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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Liquid bandages?

A duffle bag that folds up to be very small. That way, I fly out with only carryons and have a laundry bag that acts as a carry on bag in case I buy too much on vacation and can’t fit everything back in my luggage.

Someone else mentioned a walking around backpack separate from my flying/train riding backpack.

Travel wallet with Passport ID card. That way I’m carrying valid ID and some cash but not all my ID’s and cash.

Water bottles with integrated Britta filters.

Salt. I really, really enjoy salt on my fries. I have a few paper bags of salt in my purse at all times, so when I get a bag of take away fries and they forgot to put salt on it (which happens a LOT where I live) I can add my own salt! Saved me from disappointment many times.

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

I’ve recently started to throw a mini screwdriver set into my laptop bag. I can even fit a small pocket knife and a bit of soldering tin into its case. Obviously not a good idea for flying, but it has been useful a few times.

I also keep some crappy headphones in that bag. Priceless if someone around you in public transport is being annoying.

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).

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