3 tried and tested travel accessories from my latest trip

My latest published trip was to the UAE and the Maldives (you can read all about it here) where we spent a few nights in Dubai, followed by a heavenly stay at JA Manafaru on the northernmost atoll in the Maldives. The trip also served as a great opportunity to try out a few new items of merchandise which I’ve detailed below. Oakley Carbon Blade Sunglasses from ShadeStation I invariably find most sunglasses just don’t seem to suit me but this pair from Shadestation is not only discrete, but also remarkably sleek and lightweight thanks to their carbon fibre frames and titanium metal joints, and yet durable at the same time. They are a great fit and remove the harsh glare of the sun without darkening the view too much – so much so, in fact, that you soon forget you even have them on. I like to run quite a bit and these would also be perfect for that if my forehead didn’t perspire so much when running in the heat! Icebreaker Sphere SS Polo from Natureshop This garment from Natureshop particularly came into its own in Dubai where it was not only very hot, but also extremely humid, particularly in the evenings as the humidity seemed to increase as the day went on. This is thanks to the fact that it is made from a high performance fabric that is designed to keep you cool and comfortable in precisely these conditions. Made from a combination of superfine merino, a material called TENCEL® (a sustainably sourced eucalyptus wood) and nylon, it makes for an extremely light and breathable Cool-Lite™ polo which conducts moisture rather than heat, carrying it away from your body three times faster. The fibres are also antimicrobial so bacteria doesn’t build up, preventing odour. If you’re heading anywhere hot or humid, make sure you add this to your wardrobe! Travel journal from Revisit Products Travelling a lot, and taking notes along the way as I do, means that it’s important to have a good quality, well-protected notebook and this travel journal from Revisit Products fits the bill perfectly. The company has a collection of vegetable tanned leather products, all lovingly and meticulously finished by hand to ensure they last. The leather is so supple and elegant and comes with a refillable pad (or you can use it to hold an iPad mini) so is a product I’ll be able to use for years to come. Additional features include a pen sleeve, slots for credit or business cards (I prefer the latter). Having such a luxurious journal for my note-taking will hopefully give me that added extra bit of inspritation when I need it most!