Our Must-Have Travel Accessories

We’re professional travelers here at Wild Sage, so we thought we’d share some of our go-to travel accessories for a comfortable trip. You’ll be glad you brought them when you travel with us! SEE OUR TOURS HERE if you’re ready for a new travel adventure.

We Never Travel Without These Handy Accessories

1) A Travel Pillow

Even fancy hotels can have bad pillows, and we often feel like Goldilocks — “this one’s too hard, this one’s too soft” — so the way to find one that’s “just right” is to carry your own. We love the amazingly soft and packable ones from All About Down. Choose your size, shape, firmness, and pillow-case color, and you’re good to go! They pack down well and fit in nicely beneath a stack of clothes.

2) A Cushioned Eye Mask

Pair your fluffy pillow with a cushioned eye mask to block out unwanted light without putting pressure on your eyes. A lot of places make them now, but we started with the ones at MZOO and love them. Your standard airline-issued eye mask puts pressure on the eye, causing discomfort or blurred vision (not to mention wreaking havoc on your make-up if you’re wearing any!). These are gentler on the face and make a nice seal, so you can sleep in total darkness. This and the pillow ensure you’ll be comfortable, which is essential to a good night’s sleep!

3) A Crushable Backpack or String Bag 

Sturdy backpacks are great for carrying heavy loads or protecting your laptop, but sometimes you want something lighter for use in town or on hikes. We like to stuff a lightweight bag inside our bigger backpack so we can keep our valuables in the bigger one while using the lighter one for outings (try this one from Zomake). We even designed Wild Sage string bags to give to our groups, and people love them. You can stash a water bottle, beach towel, snack, and a wallet without having to carry a big pack.

4) A Phone Lanyard 

We take a LOT of photos, and there’s always the risk of dropping our precious phone as we’re riding a camel in the Sahara on our Morocco tour or trying to snap a pic from our sea kayak in the Algarve. One of the easiest ways to keep your phone safe is to buy a cheap lanyard. You can buy one anywhere they sell phone covers or accessories, then you just slip the little piece of plastic or cloth between the phone and the phone case. It has a loop that sticks out so you can attach a strap. Wrap it around your wrist, wear it around your neck, sling it over your shoulder, or just clutch it in your hand so if the phone slips you can grab it. There are fancier kinds that include phone cases with a pocket for your ID and some bills so you don’t need to carry a wallet!

 

5)  Cheap Plastic Poncho

We all love our fancy Gore-Tex jackets and breathable outer layers, but sometimes you need a cheap plastic poncho: for that time you weren’t expecting rain so you left your jacket at home; or when it rains so hard you want to protect your upper AND lower body; or when you want to protect your backpack or purse and your jacket only keeps your torso dry. They may look goofy, or you may choose to think they look cool! Here’s Manu looking like a Caped Superhero while on a rainy hike in Morocco back in 2018 💃. Best yet, they’re super cheap! This blue model above is heavier so could cost ten or twenty bucks, while one of the tiny lightweight ones might just be a euro or two. Sure they’re cheap, but you’ll thank yourself next time you get hit with a sudden shower!

6) Silicone Sink Stopper

Did you pack light and bring clothes you can wash ‘n wear, only to find out your hotel sink plug doesn’t hold water? Ever tried rinsing clothes with one hand while holding the stopper down with the other? Or rinsing a few things at the bottom of the shower while you shampoo because it’s your only option?? Avoid these scenarios by carrying one of these little sink stoppers. They’re available online, they’re super cheap, and they don’t weigh anything. It’s a no-brainer, and your travel mates will probably want to borrow it. 😉

7) Travel Bottle

Last but not least, one of the most important must-have accesories is a refillable water bottle. Most European cities have water taps where you can fill up with fresh water (the ones in Rome are always running, making a welcoming splash of cool water when you need it). Some ornamental fountains have non-potable water but the one in the cover photo, from the town of Amalfi, is 100% healthy so fill ‘er up! You can also fill up from your hotel room or a restaurant sink, and it’s a great way to stay hydrated while not using — and throwing away — hundreds of plastic bottles. We like the metal ones, and made Wild Sage bottles last year to give out to people on our tours.

A Few More Must-Have Travel Accessories: 

• Ear-plugs for sound sleep whenever you need it
• An external battery charger for your phone
• Medication for motion sickness: in Italy you can get Travelgum in pharmacies, and it’s been a game-changer for some of us!
• Melatonin to help you get over jet-lag or sleepless nights
• Lightweight slippers or flip-flops for your hotel or other casual settings

Looking for a new adventure? Create your own tour by choosing your destination, activity type, and date, and we’ll design something just for you! We specialize in customized small-group tours. See more about what we do here.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions about Travel Accessories:

What is the most commonly forgotten item for travelers? 

• The number one item people forget to pack is a toothbrush 🪥
• Phone Chargers & Cables: it’s easy to forget them if they’re plugged in next to the bed or behind furniture, and make sure you don’t leave the adapter in the socket when you pull out the cable!
• Glasses / Sunglasses: If you don’t wear them 24/7 (like reading glasses) they’re easy to forget. We always carry a spare pair of “readers” in our backpack or purse.
• Prescription Medication: Make sure to bring what you need from home (but don’t stress about things you can get at your destination).
  Pro-tip: always ALWAYS do a final sweep before you leave home or your hotel room. Run through the essentials (passport, glasses, keys, shoes, underwear!), and if you’re leaving a hotel room, check that you didn’t leave something in the closet or hanging behind the bathroom door.

What travel accessories should we carry while traveling in flight?

• The essentials: passport/ID, reading glasses, wallet/money.
• Layered clothing for changeable flight temperatures, especially warm socks if you’re wearing sandals or light shoes.
• Our favorite eye mask (see above) is a great addition to your long-haul flight.
• Lip balm, moisturizer and toothbrush/toothpaste to stay fresh and hydrated.
• Snacks and water bottle: you can fill up your bottle in the airport bathroom or water fountain after you go through security.
  Pro-tip: always ALWAYS check the seat-back pocket on the plane before you disembark! We’ve lost soooo many things in there. 🙁

Do I need a Voltage Converter or just an Adapter?

• An Adapter changes the shape of the plug so it fits in a wall socket with different prongs. You can use this for dual-voltage items like phones and modern gadgets.
• A Converter actually changes the electrical voltage (e.g., 220V to 110V). You only need this for larger single-voltage appliances like hair dryers, curling irons, or electric kettles.
  Pro-Tip: bring a multi-plug that can charge both USB and USB-C cables since many hotel rooms are short on wall sockets. Use a simple adapter if you’re traveling in one region, or get a multi-adapter if you’re visiting different countries (Italy and France sometimes have different prong sizes, for example!).

What bag should I use when traveling?

• One “convertible” suitcase with wheels that can fit carry-on but also expand if you need it.
• Travel back-pack as “personal item”: these are better than purses since they distribute the weight evenly across your back and won’t slip off your shoulder. It also allows you to go hands-free as you move through the airport or busy city streets.
  Pro-Tip: Check the 2026 Standards — airlines are getting stricter, so make sure your carry-on is exactly 22 x 14 x 9 inches (including wheels and handles). If it’s even an inch over, many “smart” gate sizers will flag it.

Article by Claire Duiker, Wild Sage co-founder and tour leader