Travel Essentials I Actually Use
Gear and services that have actually survived a trip with me
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🔌 Tech Worth Packing
Behind the scenes of The Beery Traveler, these are the tools keeping our digital home running smoothly.
GreenGeeks Web Hosting
I host The Beery Traveler with GreenGeeks, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer. Fast, reliable, and – this is the cool part – they’re eco-friendly, matching three times the energy they use with renewable energy credits.
Why we love it:
Fast load times (crucial for all those travel photos), excellent customer support when we need it, and we feel good knowing our websites are green. Plus, their pricing is actually reasonable for what you get.
Anker PowerCore Portable Charger
My phone dying on travel days used to be a genuine source of misery. Airports, long transfers, a cruise port with no outlets in sight, you know how it goes. The Anker PowerCore fits in your jacket pocket and charges your phone twice before it needs a refill itself. I don’t leave home without it.
Why we love it:
Compact enough for your carry-on, powerful enough to keep both your phone and your wife’s phone alive through a full day of sightseeing. Works with any USB device, charges fast, and costs less than one overpriced airport meal.
🎒 Travel Essentials
The gear we actually pack (and use) on every trip.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Long flights are bad enough without listening to the engine drone for eight hours straight. These headphones changed travel for me in a way I didn’t expect — put them on, turn on the noise cancelling, and the world disappears. The crying baby three rows back, the guy with the loud podcast, the engine noise — gone. Worth every penny and then some.
Why we love it:
Industry leading noise cancellation that actually works, thirty hours of battery life, and they fold flat enough to fit in your carry-on without drama. The sound quality is genuinely exceptional. Buy them before a long haul flight and you’ll wonder how you ever survived without them.
Airalo eSIMS
Remember the days of hunting for SIM cards at the airport or paying ridiculous roaming fees? Yeah, we don’t miss those either. Airalo lets you buy eSIMs for countries all over the world, right from your phone, before you even leave home.
Why we love it:
We land, turn on our phones, and boom – we’ve got data. No more airport panic trying to find a SIM card booth. Perfect for finding that first brewery in a new city or navigating to our hotel. Works in tons of countries and it’s way cheaper than roaming.
TSA Luggage Locks 2-Pack
I’ve had luggage rifled through at airports more times than I care to admit. A TSA approved lock won’t stop a determined thief but it absolutely stops the casual opportunist. These cost less than a beer at the airport. There is no excuse not to have them on every bag you check.
Why we love it:
TSA agents can open and relock these without cutting them off — which means you actually get them back. Two in a pack, solid construction, and cheap enough to buy a spare set for the carry-on too.
Cruise Luggage Tags 6-Pack
Every cruise line has their own luggage tag system and most of them involve flimsy paper tags that disintegrate before your bags make it to the cabin. These hard plastic holders protect your tags for the entire voyage and clip securely to your bag handles. Six in a pack covers two people for multiple cruises. One less thing to stress about on embarkation day.
Why we love it:
Compatible with Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, NCL and Celebrity cruise lines. Durable, reusable, and they actually stay attached to your luggage through the chaos of port day. Buy them before your next sailing and wonder why you didn’t sooner.
🧳 On The Road Essentials
The gear that earns its place in the bag every single trip.
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On
I stopped checking bags years ago and never looked back. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 is what flight attendants actually use — which tells you everything you need to know. Lightweight enough that you’re not wasting your allowance on the bag itself, tough enough to survive the kind of treatment airport staff dish out, and sized to fit overhead bins without the gate check anxiety.
Why we love it:
Weighs under 6 pounds so you’re not fighting the scale before you even pack. Spinner wheels that actually roll straight, a hard-wearing exterior, and enough interior space for a week if you pack smart. This is the carry-on you buy once and stop thinking about.
Kindle Paperwhite Waterproof
I’ve ruined two paperback books and one non-waterproof e-reader by the pool. Lesson learned. The Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof to two metres, glare-free in direct sunlight, and holds thousands of books — which means no more agonizing over which three novels to pack for a two week cruise. Load it up before you leave and you’re set for the entire trip.
Why we love it:
Weeks of battery life on a single charge, a glare-free screen that actually works in Caribbean sunshine, and it’s genuinely waterproof — not just splash resistant. Thin, light, and the single best thing I’ve ever packed for a beach holiday or cruise.
Have Questions About Any of These Products?
We’ve used all of these extensively in our travels and for running our businesses. If you want to know more about how we use something or whether it’s right for your needs, just ask! We’re always happy to share our experiences.