Hi there, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, I'm gonna share my top 9
underrated travel items. These are things that don't get a lot of attention but
can easily save the day when you're traveling and away from home.
(light chiming music)
Today, I want to talk about things that I carry with me on most trips that aren't slick
or fancy, but are essential items that have saved the day on many occasions.
We're not talking about packing cubes or backpacks, even though those are awesome
tools that help make the process of packing and traveling smoother. Instead
these are simple and basic items that I carry with me that have proven to be
extremely handy when traveling. So, in no particular order, let's jump straight
into the list. Number 1: Wipes. I know we've mentioned wipes before in
several videos, but they are truly a must-have item when traveling. They have
definitely come in handy when dealing with dirty airplane trays and even when
visiting a place with no running water in the bathroom, like many national parks.
These things are super handy and cheap, and there's really no reason not to
carry a few in your bag. One tip though is to put your wipes in a second plastic
bag. For some reason, the packaging from the store seems to often leak, so I often
place them in a ziplock bag to be safe. Number 2: Pens. OK, so I know a lot of us
use pens less and less every day, especially since more of our life is
digital. But one thing that is almost never digital are those pesky customs
and immigration forms that you need to fill out when entering another country.
And it seems like there's never enough pens on the airplane. So make sure you
pack a pen. Actually, pack a few of them and you'll be a hero when you can share
them with others. You may even make some new friends.
A tip though is to carry pens that won't leak on the plane. You don't necessarily
need a fancy space pen either. Most gel and ballpoint pens will work. However, I
would avoid roller ball pens as they tend to leak under pressure.
Number 3: Headlamp. You're not gonna win any fashion or hipster awards for
wearing one, but these things are super useful. I know that I have a flashlight
on my phone, but there are times I want to have my hands-free while still having
illumination. An example of this was when I traveled to Vietnam and went
through the Cu Chi tunnels. We were crawling through the tunnels, and holding
a phone would not have been practical. I have one that I've used for years and it
still works great. It also doubles as an emergency light at home and comes in
handy when doing home repairs in dark spaces. Number 4: Plastic utensil. This
little plastic utensil is not only sturdy and reusable, but it has saved the day
on several occasions. Why? Because I'll often buy foods like yogurt when I
travel to not only save money on breakfast, but also because I think it
helps my digestive system. Though what often happens is that I realize that I
don't have a spoon, and when I ask a store for one, either they don't have
them or they want me to buy a whole pack of them, which is both cumbersome and
wasteful. After going through this exact scenario in Panama, I decided to get a
cheap reusable utensil and it works great. Number 5:
Watch. I know a lot of people just use their mobile phones as their watch. That
makes a lot of sense, but I always recommend wearing a watch when traveling.
Why? Because I tend to burn through my mobile phone battery faster when I'm
traveling and using my phone to capture photos and videos. And with the time
being more sensitive when you travel, especially when flying or taking a tour,
it just makes more sense to have a dedicated watch for the task. I'm also a
bit old school, so I like carrying an automatic watch, which means that it
doesn't use a battery. I just happen to be a watch geek, so I like the idea of
the watch being powered by my motion, but any watch will do. Number 6: Spare battery
charger. Speaking of mobile phones running out of power, I always carry a
small USB battery charger. It comes in useful so many times when traveling and
I honestly recommend one to any traveler. They come in a variety of sizes and
capacities. I personally love the battery packs made by Anker and they plan to get
a bigger capacity one, now that I'm carrying more camera gear and a drone.
However, their tiny charger is what I usually carry and it saved me on so many
occasions. Number 7: Multi-port USB charger. To continue the theme of power
and electronics, I recommend carrying a multi-port
USB charger. One thing that I've noticed when traveling is that hotels often have
very few plugs, especially some of the more dated hotels. This can be an issue
if you have multiple devices that need to be charged. Having a multi-port
charger allows you to charge many different devices and can even win you
some friends at the airport. Again, I highly recommend any chargers made by
Anker. They even make a charger that doubles as a spare battery pack, so check
out their gear if you're interested in getting one. Number 8: Rain gear. Being in
a sudden downpour is no fun, especially when you're carrying important items or
gear. I sometimes will carry an umbrella with me, but most times I like to pack a
poncho. It doesn't take up much room and it works really well to keep me dry. You
can get ones that are disposable but I recommend spending a bit more to get one
that's reusable. They are not only more durable, but they also tend to be made of
more breathable materials, which is so much more comfortable to wear.
Number 9: Luggage lock. The last item on my list is the simple luggage lock. The
reason I recommend carrying one is that there have been times when I've checked
into a hotel only to find out that there isn't a safe, or even worse, it just
doesn't work properly. I usually carry a portable safe with me, but if I don't
have it or if I have items that are too big, I
usually just lock it in my suitcase. Now I know that this isn't the best way to
secure your items as the lock can be destroyed or your bag could be cut. It's
definitely not gonna stop and determine thief, but it's probably enough to deter
a curious housekeeper. If you're traveling with some expensive or
valuable items, then you're better off carrying it with you during the day or
having the front desk secure it in their safe if they offer the service. Also, if
you want to use a luggage lock when flying, make sure it's TSA approved if
you're traveling to the US. Otherwise, it will likely be cut. For US travelers,
you should be aware that theft from luggage is much more common around the
world than in the US, so it's good practice to lock your luggage when
traveling. What underrated items do you carry when traveling? Is there anything
that you've used that saved the day? Please let us know in the comments
section below. I've posted links to the products shown
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website. Until next time, travel safe and travel smart.