In the past four years, I’ve taken at least six trips each year — most of them international. And while my small coffee machine and mini humidifier are important, the most crucial item I travel with is my portable carbon monoxide detector. 

It may not be as sexy as a high-quality digital camera that lets me catch Instagram-worthy moments, but my Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector helps me feel safe when I check into a hotel or Airbnb overseas. Because requirements around smoke and carbon monoxide alarms vary from country to country, traveling with the small device lets me sleep soundly anytime I’m away from home.

Right now the travel safety device is $25 at Amazon and arrives in just one day if you’re a Prime member. Keep reading to see why more than 27,000 shoppers give it a five-star rating — and why I never travel without it.

Kidde Plug-in Carbon Monoxide Detector

Most people invest in personal safety devices to prevent theft when they travel, and since carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless — though deadly — it can feel less imminent than being pickpocketed. But after I saw a news story about a fatal carbon monoxide incident at a resort abroad, I’ve been putting this alarm in my carry-on luggage. It slides into my bag easily and is so compact that it fits inside the tiny purse that goes inside my personal item bag. 

Unlike a traditional carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm combo that’s typically placed on the ceiling, this device can be plugged into an outlet. That means I can move it to any room in my apartment, hotel, or vacation rental. The plug-in design helps me cut down on battery costs and spares me from that obnoxious chirping sound when they run out. That said, it still uses batteries, so if there’s a power outage — which is common in some regions — it will keep working.

Kidde Plug-in Carbon Monoxide Detector

One Amazon shopper, who had carbon monoxide detected in their building, wrote that they were “incredibly grateful this precautious purchase did the work!” They added that shoppers should  “absolutely get this for travel, personal use, or anything in between” and that it provides “peace of mind now.”

It puts my mind at ease too, especially with how loud it is. When I tested it to make sure it was working, it reached an impressive 85 decibels throughout my home. You can rest assured that the alarm does its job well. It’s easy to see why it’s the No.1 top-rated carbon monoxide detector at Amazon, with nearly 28,000 perfect ratings and more than 10,000 units purchased in the last month alone. 

Still on the hunt for a carbon monoxide detector for your upcoming international trips? Explore these highly-rated devices that fit easily in your carry-on or personal item bag.

Shop More Portable Carbon Monoxide Detectors at Amazon:

Kidde Battery-powered Carbon Monoxide Detector

First Alert CO605 Plug-in Carbon Monoxide Detector

X-Sense Battery-powered Carbon Monoxide Detector

Lunarlipes Mini 3-in-1 Handheld Carbon Monoxide Detector

Weshlgd 3-in-1 Plug-in Carbon Monoxide Detector

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