aerodrome

That's hilarious.

Here's an awesome idea from NYT for a mobile spice rack...spice stack! Depending on where you travel, this may or may not be an essential item to pack!

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/201...t-guide-5.html

pinkcat

Handy for me, I take my own spice blends camping so I can cook on the fire, great to have a nice spicy curry in the middle of a national park

aerodrome

This looks simple enough to make for your own blends. You can probably find similar storage tubes at a bead shop or the dollar store.

KM123

tic tac containers work great to hold spices

aerodrome

Ahaha. That's brilliant! Too bad I don't eat tic tacs anymore.

l3arefoot

I've met more random people outside the US by always carrying a lighter and the last two years an electronic cigarette- everyone wants to see it and try one. Also, always carry a cheap DC 9 volt car charger for iphone to use in cars, cabs, buses, planes, etc.

Also- don't know how well known it is, as I have lots of friends that travel and were unaware, AT&T is now unlocking iPhones and other locked devices by request. https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/cli...msAndCondition Once you get to your location you can just pick up a cheap local SIM card.

No foreign fee credit card.

Powdered Gatorade mix

StreetSmartTraveler

A couple of things that have been lifesavers for me on the road:

--Unlocked cell phone. Preferably GSM and quadband. Helps when I've just arrived and lost while trying to find my hostel. I can call for directions. If I have a friend who's living in the city I'm visiting, then a cell phone is a must-have for arranging to meet up. SIM cards are cheap and easy.

--A good keychain flashlight. No need to bring a full-sized flashlight unless you're going camping/hiking. I use a small flashlight since I can keep it in my pocket at all times.

Many uses: reading a map at night to find my hostel; see the drinks menu in a darkened bar/nightclub; get in and out of hostel rooms when everyone else is asleep and you don't want to turn on the room light.

--A pen, because no one has one when you need one.

BuildingMyBento

I used to use film canisters to hold various heres and theres.

ryandelmundo

I've got three new budget travel essentials:

1- A usb and power splitter. The Monster Outlets to Go 300 for Laptops is great it has 3 US style plugs and 2 USB plugs. Toss the correct country specific plug adapter and you can charge everything you can bring along with just this one plug! It's slimmed down my power devices from 2 USB chargers and 3-4 plug converters to just this thing and one converter. Unlike some of the other ones, this one does 120-220V. Wonderful!

2- An extension cord. Why did I never think of this before!? You know how plugs are always in terrible locations. Stick the plug-converter on it and then you have nice US style plugs exactly where you want them.

3- External Batteries. USB batteries are great for long flights and bus rides and train rides. Since I try to have everything on USB charging now (except for my iOS stuff sadly, requires yet another cord), nothing can ever run out of power. I travel with at least two batteries. This Anker Astro is kind of the sweet spot between cost and performance, with 10000mAh (5'ish iphone charges). Go for one with two USB ports for sure.

I don't know how traveling with $2000 of electronics anymore means we are budget travelers. Just Backpackers.

TexasTexasTexas

As the title says....My travel tip is to email full copies of your passport (and anyone you're travelling with) to you and a few family members. I read that if it's lost, it speeds the process. You only have to do it once.

maxschnell

Google for magazines email address or 800# and request free sample copy.
As good as flyer talk.

ne52

Did not know this... THANKS!!!! ^^^

To add to the thread, I got a USB power bank/battery as a trade show giveaway. It's on the low end but so handy. I picked a couple more off ebay for about $5 each. They're about the size of a lighter and enough to repower a phone twice.

BuildingMyBento

I always carry a pack of plastic spoons with me (a metal one would do just as well, unless you meet someone along the way). They don't sound off airport klaxons, also when you've done take-out and forgot to take utensils, they're quite practical.
Disclaimer: I rarely take-out noodles...

ne52

Individual condiment packets

Crushed red pepper or garlic from pizza places or mini hot sauces can make economy airplane food more bearable

sfx

JVC noise cancelling headphones for only £25 - been using them for two years, great for crying babies and reducing the ambient noise.