JOBY GorillaPod 1K Tripod Kit, $39.99, at Best Buy
A tripod is essential for any photographer, especially when shooting at night, but it can be incredibly bulky to carry around. It also requires a flat surface for stability, which is not always possible in certain situations.
Joby has really revolutionized camera tripods with its portable GorillaPods. They're small enough to fit into your bag, but more importantly, they're flexible. It attaches securely to your camera and you can then wrap its legs around literally anything to get your camera in place for the perfect shot.
I find mine really useful when traveling solo to take images of myself for my blog, or for steadying my camera when taking nighttime landscape shots. I've wrapped it around fence posts, set it up in hotel rooms, and used it on boats — I always travel with mine in tow. Combined with the self-timer on my camera, this is how I take almost all of my solo travel shots.
But make sure you check the weight of your camera to ensure which Joby is the right one for you. I have a Sony mirrorless camera so this 1 kilo version of the tripod is perfect, but a smaller or heavier camera will require a different model to accommodate the weight.