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Travel Like a Pro: The 11 Best Travel Accessories to Invest In

Dec 19, 2023Dec 19, 2023

I’ve spent a lot of time on the road in the past several years—so much so that it’s almost comical. And when you’re away as often as I am, traveling with mediocre gear (such as a cabin trolley with wobbly wheels or earphones that work intermittently) is out of the question.

After all, ill-considered packing decisions can lead to massive inconveniences, delays, and a very foul mood—if you don’t have a sense of humor about the indignities of modern travel. So save yourself the trouble and buy the best travel accessories you can afford.

Save for some essentials such as neck pillows and fleece travel blankets, here are some other bulletproof items that have vastly improved my business trips and vacations—and I’m guessing they’ll make a world of difference for you.

TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT

Last year at Baselworld, I fell in love with the Tudor Black Bay GMT. When you work in two time zones as often as I do throughout the year, it’s invaluable to have a watch that can do the math for you. With the dial of a classic Tudor divewatch the Black Bay GMT has a Pepsi bezel calibrated for 24 hours and a snowflake hand for an additional timezone. It’s also made of stainless steel and is waterproof up to 200 meters, which means it’s a true road warrior that can take you from the boardroom to the hotel to the beach.

Tudor's Black Bay GMT has a Pepsi bezel calibrated for 24 hours and a snowflake hand for an... [+] additional timezone. And it's waterproof up to 200 meters.

JBL CLIP 3 WATERPROOF BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS

I always packed Bluetooth speakers with me. Why? Because for all the technological advances in the hospitality space, it boggles the mind that circa 2008 iPhone and iPod docks still furnish most hotel rooms—no matter how chichi the property is. A few years ago, I was devoted to Jawbone’s Mini Jambox until the company went bust. The good news: My dad, a music enthusiast, recently introduced me to the JBL Clip 3. It’s completely waterproof and features a built-in clip that attaches to showerheads, bikes, backpacks, and more. So if you want to listen to your tunes in that outdoor hot tub, no problem.

The JBL Clip 3 speaker is perfect for anyone who's forever on the go. And because it's waterproof... [+] you can take it anywhere without having to worry, even on beach vacations.

KAWECO CLASSIC SPORT ROLLERBALL

It may sound like such an insignificant thing but traveling with a pen is an absolute must. When in transit, you’ll more often than not have to fill out a disembarkation form. And the last thing you need is to scrounge around for one—or bother the flight attendant to borrow hers. So just make like a boy scout and be prepared. Think about it this way: Seasoned passengers who do show up with a pen don’t always love the idea of sharing, especially after a relatively long flight. Personally, I like the Kaweco Classic Sport rollerball because it’s just the right size and it glides through paper. Plus: It’s teeny tiny at 10.5cm—so it fits anywhere.

The size of the German-made Kaweco Classic Sport Rollerball (at 10.5cm lengthwise) makes it perfect... [+] for travelers, especially those who like to pack minimally.

MONTBLANC NIGHTFLIGHT LIQUID FLIGHT BAG

You must always carry a “go bag” inside your carry-on. Let me explain: When you get to your seat on the plane, don’t frantically fumble around your backpack (or purse) searching for all your in-flight necessities. Instead, pack a good-sized pouch with your earphones, medication, chocolate, lip balm, and whatever else you may need. That way you can simply grab the pouch, toss it in your seat, stow your cabin luggage, and relax. My choice is Montblanc’s clear Nightflight bag, which was initially intended to store liquids. But I like seeing what I’ve got in there, in liquid form or not—it makes it infinitely easier to look for stuff when the cabin crew turns the light down.

Montblanc’s clear Nightflight bag was originally intended for storing liquids during travel. But... [+] it’s also superb for holding your in-flight needs.

ANYA HINDMARCH POUCH

This is not to be confused with the aforementioned “go bag.” This particular pouch is actually where I store one credit card and a few foreign bills—enough for a taxi and a meal. And depending on where I’m going, it’s most likely going to hold transit cards as well (such as Hong Kong’s Octopus or London’s Oyster). Sometimes I’ll have a business card or two in there, because you never know who you’re going to run into. Why don’t I just use my regular wallet? You see, my beast of a wallet is typically nestled at the very bottom of my gargantuan purse—to make it difficult for pickpockets. So it’d be inconvenient to pull out the entire thing out and count change when you’ve just landed. So I like to stash my small pouch where it’s easily accessible, such as the outside (or inside) pocket of my bag. Easy peasy.

This Anya Hindmarch pouch is ideal for carrying foreign currency and transit cards, unlike other... [+] large and unweildy travel wallets.

BESTEK TRAVEL ADAPTER

Of all the things I bring on vacation (or a work trip) my trusty travel adapter is up there on the priority list. And it took me a while to find the absolute perfect one. My criteria: It’s got to be lightweight, it’s got to have converters that’ll work everywhere, and USB ports are a must. This nifty one from Bestek works perfectly and it even comes with its own travel pouch.

Bestek’s international travel adapter works everywhere. Plus, it’s lightweight and comes in its own... [+] carrying case.

RIMOWA TRUNK PLUS

Personally, I’m a big Rimowa fan: My cabin trolley and suitcases are all made by the brand. They may not look sizeable (because they don’t expand) but you can fit a whole lot of stuff into them. Plus, they look good—very sleek and modern. Beyond that, they’re nearly impossible to damage. I’m not ashamed to admit that they’ve never let me down, even when I’ve loaded them up with seriously heavy souvenirs. And by heavy I mean 12 bottles of wine and Scotch—on more than one occasion. The Trunk Plus line in particular can hold enough for a two-week trip. And for the large Check-In line, you can purchase garment bag inserts, as I have, to keep those freshly dry-cleaned shirts free of wrinkles. But pro tip: Only purchase the polycarbonate (not aluminum) pieces. They get less dings and are a helluva lot lighter.

Rimowa’s Trunk Plus line is capable of transporting a great many things and is perfect for those who... [+] don’t travel light.

REPETTO BRIGITTE BALLERINAS

Whenever I see a woman wearing high heels in an airport, the first phrase that comes to mind is “rookie move.” And yes, I’m profoundly aware that it’s not the nicest of sentiments and can be downright mean. But wearing uncomfortable shoes while you’re traveling will bring you nothing but misery and pain. Literally. Even beyond the airport, travelers just ought to invest in comfortable footwear. Imagine having to lug suitcases around in stilettos. Or walking cobblestone streets in Europe. Even shopping around, say, the gargantuan malls in Hong Kong will leave stiletto-wearing women in agony. So stick to a pair of easy flats, such as Repetto’s Brigitte ballerinas. They’re easy to trot around in and immensely practical. Plus points: They look good and can be dressed up or down.

Comfortable shoes are a must when traveling. And Repetto’s Briggite flats are stylish enough to... [+] dress up for when you have social engagements to attend.

BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 20 NOISE-CANCELLING EARBUDS

I used to use cans: the Bose QuietComfort 25. And it was phenomenal for a while. Then it died. As a replacement, I followed a dear friend’s advice and bought the QuietComfort earbuds and it’s changed the way I travel. It blocks out noise just as well as its QuietComfort 20 cousin and perhaps maybe a tad better. Not only does it protect you from the aural assaults of chatty passengers, crying babies, and the occasional mid-flight announcements about the food service—it also fits anywhere. The lightweight buds come in their own case and even fits in my jacket pocket—when it’s not in my “go bag.”

The beauty of Bose’s QuietComfort 20 earbuds lies not only in its ability to reliably block out... [+] unwanted chatter. It’s also compact enough for easy storage.

LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE FOLDABLE NYLON BAG

As far as I’m concerned, every traveler should have a folded up Pliage—either in their cabin trolley or in their check-in luggage. Call it the emergency bag. Over the years, I’ve found myself needing space for random things: laundry, extra shopping, or having to unload overweight bags. And sometimes you may even need it to do some light food shopping—because let’s face it, nobody likes paying a hefty premium for bottled water, juice, and snacks from the hotel minibar. Trust me, having the Pliage has saved me from many potential travel woes.

Longchamp’s foldable Le Pliage is as practical as it is cool, especially when you need an extra bag.

ANKER POWERCORE SLIM 5000 AND POWERCORE 10000 POWER BANKS

My motto is: Never leave home without at least two power banks, most especially in remote areas where your chance of finding an outlet is practically zero. Even where I live, in New York City, it’s easy to drain your phone’s battery just by going about your daily routine. So just imagine how infuriating it’d be if you found yourself stuck in a foreign country with no means to call a cab, an Uber, or God forbid, an ambulance. In this day and age, where people are constantly out and about (myself included), it’s just wise to have backup power because there’s nothing more maddening than running out of juice when you need it the most. And the best way to prevent that is to be prepared with completely charged power banks. My choice: Anker’s Powercore Slim 5000 and Powercore 10000. Unlike most power banks, these don’t conk out easily. I’ve had both of mine for years.

Anker’s power banks are the best in the market: They last long and charge fast.

TUDOR BLACK BAY GMT JBL CLIP 3 WATERPROOF BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS KAWECO CLASSIC SPORT ROLLERBALL MONTBLANC NIGHTFLIGHT LIQUID FLIGHT BAG ANYA HINDMARCH POUCH BESTEK TRAVEL ADAPTER RIMOWA TRUNK PLUS REPETTO BRIGITTE BALLERINAS BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 20 NOISE-CANCELLING EARBUDS LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE FOLDABLE NYLON BAG ANKER POWERCORE SLIM 5000 AND POWERCORE 10000 POWER BANKS