7 travel accessories that scream 'I'm new to this' versus 'I've been everywhere

I was standing in the security line at LAX last month when I noticed her.

Mid-twenties, struggling with an overstuffed carryon, a neck pillow already wrapped around her throat despite being hours from takeoff, and one of those giant travel wallets strapped across her chest like body armor.

She looked stressed, overdressed for the occasion, and deeply uncomfortable.

Three people behind her stood a guy in his sixties with a single weathered backpack and a paperback. He moved through security like water, efficient and unbothered.

The contrast hit me because I used to be that first person. When I started traveling more seriously in my late twenties, covering indie music festivals across the country and eventually venturing international, I bought every "essential" gadget the internet promised would transform my experience. Most of them ended up in a drawer within a year.

Here's the thing about travel gear. The stuff that screams "amateur" isn't necessarily bad or wrong. It's just optimized for anxiety rather than actual travel. And the gear that signals experience? It's usually simpler, smaller, and way less precious.

Let's break down what separates the two.

1) Neck pillows worn in the terminal

Nothing announces "this is my second flight ever" quite like walking through the airport with a neck pillow already deployed.

Experienced travelers know that neck pillows are useful for exactly one thing: sleeping on planes. Not browsing duty free. Not eating overpriced airport sandwiches. Not the three hours before boarding.

The pros either stuff their neck pillow inside their bag until they actually need it, or they've switched to something inflatable that packs down to nothing. Some have abandoned neck pillows entirely in favor of a rolled up jacket or hoodie.

I carried my bulky memory foam pillow on the outside of my backpack for two solid years before realizing it was just dead weight 90% of the time. Now I use a cheap inflatable one that disappears into a side pocket.

Does it work as well? Honestly, not really. But I also don't look like I'm heading to a slumber party every time I walk through an airport.

2) Those giant travel document organizers

You know the ones. They hang around your neck or strap across your chest, big enough to hold your passport, boarding pass, hotel confirmations, currency from four different countries, your birth certificate, and probably a small novel.

New travelers love these things because they promise security and organization. Experienced travelers avoid them because they scream "I'm carrying something valuable" to everyone within visual range.

Here's what I learned after my wallet got pickpocketed in a Barcelona metro station seven years ago: the more obviously you protect something, the more you advertise that it's worth stealing.

Seasoned travelers keep their passport in a discrete pocket and their boarding pass on their phone. They don't need a portable filing cabinet because they've learned that you actually use very few documents while traveling. Everything else stays in the hotel safe or buried in your main luggage.

3) Matching luggage sets in pristine condition

There's something almost endearing about seeing a family roll through the airport with a complete matching set of luggage, all in the same bright color, looking like they just drove off the showroom floor.

It signals careful preparation. It signals investment. It also signals that these suitcases haven't been thrown into many cargo holds yet.

Experienced travelers? Their luggage tells stories. There are stickers from different countries, scuff marks from rough baggage handlers, maybe some duct tape holding a zipper together.

The bags don't match because they've been acquired over time, each one chosen for specific purposes rather than aesthetic coordination.

I replaced my original matching set piece by piece over the years. My current carry-on is a beaten up backpack I bought in Vietnam. My checked bag is a hand-me-down from a friend who upgraded. They look ridiculous together, and I couldn't care less.

Your luggage being tools rather than statements means when your bag is already scratched and stained, you don't stress about keeping it perfect.

4) Every charging cable and adapter ever made

I've seen people traveling with entire electronics stores in their carryon. Multiple charging cables for every possible device. Plug adapters for every country on earth, including several they're definitely not visiting. Portable batteries that could jumpstart a car. Cable organizers to manage all the cables they probably won't need.

Veterans of travel have figured out the minimum viable charging setup. One good universal adapter. One multiport charging brick. Cables that pull double duty. Maybe one portable battery if they're going somewhere remote.

After enough trips, you realize that worst case scenario, you can buy a charging cable in basically any city on the planet.

I used to pack three different portable batteries because I was terrified of my phone dying. Now I carry one small battery and accept that sometimes I'll need to find a cafe with outlets.

That acceptance has probably led me to better travel experiences, honestly. Some of my favorite memories involve killing time in random coffee shops waiting for my phone to charge.

5) Shirts that advertise their wrinkle-resistance

Certain travel clothing brands have become uniform for a specific type of traveler. You can spot them from across the terminal. Technical fabrics, lots of pockets, usually in neutral tones, often with visible brand logos that might as well say "I spent $90 on this shirt specifically for travel."

There's nothing wrong with these clothes. They work. They're comfortable and practical. But wearing a full outfit of capital-T Travel Clothes signals someone who's approaching travel as a sport that requires specialized equipment.

Long-term travelers wear normal clothes. Maybe they've learned which of their regular shirts pack well. Maybe they've picked up items in different countries that happen to be comfortable and durable. But they don't look like they're about to summit Everest when they're really just visiting their cousin in Denver.

I went through a phase where I only bought travel-specific clothing. Convertible pants that became shorts. Shirts with hidden pockets. A vest with like seventeen zippered compartments.

I looked ridiculous and I felt ridiculous. Now I travel in the same jeans and t-shirts I'd wear at home, plus one nice button-up that happens to not wrinkle much. That's it.

6) Brand new guidebooks, heavily highlighted

Nothing wrong with doing research. Nothing wrong with guidebooks. But there's something very specific about watching someone in the airport, brand new guidebook in hand, furiously highlighting passages and making notes about every museum and restaurant they plan to visit.

It signals rigid planning. It signals fear of missing out. It signals someone who thinks travel means checking boxes rather than experiencing places.

Experienced travelers might glance at a guidebook before the trip or have a few things bookmarked on their phone, but they've learned that the best experiences usually aren't in the guidebook. They're comfortable with spontaneity. They trust local recommendations. They're okay with wandering and seeing what happens.

I used to create elaborate spreadsheets for every trip. Hour-by-hour itineraries. Backup restaurants in case the first choice was full. Entire days mapped out weeks in advance. I saw lots of famous landmarks, and I remember almost none of them fondly because I was too stressed about staying on schedule.

These days I usually have three things I definitely want to see and everything else is negotiable. That's how I ended up spending an afternoon at a neighborhood food market in Bangkok instead of another temple, and it was probably my favorite day of that trip.

7) Packing cubes in every color of the rainbow

Walk through any airport and you'll spot the travelers who unzip their bag at security to reveal a perfectly organized rainbow of packing cubes. Everything color coded. Everything compartmentalized. Everything in its designated place.

It looks impressive. It also looks like someone who spent more time organizing their bag than they'll spend actually enjoying their destination.

Experienced travelers might use one or two packing cubes for practical reasons, keeping dirty clothes separate or compressing bulky items. But they're not running an entire organizational system inside their luggage.

I bought a full set of packing cubes after reading they were essential for serious travelers. Color coded them by category: blue for tops, green for bottoms, red for underwear, you get the idea. Used them religiously for about six months before realizing I was spending ten minutes repacking everything perfectly each time I moved hotels.

Now I use one cube for electronics and cables, and everything else just goes in my bag. Takes thirty seconds to pack. I can still find everything I need. And I don't feel like I'm playing Tetris every time I need a clean shirt.

Conclusion

Looking like a novice versus looking like you've been everywhere comes down to understanding what you actually need versus what the travel industry wants to sell you.

We all start somewhere, and there's no shame in being new to travel. I cringe thinking about some of my early trips, loaded down with stuff I never used, stressed about details that didn't matter.

But if you want to look like you know what you're doing? Pack less. Stress less. Trust yourself more. The confidence will follow eventually.