Travel accessory must-haves

2019 is the year that I once again pack up my life and head overseas for an extended stay. Which means I need to/get to update my travel gear and accessories! These are my must haves for my next international getaway . . .

Please note: none of these product recommendations are sponsored in any way, they are simply products I already own or wish to purchase.

1. Entrada 65L Women’s Pack

I’ve owned a lot of different styles of luggage over the years, but never a serious travel pack. Not for much longer! This pack is an absolute must-have for long-term travel as it will make life on the road so much easier. There are a few things I like about this pack. Firstly, that it’s specifically designed for women’s bodies. Given that women and men can have vastly different proportions, this is really important for comfort and to prevent injury. Another important feature is the luggage-style opening, meaning you don’t have to go rifling through the whole bag to find that one item you’ve packed at the very bottom. I also love that it comes with a detachable day pack, making exploring even easier.

Edit: I ended up purchasing the Interloper gridTECH 70L Women’s Backpack instead. I found the lumber support to be much more comfortable than the Entrada, which, for me, is super important to avoid a back injury!

2. Naot Sabrina Sandals

I haven’t always been the most sensible traveller when it comes to shoes, either packing too many pairs or the wrong types of shoes. So on my next trip I’ve decided to limit myself to two pairs – a pair of runners for outdoorsy activities and a pair of walking sandals that look stylish enough to wear out to dinner and that I can match with a dress or skirt. These sandals from Naoto are super cute, the colours go with everything, and, most importantly, they are insanely comfortable. The footbed is the same as the iconic Birkenstock, meaning it will mould to the shape of my foot and keep my feet comfortable while exploring new cities for hours on end.

3. Skyroam Solis Wi-Fi hotspot

Relying on patchy hotel or hostel Wi-Fi can be frustrating, and it can be incredibly costly to use international roaming on your phone when out and about exploring. The Skyroam Solis simply connects to local cellular networks to provide you with fast, strong and secure Wi-Fi access wherever you go. Skyroam works in 130 countries and costs just $9 a day for 24 hour Wi-Fi access for up to five devices. It also has an inbuilt power bank, so you can charge your devices on the go. Clever tech at its best!

4. Lifestraw

These reusable drink bottles are a game-changer! They have an inbuilt filtration system that eliminates 99.9% of bacteria and parasites, allowing you to fill up from any water source (even a dirty puddle!) and drink the water without fear of becoming ill. The Lifestraw is particularly useful in countries where the tap water is not safe to drink, eliminating the need to constantly buy bottled water – good news for the environment and your wallet!

5. Packing Cubes

Where have these been all my life?! Possibly one of the best travel inventions of the modern day, packing cubes keep your luggage neatly organised, making life so much easier when you’re trying to find something specific within the depths of your suitcase or backpack. I like the ones with mesh covers as you can easily see what’s inside each cube and it allows airflow if you’re keeping dirty laundry or shoes inside. They come in a range of colours and sizes so you can find the right cubes for the type of luggage you have.

6. Power Bank

Another handy gadget to have when travelling is a portable power bank for charging devices on the go. They range in charging capacity, from 800mAh to 27000mAh – I can get about 4 complete charges of my iPhone before my 10000mAh power bank needs recharging – and come in various shapes, sizes and colours. Most are small and light enough to carry easily in your handbag or day pack and are so useful, especially when you’re out and about using your phone’s camera and map functions which can quickly drain its battery.

Got a burning travel question? Need some inspiration for your next trip? Leave a comment, send an email, or reach out on social media.