I love to travel, but I also love to sleep, charge my phone without fighting a tangled mess, and avoid breaking my toes on unfamiliar furniture in the middle of the night. Simple pleasures, really.
Over the years, I’ve discovered a few essential travel gadgets that make my life easier. Essential is MAYBE a stretch for a normal person but they’ve become essential for me. Here are my top three picks—because yes, I have very strong opinions on these things.
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1. A Sound Machine That’s Better Than Your iPhone
I don’t care if you swear by the white noise app on your phone. It’s just not the same. This sound machine is an absolute must for hotel stays, where you never know if you’ll be serenaded to sleep by the dulcet tones of screaming children, slamming doors, or your neighbor’s questionable life choices.
Why is this better than using your phone? First of all, the speaker quality is way better, so you get actual soothing sound. Second, using your phone means you can’t scroll IG at the same time (god forbid) or you know, have a functioning phone if it dies overnight. Priorities, people.
2. Retractable Phone Charger – No More Tangled Messes
Speaking of phones dying – not in this house/hotel room! This retractable phone charger is the answer to my deeply ingrained hatred of tangled cords.
Compact, easy to store, and (most importantly) untangled, this charger saves space and sanity. It’s also perfect for airport lounges, hotels, or wherever else you find yourself desperately trying to get your phone to 100% before your next adventure. It’s a standard US plug and has a USB port as well (but that one isn’t retractable).
3. Light Sensor Night Lights – Because Stubbing Your Toe Hurts
Here’s the thing: I’m not trying to play “The Floor is Lava” every time I need to pee at 3 AM. And that’s every damn night because I’m 40. Hotel rooms, Airbnbs, even friends’ guest rooms—none of them are designed with my sleepwalking tendencies in mind. Enter these lightweight, travel-friendly light sensor night lights. It might feel a little “extra” to some people, but like I said, I am ALL about making my life easier.
They emit just the right amount of light to help you navigate without feeling like you’re in interrogation. Perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to blind themselves with the overhead light or disturb their travel companion (if you’re lucky enough to have one and aren’t living that #foreveralone life like me). Plus, they’re $9 for a 6-pack. Can’t beat that in THIS economy. Below is an example of the two I use in my home. And please ignore the pizza box in my kitchen.
So there you have it—my three must-haves for every trip. Whether you’re a light sleeper, a neat freak about cords, or just someone who values not bruising their shins in an unfamiliar room, these gadgets are game-changers.
Got any travel tech favorites of your own? Drop them in the comments—because I’m always looking for more ways to make life easier (and lazier) on the road.
