Travel Accessories Can Make or Break Your Trip

Traveling nowadays is about knowing what to bring with you on a trip and what to leave behind. To that end there are a few things that the well prepared traveler should have with them during their journey.

Carry-on Bag

The most important thing about your carry-on bag is the size. It should be able to fit the overhead bins or underneath the seat in front of you when the bag is full. The total size of your carry-on must not exceed 45 inches. To measure whether your bag is within the allotted 45 inches, you would measure length plus width plus height. The ideal dimensions are 22x14x9 inches. Furthermore, your carry-on bag cannot weigh more than 40 pounds. The rest of it is an expression of your personality.

Travel Wallet

A travel wallet is one of the most overlooked travel accessories. Stow away your boarding passes, claim checks for your luggage, hotel information, travel itinerary, and if needed, your passport. These days the whole airline industry is cutting back and the nice agent will most likely not provide you with a sleeve for your boarding pass. Having all your travel paperwork in one place means you don't have to waste precious time looking for it. Also, the travel wallet is a great way to hold all your receipts in one place. You want to consider travel wallets that are slim but can still hold all your papers for travel, waterproof in case you spill coffee on it, and have an eyecatching color so you can spot it quickly.

Pad and Pen Set

Although everything is now digital, there will still come a need for pen and paper. There have been enough times when I was caught without it and really wished I had it, that investing in a notepad and pen set was a smart and inexpensive idea.

Aspirin and Antacid Tablets

A two-pack of aspirin or antacid tablets will set you back $3 at some stores in the airport. Do yourself a favor and bring a couple of your own. You'll inevitably need aspirin in case of delays, missed connections, or something else going wrong and you have one big headache that develops. Or since airports are not known for having healthy, well prepared food, you can easily get an upset stomach and you'll want a couple of antacids to help you through. For convenience, these individually wrapped pills won't take up too much space in your bag.

Pocket Tissues and Sanitary Hand Wipes

For sanitary reasons, because traveling means you will be in contact with many surfaces that other people have touched, it's very handy to have these with you to keep yourself healthy and prevent you from catching germs. I prefer the sanitary hand wipes over the gel because it's one less liquid to worry about.

A Bag of Nuts

You never know when you'll be able to catch a meal in between catching a cab, a flight, or a connection. Having your own snack means that you won't go hungry and nuts will sate your hunger for a while until you can get a meal. If you area allergic to nuts, then a bag of granola or other nut-less trail mix should satisfy your hunger.

An Extra Bag

You never know when you'll need an extra bag bag when you travel. A cloth bag such as those recyclable ones that you can get from the supermarket for a buck is perfect. Fold and then roll them up into a small size with a rubber band, you are ready in case of an emergency.

Put all these small items in a zippered case or even a one gallon ziploc bag, but not with your toiletries bag. Put the case in your handbag or briefcase or your carry-on and you are all set.