel Power Strip – My version of this Monster Outlets To Go Power Strip has a USB port too.
7. External Speaker – Whether listening to NPR or jamming out to Pandora supplied music in my hotel room, it’s worth it to me to bring my MINI JAMBOX by Jawbone to use in lieu of my iPhone’s built-in speakers.
8. RFID Safe Wallet/Organizer – My Pacsafe 150 Compact Organizer is ideal to carry my cash, credit cards, passport, IDs, lounge cards, etc. with a durable RFID-blocking material.

   

9. Global Entry ID – While most of my travel is U.S. domestic, I carry my Global Entry card to use with airline check-in and TSA as my proof of identification. Yes, it is an acceptable form of ID as it is a DHS trusted traveler card. (See my 7 Reasons To Get Global Entry (Instead of TSA PreCheck)!)
10. Baby Aspirin – Not all medical experts may agree on its DVT prevention ability, but (as I do not have a risk of bleeding and tolerate aspirin), I take a baby aspirin 30 minutes before takeoff. I like Bayer Chewable Aspirin Low Dose 81mg.
11. iPhone Card Case – I keep my driver’s license and two most used credit cards (usually my Chase Sappire Preferred and United Club credit cards) quickly accessible using my Speck CandyShell Card Case without having to dig out my wallet.
12. Notebook – I enjoy carrying a small, hardback notebook so that my mental to-dos and ideas don’t escape my memory before they reach paper. These are great: Moleskine Classic Notebook.
13. Book / Magazine – Our family gift giving strategy is to give each other: something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. I don’t leave home without a book and some magazines (grab the day’s newspaper and travel magazines from an airport lounge, even from a quick stop in).
14. Business Cards – One of my favorite parts of travel is meeting people. Visualizing their name and getting contact info by trading business cards makes it easy. Take a minute to write down any notes about the meeting to yourself for reference later. Also, remember that in many cultures it is a sign of respect to hand your card to another and take another’s card using BOTH hands.
15. Pens – Spare pens always seem to come in handy, especially when 5 people around you are trying to find one to fill out a customs form on a plane (while as a Global Entry member, you do not have to complete the paper customs declaration form before arrival).

There you have it, some of my favorite travel gear necessities!  What’s on your list?

Travel Safely!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.