Don't Travel Without These Items, Including a First Alert Tabletop CO Alarm

Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. Know CO!

Travel is so much better when I’ve remembered everything for a trip.

In the past, I’ve shown you how to use a master packing list so you never forget the essentials. Today, I wanted to dig deeper and show you some of the less common items I always pack.

I’m really excited about my newest addition to that list – a First Alert Tabletop Carbon Monoxide Alarm!

In a previous job, my coworkers called me Safety Girl because I was always the one trying to foresee and prevent any random hazards. And I’m still the same way!

When we were at the lake last month, I found myself lying in bed at the cabin wondering about the smoke detector batteries and whether the cabin had Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

Imagine my joy a few weeks later when First Alert asked if I wanted to check out their portable Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm. Why, YES!!!

Did you know that CO detectors are the ONLY way you’ll be alerted about this dangerous gas? It’s invisible, odorless, and produced by fuel-burning devices such as your stove, furnace, car, and even your gas clothes dryer.

If there’s a leak or malfunction, you won’t know until it’s too late unless you have alarms. Scary!

I also learned that both CO and Smoke Alarms have expiration dates. Luckily, the battery life for this portable model is an impressive 10 years, which is also when the device will expire.

I LOVE that no installation is needed. The CO alarm can sit right on a shelf or table at home or while traveling.

The LED display shows the temperature, which will be nice at home AND on the go. I’m never sure the thermostats in hotels are quite right, so knowing I have an accurate temperature gauge in addition to CO protection will be nice!

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that I LOVE how well the small, sleek alarm blends with decor when you’re home.

Keep in mind that if you’re traveling with this alarm and any pets/people will still be at your home while you’re gone, you’ll want to make sure you still have other working CO alarms for them.

Now that we’ve covered the newest addition to my packing list, here are some of the other super-helpful items I always take on trips.

Umbrella – Two rainy trips in a row convinced me that it’s worth packing a small portable umbrella for every trip. For added fun, use the umbrella walking down a crowded NYC sidewalk around rush hour. It’s a fun up and down dance trying not to hit any of the other umbrellas.

Portable Power Bank – These magic little devices hold power to recharge your cell phone when you’re not around a power outlet. You can find them fairly inexpensively and they are simple to use for any type of cell phone. I always charge ours overnight before a trip and then I don’t have to worry about my phone dying before I get to the hotel or while I’m out on a long day of sight-seeing. We depend on our phones for navigation around new places and I love knowing I don’t have to worry about the battery.

Reusable Water Bottle – I have saved SO MUCH MONEY since I started traveling with a water bottle. Most airports have bottle filling stations to fill up after you’ve past security with your empty bottle. Hotel bars or restaurants are also great places to refill so you stay hydrated.

Laundry Bag – Our reusable nylon laundry bag is so handy! It keeps the dirty clothes separate from the clean in the suitcase, and when we get home it’s easy to drop the items that need to be washed right in the laundry room.

Wrinkle Releaser Spray – You can find this magic spray in the travel section. A spritz on most wrinkled fabrics does wonders. It works really well to hang up items when you arrive at a hotel and wrinkle release them the first night so everything is dry and ready to wear when you need it. It doesn’t work on water-repelling fabrics, like men’s golf shirts, but for other fabrics it’s a miracle.

While all those make every trip easier, I wanted to end by circling back and saying the biggest priority is staying safe whether you’re traveling or at home.

I LOVE this graphic from First Alert showing which rooms in your home need CO alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers. I need to order another CO alarm and fire extinguisher ASAP!