Top 10 travel accessories for the globetrotter
As a lifestyle magazine, travel is a big part of what we do. Evidently, we’ve discovered a lot about what can make our journey more comfortable – whether it be by plane, train, boat or bus. We’ve compiled a list of our top ten essential travel accessories that you wouldn’t catch us going on a trip without.
Wireless In-ears
A trusted pair of earphones or headphones is essential for listening to your favourite music or podcasts, watching a movie, or just drowning out your in-flight neighbours. We love the JBL Wave Bean True Wireless Earbuds for its powerful bass and great sound quality, fitted into a compact casing. Additionally – and this is the real bonus – battery life lasts up to 32 hours and speed charging them in their case for ten minutes gets you two extra hours of use.
Price: R1299, available here.
Sunglasses
Rayban is one of our favourite brands for sunglasses. Their collection spans classics like the Wayfarer – a timeless aesthetic. Shopping through Sunglass Hut gives you so many styles to choose from, at so many different price points too.
Price: R2810, available here.
Travel toiletry bag
A good quality toiletry bag keeps all your toiletries organised in one place and helps prevent spillage in your luggage. This stylish Polo toiletry bag is a really good size for all of your essentials and then some, with a conveniently placed zipper for easy access.
Price: R1295, available here.
Travel jewellery case
Just because you’re travelling doesn’t mean you should forego accessorising. Because we don’t believe in checking in our valuables (especially not jewellery) and because we like to keep things organised and in one easy-to-locate place, we always travel with a jewellery case. A decently-sized case can even hold your sunglasses and watches too. We love this Galaxy & Co. Jewellery case for its size, design and durability.
Price: R349, available here.
Moon bag
Whether you want to call it a moon bag, cross body belt or a fanny pack, you can’t deny its functionality. It’s convenient for keeping your necessary travel documents, passport and wallet close to you, which is especially handy at an airport or a border crossing. We love the Sealand moon bags that are made from upcycled materials and come in striking retro colours. It has zip compartments in both the front and back and comes with an adjustable strap. Sling it over your shoulder or strap it across your waist.
Price: R695, available here.
Power bank
A dead battery – whether it’s your cell phone, e-reader or wireless earphones – can really inconvenience your travels. A good quality, compact power bank is the perfect all-round solution. This Samsung 25W Battery pack is powerful and compact, has three ports for multi-device charging and it has supercharge functionality.
Price: R999, available here.
Travel pillow
A travel pillow is a game-changer, enabling sleep on a flight or in a long distance car trip. Admittedly, finding the right travel pillow for your comfort and preferences can be as tricky as finding the right pillow for your bed. But, a classic memory foam wraparound neck pillow – especially one that can be tightened or loosened to your liking – is definitely a safe bet. For us, the TROIKA neck pillow ticks all the boxes and it is currently on special on Takealot.
Price: R879 (down from R1399), available here.
Travel eye mask
If you’ve invested in a good quality neck pillow, the next obvious step is to get an eye mask. It won’t even matter if your in-flight neighbour has the window screen all the way up on a sunny, day-time flight, or that all the lights are turned on in the cabin. If what you want is a soft, contoured mask, the Samsonite Eye Mask is exactly what you’re looking for.
Price: R399, available here.
E-reader
Even if you’re a purist who prefers the feel of paper as you flip through your favourite novel, you have to admit that an E-reader makes reading while travelling much more convenient. They’re more compact and lighter than a paperback book and you can bring along as many books as you like without taking up any extra space. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 will deliver on all your reading needs. Simultaneously, it also serves as an impressive media player.
Price: R2999, available here.
Hand sanitiser
Last, but definitely not least, if there’s one thing we learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that hand sanitiser is an absolute essential for general wellness. We’d recommend buying a set of small bottles or tubs and slipping one into all of your favourite bags or moonbags so that you’re always prepared. You can take up to 100ml on a flight. Alternatively, wet wipes are just as convenient, especially if you’re travelling with children.
Price: R35 (hand sanitiser, 50ml), available here.
