Accommodation costs are a mixed blessing for a traveler. On one hand, with a bit of creativity, you can score great deals and save a huge amount of money. After all you don’t go on vacation to hang out in a room – you just want a safe, clean bed. 

On the other hand, if money is no object, a hotel room can be the absolute luxury retreat. Why spend a fortune on spas, restaurants, and clubs when you can melt into the incredible wonder that is high thread count, top end toiletries, bathtubs you can swim in, and impeccable room service – all with a view.

Anyone who’s ever been on a flight more than 12 hours long will know that it’s an experience like no other. You pack differently, and you pack different things. If you’re avoiding checked luggage, your carry-on bags will be a work of art, with every nook and cranny cleverly designed. And yet when you’re in transit for 12, 24, 36 hours, you need to access certain supplies to add your comfort and well-being.

One nifty little product I like to tuck in the side of my purse is Toothettes.

They are a disposable kind of toothbrush with a dry, spongy head instead of bristles that has a mint cleanser activated by your saliva. It’s great to have a few on a flight so you keep your toothbrush clean and you won’t need to access your toothpaste which will likely be burried deep within your 3-1-1 kit. If you are really dedicated to oral care and/or avoiding liquids, you can buy or make some toothpowder as well!

If you are travelling to a developing country, they can come in handy in case you don’t have access to clean water for brushing your teeth. (And once you are home, the extras are equally handy inside a gym bag, work desk drawer, and car dash.)

Sometimes, it’s the simple, little things that make a trip go more smoothly. I want to enjoy every minute of the trip I paid so much for- even the flight – and I’m always on the lookout for products that make that experience more pleasurable.


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What REALLY makes an economy class trip feel a bit more like first class? I recently saw a list by a well-respected travel site that listed such radical moves like bringing bottled water, toiletries,and nice socks. Really? Exactly WHO is getting on a plane without water? This isn't some kind of revolutionary list of suggestions – anyone who’s been on a plane once will have figured this out within 20 minutes!

One of the first, but sad, rules of being a global traveler with a coffee can budget is to fly economy class. While standards can vary by airline, there is no denying that first class has it much nicer. But with a bit of foresight, you can enjoy a much more comfortable flight than your surrounding neighbours – maybe even just as nice as the muck-ity mucks in first class.