The best travel kettles for EVERY type of traveller!
Hi friends! There are some things that we wished we had brought with us when we left London for our family full time travel adventure. A travel kettle is definitely one of those things- in fact it’s the one thing I would have packed given a second chance. There are also some other things that we have outlined in our comprehensive family travel gear essentials guide.
As budget travellers we often stay in guesthouses or cheap hotels that don’t come with a kettle in the room. After a long, sticky journey, when your tired legs collapse onto the fresh white bedsheets (or, y’know, kinda old faded bedsheets) there is nothing that revives you like a hot cup of tea or coffee.
Choosing a travel kettle can be a bit of a roulette; there are a few features to think about such as capacity, size and weight, and voltage, so we have put together a guide on the best travel kettle for different travellers’ needs. I hope this is helpful- wouldn’t want to get myself into hot water here, (bah-dum-dum-tssh!)
Ok seriously here you go:
Contents
- 0.1 Best for no-space-in-the-bag travellers (collapsible kettle!):
- 0.2 Best as a complete set (spoons ‘n’ all)
- 0.3 Best for super budget travellers, (costs the same as a few coffees!)
- 0.4 Best travel kettle for fashionistas (kettle AND STEAMER!)
- 0.5 Best for solo travellers
- 0.6 Best for road trippers
- 0.7 Best for families
- 0.8 Best for a couple
- 1 People are reading:
Best for no-space-in-the-bag travellers (collapsible kettle!):
I am in love with this thing. If you are backpacking or travelling with minimal luggage, this kettle is ideal as it collapses down into a 16 x 14 x 13 cm package. Collapsible kettles for gas stoves/camping have been around for a while but there are few electric ones that aren’t flimsy- this is the best on the UK market. I present to you your itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-greeny-tea-making-machiney.
Best as a complete set (spoons ‘n’ all)
This Lakeland 0.5 litre travel kettle comes with cups, a divided container plus spoons and is a no-risk purchase as Lakeland offers a whopping three year guarantee. That’s time to drink a lot of coffee. The divided container is super handy for carrying sugar/hot chocolate powder/ loose leaf tea and the spoons and beakers mean you won’t have to wander down to reception in your pyjamas begging for a mug (been there, done that). The set comes in a handy drawstring bag and weighs 1kg altogether, taking up just 12 x 17 x 17 cm of case space.
Best for super budget travellers, (costs the same as a few coffees!)
This sweet little kettle will be delivered to your door for pocket change, along with two compact cups. The Lloytron kettle (sounds like a robot) has a 1 litre capacity so it is also the best travel kettle for those who want more than a thimble full of tea or coffee.
Best travel kettle for fashionistas (kettle AND STEAMER!)
Ok I’m seriously impressed. It is pretty frustrating carefully packing all your clothes into your cases/bags and then finding them crumpled and creased at your destination. The Bokeh kettle & steamer will help you relax by providing a delicious cuppa AND getting those pesky creases out of your clothes (it can steam continuously for 25 minutes!). Refreshed and looking fabulous, what more could you want? You also save a huge £30 on the usual list price- this kettle is seriously good quality.
Best for solo travellers
If you want one cup of hot water, this immersion heater is perfect as a caffeine-providing travel companion. Simply pop the element into the cup (provided with the element) and wait a couple of minutes for the water to heat up. The pack it into its case and be on your way. Quick, easy and no mess!
Best for road trippers
A car kettle? A stylish car kettle? My life is complete. With a 280ml capacity and weighing just 680g, this car kettle works by connecting to the cigarette lighter socket and will have boiling water ready for you in no time. This is definitely the best travel kettle for road-trippers and comes with a car holder and clips to ensure safety and convenience during use and storage.
Best for families
This Russell Hobbs compact kettle has a 1 litre capacity to make enough drinks for the whole family. Its stainless steel coating makes it more durable than the usual plastic travel kettles, and with a 55-second boiling rate for a cup of water, it doesn’t waste time. There is also an anti-boil-dry feature for extra safety as well as an integrated water filter so you can be secure about your family’s health. A must when travelling with little ones! It also looks pretty which is never a bad thing.
Best for a couple
This VonShef travel kettle (with 2 cups) is extremely high quality for its price, making it great value for a travelling couple It has an auto cut-off switch to minimise the risk of boiling dry, a clip to keep the cord tidy, and a compact 0.5 litre capacity. It weighs a tiny 0.57kg and is perfect for backpacking, camping or road trips.
Our top money-saving travel tips and resources
For flights, it has to be Skyscanner. We’ve found flights from London to Singapore for £198 and European flights for under £20. There’s no other site that we’ve found to be as thorough at pulling up all the rock-bottom priced flights!
For hotels, Hotels Combined is our go-to; it used to be Booking.com but Hotels Combined actually searches several search engines including booking.com, so it’s much more efficient and better at getting the best deals.
For travel backpacks, Pacsafe security bags and the like we recommend eBay. We save a ton by purchasing two of our Osprey backpacks from eBay, they were hardly used and we didn’t mind that they didn’t look brand new- they’re only going to get dusty anyway! There are also brand-new bags/cases on eBay from discount retailers so it’s definitely worth a look.
For the best travel insurance for budget travellers, Benefits Alliance has some of the best travel insurance policies with single-trip cover starting at just £7.85.
Avanti Travel Insurance won Best Travel Insurance Provider at the British Travel Awards and is popular for longer trips (up to 550 days) as well shorter trips and cruises.
For car hire, Affordable Car Hire offers packages from just £5 a day, with excellent cash back offers as well as child safety extras.
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A collapsible kettle! That thing is absolutely Genius. Thanks so much for this Blog Post, and great for the UK or British shoppers too.
Thank you Alyson! Got to keep the great British tea tradition alive wherever we are!