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Getting the right gear sets you up for success when travelling, but it’s often hard to know what to bring until you’ve gone through some trial and error. After travelling the world, the Milesopedia team has several must have travel accessories to share with you, all tested and approved: plug adapters, packing organizers, kids’ travel accessories, and much more!
Would you like to find these accessories quickly? You’ll find most of them on our Amazon page.
Must Have Travel Accessories – Suitcases, Bags and Airplane Luggage
Because, of course, you have to start with a suitcase. The right on for yor will depend on several factors, such as:
- the duration of your trip and what you need to bring,
- your destination and transportation from one place to another,
- whether or not you want to travel with checked baggage,
- what you want to bring back as souvenirs, etc.
Within the team, we tend to favour carry-on luggage, which saves us money on plane tickets and precious time at the airport, allowing us to enjoy the VIP lounges for longer or simply get to our destination faster.
Suitcases and Luggage
As a digital nomad, I love my Osprey 46 L backpack which is both ergonomic and very spacious; just make sure not to overfill it to comply with carry-on luggage dimensions.
For my longer trips that require a checked bag, I use my TravelPro suitcase, which I got at a lower price thanks to an online Amex offer combined with the retailer’s current promotion.
If you prefer a rolling option, we recommend the Samsonite Outline Pro carry-on suitcase. It comes with a built-in lock, a USB-C port, and is very durable.
Personal Items
There are endless options for personal items that are both practical and stylish. Personally, I love mylululemon backpack. It’s durable, spacious, and versatile, with a strap to attach it to your suitcase. I take advantage of frequent online Amex offers at lululemon to get a statement credit on my purchase. Alexe is a big fan of this anti-theft travel backpack with a USB charging port.
My colleague Marie-Claude loves the AirBack 55L backpack. Perfect for business trips or travelling with low-cost carriers. She especially likes the expandable and compressible clothing compartment to maximize space, as well as the option to attach it to her carry-on suitcase.
Finally, for business travellers, Monos offers very stylish tote bags and backpacks that comply with airline regulations. To make sure you’re following the rules as well, read our guide on baggage size restrictions.
Organization and Other Must Have Travel Accessories for Luggage
Being organized with your luggage allows for easier navigation through airport security, prevents lost items, and maximizes your time to explore your destination. Here are travel accessories that save space, save time and enhance the travel experience.
- AirTags to track our luggage; especially since it will soon be possible to share the location of an AirTag with third parties, such as airlines like Air Canada, thanks to a new feature from Apple. Lost luggage will be a thing of the past!
- The famous freezer Ziploc bags are not only versatile but can turn any bag into a cooler for day trips, using the hotel’s ice machine.
- These foldable travel hangers can be very handy for drying clothes on the go, in the car after a day at the beach, for example.
- And because no one is safe from water damage, this waterproof bag or these small dry bags will help protect your valuables, like your passport and electronics, during your many water adventures.
- Travel light and stay dry with these shoe covers and rain ponchos.
- These compression packing cubes saved me a lot of space on my last multi-month trip. Alexe also really likes this set of packing cubes for better luggage organization.
Travel Pouches
As a small bag, we have this unisex “fanny pack” which is a must-have for lugging around essentials: wallets, travel documents like passports, phones and more. Here are several versions:
- The Lolë bag
- This identical version on Amazon for less
- The lululemon 2 L bag that I carry everywhere
- An RFID-blocking passport holder, available in 35 colours
Must Have Travel Accessories – Toiletry Bag and Essentials
- A shampoo bar to reduce liquids (and designed by a Quebec brand!)
- Loop earplugs
- An ergonomic travel pillow that supports the neck and shoulders, approved by Jean-François
- A hanging toiletry bag, which I especially like.
Finally, I started using these 100 ml bottles on my last trip. Easy to fill and use, and they help prevent leaks.
Must Have Travel Accessories – Health and Wellness
Since we’re often more likely to get sick while travelling, it’s important to bring essentials to maintain your health. This varies greatly from person to person, but here are a few must-haves I always bring with me:
- Individual electrolyte packets, especially useful on long flights, excursions, or long days outdoors—and they take up hardly any space in your luggage!
- Activated charcoal tablets, a natural supplement that can help prevent or recover from food poisoning.
- A non-toxic travel hand sanitizer spray from a Canadian brand.
- Vitamin C, since our immune system can be challenged while abroad.
For more recommendations, read our guide on packing a travel first aid kit.
Must Have Travel Accessories – Essential Electronics
For All Trips
These electronics are unanimously acclaimed, so it’s up to you to see if you can benefit from them on your next trip too.
An E-reader to carry your favourite books with you while saving space
- This Bluetooth transmitter allows you to watch movies on the plane with your own Bluetooth headphones instead of the lower-quality ones often provided by the airline.
- After losing this outlet adapter with multiple USB ports, I bought this very versatile adapter that I’m looking forward to trying out.
- A portable battery for long days on the road. Our favourites are this one or the one from Skullcandy
- A headphone splitter to watch a movie with your travel partner (approved by Aline)
- A cordless phone charger, when you’ve just used it underwater and need to charge it simultaneously. I like this magnetic version even more, which allows me to charge my phone on the go.
- For noise-cancelling headphones, we recommend the JBL Tune 770NC, and Jean-Maximilien recommends the Beats Fit Pro, which can be worn for work as well as for running.
Essentials for Working
Working remotely while travelling requires compact, lifestyle-friendly accessories that also help create an ergonomic workspace anywhere. Here are my essentials after nearly five years of working remotely for several months each year.
- This slim, lightweight portable work display has been adopted by several team members, and is a must-have for remote work.
- To avoid back pain, I carry around this laptop stand, which helps me have an ergonomic work experience.
- This portable keyboard folds and slips into any pocket
- An external hard drive, to back up your files in case of mishaps; I speak from experience, back up the contents of your computer before you leave!
- Similarly, this laptop case is water-resistant, and accessories fit neatly into the pocket.
- An extension cable with USB ports, because we all know the power outlet is never where we want it to be, and an easy solution to use only one plug adapter.
- I love this ultra-compact Dell mouse, obtained for free with the Dell credit offered by the Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
- Luc, a product manager on our team, uses this portable router for enhanced security while travelling, integrated with NordVPN.
Sometimes, the simplest accessories make all the difference. For me, these USB cables with three different ends have greatly simplified my life for charging all my devices with a single cable.
Must Have Travel Accessories for Families
Make the most of it when travelling with your kids. These games and accessories will keep them entertained (and maybe even quiet!) and won’t take up too much space in your suitcases. These items have been tested and approved by several team members, including Marie-Claude and Aline, who regularly travel with young children.
- Pop-it fidget toys
- Suction toys
- Colouring games
- Containers for snacks
- And finally, never underestimate the power of the famous iPad to entertain children on the go.
Are you planning to visit one of the Disney theme parks around the world? To avoid the high prices of official souvenirs, we recommend these Mickey Mouse-style mouse ears for you and your travel companions.
Must Have Digital Travel Accessories
These aren’t physical items, but these digital products travel with us everywhere and make a big difference:
And of course, I never travel abroad without the following items in my wallet, which help me save money and enhance my travel experience:
- A no foreign transaction fee credit card that also provides complimentary airport lounge access, such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card.
- My NEXUS card, which saves me a lot of time at the airport.
For more tips, check out these guides:
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $350
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to 35,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
Bottom Line
Whether for yourself or as a gift, we know from experience that these must have travel accessories can enhance your trip and help you make the most of your precious time exploring the world. If any of these items catch your eye, don’t forget to use the gift card trick before checking out.
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$500Total$500Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $500
- Welcome offerAfter $7,500 in 12 months
- Up to 50,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
To find all our top travel tips in one place, check out our ultimate list for travellers. And to earn more points on your online travel accessory purchases, check out our guide to shopping portals.
And don’t hesitate to visit our Amazon page to find our favorite products.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best stores for cheap travel accessories?
It all depends on your needs. We especially recommend taking advantage of promotional periods (such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday offers) and the gift card trick, not forgetting to use online shopping portals to earn more points and save money.
What are the must-have travel accessories?
Popular travel essentials include travel pillows, adapters, packing cubes, sleeping plugs and much more.
What are the essential travel accessories for a long flight?
For a long flight, the best travel accessories to have are compression socks, a sleep mask for better rest, and noise-cancelling headphones with a Bluetooth adapter if they’re wireless.
What to give as a travel accessory?
We invite you to consult our gift guide for the traveler in your life. Otherwise, all items in this article have been tested and approved by the Milesopedia team.
