Being a travel magazine editor isn’t all glitz and glamour. Frequent—and often international—travel, means long hours driving to and from airports, lots of down time in said airports, and even more time on planes. As a result, I’m always on the lookout for anything that will make the sometimes tedious process easier, more pleasant, and even fun when possible.
This month I’ve gathered a handful of items that have proven to be exceptionally helpful in those departments for me lately. Hopefully you’ll find them useful on your adventures as well. And, as always, feel free to let us know what’s on your must-have packing list!
Echo Connect Translation Ear Buds
What can I say, I like to talk. Some might even call me chatty. After all, half the fun of traveling and living abroad is meeting fascinating people from different cultures and diving into a good discussion. But navigating new languages can be a huge challenge. Thankfully, we live in an age when “there’s an app for that.” When I started using the Echo Connect Translation Ear Buds, they quickly became my must-have travel companion.
These clever little gadgets aren’t just your standard wireless earbuds; they also double as real-time translators in more than 40 languages. Just speak in your native tongue to anyone wearing them, and they are able to clearly hear and respond in theirs. And vice versa. All of which makes for a pretty glitch-free and smooth flowing conversation. They work for hours and connect seamlessly via Bluetooth, making it easy to switch between listening to music and podcasts, to participating in conversations with people virtually anywhere in the world.
Explorer Plus Toiletry Bag
Another common travelers’ challenge is existing in a constant state of packing and unpacking. Thanks, then, for the Explorer Plus Toiletry Bag from Gravel Travel, which is a little organizational masterpiece for those of us on the go. This lightweight, durable, and stylish toiletry bag has individual compartments for everything—from toothbrushes to hair ties to travel-sized toiletries. It even has a wet/dry separation section, which I never knew I needed until I found my soap soaking into my toothbrush in a cheaper bag. It’s also waterproof, so I can toss it in my backpack during monsoon season in Southeast Asia and not give it another thought. It’s compact yet roomy and sleek yet durable. In fact, it’s the travel toiletry bag I didn’t even know I needed–and now will never be without on future trips.
Flyhugz Neck Pillow
Frequent travel often means catching a kip wherever and whenever you can. This often results in attempting to sleep in rather unorthodox locations (and positions!), such as cafes, train stations, and airports. Inevitably, your body ends up hating you for all those contortions. But the Flyhugz pillow has saved my neck countless times. Made from expanding memory foam and plush, supportive fabric, the pillow wraps around your neck firmly but gently (like a hug!) to keep your head from thrashing around. Its adaptive design molds to your neck, ensuring a customized snug fit for all users. Plus, FlyHugz is lightweight and rolls up easily, taking up minimal space in your luggage.
Nanobag
Part of the attraction of visiting different cities abroad is exploring charming neighborhoods and popping into local markets to grab fresh groceries and supplies. In those moments, I sometimes forget that the plastic bag that’s so ubiquitous in the U.S. is often unavailable overseas. Which, given their impact on the environment, is ultimately a good thing. So nowadays I make sure to always carry a Nanobag. This super utilitarian carry-all bag is not only feather-light (weighing 0.85 ounces), it’s incredibly roomy (holding up to 19 liters) and durable, able to support up to 66 pounds. When empty, it folds into a tiny little pouch, allowing for easy carrying that hardly takes up any space. With my Nanobag, I’ve carried everything from veggies in Vietnam, to souvenirs in Surinam, to pottery in Portugal, and it hasn’t let me down once.
Not Lost PodCast
Brendan Francis Newnam’s engaging and informative podcast, Not Lost, has become a regular packing list item for me over the years. Every week, Newnam explores provocative questions like “Who do we become when we travel?” and “Where is everyone going?” His eclectic guests have included acclaimed travel writer Pico Iyer on his quest for paradise, and comedian, musician and self-proclaimed “disinformationist” Reggie Watts on growing up in Montana as well as his dos and don’ts for TSA pre-checkers. Other notable guests have included author Cheryl Strayed, actor Colman Domingo, comedian Jay Pharoah, and musical duo Tegan and Sara.
Aaron Kenedi
