21 Unique Travel Accessories You Didn’t Know You Needed Until Now
Traveling is much more fun with unique travel accessories! These ideas go beyond basic needs and make for a surprisingly convenient and enjoyable trip!
Embarking on a journey or looking for gift ideas for someone who loves to travel? These unique travel accessories are all the ideas you need! Whether you prefer solo travel, traveling with kids, or enjoy a trip with people closest to you, these items will give a touch of comfort during your trip.
Many of the unique travel accessories in this post are things that you don’t really think of until you actually need them! From mini pizza cutters and kitchen utensils to wearable sleeping bags, there’s a lot to unpack! (or pack, get it?)
I took my first international trip when I was 15 years old and fell in LOVE with traveling to new places. 14 years later, I have received many gifts and purchased countless items related to travel. I wanted to put together this list of unique travel accessories full of things I have loved and things that are still on my wishlist!
You’ll find many ideas for unique travel accessories related to travel gear, technology, toiletries, clothing and even the kitchen!
This post is all about unique travel accessories.
Unique Travel Accessories
These unique travel accessories are divided into 5 sections: travel gear, technology, clothing, toiletries and kitchen. Enjoy these off-beat ideas that are perfect for travelers, whether it’s a gift or for yourself!
Travel Gear Accessories
#1 Luggage Cup Holder
If you like to travel, then you know that feeling of entering the airport and trying to manage holding on to all of your things while also juggling luggage! This Luggage Cup Holder from Amazon is pretty cheap and super convenient. You just attach it to the handle of your suitcase and it has a place to carry drinks plus your phone, passport and tickets.
I got this as a Christmas gift last year and it was honestly the gift I didn’t know I needed!
#2 Travel Passport Wallet with RFID Blocking
Travel wallets are super handy when it comes to keeping all your cards, tickets and passport organized and in one place. A wallet with RFID blocking is a great travel accessory to safeguard your personal data from being skimmed. This Travel Passport Wallet Organizer has a simple design that will keep your info secure!
#3 Portable Foot Rest
Looking for some really unique travel accessories? Try a portable foot rest! This Airplane Foot Hammock is small and easy to pack. It hangs on the table tray and can be adjusted to different lengths. There are also a lot of inflatable foot rests, but the hammock seems to be more convenient in terms of storage and setting up!
I would suggest this only for people who are short or average in height. My dad is tall (6’3) and foot space is already a challenge when he rides a plane. The foot hammock didn’t work well for him but it was quite funny to watch him try!
#4 Handsfree Phone Mount for Planes (and other travel uses!)
While the movies and shows available during plane rides can be entertaining, sometimes you just want to watch something you’ve already prepped and downloaded on your phone. I always download things before a long flight, but it’s not always comfortable to watch.
This Phone Mount by MiiKARE is super convenient and can attach to the seat in front of you or on the table tray. It can even come in handy when you’re traveling and want to watch something on your phone but are in a hotel and don’t have a good way to see it!
Technology Accessories
#5 Clip-on Photography Lens for Your Phone
Even if you don’t have a professional camera, it’s totally possible nowadays to take professional-level pictures with your phone! I actually heard of these from a friend of mine who’s a photographer and always carries one with him, albeit much fancier versions than what I use. I have an iPhone and this simple Clip-on Phone Lens works great, plus it’s super small to pack!
#6 Solar Powered Portable Charger
I first got a solar powered portable charger when I was preparing for a hike to the Everest Base Camp, and it’s been really convenient ever since! Honestly, any portable charger is a game changer when you’re traveling and out all day. If you tend to do a lot of outdoorsy trips or travel internationally where the outlet might be different, a Solar Powered Portable Charger could be the perfect fit!
#7 Mini Projector
This is one of those unique travel accessories that you probably didn’t know you needed! One of my best friends got a Mini Projector because she was tired of going places without a TV or without access to the shows she likes (we traveled around India together). It was honestly such a cool idea because we could relax at night and watch anything that we wanted to stream from our phones! All we needed was the Mini Projector and a clear wall space.
#8 Smart Luggage Lock
There are so many unique travel accessories that are just hitting the market with new technology! This Smart Luggage Lock is on my wish-list and seems really convenient for travel. It’s TSA approved and can be locked and unlocked from your phone. It also has GPS tracking and a noise alarm in case you can’t find it.
While it’s great for luggage, it can also be helpful to use when you’re traveling because you can lock up valuables in your stay or take it with you if you’re going out somewhere with a backpack and need the extra security!
#9 Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard
Hello fellow remote workers! A Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard is super handy when you’re traveling. My husband always travels with his iPad and sometimes tasks are difficult without a keyboard. This one folds up so it’s small and easy to carry. Plus it’s great to take if you want to work on a plane or at a cafe.
Clothing Accessories
#10 Wearable Sleeping Bag
Honestly of all items on this list, I think this is one of the most unique travel accessories! A Wearable Sleeping Bag has all the goodness of a sleeping bag, but you can also wear it by unzipping holes for your arms and feet. Imagine a Snuggie, but sleeping bag style. This is especially perfect for people who love adventure and hiking types of trips!
#11 Travel Scarf with Hidden Pockets
Stay warm and keep your small items with you! My grandma gave me a Scarf with Hidden Pockets a few years ago before I ever had seen them. I love taking it with me on trips, especially to cooler destinations! It’s handy to keep keys and money, plus it looks cute!
#12 Reusable Shoe Covers
Shoe covers are one of those unique travel accessories that can serve many purposes! These Reusable Shoe Covers are water resistant, so if you are traveling somewhere with nice shoes on and you want to keep them protected from rain, you can easily throw them on and take them off when you get inside.
They are also nice to use if you like to wear shoes indoors but want to keep your hotel or stay clean. The covers even come in handy when you’re packing your shoes! Slip them inside and throw them in your suitcase without getting anything else dirty.
#13 Colorful and Funky Compression Socks (Great for your health while flying!)
After I flew my very first LONG international flight from the US to the Philippines in 2013, I got off the plane and my ankles were literally so swollen! Since then, I have always worn compression socks during big flights.
I came to learn that compression socks are actually recommended during long flights because they help deliver oxygen throughout your body which is important when you are sitting upright for long periods of time.
These Colorful Compression Socks are so fun! I used to feel embarrassed about wearing compression socks on the plane, but these make it fun. My aunt and mom also have a set and they like to wear them for other health reasons.
Unique Toiletries
#14 Portable UV Toothbrush Sanitizer
Want some unique travel accessories that also keep things hygienic? These Portable UV Toothbrush Sanitizer and Covers are honestly genius! I’ve had so many trips where I just throw my toothbrush in my toiletry bag and call it good, but frankly I don’t even want to know how dirty they’ve gotten along the way. This case keeps your toothbrush covered and cleans it too.
#15 Dissolvable Hand Soap & Laundry Detergent Sheets
Sometimes when you travel, you come across bathrooms that aren’t very clean or may not even have soap! Dissolvable Hand Soap Sheets are really small and easy to carry on you, and they come in handy more than you’d expect.They also make Laundry Detergent Sheets which are much easier to carry than detergent. I actually learned about these when my mom started using them at home for laundry because they are a great plastic-free alternative. Love that aspect!
#16 Solid Toiletries
There are solid versions of shampoos, conditions, soaps and even toothpaste! Solid toiletries are a great option for travelers because they don’t have to comply with liquid restrictions on flights and last a lot longer than what you can fill in the little travel-size bottles. Another bonus is they don’t require plastic!
I’ll admit I’ve never tried the toothpaste, but there are tons of options for shampoos, conditioners and soaps. They even have combined products like this Shampoo and Conditioner Soap Bar. Basically, just look for the bars instead of the bottles.
#17 Microfiber Makeup Remover Cloths
Reusable items are always a great, eco-friendly alternative to throw-away products. But even if sustainability isn’t your main concern, these Microfiber Makeup Remover Clothes are still great to use while traveling! They are smaller to pack than carrying the whole container of makeup remover sheets and can be washed and reused during longer trips!
Kitchen Travel Accessories
#18 Travel Spice Kit
Looking for unique travel accessories that will help you save money? A Travel Spice Kit comes in super handy! Usually when I travel I like to stay at Airbnbs or places with kitchens so I don’t have to eat out for every meal. A lot of stays don’t keep spices beyond the basic salt and pepper, so a spice kit is an easy way to bring along your staple flavors and eat in occasionally! It also works great when camping and grilling outdoors.
#19 Foldable Electric Kettle – Great for coffee and tea lovers!
Who doesn’t love a cup of joe while on vacation! This Foldable Electric Kettle can easily fit in a suitcase and is perfect for making pour over or instant coffee as well as tea. My husband used to carry a full size electric kettle whenever we traveled somewhere cold and this is a game changer.
We are huge coffee drinkers and use this Aeropress Coffee Maker which my mom gave us as a gift. I never had even heard of something like that before, but my husband is super particular about having a good cup of coffee every day (made by him, mine’s not up to par LOL) and he loves it!
#20 Mini Kitchen Gadget Set
If you’re like me, you like to make some easy meals during a trip so you aren’t eating out for every meal. The kitchens at Airbnbs and other stays aren’t always well equipped. This 5 Piece Kitchen Gadget Set is super handy because it includes a cheese grater, bottle opener, peeler, pizza Cutter and grinder. It’s all the items you don’t realize you need on the road until you try to find them!
#21 Cordless Travel Blender
Blenders are seemingly impossible to travel with! But this Cordless Travel Blender makes it super easy. It’s tiny and rechargeable so you can honestly take it anywhere and it’ll blend up whatever you need. Protein shakes to juices, milkshakes, smoothies and more!
This post was all about unique travel accessories.
