Top Travel Essentials We Always Bring Along

When it comes to packing, we all grab the basics: toiletries, clothing, and shoes. However, there are certain travel accessories that we can’t imagine leaving behind. These small items may not seem as crucial as our passports, yet they greatly enhance our travel experience. They tackle those minor inconveniences that arise—like uncomfortable airplane seating, tangled cables, or minimizing single-use plastic waste.

At Dinogo, our team has dedicated countless hours to finding and testing travel accessories that support us throughout our journey—many of which are sustainably crafted, with several sourced from small businesses. This collection showcases our most reliable favorites, the items we always take with us after trying them out on our travels.

Whether you’re jetting off to a distant locale or embarking on a quick road trip nearby, think about including these vital travel accessories in your packing list.

Matador Refillable Toothpaste Tubes

Tired of constantly buying small plastic toothpaste tubes that end up in the trash after just a few uses, but not a fan of chewable toothpaste tablets? Luckily, travel brand Matador has introduced a fantastic eco-friendly solution. This set includes a tube designed for a week’s worth of use and a larger one for two weeks, both of which can be endlessly refilled with your favorite Crest or Colgate from home. Simply detach the sliding clip at the back, fill to the “max fill” line, fold at the “fold line,” and reattach the clip. It may take a bit to get the hang of the sliding clip, but it becomes much easier after a few tries.

Anker 3-in-1 737 Charger

Whether you’re on the go or just taking your laptop to a nearby café, this Anker charging brick features three ports—two USB-C and one USB-A. This allows you to charge your laptop, iPhone, and another device simultaneously, eliminating the need to carry multiple chargers.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

While many states mandate carbon monoxide detectors in private homes, not all hotels are obligated to have them. For safety, consider packing a plug-in model with battery backup like the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector. It's roughly the size of a thick iPhone, making it easy to fit into your carry-on. The Kidde unit emits four quick beeps when it senses CO, while others may use verbal warnings. (A smoke alarm has a distinct sound, often a three-beep pattern, for example.)

Trtl Travel Pillow

Finding a travel pillow that genuinely works can be a challenge, but many Dinogo editors rave about the Trtl travel pillow. Any initial embarrassment about its appearance vanishes once you experience its ergonomic design that prevents your head from nodding uncomfortably. As Rosalie Tinelli, Dinogo’s former senior audience development manager, put it, “It feels a bit odd to wear at first and resembles a neck brace, but who cares about looks when you can sleep soundly on a plane and wake up without neck pain?”

Offered in a range of colors, along with a kids’ version (for ages 8 and older) and a more adjustable, breathable Trtl Pillow Plus, this travel pillow is undoubtedly one of our top picks.

Travel Pill Organizer

While many products go viral on TikTok, these compact pill organizers that function as a portable pharmacy are among the most practical to have gained millions of views. Instead of bringing a dopp kit filled with various bottles of Tylenol, Dramamine, and other over-the-counter medications, these space-efficient organizers allow you to sort them into eight small sections. Just remember to label each section to differentiate your vitamins from other meds.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

You may have already seen glowing reviews for Apple’s AirPods Pro as everyday headphones, but they’re also excellent for travel. These lightweight, wireless earbuds include travel-friendly features such as noise cancellation, an impressive 30-hour battery life, and flexible silicone tips that ensure they stay securely in your ears (and not lost in your airplane seat).

Eagle Creek Pack-It Packing Cubes

If you haven’t yet embraced packing cubes, now is the time: they truly help keep your luggage organized, neat, and folded. While there are numerous options to explore, many Dinogo editors recommend Eagle Creek’s renowned Pack-It packing cube system as their favorite. The starter set includes a garment folder, a medium cube, and a small cube. Plus, Eagle Creek prioritizes sustainability by ensuring their products are PVC-free and made from recycled materials.

Twelve South AirFly Pro

With the Twelve South AirFly Pro wireless transmitter, you can use wireless headphones to enjoy movies on in-seat screens during flights. It connects to the headphone jack on airplane seats and transmits audio signals via Bluetooth to your headphones. (It also serves as an AUX IN adapter for rental cars.) Boasting a 16-hour battery life, it’s about the size of a matchbox.

Baggu 3D Zip Set

If the thought of your shoe soles touching your clean clothes, toiletry bag, or even a hat in your luggage makes you uncomfortable, consider investing in travel shoe bags. A quick and easy solution you probably have at home is plastic grocery bags or large Ziplocs. However, there are more durable and eco-friendly options like the Baggu 3D Zip Set. Made from recycled ripstop nylon, this set of three zip pouches is versatile, with the medium and large pouches perfectly sized for flip-flops, flats, and sneakers. (The small pouch is ideal for organizing toiletries or charging cables.)

Matador FlatPak Toiletry Bottle

Instead of purchasing disposable travel-sized toiletries that might leak or burst in your bag, choose high-quality reusable bottles for your lotions, shampoo, soap, and other liquids. Dinogo contributor Maggie Fuller suggests the Matador FlatPak toiletry bottles, which—despite their name—look more like little bags. These TSA-approved, three-ounce bottles are compact, leak-proof, and easy to fit into your toiletry bag.

This is Ground Cord Taco

Whether it’s headphones or chargers, cords have a way of tangling into knots or wrapping around other small items in your bag. To keep them organized, Dinogo editor-at-large Laura Dannen Redman recommends the Cord Tacos from This is Ground. Handmade in Los Angeles, these compact leather “tacos” wrap around your cords and snap shut, keeping them neat and coiled during your travels.

Asutra Eye Pillow

The Asutra Eye Pillow is perfect for catching some sleep on a plane or in a brightly lit hotel room. Crafted from ultra-soft silk, it completely blocks out light (making it a great choice even if your seatmate insists on reading), and is filled with soothing lavender and flax seeds, providing a calming weighted effect for your face. You may find yourself wanting to use this every night, even after your vacation days are over.

Vapur Anti-Bottle Water Bottle

Bringing a reusable water bottle along is essential for staying hydrated and cutting down on waste. For those who prefer not to carry a bulky 32-ounce bottle that takes up valuable space in carry-ons, the Vapur Anti-Bottle is an ideal choice—this BPA-free plastic pouch rolls up to nearly nothing when not in use.

Travel Tube Blanket

Why choose between a blanket and a scarf when you can have both in one? For warmth on planes, during outdoor dining, and everywhere in between, the versatile blanket scarves by the women-owned Seattle brand Travel Tube Blankets are perfect. Crafted from soft, stretchy knit fabric, the Classic Travel Tube Blanket can be worn as an infinity scarf when rolled up and, when unraveled, becomes a 4.5-foot-long tube-like blanket (similar to a sleeping bag without the bottom seam) or a cozy shawl.

Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Mist

Hand sanitizer has always been a must-have for travelers, but its importance has only grown since the COVID pandemic. Luckily, Australian brand Aesop offers a spray version of its popular Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash. With the same invigorating citrus fragrance, this alcohol-based sanitizer is enriched with aloe vera to keep your hands moisturized.

Snow Peak Reusable Utensils

While reusable utensils might not be the first item on your packing list, they can prove to be quite useful—whether for takeout, picnics, or a late-night ramen feast in a hotel room after all the restaurants have closed. “I always bring my Snow Peak cutlery set, and my husband opts for their collapsible chopsticks, allowing us to avoid disposable options,” says Jessie Beck, Dinogo’s associate director, SEO, product & video. Both sets come with a dedicated carrying case, keeping your utensils organized and separate from the rest of your bag.

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

For international trips, a universal travel adapter is essential. This compact model from Epicka features plugs compatible with over 150 countries, including the United States, Australia, England, and much of the EU. Equipped with an AC socket, four USB-A ports, and one USB-C port, it allows you to charge up to six devices simultaneously—eliminating the need for multiple adapters.

BL+ the Cream

Avoid feeling parched on your next long flight by applying a rich face cream like BL+ the Cream from Blue Lagoon Iceland. Infused with microalgae and silica sourced from the same geothermal location as the iconic blue pools, this travel-friendly 15-ml pot might seem pricey, but a little truly goes a long way.

This article was first published in 2021 and was updated on December 14, 2023, to include new information.