Disclosure: I only recommend products, places to stay/ eat, and attractions I would use/ visit myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, may earn a small commission.
I will keep this list updated as I discover new must-haves. If it becomes too large I will make a part two. Please share with me your favorite must haves that I don’t have listed here so I can try them out!
When traveling anywhere
Door lock gives you extra peace of mind when traveling. It is so easy to use; you just put it in the lock and lock it into place. I’ve used this countless times, and it just gives me that extra layer of safety, especially when I’m traveling solo.
Compact packing cubes for all my fellow over-packers; these are amazing! Packing cubes these are my favorite non-compression packing cubes.
Sunglasses / glasses case this case is fantastic; it holds three pairs of glasses safely without needing multiple cases.
TSA approved toiletry set this set is the best one I have used so far. The bottles are silicone, so you don’t waste any of your products, and they are so easy to fill.
Cosmetic bag this one holds all my stuff nicely and in one bag. Before this bag, I had multiple ones I used, which makes packing a lot easier.
Pill case this one is perfect for my needs. There are four spaces that hold roughly 15-20 pills, depending on size. This is not a pill case; if you have daily medication you need to take unless you are going for a short trip, it could work.
Electronics cord organizer this is something I recently started using, and I wish I had started to use it earlier. It keeps everything all together, is easy to find, and is so simple to pack.
Travel blanket listen, I understand to some this is not a must, but for me, it is a small constant that makes everywhere I go I have a small piece of home.
Apple AirTags I feel like this needs no explanation, but this allows you to know where your belongings are at all times, and you can set up notifications if you “left behind” one of your items. There are a few ways I like to use these tags, key tags, which I put on my keys and camera. A wallet holder, I have this in my travel purse and my backpack. A peel and stick holder, I have this stuck inside my suitcase. These come in handy when you check your luggage. Luggage tag you can put this on the outside of your suitcase or bag if you have different bags for different traveling.
Travel steamer this is so compact and perfect for traveling, because who wants wrinkled clothes when they travel, not me.
Travel electric toothbrush I wanted an electric toothbrush that wasn’t all bulky or mini. This one is perfect, not bulky at all, and the charge is impressive!
Shoe bag keeps your shoes’ dirt away from all of your clothes.
Water bottle this is something I always have because, most of the time, there is a free way to fill it up.
Multiple charger, charge your phone, watch, and earbuds all at once with this single foldable charger. It is so nice not to bring all the chargers when traveling.
Travel perfume this is so convenient to take your favorite perfume with you without taking the entire bottle or buying it in travel size. It’s easy to fill these up and go.
Overnight weekend bag ok, so this might not be a must-have, but it is nice to have a smaller weekend bag for those short trips you don’t have to bust out the luggage for.
Cell phone mount when flying; you can mount this on the tray table while it’s open or closed for hands-free moving watching.
Compact bag this is perfect to hang on the side of your purse to have when you are out shopping; it can hold all of your stuff in one place instead of carrying multiple bags.
First aid kit because it’s better to have it in case and not have to make an emergency run to the store or buy overpriced items because of your location.
Casely phone cases and chargers let me tell you they are my favorite and I don’t use anything else.
Paper Shoot Camera this has become my go to camera for a unique photo and it is so compact that I can easily put it in my small purse and go. It is a must have.
When traveling on a cruise
Extension cord there is only one outlet, and this comes in handy.
If you’ve read my Margaritaville post, you’d know I got extremely seasick, and this part is a must-have for me. Dramamine pills start taking them right away. Nausea ear patches are an extra precaution. Motion sickness bands on the ship are expensive, so I’d buy them to have them, but I wore them the entire time.
Hanging cosmetic bag keeps all of your stuff in one place, and from rolling around if the ship is rocking a lot, it also is easy to pack back up.
Cruise luggage tags are designed to hold the tag the cruise line sends you, and this keeps it from ripping off.
When traveling internationally
Conversion plug this one has multiple plugs built into one; if you’re traveling around, there is no need to have numerous plugs when you can have just one.
Compact duffel bag this is perfect to take with you empty and folded up in your luggage to have for when you fly home. It gives you that extra space for things you may have purchased, and you won’t have to buy a new suitcase while you’re there.
Luggage tag if you don’t want to use an AirTag luggage tag, I recommend this one; it’s easy on and off and colorful, so it’s easy to spot.
Coin purse this is a must-have when traveling internationally; sometimes, public restrooms require payment, and having change is necessary.
Passport holder, this isn’t a must-have for some, but for me, it has been excellent to have. It keeps my passport and global entry card safe from RFID, and there are spots for a driver’s license, credit cards, and some cash if you want to use it. I don’t keep everything in it just for safety reasons, but I love this holder, and it has held up amazingly.
Travel with Duck 
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