Saving money on accommodations is a smart way to stretch your travel budget, but a bargain stay can come with a few less-than-luxurious realities. Whether it’s noisy neighbors, tighter quarters or all the little comforts you didn’t realize you’d miss (or even notice) until they were gone, sometimes saving can feel like it costs you.
The good news is that you don’t need to book a five-star resort to get the five-star feeling. A few well-chosen products can make a basic hotel room, roadside motel, no-frills rental or even a van feel a whole lot more comfortable. And that’s without eating into the money you saved on the room or your luggage space.
To find out which upgrades are actually worth packing, I asked travel experts for the products they swear by when staying somewhere a little more budget-friendly. And as a gal who’s lived out of a van all year, I added in a few of my own picks too. Take it from us: these clever travel essentials and small luxuries make a surprisingly big difference and can help make even the most basic accommodations feel like a place you can genuinely relax.
Peace-protectors
These little luxuries can go a long way in saving your sanity, whether it’s protecting your eyes, drowning out stressors or adding a bit of relaxation into your day — most for under $21.
Sleep saviors
Take it from Francesca Elisabetta Owens, founder of the nonprofit Travel From the Inside Out and creator of the Senior Women Travel Club, a travel expert who spends about five months a year abroad: A few sleep-enhancing staples can make a huge difference.
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“I bring a good neck pillow, earplugs, a sleep mask [and] amber blue-light-blocking glasses in the evening when I’m changing time zones,” she says. “I’ve found they help me adjust my sleep schedule. There are different styles, including ones that fit over prescription glasses.”
Hear no evil
To help block out unwanted noise, Danielle Bell, founder and luxury travel adviser at Luxterra Travels, says it’s smart to travel with a sound machine, like our pint-sized, budget-friendly alternative below. Bell’s personal favorite? Snooz’s portable version, which she credits with helping her sleep soundly even through city noise. That “paired with an eye mask makes for the ideal sleep environment no matter where in the world you are,” she says.
Lounge around
“If you travel frequently, invest in a Priority Pass membership,” advises Nathalie Kourie, luxury travel adviser and founder of Inaurum Travel. Yes, it’s an added fee, but the entry-level plan starts at $99 per year, plus $35 per lounge visit. Membership provides access to over 1,900 airport lounges and experiences at 856 airports in 143 countries.
It “helps transform the travel experience by giving you a more private, quiet, comfortable space before flights,” says Kourie. Sheree Bryant Sekou, a leadership consultant who says she’s logged more than 1.5 million miles of air travel, agrees. “I know if I can get into a lounge, even if it is crowded, I can grab a bite to eat, have a snack, and allow myself to relax a bit until it’s time for takeoff.”
Calmin’ scents
A familiar fragrance can do wonders throughout your travels. It “brings a sense of home and calm in an unfamiliar environment and helps with jetlag,” says Kourie of her favorite This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. “To maintain my personal zen despite the frustrations and tensions all around me, I use just a drop of essential oil on a scarf or tissue and keep it nearby to remind myself that this too shall pass,” says Sekou.
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A lavender roll-on oil is perfect for the task and especially comes in handy for offsetting bad plane smells and boosting relaxation, even when you’re crammed in at breath-smelling proximity to your seatmate. I won’t travel without mine.
Space-savers
Travel pros recommend packing items that work overtime, and these tiny add-ons not only take up virtually no space, but give you tons back.
Wrap star
There’s a reason why you can almost always find a scarf on most well-traveled folks. “I always keep in mind the function and comfort an outfit provides while on both travel and vacation,” says Laura Pucker, founder of Pucker Up Beauty and BBE Media.
“Scarves are very flexible because you can fashion them to whatever style you want for your outfit, while also keeping you warm in cold airplane rides and vacation spots,” she says. Packing hack: I tie mine to my personal item so it takes up zero luggage space and is easily accessible throughout my travels. I’ve used it for lumbar support and as a pillow, a blanket and even an eye mask in a pinch.
Call it a wash
“It sounds silly, but my smartest purchase is a sink stopper,” says Julien Casanova, creator of Cultures Traveled. It takes up very little space and, as Casanova explains, “turns a sink into a quick washing station.”
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Owens is also a proponent of laundry on the go. “I also travel with Tide Travel Sink Packets and these tiny collapsible hangers with clips,” she says. “You can wash something in the sink at night, hang it up and wear it again instead of dragging half your closet around Europe. They take up almost no room and I use them constantly.”
Hang in there
Even in the nicest hotel rooms, counter space tends to be a luxury. Prevent tumbling toothbrushes and stop hair dryers from clattering to the ground with a hanging organizing solution, suggests Bell. “A toiletry bag with a hook to hang is a must,” she says. “It keeps everything organized and out of the way.” Bonus: You don’t have to repack when it’s time to head out. Just grab it and go.
Similarly, I love to bring a lighted mirror along with me, especially for wedding-related travel or girls’ trips where glam is likely integral and mirror space is at a premium. A mirror with rechargeable lighting lets me set up a vanity virtually anywhere, and it’s sure to give me perfect light every time rather than relying on accommodations with dim overhead lighting, which has led to more than a few beauty jump scares in my day.
Skin care saviors
Whether you’re crammed into economy, stuck in the car for hours on end or feeling the effects of hotel toiletries that make your hair and skin feel coated in plastic wrap, traveling can take it out of you, and the first place it’ll show is on your face — literally. A few add-ons can help you battle dehydration and feign luxury travel, even when you’re light-years away from a spa day.
Drink it in
“For a long-haul flight, I love going to sleep with Biodance Face Masks,” says Bell. A good rest beneath a collagen sheet mask, like our alternative pick below, can do wonders for your complexion — and your mindset. Bell’s refreshing hack: “I always pack a few extra masks and put them in the fridge for a spa-like experience while on vacation.”
She (and I) also swear by Lanolips 101 Multipurpose Ointment. The ultra-rich, two-ingredient formula goes everywhere and makes an instant difference that lasts. Dab it on lips, cuticles, even cheekbones and elbows. “A must to combat the dry, airplane air,” says Bell. I won’t leave the house without it.
“I also like traveling with a portable humidifier,” says Adzua Agyapon, founder of Verdant Earth. “I’ve found that airplanes dry out my skin and hair so quickly, but bringing this little device with me (and then using the bottled water on the plane to fill it up) is enough for me to leave the plane moisturized and glowing.”
Chill out
Experts know that unpredictable weather and conditions can impact your stay. Having a bit of control over your environment can make all the difference. “With the influx of heat waves this summer, having a portable fan was incredible, especially in destinations where AC was limited,” says Kourie.
