Travel Products That Unexpectedly Came In Handy

Don't you love when you buy something and it comes in handy in more ways than the original intent? That is exactly what happened with these travel products. Of all the gear and gadgets we pack for our travels, some items can surprise us with their versatility. So read on to discover the travel products that had more than one unexpected use!

TSA Approved Locks

No matter what bag you are traveling with, it is always a good idea to purchase a TSA lock to go with it. I was gifted my lock for my family trip to Hawaii and used it to secure my checked bag during the flight. I did not lock my luggage outside of when I was at the airport on this trip, but it is something that I am planning on practicing more often. This is because when I was internationally traveling in the Dominican Republic I found myself in a hotel room without a proper safer to lock my valuables in like my passport or wallet. Since it wasn't practical to be carrying all of that around the resort, I used my TSA and suitcase as an emergency safe. While I know that my suitcase could have easily been stolen, being able to lock it offered some peace of mind while I was enjoying the beach.

Foldable Tarp Blanket

This is an item that I intended to use as an extra beach blanket, but used to take semi-comfortable but much needed nap on the floor of JFK. The floor was gross but I was surviving through a seven-hour overnight layover in a terminal with no lounge option. So I laid out this blanket I packed as a last minute thought and took a quick one-hour nap. I am sure the ways this blanket can benefit you is infinite, so I highly recommend you order one for your travels.

Lounge Chair Towel Cover

This one may seem obvious to some, but it may not seem obvious to others. I was also gifted a lounge chair towel cover for my trip to Hawaii which not only protected me from the hot plastic of lounge chairs but doubled as a seat reservation. If you want to reserve a group of chairs together at your resort, get down to the pool early and use lounger covers to do it. Before you do this make sure your resort does not prohibit saving seats in advance. Resorts that do usually allow you to use "reserve" first thing in the morning, but make sure to not leave your covers on overnight. It is also good pool etiquette to only do this if you plan on using the chairs for the majority of the day. If you are for a third use out of this towel cover, pack it in your carry-on to use as a blanket on the airplane.

I hope this article helps when you decide what you need and what you don't pack for your next trip!