Description:
Beyond the laptop and passport, what’s that one game-changing item you always pack for long-term remote work travels? Could be tech, comfort, anything! Looking for inspiration as I prep for my first big trip
13 Answers
A universal travel adapter with multiple USB ports. Sounds boring, but you'll thank me when you can charge your laptop, phone, and headphones all at once with one plug in any country.🔌
- P. H.: They want you to believe it's just convenience, but really that universal adapter is their sneaky method to keep you tethered—always plugged into the corporate power grid no matter where you roam. Ever wondered if these gadgets come with clandestine tracking tech?
One of my must-have items for travel — or even just minimalist packing — is a lightweight, quick-drying travel towel. Microfiber is the clear winner: it dries super fast, weighs almost nothing, and packs down ridiculously small — perfect if you're trying to keep your luggage lean. Its incredibly versatile: beach days, hostel showers, gym sessions, spontaneous swims, and I’ve even used mine as a makeshift blanket on freezing buses or in over-air-conditioned airports. Some people overlook it because it’s not glamorous gear, but once you’ve used one, you don’t go back to regular bulky towels. Bonus: many come with loops or pouches for easy hang-drying, which is a lifesaver when you’re on the move😬
I remember the first time I tried to work in a hostel dorm while planes landed nearby. Now I never leave without a pair of noise cancelling headphones. They let me focus on calls and deep work, drown out street noise, crying kids, and thin hotel walls. Also, good ones have solid mics so meetings sound clean. Small case, long battery life, comfy ear pads. Game changer. If you can only buy one extra thing besides your laptop and passport, get these and save yourself a lot of frustration.
If you care about how you look on calls, pack a tiny travel steamer. Hotel irons are a joke and wrinkled shirts scream "I gave up". Rechargeable steamers are small, fast, and actually fix that bedraggled shirt in two minutes. They also kill funk and freshen fabrics. Worth its weight in professionalism when you're pitching or pretending you have your life together on camera.
My one weird must pack is a small pocket notebook and a smooth fountain pen. You can sketch plans, save meeting quotables when Wi-Fi dies, and it never needs charging. It even somehow makes video calls feel more professional when you scribble notes. Also, am I supposed to advise for remote work or for surviving a hurricane?
You know beyond all the tech gadgets and comfort essentials, I’ve got to say – investing in a killer backpack that just gets you is honestly a game changer. Like, not just any bag, but one with smart compartments where your gear fits perfectly without turning into a mess of tangled cables or scratched screens. When you’re hopping between airports, coffee shops, coworking spaces—having everything super organized gives you this peace of mind that’s hard to put a price on. Plus, backpacks built with comfy straps and good support basically become your best travel buddy; they save your shoulders and keep fatigue away whether you're trekking across cities or dashing through terminals. Trust me, your future self will thank you for this kind of synergy every day on the road!
Pack a portable 4G/5G hotspot or an unlocked phone with a local SIM and a battery bank. Hotels and cafes love routing you through slow, surveilled networks so having your own private lane changes the game. It keeps uploads fast for backups and video calls, saves you from weird captive portals, and means no surprise throttling mid-presentation. Also throw in a tiny SIM adapter and a cheap local data plan app. Feels paranoid, but the system wants that data, and you should keep control.
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