9 Essential Travel Items You Can Get From the Dollar Store
Sleeping Mask and Earplugs
On your travels you might find yourself having to sleep in uncomfortable situations, such as on a plane, on a bus, in an airport during a long layover or in a crowded hostel dorm. Sometimes the difference between being able to get to sleep in these environments or not is the ability to block out light and sound.
A comfortable eye mask and a pair of good quality earplugs can help you to get at least a little bit of rest no matter where you are, making these invaluable travel accessories.
Small Flashlight
Pick up a small handheld flashlight or even a head lamp when you are in the dollar store. They are really handy for when you are getting into bed late at night or waking up early in a hostel dorm and you don’t want to turn on the main light and wake everyone else up.
Your dorm mates will really appreciate your consideration. Also, having a light with you is handy in some more remote and rural travel destinations as they might not have many streetlights or ambient light after dark.
There are many crafty ways of saving money on travel expenses. However, sometimes cheaping out on certain services isn't worth it in the long run.
Luggage Tags with Contact Details
Another handy item to pick up at the dollar store is a set of luggage tags with room to write your contact information such as your mobile phone number. That way if your luggage is delayed the airline can easily call you and let you know.
However, avoid putting your home address or your home landline on your luggage tags. Someone could easily read this and then they will know where you live and that your home is currently vacant.
Indispensable Toiletries
While there are some toiletry items such as shampoo and conditioner that you can get away with bringing travel-sized versions of, there are others you don’t want to skimp on. There’s no way around it — you’re going to want a full-sized toothbrush for your trip. This seems to be something people always forget, so pick up a couple extra from the dollar store and stash them in your suitcase.
Only going away for a few days and don’t want to even bring showering things? Most hotels will supply shampoo and soap, but bringing some natural dry hair shampoo will ensure you are never in a sticky (or greasy, in this case) situation. What dry shampoo does is soak up the oils in your hair so you can go longer without washing it. When it comes to how to use dry shampoo, then, it makes sense to mostly focus on your roots.
You can even buy volumizing dry hair shampoo, if that’s something your hair needs. Dry hairspray is another big seller on the market now, making it totally possible to look good when you don’t have access to a shower!
Lastly, wet wipes or cosmetic wipes are another great thing to bring along with you for “just in case” situations. It might not be glamorous, but taking a wet wipe bath is better than nothing!
