It’s 2024, so you probably know what Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are, with discounts on just about everything. We obviously won’t encourage you to spend your money on useless stuff — keep your money for travel if you want to travel more; it’s a simple concept, but it’s worth a reminder. However, like every year, there are some very interesting travel items at a discount that we’ll highlight.
The trick to making all your travels more enjoyable and affordable happens to be to simply bring less stuff. But some of our 6 only travel items that are truly essential (and a few more near-essential suggestions) are on sale now!
Here are 15 deals on travel items — and 3 important pro tips for Amazon as a reminder beforehand (to get ≈ 35.5% back on your spending, or even ≈ 41.5%)!
3 tips to maximize your rewards at Amazon
If you love to travel, you should make sure you always maximize your rewards on everything you buy to get even more free trips.
For Amazon specifically, there are 3 simple tips:
- Get a ≈ 15% bonus by using shopping portals (on top of your card rewards)
- Get 20% back on your credit card with a welcome bonus
- Get at least 5% on your credit card with the gift card trick
Get a ≈ 15% bonus by using shopping portals (on top of your card rewards)
It simply doesn’t make sense not to use online shopping portals.
There’s an Aeroplan eStore promotion that gives you a bonus of 10 pts/$ (≈ 15% to UNLIMITED) right now, so don’t miss it if you want free rewards. It’s IN ADDITION to your credit card rewards (either one of the next 2 tips, ideally the first)!
It’s even 15 pts/$ (≈ 22.5% to UNLIMITED) if you pay with 1 of the 4 TD Aeroplan credit cards.
It’s simple to get a ≈ 15% bonus:
- You log in to your Aeroplan account
- Everyone should have one (create one for free if you don’t have one)
- You go to the Aeroplan eStore instead of going to Amazon directly
- It’s just a few extra clicks
- You click on Amazon from there
- Boom! Bonus of 10 pts/$ in most Amazon categories
If you prefer the more simple cash back (so less lucrative, of course), the Rakuten shopping portal gives you just 1% back at Amazon (a little less than ≈ 15%, right?), but at least you get $30 free with our referral link. To be clear, you should take the $30 for your next purchase at one of the 700+ stores another day, even if you go through the Aeroplan eStore today!
Get 20% back on your credit card with a welcome bonus
The best card to use for any purchase is always a card on which you’re unlocking a huge welcome bonus. Plus, it improves your credit score if you follow the 3 rules. It’s that simple. But few people understand it, unfortunately. Read our infographic summarizing the basics of travel rewards to understand everything you need to know.
For example, the brand-new increased welcome bonus on the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card gives you $1025 free if you spend $5,000 in 12 months. That’s 20.5% back on $7,500. A little better than the terrible 1% or 2% rates that most people sadly settle for, don’t you think? It’s over 20%!!!
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card gives you $825 on $7,500, which is 11% back (but the points are simpler)! And so on. You can read our post about the 4 best deals for October 2024.
It’s simple to get 20% back:
- Simply use all your purchases to unlock welcome bonuses
- You’ll always get 10%+ on everything (and sometimes 20% like now)
- In addition to boosting your credit score
- And getting lots of travel perks
When combining the ≈ 15% back with the portal promo and the 20.5% back with your credit card, that’s ≈ 35.5% back in total! And if you use your Aeroplan points well, you can actually get a lot more value, and it’s easy to get ≈ 41.5% back! You can read the basics of how to earn rewards and the value of Aeroplan points.
Get at least 5% on your credit card with the gift card trick
If you can’t earn 20% in credit card rewards because it’s too late to apply for a new credit card and take advantage of Amazon Prime Day, here’s a tip that’s an alternative to the previous one.
You should always get 5% at the very least on your Amazon purchases if you have one of the must-have cards that earn 5X the points — at least for your Amazon purchases for which you don’t want the extended warranty offered by all credit cards.
Many cards earn at least 5% at the grocery store:
- American Express Cobalt Card
- 5 pts/$ — ≈ 7.5% in lucrative points
- 5 pts/$ — 5% in cash back or simple points
- Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
- 6 pts/$ — 6% in simple points (Sobeys-affiliated stores)
- 5 pts/$ — 5% in simple points (other grocery stores)
- MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
- 5 pts/$ — 5% in simple points
- BMO CashBack World Elite MasterCard
- 5% in cash back
And all these grocery stores sell Amazon gift cards.
It’s simple to get at least 5% back:
- You buy an Amazon gift card at the grocery store
- That gives you 5% on your purchase
- You use the Amazon gift card on Amazon
- So you got 5% at Amazon
On the other hand, you lose the extended warranty you’d get by paying with your credit card directly. This can still be a useful tip, considering how many people don’t even know their credit card offers an extended warranty and how many people don’t want to make the simple effort of putting in a claim. You can read more about the gift cards trick.
15 travel items on sale
Now, here are the travel items.
1. Travel packing cubes
Price: $17.59 (was $21.99 — 20% off)
I never have any problems traveling light; I’ve taken almost 500 flights and it’s always without taking checked bags, as all flight pros always do. It’s in large part thanks to the packing cubes, and that’s why it’s 1 of only 6 truly essential items.
2. Universal adapter
Price: $23.19 (was $28.99 — 20% discount)
Not a huge discount and not the sexiest of the only 6 truly essential items, but an adapter is a must-have when we’re a serious traveler (or want to become one).
3. Portable charger
Price: $23.68 (was $33.99 — 30% off)
If you didn’t know about it, you probably liked our pro tip to stop being ripped off by the $15 per day Internet access scam while traveling, so you should have a portable charger too so you can always be connected and be safe — it’s another of the only 6 truly essential items.
4. Small backpack that fits under the seat
Price: $31.99 (was $54.54 — 41% off)
Unfortunately, many people don’t know that you’re allowed 2 bags in the cabin (with a few rare exceptions), so a small backpack is 1 of only 6 truly essential items. Pretty much any backpack will do if you want a more affordable one, but this one is on sale and made specifically for electronics (a little less stuff will fit, but it can be handy).
5. Daypack for during the trip
Price: $27.99 (was $39.99 — 30% off)
We love having a little daypack like this, which folds up into a little pouch. It’s 1 of only 6 truly essential items.
6. Toiletry kit
Price: $16.98 (was $17.98 — 6% off)
Just to remind you that pretty much everything you need in terms of products can be bought at your destination, and for the rest you’re entitled to a 1-liter bag with 100-mL bottles that can be in a toiletry bag like this. It’s the 6th item of the only 6 truly essential items, the one on which I’ve cheated and combined with the next to create an item for all those handy little organizational items.
7. Waterproof passport holder
Price: $23.99 (was $39.99 — 40% off)
Keep your passport in a secure holder so you don’t damage it and then complain that a country has refused you entry (almost all countries have an official entry rule that your passport must be completely intact).
8. Tracker to find your luggage
Price: $27.99 (was $34.99 — 20% off)
I have this exact model, it’s wonderful. It’s not in the only 6 truly essential items, but it’s in the bonus 4 that are essential for almost everyone. Airlines will probably lose your checked bag if you have one, so… the tracker is vital. But even for me, who never takes checked baggage, I put it in each of my backpacks and in my wallet so I don’t lose anything (I got 2 packs of 2).
9. Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Price: $269 (was $479 — 44% off)
The newest model of Bose headphones I have (one of the very few expensive items I have). They’re just wonderful to shut out airplane noise, so I included them in the bonuses in addition to the only 6 truly essential items.
10. Beats headphones
Price: $159.95 (was $279.95 — 43% off)
If you want to save a bit, Beats headphones are 43% off, but I can’t say if they’re as good as the others.
11. Luxury neck pillow
Price: $59.99 (was $79.99 — 25% discount)
Personally, I don’t want to carry this around, but many travelers can’t do without a neck pillow, and this one is highly rated. I’ve included it in the bonus section of the only 6 truly essential items since many people are more interested in comfort for a few hours than in the inconvenience of carrying it around for weeks.
12. Apple Watch
Price: $469 (was $589 — 20% off)
I don’t have any Apple products, but those who do seem to love the Apple Watch. I do like my Fitbit though, but it’s not in the Prime Day discounts.
13. Waterproof action camera
Price: $50.99 (was $70 – 27% off)
It’s not a GoPro, but this camera has very good reviews too.
14. Portable luggage scale
Price: $15.18 (was $25.99 — 42% off)
I don’t have one, but if you want to check the weight of your bags, this portable scale is the best seller.
15. Selfie stick with tripod
Price: $29.99 (was $53.99 — 44% off)
If you want to take pictures, this selfie stick kit is practical and doesn’t take up too much space.
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Summary
Until tomorrow only, you can take advantage of great discounts on travel essentials thanks to Amazon Prime Day! And I hope the tips to maximize your rewards at Amazon at all times will have helped you understand the wonderful world of travel rewards.
What would you like to know about travel essentials? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Traveler (photo credit: Kalen Emsley)
