6 Travel Essentials You Should Definitely Have on All Your Trips

While it’s exciting to travel, it can also be draining. Constant movement — catching flights, trains, or buses — can be stressful, especially when you aren’t prepared. Think ahead so you can get the best and most comfortable experience with these travel essentials, each of which will make any journey that much easier.
Ear Plugs
A multi-use essential, earplugs can make experiences that much more relaxing. Keep them handy when you want to go for a swim at the beach, enjoy a loud concert or festival, or try to sleep in rowdy hostels. Earplugs can also come in handy during a long-haul flight and help reduce noise from the engine while equalizing pressure during the plane’s landing and take-off.
A popular option for such is Loop earplugs, which have quickly become a favorite online. Designed for a variety of uses, Loop earplugs accommodate different lifestyles, sizes, and needs. For travel, we suggest the Switch 2 earplugs (P3,490), which — as its name suggests — seamlessly switches between three different modes, whether you want to reduce up to 20, 23, or 26 decibels of noise.
Shop for Loop earplugs online
Eye Mask

If you’re a light sleeper, then you know how important it is to carry an eye mask around. They block light so you can sleep uninterruptedly on a plane or in a shared room. While these travel essentials are usually given away by airlines or hotels, we suggest investing in a high-quality eye mask that is durable and effective (even for restless sleepers).
Hailed by the New York Times as one of the best, the Mzoo Sleep Mask (starts at US$19.99 via Amazon) is designed with comfort and movement in mind. Those who’ve tried it happily claim that the mask stays on securely all night, even for side-sleepers. This is partly due to the adjustable strap that allows for a snug and versatile fit. The mask, which boasts of contoured memory-foam eyecups, also prevents light from spilling in through crevices that are usually left in open air, such as the space around the nose.
Grab yours via their Amazon page online
Travel Adaptor

Amidst harried packing, it becomes easy to forget that not all electronics are compatible in different countries. This is why a universal travel adaptor should be the first thing you throw into your luggage; otherwise, you’re bound to spend excessive amounts looking for it on your first day. (And imagine doing so when your phone is about to die!)
Omni’s Nano Universal Travel Adapter (P209.75) is a reliable favorite for many. It has a variety of parts that you can mix and match to align with the outlet of any country you go to. The only drawback is that it doesn’t have a USB port that you can use to charge your devices with; however, combining this with a multi-port USB charger (if you have a lot of devices compatible with USB) should save you a lot of time, stress, and space in your luggage!
Get one via their official website online
Sanitizer

Many people have already exposed how dirty airplanes and airplane bathrooms can be. High-touch areas such as bathroom door handles, tray tables, and armrests can harbor harmful bacteria, such as E. coli or staph bacteria, and MRSA. Of course, not everyone will get sick getting on a plane, but to be safe, it’s always best to bring pocket sanitizer, especially when going to the airplane lavatory or before eating hot meals mid-flight.
One of our favorite sanitizers has to be from Shepard, a Filipino brand that creates botanical sanitizers made of 63% sugarcane alcohol. Their Botanical Sanitizers (P250, 30mL) are naturally anti-bacterial, smell good, and are safe for sensitive skin. Shepard’s fun scents are inspired by sampaguita and peppermint, grapefruit and thyme, and lemongrass and make for fresh-smelling — and clean — surroundings wherever you are.
Check them out (and their other products) online
Digital Luggage Scale

Overweight luggage isn’t just heavy and difficult to carry, it’s also expensive! Some airlines charge over $100 for overweight bags, and so managing what you put in your check-in and carry-on is important, especially for the frugal traveller. To avoid any stress, we suggest getting a digital luggage scale that is light, reliable, and easy to carry.
Spigen’s E500 Luggage Scale (P900) is sleek, made of stainless steel that is curved for a better grip. It is also easy to use and automatically shuts off and resets without any manual adjustment, holding up to 49 kgs of weight and promising an accuracy of 0.1 kg. The best part is how easy it is to slip into carry-on bags, leaving you with no excuse to not take it with you.
Shop for Spigen's luggage scale online
Neck Pillow

Throw away the donut pillow – it’s time for an upgrade. Introducing the neck pillow from Ostrichpillow, which (unlike the donut pillow) is designed to support your entire neck.
We all know how difficult it is to sleep on a vehicle, whether that’s a train, a bus, a car, or a plane. Fortunately, this new design allows travellers to sleep better by supporting their neck upright and giving them a soft place to lay their heads. Unlike donut pillows, which require plenty of adjustment, these neck pillows can adapt to the angle of your head and give its wearer comfortable support.
Pioneered and popularized by the brand, Ostrichpillow, these Go Neck pillows (US$69 via Amazon) are made of high-quality memory foam, can be tightened or loosened via Velcro in front, and can also be compressed to 60% of its size for an easy carry.
Grab your Ostrichpillow Go Neck via their official Amazon store.
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