8 Travel Accessories That Failed Me, and What I'm Buying Instead

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(Image credit: Melodie Jeng/Getty Images)

I think that I may be more passionate about travel accessories than the average person, so that makes me an authority on the subject, right? I'm running with it. After all, here, here, and here are a few stories I've written about travel accessories, and I'm pretty sure this isn't even all of them. Traveling can be a beast, but it's also necessary, and I do it a lot, so I've had plenty of opportunities to land on the best travel accessories (with some trial and error, that is).

As you know, luggage space is precious, and we shouldn't go through life wasting it on items that aren't making our lives easier. I've made my share of travel accessory mistakes in my 30-something years, and it's my fashion-editor duty to share them with you so that you too can only travel with the best of the best accessories. Scroll to find which eight are banished from my suitcase, and which ones I won't get on a plane without.

Failed: Non-Converting Travel Adapters

I learned the hard way during my first trip to Europe that you need to convert the voltage of your electronics or you'll blow out the power in your room and break the outlets (yep, did that within an hour of arriving at my hotel). So an adapter just won't suffice. You need one that will also convert your voltage down.

Instead: Travel Adapter and Converter

Failed: Bulky Toiletry Bottles

Travel-sized toiletries that come in 2 3 oz. bottles are bulkier than you'd think, especially when you're trying to pack several of them. The sweet spot is 1 oz., but even better is packets, which take up minimal room and won't leak.

Instead: Toiletry Packets

Failed: Travel Blankets

On overnight and long flights, a blanket is a small luxury that can make a big difference in how much sleep you get. I'd rather not use the ones the airline provides, and they take up too much room in my carryon to bring my own. The solution is a cashmere travel wrap, which I can wear as a scarf instead of stuffing into my bag.

Instead: Travel Wrap

Failed: Jewelry Zip Cases

I've learned that those travel jewelry cases with just one compartment won't do you much good (unless you like untangling necklaces). A jewelry roll offers separation and organization. This Tumi one is the best.

Instead: Jewelry Roll

Failed: Old-School Neck Pillows

I definitely don't have space for a bulky neck pillow in my carry-on, and I'll never be carefree enough to walk through the terminal wearing it. But if it's essential for you, I recommend this genius Amazon find, which can be worn in a variety of ways and rolled up into a compact little bundle.

Instead: Infinity Neck Wrap

Failed: Drawstring Laundry Bags

I think it's very smart to pack something to store your dirty laundry in for your trip home, but laundry bags that have a lot of fabric and don't compress will be hard to stuff into your suitcase. The solution is these large compression bags, which shrink your dirty laundry done and create a barrier between your clean clothes.

Instead: Ziploc Space Bags

Failed: Cord Wraps

I'm always throwing my cords in my bag at the last minute before deboarding, so wrapping them around a little plastic organizer requires extra time that I never save. That said, I don't want them just floating around in my duffle. The solution is a little pouch that at least keeps them contained but doesn't waste time.

Instead: Cord Pouch

Failed: Zip-Top Cosmetics Bags

If you've ever dug around in a seeming bottomless cosmetics bag in search of that one lipstick you have to wear that day, then you know what I'm talking about. I discovered Lay-n-Go years ago and I've never looked back. I just open it up on the bed or bathroom counter and can have eyes on all of my products at once. Plus, it fits so much more than a regular pouch.

Instead: Lay-n-Go Cosmetics Bag

Shop More of My Go-To Travel Accessories

Hotel Slippers

A Watch

Packing Cubes

Shoe Bags

Compression Socks

Luggage Tag

Handheld Mirror

Snack Bags

Walkable, Packable Flats

Expandable Suitcase

Hanging Toiletry Bag

Travel Umbrella

Sleep Mask

Durable Duffle

Luggage Scale

Next up, 5 travel basics our editor does and doesn't wear.

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.