India, July 5 -- Traveling abroad can be both thrilling and overwhelming. As a travel writer, I've fielded countless calls from friends and family asking for tips, especially a go-to packing list of essentials before their first flight, cruise, or any other international adventure. Over the years, I've been surprised by how often people circle back to tell me that one specific item made all the difference. I've had moments myself, like when a fellow passenger lost her phone mid-flight and my trusty headlamp lit up the dark airplane floor to find it quickly.

And in today's world, with headlines about carbon monoxide leaks in hotel rooms or widespread power outages, some of these "nice-to-have" accessories have become non-negotiable for pe...