Be a Better Houseguest With These 6 Items
The Work Diary of ESPN’s Mina Kimes (and Her Dog, Lenny)
December 13, 2019Sophia Hutchins Comes Clean About ‘Best Friend’ Caitlyn Jenner
December 14, 2019This post was originally published on this site
If you’re visiting friends or family for the holidays, one way to not overstay your welcome is to be a great houseguest — and a big part of that is self-sufficiency. That is, not needing to ask your hosts to find you four free outlets so you can charge your devices, or to clear a shelf for your bathroom gear. Packing the following items will help lessen the inevitable seasonal stress for your hosts, and make everyone’s holiday happier.
These are the items Wirecutter staffers bring along when staying with friends or relatives.
Marathon Analog Desk Alarm Clock with Auto-Night Light
Rather than assume you’ll find a conveniently free bedside outlet for your phone, bring this compact, battery-powered alarm clock instead. ($29.95 from Amazon)
Along with your charging cables, pack a mini-power strip (this one has USB ports too), so you won’t monopolize the outlets that do exist. ($20 from Dell)
Black Diamond Spot 325 Headlamp
This’ll come in handy for midnight bathroom trips or reading in bed, especially if that bed is an air mattress with no nearby lamp. ($40 from REI)
Sea to Summit Travelling Light Hanging Toiletry Bag
Bathroom counter and shelf space is valuable real estate — especially in big households. Minimize your footprint with this toiletry bag designed to be hung. ($37 from eBags)
Arrive with your own lightweight umbrella, so you don’t have to borrow one when it’s time to head out into the inevitable winter sleet. ($18 from Amazon)
Recchiuti Confections Black Box
Nothing says “thank you for hosting this year” like this assortment of perfectly executed chocolates in intriguing — but not too exotic — flavors. ($50 from Recchiuti Confections)
52 PLACES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE Follow our 52 Places traveler, Sebastian Modak, on Instagram as he travels the world, and discover more Travel coverage by following us on Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world.
