# Road Warriors! Your must-have travel item(s) for business trips? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807 "2019-05-11T00:34:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/21 "2019-05-12T13:46:01Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > most rooms have a water heater. I always have some instant noodles or a pouch of indian curry that can be heated up on my schedule. I hate having to wait for room service or go to the restaurant when I just want something quick I can do myself in a couple of minutes. Along the same lines, I carry a little camping spork [like this one](https://www.rei.com/product/883964/light-my-fire-titanium-spork) in my travel bag. Because sometimes I bring back leftovers from dinner or buy a little something to eat. And hotel rooms often don’t provide any utensils. When I travel with my wife, she usually brings single-serve packets of oatmeal for her breakfast, which she makes with hot water from the coffee maker (or microwave if there is one). And borrows my spork. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/22 "2019-05-12T14:41:03Z")
Adding my vote for TSA pre-check. $85 lasts for five years and you skip a whole lot of misery at airports. If he wants to reduce the likelihood that he’ll catch a bug on the plane, which would suck if he’s business traveling, some sanitizing surface wipes are good to bring. Once you’re seated, wipe down all the surfaces that you touch: the tray and its little lock, the armrests, the window slide, the seat belt lock. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/23 "2019-05-12T15:37:42Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > . > > Of course **the** best investment you an make to make business travel easier is to enroll in [TSA Precheck](https://www.tsa.gov/precheck). But I don’t think you can give that as a gift. (It does cost money - $85 - but I don’t think you can apply on someone else’s behalf.) My secretary signed me up (but she knows all my vital statistics). Also, Clear. Just signed up last week and I’m already a big fan. It works at many airports and sports events. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/24 "2019-05-12T16:37:05Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > …Of course **the** best investment you an make to make business travel easier is to enroll in [TSA Precheck](https://www.tsa.gov/precheck). But I don’t think you can give that as a gift. (It does cost money - $85 - but I don’t think you can apply on someone else’s behalf.) If any of the travel is international, [Global Entry](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry) speeds you through US customs and confers TSA Precheck, for $15 more than applying for just Precheck. I haven’t tried Clear, primarily because PreCheck averages ~5-10 minutes, depending on how busy it is and I’m not sure the marginal improvement is worth the price. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/25 "2019-05-12T17:20:32Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > If any of the travel is international, [Global Entry](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry) speeds you through US customs and confers TSA Precheck, for $15 more than applying for just Precheck. > > I haven’t tried Clear, primarily because PreCheck averages ~5-10 minutes, depending on how busy it is and I’m not sure the marginal improvement is worth the price. Nexus is $35 less than TSA-pre and includes it as well as global entry benefits. I’m not entirely sure I understand the pricing. I assume that have another reason to want people to sign up that way. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/26 "2019-05-12T18:46:44Z")
[A stainless steel boomerang (and a kid who knows how to use it).](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RAHOMuiipsE) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/27 "2019-05-12T19:57:06Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > Nexus is $35 less than TSA-pre and includes it as well as global entry benefits. I’m not entirely sure I understand the pricing. I assume that have another reason to want people to sign up that way. Nexus is a great deal, but you have to get it in Canada, or at a couple of inconvenient places on the border. I was going to get Nexus, but it took so long for my background check to clear that both my Canadian trips had already happened, so I ponied up for Global Entry, which I could get at my local airport. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/28 "2019-05-12T21:21:42Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Nexus is a great deal, but you have to get it in Canada, or at a couple of inconvenient places on the border. I was going to get Nexus, but it took so long for my background check to clear that both my Canadian trips had already happened, so I ponied up for Global Entry, which I could get at my local airport. That’s true. We had to travel to Blaine from Seattle for interviews for the whole family. Ended up turning it into a long weekend vacation to Victoria, so it wasn’t that bad. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/29 "2019-05-12T21:34:44Z")
Getting back to the OP, “a rather Spartan individual who does not shop for himself much” will be a challenge to shop for. I’m sort of like that myself, so I think the risk is high you’ll buy something for them that is never used. Some people just don’t need that much stuff. Most of the advice for specific things in this thread seem sound but quite personal. Personally I travel for business quite a bit and largely don’t feel like I need anything out of the ordinary. I stuff my usual toiletries in a zip lock bag, pack my standard commuter earbuds (I have young kids myself, so other kids screaming on airplanes just sounds like the sweet sound of no responsibility to me 🙂 ), and don’t care about walking barefoot on hotel carpets. So a travel specific headset or kit I only pull out for airplane travel would be more trouble than its worth for me. I like taking minimal stuff. In fact if its just a quick couple of days hop down to SF I can just stuff some clean underclothes and shirt and toiletries in my usual work backpack and call it packed. That’s not to say that some of the stuff mentioned in this thread wouldn’t be appreciated. I just don’t think you’ll know what that is until the specific individual has done a few trips and identified a specific pain point that specifically infuriates them … ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/30 "2019-05-13T00:54:21Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > If any of the travel is international, [Global Entry](https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry) speeds you through US customs and confers TSA Precheck, for $15 more than applying for just Precheck. > > I haven’t tried Clear, primarily because PreCheck averages ~5-10 minutes, depending on how busy it is and I’m not sure the marginal improvement is worth the price. I signed up for Global Entry a few months ago even though I have no immediate plans to fly overseas, because it’s only fifteen bucks more than Precheck (and that’s a total of a hundred bucks for five years). I wasn’t familiar with Clear, so I just Googled that and it’s so not worth it for the few times I fly and that it’s $179 per year. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/31 "2019-05-13T16:01:19Z")
Good quality carry-on luggage and laptop backpack (recommend Briggs & Riley) _You do not want to check bags especially when traveling for work, a lost bag is HELL_ TSA Precheck, via Global Entry or stand-alone Silicone travel bottles less than 4 oz. each to meet TSA liquids requirements Charging block with multiple USB outlets for cords Good quality wireless earbuds ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/32 "2019-05-13T16:19:29Z")
Things I always travel with… A small wireless/bluetooth speaker for chatting to my spotify account in the hotel room. A subscription to Audible for when I want to read a book but am also driving (or sitting on a plane with my eyes closed). A corkscrew (sans knife attachment so it passes security in my hand luggage). ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/33 "2019-05-13T17:29:14Z")
I have different kits for different trips, I don’t bring all but pick and chose what I would like. Some of them include, or have included: - Fire TV stick, HDMI cord, iPhone to HDMi adapter, extension cord(s), USB outlet adapters. - Cooler - Travel dish set, one of those backpacks for picnics. Plates, cups, utensils, and some added/replaced items including cleaning supplies for them. - A plug in pot. Nothing fancy, under $20 at Walmart, can cook anything with it, and cook it well. (with the above 3 items I have a total kitchen) - Kureg coffee machine - I upgraded my home one and now have the option for a travel one, - it’s the smallest one they make. - Immersion heater - Pipe wrench and shower head. This used to be mandatory back in the 1990’s with hotels on the low flow shower head bandwagon, but show water pressure/flow has improved and i no longer bring this. - Floppy pillow ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/34 "2019-05-13T17:37:37Z")
Regarding luggage, my carry-on bag is a soft-sided four-wheeled Samsonite suitcase, with telescoping handle. The OP’s friend who is just starting to travel regularly should think about whether he/she would prefer four-wheeled luggage, two-wheeled luggage (normally this sort has to be pulled at an angle) or unwheeled luggage, such as duffel bags. Some carry-on luggage comes with backpack straps. And some luggage is hard-sided (sometimes with a zipper between the two sides of the clamshell) and others are soft-sided. All of this is a matter of personal preference and your preferences may change as you travel more. I recommend a trip to a department store luggage department (Macy’s, I think still has staffed luggage departments) or even a dedicated travel and luggage store, if you can find one. It may be cheaper to buy luggage on-line but I think for someone starting out, the personal attention of a good salesperson may be helpful. Edited to add, because tastes change, I don’t really recommend buying the expensive sort of luggage right away. The cheap stuff lasts long enough. The fancy stuff does come with terrific warranties, but that may not help if you need to send in the stuff for repair, or your tastes change. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/35 "2019-05-13T17:41:00Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > If he doesn’t have a USB power bank (battery) already, that is essential for business travel, to keep the smartphone alive through a long travel day. I think this is the best suggestion. For one thing, even if he already has one, two is even nicer–you can always leave one charging and carry the other. And they do get lost, so a back-up is nice. Also, and maybe it’s just me, but backup cables. They just go bad after a while, and it’s nice to have a set. Do you know what type of phone he has? How much do you want to spend? ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/36 "2019-05-13T18:02:56Z")
Last summer, flying back from Atlanta, I was seated in the nursery apparently. No fewer than five children young enough to be held the entire trip were seated within three seats of me. One of which was distinctly unhappy. I could see them screaming, but I just watched my movie on my kindle with these: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753GRNQZ?aaxitk=J6dErO44MJsF465mlTSY.w&pd\_rd\_i=B0753GRNQZ&pf\_rd\_p=3fade48a-e699-4c96-bf08-bb772ac0e242&hsa\_cr\_id=3929136400301&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=Mpow%20Flame%20Bluetooth%20Headphones%20Waterproof%20IPX7%2C%20Wireless%20Earbuds%20Sport%2C%20Richer%20Bass%20HiFi%20Stereo%20in-Ear%20Earphones%20w%2FMic%2C%20Case%2C%207-9%20Hrs%20Playback%2C%20Noise%20Cancelling%20Microphone%20(Comfy%20%26%20Fast%20Pairing)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753GRNQZ?aaxitk=J6dErO44MJsF465mlTSY.w&pd_rd_i=B0753GRNQZ&pf_rd_p=3fade48a-e699-4c96-bf08-bb772ac0e242&hsa_cr_id=3929136400301&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=Mpow%20Flame%20Bluetooth%20Headphones%20Waterproof%20IPX7%2C%20Wireless%20Earbuds%20Sport%2C%20Richer%20Bass%20HiFi%20Stereo%20in-Ear%20Earphones%20w%2FMic%2C%20Case%2C%207-9%20Hrs%20Playback%2C%20Noise%20Cancelling%20Microphone%20(Comfy%20%26%20Fast%20Pairing)) My brother had to fly for business meetings where he had to take a dress shirt and tie. He has the same ironing skills at 50 that he had at 8. > **[Amazon.com | PackTidy Shirt & Tie Commuter Travel Luggage Organizer (Brown)...](https://www.amazon.com/PackTidy-Commuter-Travel-Luggage-Organizer/dp/B014E7BVWK)** > > Buy PackTidy Shirt & Tie Commuter Travel Luggage Organizer (Brown) and other Packing Organizers at Amazon.com. Our wide selection is eligible for free shipping and free returns. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/37 "2019-05-14T00:01:08Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > Noise cancelling headphones, good ones. My stress level is so much lower now and I feel much less beat up getting off of the airplane. +1. I’d been wanting a pair for quite a while, and used a recent plane trip as an excuse to get them. I also use them when I commute by Metro - can’t hear an audiobook or whatever otherwise. I got Bose QuietComfort; Sony has a similar pair at the same price point. If he reads, and does not have an ereader, a Kindle or Nook is a good option. It’s an additional device to keep track of - but it does books so much better than a phone. A small nightlight to keep in his toiletries kit. Makes late-night bathroom trips a lot easier: he can see to find his way in an unfamiliar bathroom, without blinding himself by turning on the overhead light. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/38 "2019-05-14T00:08:55Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > A small nightlight to keep in his toiletries kit. Makes late-night bathroom trips a lot easier: he can see to find his way in an unfamiliar bathroom, without blinding himself by turning on the overhead light. Actually, I recommend everyone carry a small but powerful flashlight in their toiletries (it is amazing how bright a light you can get in something the size of your little finger). In an emergency, while in theory there is supposed to be emergency lighting, quite often you end up in pitch black situations. While a smartphone is a reasonable make-do, nothing beats an actual flashlight. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/39 "2019-05-14T04:00:31Z")
I haven’t carried a flashlight for anything less than a quarter-mile in the dark woods since I realized my Treo produced enough light to walk by. And most phones have a “flashlight” function now, that even works for that hike in the dark, over rocks and roots. (ask me how I know.) A quarter mile will drain the battery some, but for walking around a hotel room, it’s surely not worth carrying a flashlight! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807/40 "2019-05-14T06:10:04Z")
One thing I gave my kids which I haven’t seen mentioned is a portable electric toothbrush. Under $10 at CVS. They were lugging their electric toothbrushes and charger around with them on long trips, and really liked not having to do that. I always take slippers. The only problem with TSA precheck is that I’d hope his company would pay for it as a business expense. Also a Kindle, since I can load lots of books for a trip, and load more if I run out. Bujt I get very nervous at the prospect of not having anything to read. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/road-warriors-your-must-have-travel-item-s-for-business-trips/833807.md?page=3)