Ultimate Travel Packing Guide – Best 100 Travel Accessories

Last Updated on January 14, 2024 by Molly Egan

Ultimate Travel Packing Guide – 100 Essential Travel Accessories

Whether you have just booked your trip, hotel, airline, or need inspiration – this list is for you! If you want to learn about travel gear that will make each flight, adventure, and travel experience most enjoyable and smooth – keep reading.

Need that perfect travel bag? Need gear to endure a long-haul flight? Best carry-on bag? Best versatile jacket? Lost your passport? Peruse this list of essential travel gear and travel accessories! This list is the best of the best and gathered from traveling a million miles and 64 countries (… and counting).

Why should you listen or trust me?

I have traveled six of the seven continents; internationally for work and pleasure and trekked solo. All that to say, I’ve experienced nearly every travel snafu. My travel career has many chapters, flight experiences, and destinations. I know from firsthand experience, that the items listed below will make a difference.

Start your next adventure with the must-have travel accessories below!

What are the Best Travel Accessories?

The list is structured by category: Bags, Clothing + Accessories, Flying, Maximize Storage, Clothing, Outdoor Hiking + Camping, Snow Adventures, International, Health, Travel by Car, and Covid-19 Travel.

The Ultimate Bags

1. Travel Backpack

While traveling internationally, you’ll encounter unpaved roads, uneven sidewalks, or unimaginable amounts of people on the streets – here, a travel backpack (or pack) supersedes a roller suitcase! Regardless of age, the weight of your backpack can irritate your back, so proper support and a variety of pockets and compartments are vital. I love the Everlane ReNew Transit backpack for leisure and business travel – read the detailed review why!

2. Travel Carry-on Suitcase

The ultimate essential air travel accessory is carry-on luggage! Walk a few miles from the airport entrance to the gate, and you’ll swear by a carry-on roller suitcase over a duffle bag! Lastly, save time by not waiting on checked luggage – the best carry-on luggage bags are here and a golden rule for the frequent traveler – never have lost luggage!

3. Travel Backpack or Underseat Luggage

My second essential travel accessory. A great backpack can fit your laptop a book or two, work-related papers, water bottle, snack, pens, wallet, noise-canceling headphones, and phone. The ultimate kind is waterproof here are some of the best under seat luggage bags.

4. Briefcase

This can be used instead of a backpack, for that extra professional look. Especially for the travel days flying for an interview or pitch – this makes all the difference – keep it simple and sleek.

5. Crossbody Purse

Love a great one! Whether business or adventure travel, it’s needed. A great transition from the office to a Michelin star restaurant dinner, or from a whitewater rafting adventure during the day to a dive bar.

6. Travel Beach Bag

Have you traveled to Miami or a destination walkable to the beach and wanted to sit by the beach for a bit, pre-or-post-workday? How about going on a work trip and then straight to the beach? I highly recommend a great foldable, compressible, water proof, and easy-to-remove-sand travel beach bag!

7. Expandable Travel Bag

Have you ever bought something on a trip when your suitcase is ready to explode? Or, at the end of a trip, you can’t imagine fitting it all back in. That’s when expandable bags become your best travel accessory – don’t stress if packing light is a challenge!

8. Sling Bag

Sling Bags are great for your all-day-long adventure while traveling! You can keep your essentials in this and (literally) sling it over your shoulder! Trust me; it’s game-changing and significant for ALL.

Must-Have Travel Clothing + Accessories

9. Travel Portable Chargers

Your electronics will lose their juice faster than anticipated when on the go. All the location tracking and searching for signals in New York City, for example, will have you reaching for this by the time it’s happy hour!

A power bank will provide extra peace traveling. Have more than one charging cable for each type of electronic device – phone, iPad, earbuds, etc. – and keep it in a suitcase or easily accessible in your travel crossbody bag.

10. Versatile Jackets

Weather will always change on you – hello, climate change! Whether you’re in the mountains or beach, when the sun goes down – jackets are a must. Having a versatile jacket that can go from hike to dinner, or office to a night out is a must!

11. Must Have Travel Layers

While traveling, you will encounter multiple temperatures and climates in 24 hours. Clothes that help you stay warm in the cold office or plane and easily shed for the Summer sun – an excellent option for travelers. Merino wool base layers are key for winter weather, hiking, or skiing – here are our top brand picks.

12. Hooded Jackets

Jackets with a hoodie are a new love of mine. Another tip for encountering varying climates and weather – oh, that Summer near-daily afternoon rain in mountains or beachside in Florida. Don’t have an umbrella – pop the hood over and boom – you’re golden. 

Surprisingly to many people, ski jackets make a great windbreaker and rain jacket in other months – here are two of our favorite picks.

13. Fanny Pack

A blast from the past, this personal item is back – and I love it! It provides peace of mind with storage for essentials – wallet, lip balm, phone, Bluetooth headphones, and passport.

Sling it over your shoulder for easy-to-grab necessities – not lost in the bottom of a bag – is a great value! This bag has a few names sling bag, belt bag, or fanny pack – all a newer version of the former term.

14. Sunscreen

A must! Finding the right one that isn’t greasy, or makes you break out – not here for zits – is a crucial necessity. After many trials, there are a few go-to’s – depending on the situation – that are must-haves!

15. Hand Sanitizer

Since 2020, we have become more familiar with having this on hand. It’s essential when there’s no soap, or when you don’t have a tissue or napkin – a trip must have.

16. Small First Aid Kit

A First-Aid travel-sized kit is an underrated accessory. For those sneaky paper cuts, hiking injuries, and bandaid on hand – so worthwhile! 

17. Travel Wallet

Yes, wallets are still necessary, despite the digital phone payment apps. Cash or local currency is king! Some people like small wallets for cards and then larger wallets for keeping local currency. There are valid systems for both – stay organized and bring a week’s worth.

18. Bluetooth Headphones

A good pair of Bluetooth earplugs or blue tooth headphones are a traveler’s best friend – especially noise-canceling headphones! A necessity for rest that compliments the travel eye mask and crucial travel accessories on long flights. Note it’s nice to have a backup cord version to watch movies on the plane.

19. Travel Apps

There are many travel apps out there – but only a few are MUST HAVE. Whether it’s a currency conversion, maps, boarding passes, directions when you don’t have service in other countries or always having access to food recommendations – these are the best travel accessories that even save space!

20. Sunglasses

The right pair of sunglasses and a system to not lose them – are crucial! Squinting while touring a scenic city or the blinding high-elevation mountain sun – I have the right pair of sunglasses for you!

21. Adventure Travel & Action Camera

We all have smartphones today, so the DSLR cameras and their weight are often left at home. However, for adventure activities or 360 options, action cameras are the ultimate accessory – read more here! If you aren’t water rafting, having a rooftop 360 photo is so memorable!

22. Portable Travel Umbrella

When packing – don’t forget this travel accessory on your next trip! On a summer season trip, you’ll find instant downpours or that East coast rain that switches directions – yes, it can become a rain shield! In monsoon or hurricane season – a must have!

Flight Travel Gear

23. Travel Water Bottle

Hydration, hydration, hydration! The cost of water these days at airports and events is at times shocking! This is the best secret for saving money during these high inflation times. This is my favorite water bottle for refilling while on the go. 

24. Drink or Hydration Mix

Flying dehydrates you, and so does elevation in the mountains and a nice hike. Replenishing electrolytes and adding nutrients to shield off a cold, etc. while traveling is crucial! 

25. Shoes for Travel & Security

So you have status or services such as Clear, TSA, or Global Entry – well, sometimes they expire and small airports don’t offer them. Therefore, comfy, easy-to-slip-on and off shoes are essential! 

26. Best Travel Toiletries Containers

Many times I’ve been in lines for airport security and they have been so strict about your toiletry bag! I have learned the hard way what will work in nearly every security checkpoint and fit the essentials. Learn more about the best travel toiletry bags!

27. Something to Read 

I love picking up a magazine or a physical book for a plane ride – here’s the best list of ski books for the winter adventurer. However, I always switch it up to the electronic reader – iPad, kindle, laptop, etc. A must-have is blue light-blocking glasses! 

28. Travel Tissue / Toilet Paper

You will encounter a toilet that doesn’t have toilet paper, and most likely on a long haul flight. We all saw what can happen with supply chains these past few years. For international travel, this item is absolutely essential – looking at you South East Asia and China. 

29. Reusable Bags 

Waterproof or small reusable bags are the ultimate travel accessories! There are a few kinds – small plastic, dry bags, dry sacks, and waterproof pouches. Which one you pick does matter. Those with odor resistant materials are the best travel accessories. 

30. Travel Snack Food

You will encounter a moment where stores, restaurants, and opportunities to buy food are not available – or you’re in a time crunch to catch a plane, boat, bus, or taxi. Snack bars are the best travel accessory! 

Maximize Storage

31. Maximize Carry-On luggage

I swear by carry-on luggage, packing light, and saving space? The easy and time savings is worth it for the frequent traveler. For international travel, maximizing space with a carry-on bag will allow for quicker custom lines by bypassing luggage carousels. The best carry-on luggage!

32. Maximize Checked Luggage Storage

Are you an over-packer? I am a recovering one! When traveling to colder climates or various climates over an extended time – maximizing checked luggage is essential! Packing techniques to have so much space and packing cubes are must have travel accessories. 

33. Car Storage

Maximizing car storage is critical for road trips or outdoor adventures – camping, car camping, or having a car full of travelers. Save space and keep stuff organized with storage – car top storage carriers, hitch storage, bike racks, and roof-top tents – all of these are a must have!

34. Travel Packing Cubes

Maximize storage! Travelers often overpack. For them and the organized traveler – packing cubes are essential travel accessories. Clothes lay flat and maintain great shape and you can fit more stuff.

35. Travel Jewelry Organizers

When traveling for a wedding, business, or everyday adventure. Bags for organizing jewelry makes all the difference – a must have.

Clothing 

36. Jeans

This article of clothing is often found inside travel luggage. Don’t pack this! Rock the jeans on the flight and save space – wear bulky clothing – especially when using carry on luggage. Travel accessories such as this that can go from casual to business to nighttime are a must have.37

37. Leggings

Comfort is a must have when on long flights. This is at the top of the travel necessities list for an international or morning flight – same as a window seat, face mask, compression socks, travel pillow, and earplugs. 

38. Jackets

For most destinations, carry-on luggage and a versatile jacket are must-have travel accessories. Depending on the weather, the choice in style will vary. Here are the best ski jackets that are also great for camping and outdoor adventures.

39. Shirts

A versatile shirt that can be worn on the flight and transition to the office with a blazer is essential to keeping it simple. When your trip will have outdoor activities, a waterproof, odor resistant and self-wicking shirt will be your best travel accessory. 

40. Sweaters + Base Layers

Sweaters (or Pullovers) are a must-have for layering while traveling. Versatile clothes are travelers must have for any trip.

You can combine base layers with sweaters and easily remove or add this and a jacket as needed. A sweater for layering and many situations – office, flight, airport, night out – pack one and wear one in flight!

41. Sandals

This item is a beach essential on your travel pack list. Suggest you pack this in your luggage or carry on. This takes up less space so wear the bulky shoes on your flight. 

42. Shoes for all activities

Travel necessities are appropriate shoes for all activities and occasions. It can be very challenging to buy when traveling. Be smart when you pack, and pick versatile shoes.

43. Coats

The right coat is a travel necessity. These are multifunctional and can be used as a travel pillow when seated at a window seat. When you match the kind to the temperatures and weather of your trip, your comfort and peace of mind will thank you.    

Health 

44. Moisturizer

While traveling it’s best to hydrate and moisturize. Pack both a face and body moisturizer in your luggage – for any flight no matter