Ask Lemmy

Travel router. I can plug it in to a router (if available) and instantly have a network all my devices connect to automatically that can either connect to a commercial VPN or my home VPN. Works to rebroadcast a WiFi network as well. If you have to pay for WiFi, you can pay for one device and clone the MAC onto the router and rebroadcast a signal all your devices can use. Works on planes, hotels, you name it. I have a gl.inet but there are a few.

My proudest script kiddy achievement was at hotel that had paid WiFi and a free tier. I clicked the free tier but it wasn’t very good and there was no way to upgrade to paid, even after changing MAC and deleting cookies etc. I found a piece of gym equipment that used internet in the hotel gym, cloned its MAC address onto the device, unplugged the gym equipment and boom I had full speed internet as it was on the network’s whitelist with no throttle.

A roll of 'for rectal use only' stickers.

Amongst other things, I always carry some zip ties. They weigh nothing, yet come in handy in so many ways.

I always make sure I bring a nice towel on my carry on. We got some high quality cotton Turkish towels that double as blankets when traveling. Not sure if it's standard outside the hitchhikers guide.

I've been looking for a portable humidifier. Hotel rooms are so dry!

I also bring liquid bandaid most places, it really is superior but you have to wait for the bleeding to (mostly) stop first

My travel kit includes way too many nails, mousetraps, an upholstery stapler, power drill, syringes/needles, and first aid stuff. Sideshow performer so it's just par for the course. I also use the needles for medication.

Tea. A lot of hotels have tea and coffee making facilities, but a horrible selection of teas.

What out companies founder took along in his hotel bag had been interesting, too. He always had a 100W light bulb (back when they were common), as hotels used crappy, low wattage bulbs in the room. He just switched them for his own 100W bulb so he could actually see something. He switched it back when he left. The other important thing was a set of plumbing tools, so he could remove the pressure reduction from the showers.

Coffee making gear, so hand grinder, tiny scales, and either a tricked out picopresso or an aeropress or my wave dripper. I pick based on what sort of coffee beans I am expecting to be able to pick up where I go.

Binder clips to bind the curtains together. Sometimes hotels have hangers with pants clips on them, for everywhere else? Binder clips.

Body glide blister balm, and laundry wash sheets (so much tidier than washing powder!).

Most of my other stuff seems standard to me...

Shoe horn, thermoplastic.

Alcohol gel, pack of tissues, steam deck with vpn connection to my home server. Next time I'll be bringing a travel router to test WFH 😉

My regular electric toothbrush instead of a travel one. I have found its just easier to just throw my toothbrush in a bag morning of then to deal with having a 2nd one for travel which is often disgusting

Ziploc bags, they weigh nothing, but grest way to separate snacks and other stuff. I use them to store used underwear and socks if I'm on a short trip.

I bring my headlamp with me almost everywhere. It's crazy how often you need a flashlight at the most random times, and the best flashlight is one you don't need to hold.

Liquid bandages?

I have a weed grinder in my wallet. It's one of those card-sized, flat, cheese-grater ones.

Vaseline. Is that non-standard? It doubles as lip balm and for those really dry patches of skin that come around (currently in Japan and it's been dry af). Or even for small cuts, or used as hand cream.

Also can be used as a fire starter (for camping, just to clarify!).

Sketchbook. On work trips, I always finish one drawing every night as a way to get out of a work headspace.

Probably not the most unusual, except for how I never see any other adults with theirs if they have one probably because of how embarrassed they might be, but definitely my favorite stuffed animal. Gotta have some sort of comfort object. Especially in a hotel, if there are no bed bugs.

A small Brita filter helps with getting nice clean drinking water. A 20 foot Hdmi cable to connect my laptop to the tv. A universal remote since not all tv's allow you to switch the inputs. Also a powerbar, which can also be used as an extension cord.

Do you know those supermagnets that can be found in old computer hardware? I take one of those, a particularly strong one, which my BF and his relatives found for me once during the advent of their metal detecting hobby. Good for things like getting stuff out of hard to reach places or determining the material of something, though I'm told it's not so good for those who have put their phone or credit card too close to my baggage. I even once took a toy out of a grocery store toy machine this way (screw the rigged crane, especially when you have a kid who just went through a tragedy).

My trusty bag, basically a small/medium duffel bag I can wear over my shoulder or carry. When I've traveled (been so long, I miss it), that holds everything. It makes travel so nice. I just carry it on the plane, shove it under my seat. One thing to worry about. No hauling luggage, no waiting for baggage claim (mostly). A single pocket for my passport. Just one bag.