Useful Travel Accessories for Your Next City Trip

A city trip can be a great way to explore new places and enjoy everything a city has to offer. But to make the most of your trip, it's better to bring along some travel accessories that will make your experience easier and more comfortable. In this blog post, I'll share 10 useful travel accessories that you shouldn't forget for your next city trip.

1. Travel adapter: a (universal) travel adapter / universal plug adapter  is essential for international travel. It allows you to charge your electronic devices even if the outlets are different from those in your own country. There are travel adapters that are only compatible with the outlets of your destination, like the one I bought for the UK when I was on an (Erasmus) exchange there. But since the cost of a universal travel plug adapter is often similar, I recommend choosing one right away.

2. Suitcase organisers: also known as packing cubes. Suitcase organisers can help you keep your luggage organised. You can use different organisers for clothes, shoes, toiletries, and electronics. This way, you don't have to search endlessly for your belongings and you can keep your suitcase tidy. My boyfriend is a big fan of his Peak Design packing cubes because he also has a Peak Design travel bag, and they match perfectly. He has the small packing cube, medium packing cube, and Peak Design toiletry bag for his travel backpack, as well as the Peak Design Tech Pouch for storing all his electronics. The small and medium packing cubes even have a compression zipper, allowing you to fit more than you would think.

3. Compression bags or vacuum bags: instead of regular packing cubes, you can also opt to use compression bags or vacuum bags. Vacuum bags usually require a pump, but they can save you a lot of space. For city trips, I personally find regular packing cubes (with or without a compression zipper) much more convenient because they wrinkle less and allow you to better control the weight of your backpack/hand luggage. But if you're going to be traveling for a longer time and want to fit as many items as possible in your bag, then it's better to choose compression bags. Or you can combine both and use vacuum bags only for items that are difficult to fold.
   
   

4. Foldable backpack, tote Bag, or waist Bag: a (foldable) tote bag, waist bag, or other small bag is always handy for walking around a city and storing essentials like your wallet. A foldable backpack can be useful if you're also going on day trips during your city trip. This kind of backpack can be easily folded into a compact pouch when not in use, taking up little space in your suitcase.
   

5. Reusable Water Bottle: like the Dopper, Chilly's, or SIGG reusable water bottle. Personally, I'm most satisfied with my Chilly's water bottle, which keeps both cold and hot drinks at the right temperature and has never leaked (unlike the regular plastic Dopper, unfortunately).
   

6. Portable charger: a portable charger, also known as a power bank, is a must-have for travelers who rely heavily on their smartphones or other electronic devices. It allows you to charge your devices on the go, even when there's no available power outlet. If you spend a whole day taking photos and videos, and also use a Google Maps map to navigate through the city, this can definitely come in handy. Especially if your smartphone has a short battery life.
   

7. Travel Pillow: a travel pillow provides comfort during long journeys. Whether you're on a plane, train, or in a car, a travel pillow supports your neck and makes it easier to take a nap on the go.
   

8. Luggage lock: a luggage lock provides extra security for your suitcase or bag and can also come in handy if you choose to sleep in a hostel room with strangers. Opt for a TSA-approved lock, so airport security can open it without damaging it.

9. Portable Luggage Scale: a portable luggage scale or travel scale is handy to ensure that your suitcase is not overweight. This way, you can avoid extra charges for excess baggage at the airport.

10. And of course, a camera! although these days we can capture everything with our smartphones, it has its charm to bring a separate (analog) camera. I have captured many of my city trips this way. By using a disposable camera or reusable analog camera, your photos are much more spontaneous, and you have immediate physical memories of your trip after developing them.