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Top 10 Travel Accessories That You Can’t Live Without

By Susan Weston / May 3, 2020 / Leave a Comment

I love travel accessories. I would preferably buy a new airplane pillow over a new pair of shoes. Throughout my travels, I have found items I hated and some that I can not live without. I own every item recommended on this list. And I promise these items will change how you travel.

#10 Folding Bag

A folding bag is a must-have travel accessory. We have all heard the motto: Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs. Well, I have never been able to do it. No matter how big or small my bag is, I will fill every corner. A folding bag takes up little space to pack and can be used for all those shot glasses, magnets, and “I was here” t-shirts that you know you are going to buy. I bought the RuMe cFold Downing bag, and it has lasted many trips.

I also love to use it as a beach bag instead of getting sand in my pocketbook or carryon. You can fold it up at the end of your vacation and do not have to worry about sand getting everywhere.

#9 Anti Theft Pocketbook and Purse

I go on a lot of solo trips and very rarely feel unsafe when I travel. The one thing I do look out for is pickpocketers. Areas with a large number of tourists looking up at the surrounding and not paying attention attract thieves.

One time in Barcelona, a girl at my hostel had her phone taken right out of her hands while she was texting. I even had a friend get her phone stolen from her pocket on the beaches of Thailand.

I carry a travel anti-theft bag with me when I know I am going to be in a tourist area. I like to use the Travelon Women’s Anti-Theft Tailored Convertible Crossbody Clutch Cross Body Bag for going out at night. It can be used as a wristlet or a crossbody bag. The larger, Travelon Anti-Theft Active Tour Bag is perfect for the daytime. It will fit your camera and all the other touristy things people carry. Both bags have lockable pockets, slash-proof straps, a slash-proof body, and RFID blocking pockets.

It might sound like overkill, and in most cases it is, but I highly suggest this travel accessory for big tourist traps like La Rambla street in Barcelona or the Colosseum in Rome.

#8 Packing Cubes

I love organization, and I love to squeeze as much as I can into my suitcase. Packing cubes are a must-have. I have small ones for makeup and large ones for my winter snowboarding gear. I don’t have to dig through my suitcase looking for that one sock I can’t find. I just pull out the packing cube with my socks and underwear in it.

There are two types of packing cubes I use: regular cubes and compression bags. Compression bags have an extra zipper that allows you to squish your clothes down to half the size.

My only complaint with the compression bags is that I have trouble zipping them up. It is entirely my fault as I try to put too many items in the bag, but I still do it. It might have played a role when I missed my Air Asia flight.

Both sets of cubes I recommend have not ripped despite all the overpacking I do.

#7 PodSox

Thankfully a friend introduced me to PodSox. They are compression sox that are fun to wear. There are tons of fun prints. My favorite is unicorns.

I was flying home from Peru after hiking to Macchu Pichu. I slept most of the nine-hour flight. When I woke up, I looked down and saw elephant feet. I was only 30 years old. The only people I knew that wore compression stockings were people having surgery and old crotchety nurses.

More importantly than being travel accessories, they are great for your health. Long flights increase your chance of getting a blood clot. Compression socks help prevent blood clots and those ugly varicose veins. I never fly without them.

#6 WANDF Expandable Toiletry Bag

Everyone has a toiletry bag in one form or another for traveling. I’ve used every size and shape imaginable, including a gallon zip-lock bag, more than once.

I bought this bag in 2017, and I have been on over 30 trips with it. It ripped for the first time last month; however, I consider that excellent for a reasonably priced toiletry bag. I can stuff full-size bottles and 20 tubes of lip gloss (I’ll lose 19 of them throughout my trip) into the bag. It isn’t fancy, but more importantly, it works and will last.

Now that it ripped, I did look at other bags. Two things I wish it had were an area for the wet stuff. It would come in handy when you get right out of the shower and have to leave for the airport, but your loofah is wet. Also, It would be nice if it could sit on a counter. I will update you if I find one.

#5 Travel Blanket

I need a travel blanket for the airplane because I get freezing, plus I love to feel all cozy. I have had many over the years. My main complaint is how bulky they are. Sometimes you need a whole other bag for your blanket. And if they are not bulky, they are barely big enough to cover your legs. I was looking for something very compact and big enough to tuck under my chin and my toes. I found it.

Not only is the cocoon Coolmax Travel Blanket compact, but I can also get it back into the bag without a problem. How often can you get your sleeping back into the bag it came into?

Never.

I must stress that this is a very thin blanket. I usually fold it in half. It is still big enough to cover your body. I debated buying a thicker one, but I really like how big and compact it is.

#4 Lumbar support pillow

I have a pretty good back (knock on wood), but there is something about airplane seats that make my lower back hurt. It doesn’t matter if it’s Spirit or British Airways. I always ended up using my neck pillow as a back pillow.

I found this blowup lumbar support pillow, and it works perfectly. It is compact and easy to inflate and deflate. It doesn’t look like much; however, I guarantee it will make your flight more enjoyable. Plus, it can be used as a pillow if needed.

#3 Hydro Flask

My name is Susan, and I am addicted to ice. I can not drink fluids that are not on the ice. Well, Except beer. I do drink my wine with ice, though.

I love my Hydro Flask. I sleep with my Hydro Flask. My boyfriend is jealous of my Hydro Flask.

My Hydro Flask will sit on the front seat of my car all day in the Las Vegas sun and still have ice in it. It’s magic. Ice is hard to find outside of the US. People look at you like you are crazy if you ask for it. Therefore, if I do find some, I want it to last.

Hydro Flask makes a large selection of sizes, and I own most of them. I like the Hydro Flask standard mouth water bottle for travel because it fits in most water bottle holders. They even have a pint glass that will keep your beer at the perfect temperature.

#2 The Best Travel Pillow Ever

I am that person that likes to sleep with their head on the tray table. I am sure it is not the cleanest, but when I am tired, I don’t care.

I have tried every type of travel pillow, and this is the only one that works for me. I was hesitant at first because it is pretty silly looking. Now I don’t care because I can sleep for long periods. My back doesn’t hurt. If you are a side or stomach sleeper, you need to get this. You might look silly, but who cares when you are snoring away on a 7-hour flight.

My only complaint is the area where you put your face is a little rough. I bring a pillowcase with me to wrap around it.

#1 TSA Approved Clear Travel Toiletry Bag

The number one travel accessory I can not live without. I am horrible with my liquids. I need different hair products, lip glosses, bug spray, sunblock, and I never leave home without Poop-Pourri. If you have never used Poop-Pourri, you need to try it. It works. Your poop will not smell.

TSA requires all liquids to be in a clear 1-quart size bag. That is insane. Especially when I am only taking a carry on, a 1-quart zip-lock bag will barely fit a shampoo, a conditioner, and some makeup. This bag can fit at least 50% more. It is also well made, and I have been able to overstuff it without the zipper breaking.

I didn’t believe TSA would actually count it as a 1-quart bag, but I have not had any questions. I was traveling in Europe, and security made everyone empty their liquids into 1-quart zip lock bags that they supplied. My poor boyfriend had to throw out several items. Finally, when it was my turn, they looked at my bag and let me go through. I couldn’t believe it.

Nor could my boyfriend, who now always uses this bag when traveling. Of course, I don’t want to make empty promises. I can’t guarantee this will work every time; however, I can just say I have been using this travel accessory since 2017 and have never had an issue.

Thai Airways A330 Business Class Throne seat.

I used my American Express Platinum Card to travel to Bali for $244… In Business Class.

By Susan Weston / March 20, 2020 / 1 Comment

Last summer I took an extended vacation to Bali, Indonesia. On first glance this may sound like an expensive trip. But I was able to use my American Express Platinum Card along with some travel hacking to book a round trip ticket for $244. And the best part was the return ticket included 3 business class flights. The whole trip should have cost over $10,000.

Travel Hacking

I have been preaching travel hacking to anyone who will listen. How to get cheap tickets. What credit cards to use. It seems complicated, and it did to me, but it became an addiction.

I spend hours reading blogs and searching for deals. I have flown to Boston for less than $10. I flew round trip to Hawaii for $33. Round trip to Barcelona for $52. Round-trip in business class to Japan for $400. Round trip to Europe for $370 and round trip to Las Vegas for $12.

American Express Membership Rewards

I was able to book my flight to Bali through Aeroplan (Air Canada’s reward program). Did I fly Air Canada or use miles I acquired flying Air Canada? No. I have never flown Air Canada. It was thanks to my American Express Platinum card and some travel hacking tricks.

Aeroplan has excellent reward availability on partner airlines to Asia for a fixed redemption of 45,000 miles in economy and 77,500 miles in business class. And they do not charge high fuel surcharges.

Aeroplan is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards. This means miles I earn using my American Express Platinum Card can be transferred to Aeroplan.

I was able to secure enough miles for my trip through the initial bonus offer. Voila. I booked a flight to Bali for 45,000 miles and $12 in taxes/fuel charges.

On the way home, I found a trip with three business class segments. These flights cost me 77,500 miles and $181 in taxes. I used more of my Membership Rewards points along with travel hacking tricks to acquire enough miles for the purchase.

Travel Hacking American Express Aeroplan — Photo by H W on Unsplash

One mistake I did make was that I initially picked a window seat. Closer to my departure date, I decided I wanted an aisle. I get pee anxiety. I can go 12 hours at work without peeing, but the minute that Fastens Seat Belt sign goes on, I’m crossing my legs and wishing I had a foley. Changing my seat assignment cost me $50. We all make mistakes.

American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum card currently has a bonus offer of 6 0,000 miles if you spend $5,000 in 3 months. The annual fee is steep at $550. But hear me out. I promise it is worth it.

American Express Centurion Lounge Access

The Centurion Lounge is one of my favorite domestic lounges. (You can read about my favorite here.) Currently, there are lounges in Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Houston, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and Seatle. Future plans include Denver, JFK, LAX, Heathrow, Pheonix, and Charlette Douglass.

You can expect a full buffet of hot food, unlimited craft cocktails, internet, and plenty of outlets. All customized to the location. For example, in the San Francisco lounge, guests can do Napa Valley inspired wine tasting, while in Houston, the menu is Tex-Mex.

One downside is that the lounges tend to be overcrowded. Expect to search for a seat. New lounges being built are larger, so I hope the overcrowding will improve. Either way, just having this perk makes up for the high annual fee.

Priority Pass Select Lounge Membership

The Priority Pass is the #1 reason to get this card. The priority pass gives you and two friends (subject to change by lounge) access to more than 1300 lounges worldwide. That means free food and drinks anytime you fly. How much does a beer at an airport cost? $8. A burger? $18

If you take three trips a year and have a couple of beers and food, you have already saved over $100. And let us be honest. It’s never just a beer. That shot of whiskey they give you a “deal” on seems always to hit the spot.

Travel Hacking Tip: The American Express Platinum priority pass does NOT include restaurants, unlike the Chase Sapphire Reserve. At airports where there are no or few lounges, the Priority Pass will partner with restaurants. The pass gives you $28 (plus $28 for a guest) towards your meal, including drinks. Check your home airport and see what Priority Pass offers. If it is restaurants, you may want to get the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead.

American Express Platinum Card and Priority Pass

Delta SkyClub Access

The Platinum card gives you access to all Delta Sky Lounges when flying Delta. To enter, just show your valid Platinum Card, valid ID, and same-day boarding pass for a Delta flight. You may purchase guest access for your spouse or domestic partner and a child under 21, or up to two other traveling companions for $29 per person.

Travel Hacking Tip: Ok, this is not the most ethical tip, but it is entirely legal. Delta has a 24-hour cancellation policy. The policy includes same-day travel. In fact, per customer service, you can cancel your reservation after the flight takes off for a full refund. This means you can purchase a random Delta ticket on the day of your scheduled flight and enter a Delta Sky Lounge. Then cancel your Delta ticket and continue with your travel plans. I don’t want to 100% promise it will work, but I have done it. And I spoke on the phone with two delta representatives who confirmed the cancellation policy. I suggest calling and confirming the policy before purchasing the ticket, as airlines are also changing their rules.

The Global Lounge collection

Several other lounges can be accessed with the Platinum card. The Escape Lounge brand is located at smaller airports, including Reno-Tahoe (RNO) and Providence (PVT). Another lounge company that cardholders have access to is Airspace, which has locations in San Francisco (SFO) and Cleveland (CLE). For a full list of available lounges, see The Global Lounge collection. In total, the American Express Platinum card gives cardholders access to lounges in 130 countries. That is a lot of free food and alcohol.

Earn 5x Points on Airfare Booked Directly Through the Airline or Amextravel.com

Earn 5x Ultimate Reward points for travel booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel. 5x points are the best point earnings on travel for any credit card currently. The catch is if you are not booking through American express, cardholders must book through the airline’s website. You can not use Expedia or Kayak.

Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Coverage

Starting January 1st, 2020, American Express began offering trip delay and cancellation coverage. If you pay for your round-trip flight with the Platinum Card you will be eligible for:

Trip Cancellation Insurance: You can get reimbursed for up to $10,000 of nonrefundable expenses – and up to $20,000 a year total – if your flight is canceled due to weather, an injury, or illness, and other “covered reasons.”
Trip Delay Insurance: A flight delayed by more than six hours is eligible for up to $500 in reimbursement for lodging, food, and other associated expenses.

Travel Hacking Tip: Coverage is only available on round-trip tickets. Round-trip reward flights are covered if taxes and fees are charged to the card.

$200 in Annual Airline Fee Credits

The credit does not include actual tickets. It only applies to any incidentals, such as baggage fees and online wifi. It also includes memberships to discount clubs, such as Frontier Airlines’ Discount Den.

Travel Hacking Tip: It seems that Southwest Airlines gift cards purchased through Southwest’s website also trigger the credit. If you fly Southwest Airlines a lot, I suggest using the Platinum card to buy a $200 gift card. Then you can use use the credit towards actual tickets. I have used this trick for two years on several American Express credit cards with no problem. Again, I can’t guarantee 100% that it will work for you. If you fly Southwest a lot, then you will spend the gift card anyways, even if you don’t get the credit.

Using American Express Platinum card to fly Southwest — Photo by Oliver Engel on Unsplash

$200 in Annual Uber Ride Credits

$200 in Uber credit is an excellent deal if you use Uber a lot, which I do. The catch is the credit is spread over the year. $15/month January-November and $35 in December. And remember, Uber is cheaper than a DUI.

Travel Hacking Tip: Although it says Uber ride, the credit also applies to Uber eats.

$100 in Annual Saks 5th Ave. Credits

I don’t shop at Sak’s 5th Avenue, but I will always take free money. Think of it as a $50 gift card January-June and another $50 gift card July- December.

Travel Hacking Tip: Check out this article for tips on what and how to spend your credit. Whenever buying anything, it is best to try and buy through cashback websites. Accessing Rakuten (formally Ebates) on the way to the Saks website can give you up to 11% cashback. Check out the link for some great tips.

$100 Application Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

If you don’t have Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, get it now! I am sure you have seen people at the airport walk past you and go right to the front of the line. Not only is there a shorter security line, wait for it… Travelers who have TSA Precheck do not have to take off their shoes nor take out their laptops or liquids.

Travel Hacking Tip: Several credit cards come with this benefit. If you already have TSA Precheck and Global Entry, the credit can be used for anyone. It would be a great Christmas gift for someone. They do not need to know it was free.

If that is not enough, Global Entry allows US citizens to fly right through immigration. No one wants to wait in the immigration line after a long international flight.

Travel Hacking Tip: For anyone who does not have TSA Precheck and Global entry, there is a way to shorten the time spent in the immigration line. Mobile Passport is an app that allows passengers to fill out their immigration forms online. There is a separate line for Mobile Passport users at immigration in most airports/cruise terminals. The line can be just as short as the Global Entry line. I am sure you have disembarked the plane and walked by signs advertising this service. Most people don’t pay attention to them. It can be done at any time right up to getting into line. And it’s free.

TSA Precheck/Global Entry is easy to get. You just go online and fill out some information. Pay with your American Express Platinum. You will get a credit on your account. Next, you will need to set up an appointment with the TSA Precheck office. Voila. No lines for four years.

Travel Hacking Tip: Currently New York residents can not apply for Global Entry, but can still apply for TSA Precheck.

Instant Marriott Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold Status

I very rarely stay in hotels when I travel. I use Airbnb or stay in hostels, but earning status with these hotel brands have a lot of perks.

Instant Rental Car Agency Status with Hertz, Avis, and National

Another great perk if you tend to rent cars a lot. Depending on the company and the level of status, perks include skipping the line and the ability to earn free rentals.

Several other benefits come with the platinum card, but I just touched on the major ones that I use.

Bottom Line

I was able to fly across the world in business class for next to nothing because of my American Express Platinum card. Yes, it does have an annual fee of $550, but as you can see from above, you get your money back and then some.

The American Express Platinum offer of 60,000 Ultimate Reward points after spending $5,000 in 3 months is a great deal. $5,000 may seem like a large number, but there are many ways to hit the spending limit. Check out this article from The Points Guy. The Points Guy is one of my favorite travel blogs, and I recommend joining his email list if any of this interests you.

If nothing else, I hoped I piqued your interest into the world of travel hacking. Safe Travels.

*** DISCLAIMER: This post does contain some referral links. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. The information is up to date and factual to the best of my knowledge but is subject to change at any time. I am not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.***

Travel Goal: A Tattoo in Every Country

By Susan Weston / September 30, 2019 / Leave a Comment

Every year thousands of people travel to Thailand. Some travelers leave with a cheap “same, same but different” shirt. Others leave with a traditional bamboo tattoo.

Bamboo Tattoos

The art of bamboo tattoos originated in Southeast Asia and is said to go back over 3000 years. In Thailand, bamboo tattoos began with monks in Buddhist temples who received these tattoos as a religious text. The process of getting a bamboo tattoo begins with a bamboo rod. Very fine needles are attached to the end of the rod. Ink is applied, and the needles are tapped by hand into the skin. It is not as painful as it sounds.

Tattoo and Muay Thai

Last year, I traveled to Thailand with some friends. After four days of walking by what seemed like endless tattoo shops, I gave in.

The fact that I jumped into a Muay Thai Ring fifteen minutes later was not an indication of my state of mind. Nor was the fact I had been drinking all day.

Muay Thai Fight — Getting ready for my fight.

Muay Thai Fight Thailand — I won a free bucket of booze!

Honestly, I had been thinking about getting a bamboo tattoo, and I do not regret it. I grabbed my friend Chris to come with me while my other friends held down our table at the bar. I walked into the tattoo shop and realized I had no idea what to get. I knew I wanted a word related to travel.

After throwing some words out, Chris said, “Journey.” Perfect. Sold. The guy translated journey into Thai, and another guy tattooed what I hoped was the correct translation on my foot. Worst case scenario, it said penis. Either way, it would be a good story.

And it begins…

Months later, I was heading to Spain. It was then that I set a goal to get ink in every country I visited. It needed to be in the native language and be related to travel. I decided I will place each tattoo in a line down my back.

These tattoos have become a representation of my travels. A souvenir that I do not throw in a drawer and forget. Each one has taught me something about an area of the world I have never previously been to.

Ready for Travel tattoo in Kuala Lumpur — Ready for my tattoo in Malaysia

Anar pel mon

Catalonia was once an autonomous province in the northeast corner of Spain. In 1714, Barcelona, along with the rest of Catalonia, fell to the Spanish and lost its autonomy. Its native language, Catalan, was almost lost along with it. There was an attempt at a revival in the early 1900s, but in 1939, the racist regime that had emerged imposed a harsh penalty for anyone who spoke it. Finally, in 1978, democracy was restored, and Catalan was revived once again. Even to the point of required schools in the region to only instruct in Catalan.

I was introduced to the language when I was visiting Barcelona in 2017. I knew I wanted a tattoo representing Spain. I preferred not to get a tattoo in Spanish because that could represent many countries. Anar pel mon’ is a Catalan phrase that roughly translates to “Go for the World.”

Catalonia Map BBC — Catalonia Region in Spain

Japanese Kanji

I was in Japan snowboarding. I dragged my friends and our snowboard bags through downtown Tokyo in the early morning. I only had a few hours to get a tattoo before my flight.

The first kanji is “journey,” and the second is “to go.” Together they become a verb as in traveling or currently in motion on a treck.

Bunga Raya

I spent two weeks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In 1960, two years after receiving independence, ‘Bunga Raya’ was named Malaysia’s national flower. The hibiscus flower has vibrant colors that symbolize the courage and vitality of the people. Bunga Raya literally means “celebratory flower” and reflects the celebration of unity in the nation.

Zamrud Khatulistwa

Zumrud Khatulistiwa is Bahasa Indonesian for “Emerald of the Equator.” Indonesia has this nickname due to its green and lush tropical rainforests and its geographic position along the equator. I need to thank my friend Firman from Tribe for this tattoo idea. Firman is the ‘night guy’ at the hostel I was staying at, and since I’m always up all night, we became fast friends. He loves history and would teach me all about Indonesia. Thanks, Firman!

Start Somewhere

The script on my back translates to “Start Somewhere.” I spent three months in Bali, Indonesia. Bahasa Bali or Balinese is a language specific to the island of Bali. Traditionally the language is written in script, natively known as Aksara Bali. Aksara Bali is a dying language. It can be seen on buildings and signs throughout the island, but very few people still read and write it. Through my tattoo, I am doing my part to help keep the language alive.

Travel Tattoo Catalan, Malay, Japanese, Behasa, Aksara Bali — Five down and many more to go.

And many more…

Someday I will be old and senile, living in a nursing home. A young, hot care tech will be giving me a bed bath. He will ask about my stretched and faded tattoos. I will be reminded of all the places I have traveled and all the people I have met. And that will make every painful tattoo worth it.

(I did confirm that my Thailand tattoo does indeed say “Journey”… I am tempted to get “Don’t Stop Believing” on my other foot.)