Travel Resources, Gear and Essentials

After having travelled to almost 40 countries, and counting – I’ve experimented with a lot of different travel tools and products. Below are some of the travel products and resources that I use and recommend to anyone.

Travel Gear and Tools That I Use

Here are some of the things that I almost never travel without, or that have helped me immensely with travel

1. An eSim

I’ve used other e-sims before, but I found Truely to be a lot easier to set up than others. Their e-sim switches countries with you without you having to do anything to manually switch it. They also have great customer service.

I have a unique discount code forTruely eSims for my audience: use TINYSTEP10 at check-out to get 10% off an e-sim with Truely

2. Packing cubes

Packing cubes, specifically compression packing cubes helps us save a lot of space in our luggage. It’s what allowed my whole family (4 people) to use only 1 suitcase for a 2-month trip. It took me a long time to jump on the packing cube bandwagon, but now I’ll never travel without them, especially if I plan to buy a lot of souvenirs, or am sharing a suitcase with my husband and/or kids.

3. Pacsafe anti-theft backpack

I use this high-quality Anti-theft backpack by Pacsafe. It’s ergonomically designed and comfortable to wear. I’ve worn it on several long-haul flights, and it’s always held up. It’s also made of recycled material, which is important to me.

  • It’s 25 L, so it’s big enough for a laptop and perfect as a carry-on piece of luggage
  • It’s made from recycled plastic
  • You can hook the zippers so that they can’t be easily unzipped (but you can leave them unhooked too.)

It’s also a gender-neutral backpack, so either me or my husband can use it. There are many different styles and colours from the one above. Check them out on Amazon.

4. MiLi Bluetooth Tracker for Android

If you’re an Android user like me, then you have another option besides Airpods. MiLi Bluetooth trackers work with Android phones, and they work almost as well as Airpods. They help with things like:

  • Knowing exactly where our luggage is, in the unlikely event that it gets lost
  • Keeping in bags, purses and wallets for peace of mind, in case we lose them

5. Aesop Departure (or Arrival) Kit

The Aesop Departure Kit contains a rinse-free hand-wash, toothpaste, hydration masque, facial mist, lip balm and mouthwash. Everything is travel size, and allowed on your carry-on.

Aesop departure kit

Aesop is a high-end Australian skincare line that uses naturally sourced, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients. It’s handy to have this set on the go, and the scents are natural and not over-powering (I say this as someone who dislikes artificial-smelling scents.) I was given this as a gift from my brother, and I bring it every time I board a plane!

6. Comfortable leggings

I live in leggings, and I’m always in search of pants that are comfortable but durable. They’re great for hiking, lots of walking, long haul flights, and generally just being comfortable. There are a couple different leggings that I always seek out:

  • KÜHL pants, made in Germany, are just as comfy as they are good quality. While most leggings I buy end up ripping eventually, KÜHL pants last quite long.
  • Lululemon leggings – I wouldn’t give them points for durability, but I WOULD give them points for comfort. I feel the difference when I wear Lululemon leggings compared to any other brand

7. Viator

Viator is a platform where you can book tours with multiple providers. Its really useful for just searching the destination you’re travelling to, and see what kinds of activities and experiences are offered there. Whether you book or not, it gives you an idea of what’s available and what to look for. I sometimes book my tours directly with the provider, but if not then I book it on Viator. Read my post on pros and cons of booking with Viator.

Resources for Travel

1. List of accommodations with Kids Clubs

For those of you who are parents, you know how beneficial it can be to have some downtime while travelling. Going on vacations, even luxury ones, can be exhausting. And sometimes there are activities that you can only really enjoy as adults (scuba diving, rock climbing, wine tours.)

I love travelling with my kids, but I’m not opposed to a break here and there. That’s why I started researching vacations with childcare options.

Grab my FREE Master List of hotels and resorts around the world that have kids clubs. There are 90+ hotels on the list, in 6 different continents.

2. Language learning lessons

When travelling somewhere where I speak the language, I always take lessons with a tutor to brush up on the language. italki allows you to book and practice languages with native speakers. You can choose more structured lessons with qualified teachers, or more casual, conversational classes with tutors. Over 100 languages are offered, with tutors of all ages, worldwide.

Use this code to get $10 off after you book your first lesson on italki with a tutor.

*If you’ve always been interested in learning another language, read my post to get an idea of how long it may take you to learn a second (or third) language as an adult.

Travel Tips & Resources