Essential Travel Accessories I Can't Leave Home Without

Packing for a trip is always a major hassle. Trying to remember the things you want to bring, as well as the things you need to bring can make life very difficult. In amongst the necessities for travel, there are a few essentials I always take with me to ensure a happy, stress free vacation.

They may seem strange to you, but here's why they are important to me.

Tea bags

I am British. If I am leaving the country, then I always pack real, British tea bags. Tea in other countries just doesn't taste the same and there is nothing better to me than a nice hot cup of tea at the end of a long day of exploring. It's also a nice reminder of home when I'm far away. Home comforts can really help to put you at ease when you are on vacation.

Neck wallet

The worry when going to any large European city is that there is the potential to mugged. Of course, that could happen anywhere but the bigger the city, the bigger the risk. I invested in a small neck purse to take with me when I go away. It is far more practical than lugging around a huge bag, and reduces the risk of having your cash stolen in a busy street. Granted, it is not the trendiest fashion accessory there is, but you can simply tuck inside your shirt to keep it out of sight and extra safe.

Three pairs of shoes

There are people who have the restraint to travel with just one pair of shoes - and those shoes are on their feet. I don't have that kind of discipline, but I do believe there is a very good reason for packing three pairs of shoes. Firstly, I always take a pair of walking shoes. It's never a good idea to wander around a new place in high heels that will cripple you by the end of the day. Then I pack a pair of crippling heels just in case we happen to go to a nice restaurant. Finally, flip flops! Flip flops are useful if you are heading to the beach, or just lounging around the hotel pool. Without packing these essential pairs of shoes, I would truly be lost.

LED booklight

This might not seem like such a strange essential to take on vacation, but I don't use it for reading. I use it for writing late at night. For unknown reasons, I am most creative later in the day and when everyone else has fallen asleep, I can quietly scribble away in my notebook without having to leave all the lights on. The LED booklight is really useful because it is so small it can simply be tucked away in a side pocket of the suitcase.

Everyone's "essential" travel accessories are different, but these are the ones I need to make my trip a success!