Getting ready for a big trip? Traveling abroad? Before you go, check out this list of helpful travel accessories to buy to make your trip go more smoothly.

My wife and I recently traveled from the U.S. to Europe. We don’t travel internationally often, so this was a true “bucket list” dream trip for us. The travel items mentioned below were among our favorites.

Clothing is such a personal choice that we will leave what to buy up to you. We found lightweight, quick-dry underwear and tops essential. You want clothes that pack well without wrinkling and are easy to care for. To minimize the number of clothes you need to pack, go with clothes you can layer and mix and match.

(See related story on the best websites and cellphone apps for traveling to Europe)

Disclaimer: Please note that I am an Amazon affiliate. I will be modestly compensated if you purchase any of the items below on Amazon after clicking one of the links. With only one or two exceptions, the items on this list are ones Kathy and I purchased and used on this trip. We can highly recommend them based on our experience. These accessories also get high marks for satisfaction from other Amazon customers.

Here are travel accessories we found helpful:

Most airlines allow you to bring a personal item bag in addition to a carry-on bag. Kathy and I found this 18x14x8 inch travel bag from Echohub perfect for the task. You can pay a lot more for brand-name bags, but if you’re a casual traveler like us, this one is plenty tough and durable. It has pockets, zippers, and mesh to help you separate your items. It includes a compartment sized for a laptop computer or iPad-type tablet, and another compartment for wet clothes. It includes a sleeve to slide onto the handle of a rolling bag, allowing you to easily carry it with no weight on your back or shoulder. The bag comes in seven colors.

This men’s toiletry bag is compact and well-organized. I made sure my liquids were in small enough containers to fit inside this bag and to meet airline regulations. My old toiletry bag was bulky and lacked helpful compartments. Wedama also makes toiletry bags for women.

You still have to do the laundry even while traveling. By carrying clothes you can wash in the hotel sink and dry overnight, you avoid wasting your time and money on laundromats. On a three-week trip, we only visited a laundromat once. These Tide packets make washing in the sink a breeze and are easy to pack. You can also find travel-size laundry sheets.

A retractable travel clothesline is great for use in hotel rooms. We washed our fast-drying clothes many evenings by hand in the sink and then hung them on the clothesline to dry overnight. It’s also great for camping.

This stuff really works! When tops and jackets came out of the suitcase wrinkled, we just sprayed them with this Downy Wrinkle Releaser, smoothed out the garment with our hands, and voila! No more wrinkles! This small spray bottle is perfect for airlines, cruises, and other forms of travel. We won’t ever travel again without it.

Wall outlets are different in Europe than in North America, so you will need one or more of these power adapters when you travel to plug in your cellphones, tablets, computers, and other accessories. Kathy and I each used one of these popular Tessan adaptors by our bedside. This version works in countries that use the Type C wall outlets, which includes most of Europe. It even worked in our hotel in Switzerland, which uses Type J outlets. In addition to the wall plug, this adaptor also accepts two USB plugs, meaning you can charge three devices at once. Note that if you are going to the United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland, etc.) you will need a different adaptor.

For some small appliances, such as curling irons, you need more than a power adaptor, you need a power converter like this model from Bestek. It converts power from Europe’s 220 volts to the U.S. standard of 110 volts. This device also works as a power adaptor and will work in nearly all nations. You don’t need a power converter for cellphones and tablets; an adaptor is all you need. Before purchasing a power converter, note that these are bulkier for travel and more expensive. Ask yourself how badly you need to carry the item that needs a converter, or whether it would be cheaper to buy a new curling iron (or whatever) that converts with a switch from 110 to 220, or simply wait and buy one when you arrive in Europe or the UK.

This is one of our favorite new purchases for our trip! Apple AirTags help you keep track of your luggage or other expensive items while traveling. Just slip one of these small, lightweight tags in your suitcase, personal item bag, computer bag, or purse. AirTags connect to your iPhone or iPad. It’s cheaper to buy a four-pack such as this one instead of buying one at a time. Trust me, you’ll want more than one!

We learned firsthand how well AirTags work. We checked a bag at the Zurich airport on the way home, which was supposed to go to Dublin and then on to our final destination in the U.S. When we arrived at our U.S. airport, the bag wasn’t there. Fortunately, our iPhone confirmed it never left Dublin. We showed our evidence to the airline personnel, who seemed appreciative. As the bag made its way home, we could track its progress, first in London and then in Canada before eventually arriving at our destination airport.

Now that we’re home, these AirTags are easily repurposed for other needs. You can add them to wallets, purses, key rings, bicycles, or even your car. Don’t use Apple cellphones or tablets? Similar tags are available elsewhere for Android and other platforms.

These days, all of us rely heavily on our cellphones and tablets. You don’t want to have a phone go dead at the wrong time while traveling. That’s why we carried an Anker portable charger. This brand rates highly and their portable chargers are compact and light. You can buy a cheaper model with less power, but we wanted enough power to recharge our iPhones and iPads and not have to worry about it. Be sure. you also carry cables to run from the charger to your phone, tablet, or laptop computer.

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We’re glad we purchased these travel accessories before our big trip to Europe. It pays to think through your trip needs ahead of time. Purchasing and packing travel products like those described above will make your trip more carefree and relaxing.

Bon voyage to you and enjoy your travels!

Read these related travel stories:

Tips for preparing for a European vacation

Best websites and apps for European travelers

 

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