Top Must Have Travel Gadgets Under 50 Pounds/Euros

Whether you're climbing Mount Everest or spending a weekend in Paris, packing the right gear is a must. With the change in technology and the need to be charged and connected to the internet 24/7 travel has turned very electronic & it's more chargers and cables than books and road maps. We've been travelling for just over 6 years now and here's just some of our tried and tested must-have travel accessories for under £50/€50.

1. Anker Portable Charger Powerbank (Astro E1 5200mah external battery)

There's nothing worse than you being at one of the most beautiful places in the world and wanting to take a picture or be lost in the middle of a city and your phones died. It's important to keep your devices charged and Anker is the brand to go when you want a reliable and affordable portable battery pack, we use both the small Astro that charge your phone from dead 1-2 times regularly, then we use the Powercore 13000 and the bigger Powercore 20100 when we need to charge multiple devices and for the price tag we couldn't recommend them enough.

BUY HERE

2.Huawei E5577 Black 4G Low-cost Travel Mobile WIFI Hotspot (MIFI)

Okay, you've got us it's not exactly under £50/€50 its little sister is though the HUAWEI E5220 at only £35 its a great way to stay connected when travelling, we normally use a Three 12GB SIM CARD which costs about 20 pounds which you put into the Mifi and it creates a wireless hotspot for 8-12 hours & with Threes Go Roam service it allows you to use that 12gb over 12 months in destinations such as USA/Europa/Indonesia (including Bali), Vietnam, New Zealand etc. (full list here) What the Mifi does is you can use a UK sim card such as the three sim card or an international sim once you arrive and it gives you access to the internet saving a fortune on roaming charges from your own network.

BUY HERE

3. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

It sounds so simple but whether your on a long haul flight or in a warm climate for us staying hydrated and healthy is super important, when we fly for long periods of time or are in the sun for a while we tend to get cracked lips so we find Burt's Bees beeswax lip balm is a life saver especially for under £3/€3. Or why not try the gift set.

BUY HERE

4. Syncwire 4 Port USB Wall Charger with Interchangeable UK,USA. EU Adapter

We love this one, we actually have about 6 of them around of apartment and ones kept in our bags 24/7 as they are so handy. It saves you trekking 4 travel adapters, 4 plugs and 4 USB cables just one plug that works around the world and for under £17/€17 you really can't beat it.

BUY HERE

5. Mpow Phone camera lenses

One of the best-priced user-friendly accessories we have bought in the last year has to be the iphone attachment lenses for your phone. We love to take photos on the go on our phones or post videos on Instagram and with these lenses it gives you change to shoot with a wide angle or fisheye. Of course, they aren't as good as a professional DSLR or mirrorless camera but for the money and size, its a handy gadget any professional or amateur photographer should have in their bag.

BUY HERE

6. Travel Sleep Mask with Adjustable Strap and Ear Plugs

Your not yourself when your tired & there's nothing worse than travelling and not being able to sleep due to jet lag or street noise from your apartment/hotel. Somethings are just unavoidable when travelling, but if you have this wee handy mask & ear plugs combo there isn't anywhere you can't sleep. They say you can't put a price on sleep but at £5.99/€6 we think this comes in at the cheapest we've seen.

BUY HERE

7. Anker Bluetooth Speaker- SoundCore mini

Back to the guys at Anker for this one. Everyone loves a bit of music when your travelling, now, of course, don't be that person that plays some banging dance music on the beach when everyone is chilling out but if your in your hotel/apartment or travelling long term and want to rely on a decent, small, affordable Bluetooth speaker this is the one. We have the first generation sound core mini & its a perfect little speaker that packs a serious sound punch.

BUY HERE

8. APEMAN 4K Action Waterproof Camera

We all love sharing our travels & one of the best ways is with an action camera such as a GoPro, especially when you are at the beach or underwater the action camera is an amazing way to show your friends and family what you got up to but off course this is the best gadgets under £50/€50 so we decided to test out the Apeman action camera & to be honest we were very surprised. We have had every GoPro there is and really heavy on them for videoing underwater or just for a different angle that's not possible with a mirrorless camera. Know off course it's not as good as a GoPro but for 300 pounds cheaper it's definitely not far off. If it's just for you to or for Instagram it's more than enough, if you are doing videos for youtube or making money out of them then get a GoPro but if its value of money you want an Apeman is the way to go.

BUY HERE

The Titanic Hotel - A Historic Hotel in the Heart of Belfast

The Titanic Hotel Belfast is located in the former headquarters of Harland & Wolff, builders of the Titanic, and provides the perfect destination for anyone travelling to the Titanic Quarter on business or for pleasure. 

The hotel's location really is exceptional, located just 10 metres from the Titanic Exhibition, 50 metres away from the HMS Caroline and 5 minutes walk from the exciting SSE Arena and W5. The location of the Titanic Hotel was a real drawing point for us as it was close enough to walk to Belfast City Centre, yet far enough away to relax and not have to worry about the hustle and bustle of the city. 

On arrival, we were greeted with the sheer beauty of the exceptionally historic building, almost like a museum than a hotel. It’s certainly a very aesthetically pleasing hotel with a clean open reception and open bar/ restaurant area.

Check in was a breeze, with the very kind lobby staff offering to show us to our room, on arrival to the room we were welcomed by a lovely array of macaroons, which really was the icing on the cake.

The room itself was very spacious and had a real historic feel to it, from the high ceilings to the old light fixtures and notable mirrors. Both the room and the hotel are very dark, although we like the relaxing dim lighting it may be an issue for some.

In the room were two large TV’s playing enjoyable documentaries and related videos of the Titanic, which was a lovely touch. Also, provided was all the important amenities; hair dryer, ironing board, air conditioning, complimentary bottled water, tea/coffee facilities, refrigerator on request, safe, bespoke bathrobes and slippers & very good WiFi.

The bathroom was very spacious for a city hotel with both a shower and a bath and two large couple sinks (although this differs from room to room), even the simplest of rooms have everything you need. In the bathroom, you'll also find a handful of Paul Costelloe toiletries, which we ended up taking for travelling (sorry Titanic Hotel).

The Titanic doesn’t just have amazing rooms though, it also offers some of the best food options we have seen in any hotel. We had both dinner and two days of breakfast and I couldn’t fault it. The Breakfast was plentiful with a wide variety of options ranging from cereals, pastries, yoghourts and a wide range of traditional Irish breakfast options, we recommended the Irish fry.

After you’ve tickled your taste buds with the plentiful breakfast options and have explored the tremendous titanic quarter, the Titanic’s Wolff Grill or the drawing office dinner will certainly make your trip that little bit more special. We aren’t what you would call ‘fine dining’ type of people but the Titanic really changed our opinion on ‘fine dining’ with large portions & flavours that we can’t really put into words how incredible they are. If you want something a bit more casual the Drawing-office lunch or dinner menu is prepared by the same kitchen so you will still be in for a treat.

Rating
Overall the Titanic Hotel is an excellent hotel experience with a brilliant location to the Titanic Quarter, set in history and with some incredible top class food options. It really could be a brilliant city getaway or if your coming to Belfast to visit the culture and history this hotel is perfect. Staff were extremely intentive and went above and beyond to get us extra amenities and when we left the room we arrived with the bed pre-made and chocolates on the pillows. Although not exactly a budget Hotel, keep an eye their website and social media as they run packages with breakfast/stay/dinner and for the perfect price this hotel could be the perfect getaway.

Rating:
Price: £120-180 a night
Address: 8 Queens Rd, Belfast BT3 9DT
More Info: Click Here

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane - A Dreamy Dublin Detox
The Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane is located in the bustling business district in Dublin 2, just a stone throw away from the beautiful Samuel Beckett Bridge and a number of bars, restaurants and attractions.

This four-star hotel is just 1 minute from the famous Bord Gais Energy and a 5-minute walk to close-by public transport. Although situated in Dublin's busy business district, the hotel has that relaxing vibe that's a real breath of fresh air.

As soon as we arrived we were given a warm welcome and a perfect explanation of the many facilities the hotel offers on-site ranging from the state of the art leisure centre, swimming pool, sauna & jacuzzi, restaurant & bar and breakfast area.

Although large the hotel is labelled and signposted well to keep you on the right track of the many different floors and areas and staff were friendly with any questions or queries we had and even offered to order taxis or guide us to the local transport to get back to the airport. 

The room itself was extremely spacious, especially for what you would except for a city centre located hotel, boasting a comfortable super king-sized bed and spacious seating area, there was more than enough room for all your luggage and then some.

Decorated with the modern Clayton style and cleaned to perfection it was a perfect base for us when we just wanted to relax after a long day in Dublin. Especially with the full Sky TV package to sit down and watch your favourite shows, which was a really nice touch that we haven’t seen in many hotels.

The amenities were plentiful with not only tea & coffee making facilities but a full Nespresso machine for those coffee lovers that fused well with the complimentary Irish chocolates that were awaiting us on arrival.

Leading on from the sizeable bedroom was the bright bathroom with a complete list of toiletries to pamper yourself if you didn’t feel like using the award-winning spa and leisure facilities complete with soft bathrobes & slippers.

The Clayton Hotel doesn't just have amazing rooms though, the food is brilliant as well. The hotel offers a variety of dining options; the vertigo bar, Stir restaurant and breakfast area. The complimentary breakfast was a great start to the day and defiantly is needed after working up a sweat in the Club Vitae gym and pool.

All hotel guests have access to the fully equipped gym with over 50 pieces of fitness equipment or can enjoy one of a selection of fitness classes. 

If relaxation is your thing escape in the 22 metre heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna or get a professional massage or beauty treatment.

Rating
Overall the Clayton Cardiff lane really is a perfect hotel whether you're a family of four or on a business trip, it truly is an affordable option with amenities and facilities that would be in a completely different price bracket. The leisure facilities are some of the best we have seen never mind in a hotel. But for us it was the little things that the hotel and staff had made that made this a perfect hotel; the small box of chocolates, full sky package, complimentary bottles of water, professional coffee facilities and friendly staff makes this a first-class hotel in our eyes.

Rating: 
Price: £80-120 a night
Address: Cardiff Lane, Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 YT21, Ireland
More Info: Click Here

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

The Manor House Country Hotel, Fermanagh's Charming Country Retreat 
Located in the heart of the Fermanagh Lakelands, close to the Enniskillen town centre but just far enough away to enjoy the tranquillity of the Lower Lough Erne shores. The hotel itself is quite large with just under 80 rooms yet still feels like a family run homely resort.

As soon as you enter the welcoming gates of the Manor House country hotel you really get a sense of relaxation. Driving past the large green gardens and getting a glimpse of the sun reflecting off the calm Lakeland's. On check in we were greeted by the front desk and even received a friendly call to the room when I clumsily forgot my drone bag at reception.

The hotel has a fairytale feel to it with a charming country house ambience, from the classic fireplaces to the vintage chandeliers, you almost feel like your in a medieval castle. 

The room itself was extremely spacious with a large living area that alone was bigger than my apartment's living room, it actually took much difficulty even getting a picture of the whole room as it was so enormous.  The living area came kitted out with a large TV, fridge, tea & coffee facilities, large table to work on, comfortable sofas and off course an incredible view of the Lakeland.

Leading on from the living area was the cosy bedroom with a sizeable bed that has more than enough room for three people never mind a couple. Looking out from the bed you have a large balcony that has some of the most scenic views we have seen from a hotel, we even managed to take off a drone from the balcony it was that large.

This balcony is way too tempting not to take the drone off from @ManorFermanagh #manorhouse #FridayFeeling #travel pic.twitter.com/jWtiYxWLOP

— Beatthetravelagent (@Beattravelagent) May 5, 2017

Yet the bedroom or living room wasn't even the best part of this hotel room, in the bathroom, you have two large sinks, a shower and the pièce de résistance the jacuzzi bathtub with a monitor to relax while watching some late night television.

The manor House doesn't just have amazing rooms though, the food is incredible as well. The hotel offers a variety of dining options; their AA Rosette Belleek Restaurant, Cellar Door Bar & Bistro & Watergate Bar. We especially loved the true Irish breakfast that was served up every morning with a smile that starts your day off perfectly.

After you have tickled your taste buds, the Manor country house offers numerous in-house facilities for all your needs, including a complete leisure centre with a large swimming pool, steam room, Jacuzzi, Sauna, fitness suite and Outdoor Hot Tub. Also on offer is a 9 Hole, Par 3 golf course, tennis court, pitch and putt and an option for a luxurious cruise around the Lakelands on the Lady of the Lake Cruiser.

Rating
Overall The Manor House country hotel really is a Northern Irish gem, it truly is a perfect relaxing retreat where you can arrive and not have to leave the comfort of the resort. The food is incredible even in the bar and the facilities are top class. When taking the price into account it really is a first class hotel even for the upgraded suites including breakfast it beats the price of many hotels yet has so much more to offer. The only issue we had was the internet which was slightly slow for our needs but for just scrolling social media or checking your emails it would do the job for most.

Rating: 
Price: £80-120 a night
Address: John Wesley Rd, Enniskillen BT94 1NY
More Info: Click Here

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

 Travalo Refillable Perfume Atomizer Spray
When travelling you want to look and smell the best but there's always one major issue with that; you're limited to what you can bring on a plane. This is where Travalo comes in, they have invented a 5ml easy fill perfume spray that even Ryanair wouldn't have an issue with size wise. 

The Travalo perfume atomizer comes in 4 different models; Classic HD, Milano, Pearl and the Devine. All models come in various colours to match that perfect bag or purse. Made from Aircraft grade aluminum and totally free of glass this little friend is aircraft approved carry-on baggage.

We tested both the Classic HD and the Milano and true to Travalo's claims they really do refill in seconds. On the bottom of each Travalo Perfume atomizer, you will find a fillable hole which fits perfectly on nearly all perfume and aftershave bottles. 

The Innovative Genie-S 'pump to fill' works a charm with just a number of pumps it transfers the fragrance from your unfriendly sized perfume bottle to a handy pocket-sized travel accessory.  

We used the Travalo Milano for a recent trip and it lasted the whole 4 days of the trip and that's even with a generous respraying each morning, noon and night.


The only issue we were worried about was leakage and issues refilling which we've seen with other products like this. But overall we haven't had one leak. We actually found when playing about with the Travalo that not only can you refill again with a different perfume after cleaning but that Travalo has integrated a U-change removable inner vial to change in an instant. 

Verdict
Both the Classic HD and the Milano are not only brilliant for travel but for everyday use in your purse, make-up bag, pocket or in your car. We love the idea of it and think it really is the future, the only issue that comes into question is the price but when you consider how much it costs for a large and smaller travel sized bottle of your favourite spray over time you really can see a massive saving not only in money but in space.

Rating: 
Where to buy
Buy now for £12.99 and free delivery from Debenhams or Travalo
Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accessories ranging from, First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

Anker Astro E1 5200mAh Ultra Compact Portable Charger External Power Bank with PowerIQ Technology for iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Nexus, HTC etc.

Have you ever been on holiday, in university or out and about and had your phone die? I think we all have and this is where the Anker 5200mAh Ultra Compact Charger comes into play. Weighing only 119g and around the size of a small Candy bar, it's the perfect accessory to have in your purse, pocket or hand luggage to keep your phone charged not once but twice on the move.

Inside the neatly compact box, you will find the Anker portable charger, a micro-USB charging cable to charge it, instructions, an amazing 18-month warranty and a small soft pouch to keep the Anker portable charger safe and undamaged.

Anker is known for quality and this product is no different with a very good build quality, premium battery cells that last and a strong outer casing. In fact, we've had this product on beaches, bikes, aeroplanes, in the rain and in nightclubs around the world and it's as good as the day we first got it.

Built into this Charger is Anker’s PowerIQ technology which dynamically detects and adapts to your device’s unique charging protocol enabling it to charge at full speed.

We also use the Anker Astro E1’s big brother the Anker PowerCore 20100mAh which can charge your phone up to 7 times but is a bit bulkier than the Astro E1, so we prefer the size and durability of the Astro E1 and everyone in the team can’t leave anywhere without one.

Alongside the Anker Astro E1 5200mAh we also use the Anker PowerLine+ Lightning Cable & Anker PowerLine+ Micro USB which are as attractive as they are durable and will last you for years.

Verdict
The Anker Astro E1 5200mAh Ultra Compact Portable Charger is an essential accessory for anyone. With its simple to use plug and play option that even my mum could use, it's a one size fits all accessory. At such cheap price of £11.99, we would recommend nearly everyone to get one even just to have as an emergency or as a charger for when your little one's tablet dies. 
Rating: 
Where to buy
Buy now for £11.99 and free delivery from Amazon

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accessories ranging from, First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

Huawei E5577 Portable Mobile Wi-Fi 4G/LTE
Whether you travel like Christopher Columbus or only travel once a year this accessory is not just perfect for travelling but for everyday life. The Huawei E5577 allows you to create your own Secure mobile Wi-Fi hotspot or MiFi as its commonly known now.

The E5577 follows the E5 classic design looking a bit like the predecessor models such as E5330, E5573 and E5377. Although the E5577 is thinner, faster and has better mobile capability up to 150mbps download and 50Mbps upload speed. It has been updated by the Huawei E5786 which can get up to 300Mps speed but after comparing the two, very little mobile networks are capable of that speed and you wouldn’t notice much different to say 140Mps to 190Mps.

Out of the box, the E5577 is pretty much ready to go, plug the sim card and battery in and follow the easy step by step guide. No wires, no software just a simple approach to getting the internet anywhere.

In the Box itself, you get the Huawei Mobile wifi either in black or white, a battery, USB Charging Cable, a quick start guide, and a safety information booklet. Separately you will need to buy a data sim from a mobile provider.

When the Huawei Mobile WiFi E5577 is on, users can see information from the screen such as the network providers, SSID, WiFi key, signal strength, SMS unread, battery status and WiFi connected users. The Huawei E5577 can support up to 10 wireless users to access the internet simultaneously. And one extra one could be connected with USB.

We have used the Huawei Mobile WiFi across Europe, America, and Asia and soon South America and have had no issues with over 14 different sim card providers. Although abroad isn’t the only place you can use them, In the UK we would use the EE or Three Sim card when we are in a coffee shop or somewhere where there may be wifi but it just isn’t fast enough. Just make sure to get an unlocked Huawei MiFi.

The Three 12gb- 12 months sim card is perfect for a low budget travel option due to being able to use it free of charge across Europe, Australia, Indonesia, The USA, Hong Kong and much more, (full list here).

The battery life when using it works for about 5 hours working time and 300 hours standby time. Coupled with a battery pack as it is Micro-USB this device is perfect for hours and hours of the internet when on the go.

If you are a serious traveller or have a weak signal and are thinking of using this device we would advise looking into a TS-9 Antena to boost your signal.

Verdict
Overall the Huawei Mobile WiFi E5577 is the perfect accessory to travel with if you rely on the internet as in this day and age, roaming abroad can cost a small fortune. The price tag can seem quite high and it may be better to consider the E5330 which has quite a modest price of £29 but only supports 3G.
The Huawei Mobile WiFi E5577 gets our first class rating and we would highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Where to buy
Buy now Unlocked for £79.99 and free delivery from Amazon

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accessories ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.

 

Venice Beach Suites & Hotel
Built in the early 1900s, the Venice Beach Suites & Hotel is a piece of Venice Beach history, it retains much of its original architectural charm from its lift ‘Betsy’ to its exposed brick walls. It's perfect for low-maintenance tourists looking to explore the area's unique attractions while being right in the thick of the action. Rooms have plenty of charm for a value hotel, and the price is hard to beat for the location.

When we arrived, check-in was simple and the member of staff was very attentive on explaining the hotel's facilities and policies. We then got the famous 100-year-old lift called ‘Betsy’ up to our top floor room.

As soon as you enter the room it was apparent we were in for a treat with the view. Not many hotels offer such a close Beach view like Venice Beach Suites & Hotel, never mind at that affordable price.

In our room, there was a large double bed, A flat screen tv with full cable, two fans, A kitchenette with; a microwave, coffee maker, sink, fridge and a full layout of kitchen utensils. The kitchenette is extremely useful when you want to cook a quick authentic meal without having to break the bank in a nearby restaurant.

The WiFi overall was very good and we had no issues whatsoever, which was a relief as most of the hotels we stayed in on this trip had some internet issues. We easily uploaded videos and streamed films with no issues.

The beach View really makes you get up early and get straight to the sand. We got up bright and early and enjoyed the free coffee at reception and used the complimentary surfboards, towels and beach balls, which can really cost you a bit elsewhere to rent on the boardwalk.


The hotel also offered a brilliant roof-top seating area with some outstanding views during both the day and the evening. We also found out during our stay that they hold a complimentary pizza and beer night every Friday evening which seemed to be very popular with the many guests staying and really added a personal touch that made the hotel stand out from the rest.

Before arrival, we had a feeling it was going to be a bit rowdy during the day and night as many tens of thousands of people walk the Venice Boardwalk every day. Overall the noise was quite contained and the hotel's windows did a good job of controlling the noise. The only issue that we had was although it is one of the best-located hotels during the day, at night many of the local vendors and bars close shop and during the night it becomes slightly exposed with the large homeless population. Needless to say for us this wasn’t an issue and the hotel is overall very secure, but this needs to be mentioned as I know many travellers may have issues with this.

Rating
Overall the Venice Beach Suites & Hotel is an excellent hotel for the young demographics and is ideal for most travellers. Although it can be quite rowdy due to its location, but the reason you go to this hotel is the location.
The Venice Beach gets our Economy Plus rating and we hope when we are back in LA to stop by.
Rating: 
Price: $150-250 a night
Address: 1305 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291, USA
More info: Click Here
Book Now

Understanding our rating class.
We rate our Travel Accommodation ranging from First class being the best and Last class being the worst.