My biggest UL travel trick is to always have a 12-16 ounce, 1-liter-volume inflatable sleeping pad. Â Having to sleep in an airport or squeezing another person into a hotel room is SO much more comfortable on a proper sleeping pad. Â Because I often get to Anchorage after the last flight onto to my town, I use that trick 3-4 times a year on purpose and 1-2 times unexpectedly.
For road trips and sleeping in a car, my go-to item is a full-sized pillow. Â Even if I bought it on that trip for $6 at Walmart.