It’s important to save time and money, particularly when you’re traveling. Both time and money are valuable when you are on the road for work or vacation.
The right travel accessories help you save time and money. We have compiled a handy list below, so make sure to bring these items along on your next trip.
1. Portable Charger or Power Bank
Losing juice on your mobile phone or camera is one of the main problems for travelers. The unprepared folks have to visit a coffee shop to recharge their gadgets.
In doing that, you spend unnecessarily on phone charging fees (LOL – plus you spend money on the cup of coffee…and the pastry!). For this reason, it is best to have your own charger and back-up power supply. Anker makes great, inexpensive products…We recommend checking them out on Amazon or any other consumer electronics supplier.
This travel accessory has many types. You can get single charging banks. You can also get multiple device chargers. If you travel light, consider compact, lightweight units that fit nicely in your small pouch or even pants pocket.
2. Prepaid Call and Data Cards (or Plans)
Phone and Wi-Fi use can rack up costly bills during a trip. When you are on the move, it’s hard to monitor your calls and data use. Sadly, many travelers come home with huge phone bills!
Prepaid phone cards can help save you money. Purchase them before you leave (make sure to buy the right card for your specific destination) to make it easier for you to monitor your data usage. You can buy multiple cards and space out your use of each one. This will help you budget your phone usage to last for the duration of the trip.
If you signed up with a provider, why not inquire about travel packages? Mobile phone companies often give discounted or promotional packages for any add-on service that a client takes on. If you can get a hold of cheaper options like that, you could get even more savings.
3. Travel Water Bottle
Buying commercially bottled water on a trip can take a chunk out of your travel money. Imagine buying bottled water every time you’re out walking the streets. That can eat up your budget for the day, particularly if you are a heavy water drinker.
Save yourself the hydration expenses by bringing your own travel water bottle. You can refill on the go. Refill it at public water fountains. Replenish your bottle after lunching out at a fast food place or go into a mall and do your refilling at a water station there. The less money you spend on buying water, the more money you can use on more important expenses.
Travel water bottles come in all shapes and sizes. If you want to keep your drinks colder for a long time, you can get a double-walled flask that maintains temperatures for over 12 hours.
If you are a light traveler, you can also purchase collapsible models. These take up little space since you can roll them up and drop them into your backpack. Lastly, make sure to get a bottle that is really leak-proof (we can tell you that one from experience)!
4. Multi-Pocketed Vest, Overcoat, or Jacket
Prioritize packing clothing that has multiple pockets. Clothes that help you travel light free up your suitcase, which ultimately helps you save money on additional baggage fees.
Slip into your jacket or overcoat all the items that you can before you go and check your luggage. This way, you can be sure that you don’t go over the weight limit on your suitcase.
Heading out in multi-pocketed clothes also ensures that you bring travel essentials. Having to go back to your hotel room because you forgot something is a time and money waster—especially during COVID-19 where you may have to wait in longer elevator queues.
Touring the city is also more convenient when you have multi-pockets in your vest or coat. You don’t have to keep rummaging through your backpack or sling bag each time you need a small item like your sunglasses, purse, lip moisturizer, or credit cards. You just unzip one pocket and grab that small thing. Time saved!
5. Portable Coffee Makers
A cup of coffee for breakfast. Another before noon. One more coffee for lunch. And another in the mid-afternoon. If you just have to have coffee all day, then a portable coffee maker is an essential travel accessory.
Coffee can be expensive. And when you need multiple cups to keep going, that can amount to a large expense every single day. Having your own coffee maker saves you time and money. There are great little coffee makers that are easy to pack and that make fantastic cups of coffee. These coffee makers have a dedicated filter and an easy brewing method. Then, just throw out the used grounds and enjoy your fresh brew. Now, you don’t have to hunt for a local coffee shop and you could be saving upwards of $10 per day.
If you’re content to have brewed coffee before you head out or after you come back to your hotel, portable espresso machines are another good choice. Some are small, 1-cup espresso makers. Others are compact 2 to 4-cup machines. Most come in carrying cases to make traveling easy—we recommend looking at Nespresso.
6. Luggage Scales
Luggage scales are another great accessory. Often, the problem is not packing for an outgoing trip but packing for a return trip. Most people can board a departure flight just fine.
But the trip back home can be very costly…If one doesn’t pay attention to how much baggage he or she is adding up (all those souvenirs you bought for the kids), the return flight can be very expensive.
Having a luggage scale helps you monitor the weight of the items you are buying while on a trip. Those who love to go shopping while on vacation need a luggage scale to make sure that they can bring back all those things they are purchasing. Otherwise, they may have to leave those items behind, or worse, they may have to pay a lot of excess baggage fees.
Travel luggage scales come in different models. You can choose between analog and digital types. These usually have a hook or some strap you attach to your bags. Lift when you’re ready, and once the scale locks into a number, you get an accurate reading of the weight. So easy!
7. Portable Cookers
Food is a big portion of any travel budget. And if you’re traveling as a family…well, things can get out of hand quickly…
Having your own portable cooker or burner will undoubtedly save you some money. This travel accessory can cut your travel spending by 30% on a daily basis.
Portable cookers come in different shapes and sizes. Some are lightweight and small, making it a good choice for single travelers or even a small group.
You can choose a gas cooker or an electric one. Your choice will depend on your location. Will this be an outdoor trip mostly? Or, do you have more time to stay in and enjoy your meal?
If you’re going on a road trip or if you have access to a vehicle during the trip, then you can bring both types when you pack. Keep one in the lodging place and another in the car or van. This way, you can enjoy your own cooked meal whether you are on the road or at your rented place.
Of course, don’t forget to bring some lightweight cooking utensils and maybe a pot!
Final Thoughts
Now, if you are a tech person, check out the video below for all that amazing tech gear that we left out:
These 7 travel accessories will lessen your travel expenses and save you a lot of time. Bring them with you on your next trip so you can get more out of your trip at a lesser cost.
