Milesopedia Team’s Favourite Travel Accessories

Because, of course, you have to start with a suitcase, your choice will depend on many 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 wish to travel with checked baggage,
• what you want to bring back as souvenirs, etc.

Within the team, we tend to favor 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.

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 checked luggage, I use my TravelPro suitcase which I got at a discounted price thanks to an Amex online offer combined with the retailer’s ongoing promotion.

If you prefer a sturdy wheeled option, Alexandrine recommends the Samsonite Outline Pro carry-on suitcase with an integrated lock and USB-C port.

• At the top end of the market, we recommend Away, Monos or, of course, the timeless Rimowa.

The possibilities are endless for personal items that are both practical and stylish. Personally, I love my lululemon backpack, which is durable, spacious, and versatile. As a carry-on, Alexandrine never travels without her colourful Cotopaxi backpack which offers enough space for a laptop, headphones, and all the electronic cables and accessories.

My colleague Marie-Claude loves the AirBack 55L backpack. Perfect for business trips or travel with low-cost carriers. She particularly appreciates the expandable and compressible section for clothes to maximize space, and the possibility of attaching it to her carry-on.

Finally, for business travelers, Monos offers stylish tote and backpack options that follow airline regulations. To make sure you’re following the rules too, read our guide to luggage dimensions.

• AirTags to track our suitcases; especially since it will soon be possible to share an AirTag’s location with third parties, such as airlines like Air Canada, thanks to a new Apple feature. No more lost luggage!
• 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 immune to water damage… this waterproof bag recommended by Alexandrine will protect your precious items (passport, electronics, etc.) in your many adventures on the water.
• These compression packing cubes saved me a lot of space on my last multi-month trip.

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

• A shampoo bar to reduce liquids (and designed by a Quebec brand!)
• Loop earplugs, approved by Alexandrine
• An inflatable travel pillow for the plane
• A hanging toiletry bag, approved by Caroline and myself

Finally, I adopted these 100 ml bottles during my last trip. Easy to fill and use and they prevent spills.

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.
• I carry this plug adapter with various USB ports everywhere.
• 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.

The remote work on the go requires compact, lifestyle-appropriate accessories that also create an ergonomic workspace anywhere. Here are my essentials after nearly four years of remote work, several months a 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.

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.

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
• Foldable travel tray to hold toys
• 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 worldwide? Caroline recommends these Mickey Mouse-style mouse ears for you and your traveling companions to avoid the exorbitant prices of official souvenirs.