Under $50 scores: How this collapsible tea kettle has saved me $1,000+ on recent trips

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A perfectly delicious chicken noodle soup dinner made with an electric tea kettle in the Maldives. - Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored
A perfectly delicious chicken noodle soup dinner made with an electric tea kettle in the Maldives. - Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored

I’m in the habit of “making” my own meals now and again when I travel. You wouldn’t believe how fast the savings add up by substituting a brick or two of noodles for lunch or dinner every other day.

In the past, I used in-room kettles provided by the hotel. However, I stopped because not all hotels offer them, and they’re not always clean.

So, I invested in the $37 T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle. It’s one of the best electric tea kettles and my favorite travel gear purchase to date. Here’s how I used it to save thousands of dollars in food cost on recent trips.


T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle

Amazon
Amazon

The T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle is a game-changer for budget-conscious travelers. This compact kettle quickly boils water, allowing you to enjoy affordable meals on the go with freeze-dried camping pouches, saving you from splurging on expensive resort dining. Its collapsible design makes it easy to pack discreetly, ensuring you can enjoy your travels without breaking the bank.


$34 at Amazon


How I found the T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle

Getting complimentary stays at luxury hotels and resorts isn’t as challenging as you might think. By implementing a travel rewards plan, you can secure stays valued at $10,000 or higher without breaking the bank. I’ve utilized this approach numerous times in destinations like Hawaii, Colorado and Scotland.

There’s just one issue: When you book luxury resorts, you’re in an environment tailored to those with a (comparatively) limitless budget. You may have saved five figures on the room rate, but you’ll still pay out the nose for activities, transportation and, most devastatingly, food.

A prime example of a destination with paralyzing ancillary charges is the Maldives. Most resorts occupy their own private island many miles away from the city. In other words, you can’t nip into town for cheap eats like the locals. You’re a hostage in the middle of the Indian Ocean, so expect to pay exorbitant prices for even a basic meal.

I ordered fish and chips at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives for $50 and was brought two bite-sized potato squares garnished with fish tartare and caviar. - Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored
I ordered fish and chips at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives for $50 and was brought two bite-sized potato squares garnished with fish tartare and caviar. - Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored

On a recent trip to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, I found food prices to be around $250 per person per day. That’s ridiculous — and it’s the reason I bring this handy gadget along with me on all my five-star adventures.

Why the T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle is a score

Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored
Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored

To avoid dropping $500+ per day on food at five-star resorts, I pack the T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle, along with a few freeze-dried camping pouches.

This allows my family to eat a meal for around $5 per person. Its heating element is built into the base of the kettle, and it brings water to a boil in just a few minutes. I then pour the water into a freeze-dried pouch, and in 10 minutes, we’re enjoying our makeshift meal. While it might not be an idyllic vacation meal, it’s much easier to enjoy those expensive dinners guilt-free by peppering in a few $5 meals during our trip.

The T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle collapses to just a couple of inches in depth, making it easy to stuff in a suitcase. And the hotel staff is none the wiser about our money-saving tactics.

Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored
Sarah Hostetler/CNN Underscored

Bottom line

Don’t let astronomical food prices discourage you from visiting a destination you’ve always dreamed about. If staying at a particular resort is important enough to you, there are ways to stay within budget. One of my favorite strategies to dodge expensive meals is using the T-magitic Travel Foldable Electric Kettle to make freeze-dried camping meals. It must have saved me more than $1,000 in the past few years.

Looking for a new travel credit card? Check out CNN Underscored Money’s list of the best credit cards currently available.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

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