The right travel tools make booking and planning your trip a breeze while the best travel gear ensures you stay comfy, happy and most importantly – safe. Which is why I created this page with all of my go-to platforms and products that I actually use, tried and tested over years of adventures.
Read on to discover all of my recommendations including my favourite travel apps, road trip must-haves and more, or use the buttons below to jump to the sections you’re most interested in.
Disclaimer: This page includes affiliate links, so if you do make a purchase through them I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Accommodation
Hotels
Booking.com
My top choice for hotel and apartment booking as it’s easy to use and you can build up credits, discounts and free breakfasts.
Hostels
Hostelworld
The hostel booking site I trust above all others and used by millions of travellers so there’s plenty of reviews and photos to help make your decision!
unique stays
airbnb
For cabins, treehouses and other quirky stays, I love using airbnb. You also often get to meet local hosts and experience a taste of local life.
Transport
For the best flight prices, I always turn to Skyscanner. They compare the latest prices from airlines around the world and I often find short haul flights from as little as £30 return.
train travel
Trainline
To find up-to-date and accurate train timetables and tickets across Europe, I always use Trainline. Their automatic split ticketing system means you’ll always pay the lowest available price too!
bus travel
Busbud
For buses around the world, Busbud is my go-to. Their timetables are really accurate, their journey information and reviews are super helpful and buying tickets around the world is a breeze.
car rental
Booking.com
When it comes to rental cars in new cities, I also use Booking.com. Again, I find their system really easy to use and you often get deals and discounts the more you use the platform.
Tours & activities
unique experiences
GetYourGuide
For carefully curated experiences run by local people, I love using GetYourGuide. The tours I’ve taken through the platform have been high quality, well-run and often something you just can’t find elsewhere – so I 100% recommend!
trusted tours
Tripadvisor
For well-established activities and experiences, I always turn to Tripadvisor. As the platform has such a huge volume of reviews, if you have any concerns about the safety of an activity, it’s a great way to book with confidence!
trips & services
Viator
For the widest range of in-country trips and services like airport transfers, Viator is another great option. I’ve used this platform for a whole range of activities and found their customer service to be excellent.
Apps & connectivity
eSIM
Airalo
If you want to stay connected while you travel, there’s no need to track down a physical SIM card. Instead, buy an eSIM from Airalo in minutes. I’ve used these all around the world and you can buy them in advance for extra peace of mind.
luggage storage
Radical Storage
Don’t want to drag your luggage around as you explore? Leave it at a designated Radical Storage drop off shop. This could be a local store, boutique or restaurant that has space to securely hold your luggage and it’s saved my back many times!
vPN
NordVPN
To protect your data as you browse on hotel, airport or coffee shop wifi, I always turn on NordVPN. My husband and I share an account for our devices that we’ve happily used for years.
Road trip must-haves
Click here for my full road trip kit list ->
Binoculars
From wild-life spotting to northern lights hunting, all road trips are enhanced with binoculars. I have these ones from Kylietech which are excellent quality for a really reasonable price and always with me on the passenger seat!
Retractable car charger
Keep all your devices charged for your trip with this cigarette lighter charger. There’s space and adapters for multiple devices and a built-in retractable cable to keep things tidy.
Plug-in car cool box
As Brits, we have to have tea on the road and that means carrying milk. So to keep our supplies cool, we love using a car cool box. This one plugs into the cigarette lighter in the trunk and runs all the while your engine is on. The insulated walls then keep food and drinks fresh when powered off.
Roadside emergency kit
For peace of mind, I’d always recommend travelling with a breakdown kit. This one from the AA is great value and has variations to comply with local travel laws. For instance, in France it’s illegal to drive without a warning triangle and hi-vis vest.
Hostel essentials
Click here for my full hostel essentials list ->
Cotton sleeping bag liner
I’ve lost count of the number of times a sleeping bag liner has saved me from a less than ideal hostel bed. These 100% cotton liners put a physical barrier between you and the hostel sheets if you’ve spotted a few concerning stains, have worries about bed bugs or just want extra peace of mind. Plus, they pack down super small and can be used anywhere!
Flexible travel lock
I always pack padlocks with flexible hooks like these so they can fit almost any locker or zip for extra security. These are also TSA approved if you’re travelling to the US.
Travel clothes line
Drying wet towels or hand-washed clothes in a hostel dorm room can be tricky. I’ve found the best option is to use a travel clothes line that you can hang across your bunk. The clothes clips are adjustable and movable to suit different sized clothes and it packs down to a tiny pouch.
Microfibre hooded towel
My absolute top recommendation is to get a poncho style microfibre towel. Why? Firstly, they pack down to a tiny pouch. Secondly, they’re super absorbent but also dry really fast. Third, they make a mini changing room – so no awkward beach shimmying with a loose towel or hiding around the corner of your hostel bunk. Lastly, they have antibacterial properties that keep them fresh for much longer. Need I say more!?
Hiking & walking favourites
Click here for all my walking favourites ->
Smartwool socks
The right socks are essential for the best hiking experiences. For me, these Smartwool socks are the absolute best and the only ones I’ll wear. The quality is just excellent and the design reduces your chance of blisters and keeps your feet fresh. On long distance treks I’m not ashamed to say I’ve worn my pair four days in a row with no issues and somehow they still don’t even smell – magic!
Pocket first aid kit
Having fallen over and cut my knees open, got splinters from gates and sprained my ankle, I always hike with a small first aid kit. No matter how experienced you are, accidents can happen (to you or someone else) and being prepared to deal with it is key. I have this small first aid kit from Lifesystems that has all the essentials you might need to deal with small wounds and injuries on the trail.
Lightweight buff
I used to wonder what the point of buffs was… until I owned one. Especially in sandy, dusty or high UV destinations, a buff can save you from chaffing, sun burn, dust inhalation and also double as an extra layer. They’re so versatile and an essential part of my walking kit.
Insulated sit mat
Again, I used to see people hiking with a sit mat like this one from Therm-a-Rest and think it was a bit excessive. But now that I’ve owned one, I’m a convert. There’s nothing better than whipping out your almost weightless spongy mat to relax and enjoy your lunch or a snack break without having to find a suitably smooth rock to rest on. For the joy they bring, it’s worth packing a sit mat!
Camping essentials
Click here for all my camping essentials ->
Jetboil camping stove
Having tried lots of different camping stove options, I always come back to my Jetboil. It’s just so compact, lightweight, powerful and easy to use. While you might be able to cook a whole English breakfast on it, if like me you do multi-day hikes or prefer lightweight camping, you just can’t beat a Jetboil. Your boil in the bag meal or noodles will be hot in under two minutes!
Waterproof dry sacks
While packing cubes get a lot of attention these days, I won’t be straying from my trusty dry sacks. For me these are elite as they’re fully waterproof, compress clothes to save space and have so many extra uses. I often fill one with clothes and air to make a pillow, I’ve used one as a float and waterproof phone storage while swimming across Lake Bled and always take them canoeing.
Rechargable lights
While I always pack a head torch, you don’t always want to sit around playing cards blinding each other after dark. So I like to take a lantern camping for more easy ambient lighting. This rechargeable one means there’s no need to buy big expensive batteries and it has two modes for on table lighting and to be hung from inside your tent.
Midge-proof head net
If you’re camping in northern Europe in summer – particularly the Scottish Highlands or parts of Sweden and Finland, you’ll want midge and mosquito protection. For that, the best option is to get a midge-proof head net. Yes it sounds and looks crazy but trust me you’ll be thankful for it when clouds of flying insects arrive. This one from Smidge is my favourite.
I never travel without…
Click here for all my extra travel packing tips ->
My Kindle
For me, great books can make travel even richer. From passing the time on long journeys to sitting back and soaking up the culture, a book is a non-negotiable on my packing list. But where I used to pack physical books, in the last couple of years I’ve fallen in love with my Kindle. It’s just so small, compact and practical. You can read in a dark hostel room without disturbing anyone, it has weeks of battery life and houses every book available on Amazon. I couldn’t recommend it more!
Tick removal kit
If I’m travelling anywhere with a risk of ticks where I’m going to spend a lot of time outside, I always carry tick tweezers. Ticks carry Lyme disease and other infections which can seriously impact your quality of life and so being prepared is key. After a day in the woods, fields or hiking trails I’ll always check for ticks and remove any I find by the head. I’ve used this exact kit multiple times and it’s brilliant for precision with a case to keep the tools clean.
Travel toiletries bottles
Of course, if you’re taking liquids like shampoo or moisturiser in your hand luggage, you’ll need to decant 100ml or less to pass security. For the best leak-proof options, I really like these sturdy bottles. So far, I’ve not had any leaks or splits with these and they’re BPA free, widely recyclable and easy to fill.
Reusable tote bag
Without a doubt my most used item would be a simple reusable bag. Whether it’s one I’ve picked up while travelling, a bag that’s been gifted, or an incredibly quality pick like this one from Dock & Bay – they’re so useful! I’ll use them to go to the beach, carry groceries, lug dirty clothes to the laundry, hold my packed lunch or as an overflow to my bulging hiking pack. Plus, reusing a canvas bag like this is so much better for the environment and Dock & Bay’s designs are actually made from 100% recycled materials so you can feel extra good!