2 days Ago
1. A pack of laundry soap sheets you won't have to slip into your toiletries bag. This way you can save more room for souvenirs than three changes of underwear for every day of your trip.
I travel just about any chance that I get and found a WHOLE lot of success with these little laundry sheets on an almost-three-weeks European vacation in 2021 where I carried-on only and rewore outfits several times. They've become an essential I've packed for every trip since! Promising review: "I saw these recommended on a travel blog, and I'm glad I bought them. I used them both in a washing machine and to hand-wash some items on my trip, and in both cases, they were super easy to use and got my clothes clean while taking up a minuscule amount of space in my luggage.
I would highly recommend these for extended travel." — angal2 Get it from Amazon for $12.95 .
2. A set of Sea Bands with a little nub that targets the acupuncture point on your wrists meant to help reduce nausea. This'll be great in case you get motion sick in a budget-friendlier car, bus, or ferry ride.
Promising review: "These are amazing, as someone who has pretty severe motion sickness and carries Dramamine with me everywhere this is magnificent. I used these on an overnight cruise in Europe. The sea was particularly choppy that night and was miserable for me even with Dramamine and ginger.
These did the trick! They were fairly tight on me (I am plus size) but the relief they gave me was immense." — Jena Freyermouth Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.53 (available in adult and children's sizes).
3. A hands-free portable phone charger can fit in your pocket or bag. And you can also easily use your phone while it charges! It's made to give your phone a full charge.
Promising review: "I used these several times for the past year, traveling for business and leisure. It is always a challenge to find an outlet at the airport since some airports do not offer a charging station. Using those types can also be a security risk.
That's why I love using these portable chargers. They are lightweight and fit in my travel handbag/or small backpack pocket. The portable chargers take about 30–35 minutes to fully charge if dead.
Once charged, they charge fast and hold a charge for many hours." — J Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in six colors).
4. A fanny pack with a ton of storage room inside that has a long enough strap to wear crossbody *or* comfortably fit over outerwear for some hands-free adventures. And in case it looks familiar, TikTokers compare it to the Lulu waist bag.
Yes I wore it in Iceland in February, but it'll come in handy now during the warm weather too! I wear a size L/XL in clothing and sometimes waist bags just don't work out so well for me. With this one, I can confirm that it fit around my waist comfortably without outerwear, across my chest without outerwear, *and* over a thick coat and several layers. The pockets inside are so handy and I even had room to spare throughout my Iceland trip.
This was the only purse I brought for the whole trip and it performed its job flawlessly. Just make sure that you zip the zipper ALL the way because the zipper goes down pretty far on the sides for easier access to contents. Having my hands free was wildly convenient for a number of reasons, including crawling around inside of an ice cave and putting out my hands for some extra balance while walking on sheets of ice along cliffs.
Oh, and it comes in so so SO many colors. Promising review : "Bought this for a trip to Europe and it was perfect. Wore as a crossbody.
It was comfortable and held a lot of things plus my iPhone Pro Max fit with no problem." — Maine Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in dozens of styles).
5. A digital luggage scale will make sure that you aren't slammed with an overweight luggage fee (ugh) or having to move stuff from your checked bag to your carry-on to avoid said fee (also, ugh). You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.
I tested this digital luggage scale out when packing for a trip to Iceland — check out my demo of how it works on TikTok! Promising review: "We used this on a six-flight trip across Europe and it made it easy to know that we repacked our bags according to the various weight limits. Some bags were a 10-kg limit and some were a 50-lb limit so it was convenient to switch back and forth between units (even though dividing by 2.2 isn't exactly rocket science).
" — Robert Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors and a two-pack). 6.
A portable door lock to attach to any regular old door for your hotel, vacation rental, room in a guest house, or, well, just any door. It's super easy to install and won't damage the door. It'll be a comfort for solo travelers, especially.
Note: This can get flagged with going through security, so you may want to put it in an easily accessible place in your checked bag to be safe. Promising review: "I went on a solo trip to Europe and Africa and used the door lock to boost security. The lock fits and secures the lock.
It's very easy to use. I would just suggest you watch the video and practice at home before your holiday." — Jaye Get it from Amazon for $14.
99+ (also available in a two- and four-pack) 7. An anti-theft backpack because yes you should always be aware of possible pickpockets, but the main compartment's zipper facing your back will help you focus a bit more on La Sagrada Familia instead if your wallet is still in your bag. Not only does the backpack open from the inside, but it also has a phone pocket, document pocket, front zippered pocket, and an exterior side pocket.
It's also made of nylon, so it's waterproof and has a strap to change it into a shoulder bag. Promising review: "This is a must-buy for international travelers! I cannot say enough amazing things about this backpack. It’s surprisingly spacious for how small the bag is, which makes it portable/practical and comfortable while having it on.
This backpack lasted an entire trip through multiple airports and layovers, and all across our trip through Europe. It was amazing. Because the main zipper sat against my back, I never worried about getting my items stolen.
But I also had the luxury of having the two front zippers that were also surprisingly spacious to hold nonprecious items such as water bottles or cheap sunglasses, etc. This backpack also is extremely durable. It was the perfect day pack to gather knick-knacks and souvenirs for friends and family and hold whatever I shoved in it! Can we also take time to appreciate how cute this backpack is as well! It went with all my outfits due to the neutral color and had the side strap if we went out to a fancy restaurant.
I could easily turn it from a backpack to a purse in seconds! A MUST-HAVE! " — H Bradshaw Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in two sizes and 14 colors). 8.
A 3D-contoured sleeping mask that'll let you comfortably bat your lashes awake like Sleeping Beauty in your middle economy seat that ended up being a great, affordable idea for blocking out light. Less money on your flight = more money for Croatian wine. Plus, it comes with a set of earplugs to block out all the noise around you! Promising review: "I purchased this sleep eye mask for my trip to Europe.
With the flights being 10+ hours each way, I wanted to block all light for some serious sleep time. This mask served its purpose. I was very pleased with it.
I was a little concerned with the fit due to my small head. Some reviewers said it might be a problem, but thankfully it wasn't. It also came in handy for jet lag naps.
I'm a side sleeper, so it takes a bit of getting used to against the face. However, judging from my deep sleep I seem to have gotten used to it quite quickly. The softness was an added bonus.
This was a good purchase." — Carrie Wils Get the set from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in six colors).
9. A portable safe you can attach to a beach chair to keep your valuables safe or to keep your passport in your hotel room in case there's no safe or the safe isn't working. (Raise your hand if you've stayed in a small hotel without a safe.
::raises hand::) Like most people (I hope?) I’m always a little iffy about taking a dip in the water at the beach and leaving my wallet and phone on the beach. So when I booked a 2.5-week Europe trip with LOTS of beaching involved, I bought one of these Master Lock safes that I’ve put in multiple stories.
It was a bit bulky in my suitcase, but I left it unlocked and put some stuff in there so it wasn’t just dead space. It came in handy at multiple beach clubs, where my friend and I stashed our credit cards, cash, and case-less phones while we frolicked in the sea. Despite lots of people milling about our umbrella while we had our fun, we felt our stuff was completely safe and could concentrate on *just* having fun.
Promising review: "Just buy it. It's smaller than I had originally thought it might be, but it's perfect none the less. Love this little lock box that you could easily use as a purse when traveling, or at a festival.
" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $17.63+ (available in two colors). 10.
A mini lightweight flat iron to help you get your signature smooth locks, or at least tidy up your blowout you're really banking on lasting for a few days. It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying! Promising review: "Would buy again. I bought this for a trip to Europe as opposed to buying an expensive and bulky voltage converter for my flat iron at home and was not disappointed, it saved a ton of luggage space and it worked like a charm both curling and straightening my hair! I will say though, since the flat iron is quite smaller than the typical flat iron and my hair is only just past my shoulders it would probably take considerably longer to use on long hair.
" — Holly M Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three colors). 11.
A TSA-friendly toiletries set you'll easily fill, clean, and then refill with your go-to regular products. And the bag is sturdy as HECK. I own and love this set! It includes the zippered bag, four soft silicone bottles with leakproof caps, three compact jars, an two toothbrush caps.
I've used this set on more than five trips, and for trips when I don't require body wash or shampoo (like to visit my parents), I use the extra room in the bag to shove in all my beauty products and daily contacts. Plus! It comes with labels that stay on the containers really well despite my thoroughly washing these containers between trips. I bought this set in spring 2019 and have, admittedly, lost a container or two.
But the ones that I've held on to over dozens of trips have all held up well! Promising review: "I used this recently on a trip to Europe. They worked great, no leaks, and got through security in my carry-on just fine. I’m glad to have these for future trips.
" — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in six variations). 12.
Or! A snazzier clear toiletries case the same size as a quart-sized plastic bag that you can use over and over and over again. So you probably won't have to buy another one anytime soon. But you'll want to if the opportunity arises.
Truffle is a woman-owned small business that specializes in bags and accessories that are TSA-approved or stadium-approved. Promising review: "So great for holding the travel pods from Cadence ! I just returned from a 10-day trip to Italy and the Jetset case held all my Cadence pods with all my lotions, creams, shampoo, hair products, and jewelry. It sits flat on the bathroom counter so it’s easy to see what’s inside.
It’s so efficient to use. Thank you!" — Aimee M. Get it from Truffle for $75+ (available in four sizes and many colors).
Pssst, I own the mentioned Cadence pods and have packed them for several trips to Europe over the years! 13. A water bottle with a Brita filter so you can feel confident in drinking the water from a water fountain in a place you're a little iffy about. Or course, check up on the water quality in your locale! Promising review: "I love this water bottle! I bought one for me and one for my husband because we went to Europe, and I didn't know what the water quality would be there.
I was so glad I did because we mostly had to use tap water, and I don't typically like the taste of tap water. The water tasted great, and I couldn't even tell it came from the tap! When you first use the straw after a refill, it takes a moment for it to come out. But after that, there is no delay.
This bottle was the perfect size to have enough water to keep me hydrated without being too bulky to carry around. I would definitely recommend it!" — Gina Meeks They do require replacement filters every two months; you can find a pack of three of those for $15.98 .
Get it from Amazon for $17.35+ (available in two sizes and three colors). 14.
An on-the-go Gillette razor that'll spare you some precious space in your bag without sacrificing quality. It comes with one handle and one blade refill! Promising review : "I bought this for a four-week backpacking trip to Europe and was so glad I did. You can absolutely get this through TSA, and the case that comes with it is excellent for protecting the blade.
I shaved probably once every few days, and the blade held up the whole time I was gone, and I'm still using it after I got back. Great for travel." — Angela Get it from Amazon for $9.
99 . 15. A universal travel adapter so you always have a way to juice up your devices or use your US-friendly plugged item in a different outlet.
You can plug up to five devices in this at a time...
and it covers 160 countries! But remember that this is not a voltage converter ! I have this and it's so nice to throw this in my bag and know it'll cover all my needs. Promising review: "I just came back from a three-week trip to Europe. The travel adapter works like a charm.
So glad I have it to use with all my travels outside North America!" — Merlina Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in two colors). 16.
A waterproof pouch that I buy for every water-adjacent vacation (so mostly warm-weather trips like Croatia and Greece). But! As soon as I booked my flight for Iceland, I bought one of these to take along to The Blue Lagoon. It survived rain, hail, and all kinds of steam rising off the water.
It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches).
It also keeps out sand, dirt, and rain. With these, I find that they're good for about a day due to condensation . So, for a trip I'll buy two to three, except for this one where I just knew I'd be in the water at the Blue Lagoon.
And while I'm on the subject, check out a TikTok I made using the phone case ! On the day I went, we had to duck and run inside because of rain. And it was hailing on us when I was in the water, so I had to face a certain way to keep from getting pelted in the face. But, when in Rome! Then we went inside and ate lunch at the Lava Restaurant, and it was GORGEOUS and clear outside post-lunch.
So, this case worked well taking pics in both bad and good conditions (as you can see from the two pics for comparison). I've used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So, I really trust these! Promising review: "Vacation must-have.
I was skeptical about purchasing a waterproof case, but I’m so glad I did because I was able to capture fun water excursions worry free!" — Lisa D Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 13 colors). 17.
A pocket-sized, refillable travel perfume atomizer you simply pump on your normal size perfume bottle to keep you smelling like your signature scent while you're on the go. Yes, I paid all that dough for a Le Labo but no I won't pay more dough for their (still v pricey) travel bottles. ^ That's me pumping my signature perfume into one of these travel atomizers I've been using for about a year.
As the reviewer down below mentions, it's great to just throw in your purse on the reg for a fragrance re-up throughout the day. As you can see, it's about the size of my thumb and therefore takes up very little room. Plus! It's smaller than most rollerball travel fragrances you can pick up.
This first one is working so well, that I just have the other three in storage. But if this one bites the dust this summer during travels, I'll be OK about digging into my stores to use one of the remaining three..
.especially at this price point. Promising review: "These are perfect for those expensive bottles you don't want to travel with! Worked beautifully on my perfumes and husband's cologne for our Europe trip.
Now I keep them in my purse for ease of use :)." — Jpot Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.99 .
18. An Airfly wireless transmitter that'll let you connect your AirPods or any wireless headphones to your airplane seat..
.even without Bluetooth! It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual. My colleague Chelsea Stuart recently reviewed this wireless transmitter after using it on a trip where she hit up several European countries.
Twelve South is a small business that has been creating innovative tech accessories since 2009. Promising review: "Just returned from a European vacation and this little device worked like a charm! The sound cancellation worked really well on that horribly long 14-hour flight and I could hear the movie perfectly. Just buy it, it's a must have (until airlines convert their stuff to Bluetooth, don't hold your breath).
" — Just a Muggle Mom Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three styles and in two colors). 19.
A trifold travel wallet so all your important documents are in one place and you're not wearily holding up the line when it comes time to show the TSA agent your passport and boarding pass. The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, key holder, and pen holder. Promising review: "Buy it now! I went to Europe and visited five countries, and was able to keep all my tickets/boarding passes here, along with all the important items such as passport, credit card, even phone! Loved it!!!!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $13.
99+ (available in 40 colors). 20. An Anker charging port with six USB ports to help you juice up ALL your devices at once even though your super charming Venice rental seems to have, like, two outlets throughout the whole place.
Promising review: "This is my second, my first I gave to my mother-in-law during a visit to reduce clutter. The other huge advantage, and I've taken mine from the US, to Europe, to Kazakhstan, is that it automatically adjusts to voltage. Which means you just buy one of those small (i.
e. inexpensive) plug adapters and just use the US cord." — Frank Mellott Get it from Amazon for $29.
99 (available in black and white). 21. A Dagne Dover fanny pack made of neoprene fabric so it'll hold up to all kinds of gelato drips.
And because of the fabric, it'll look nice while hiking Fira to Oia in bike shorts to a Michelin-star meal in a piazza. Promising review: "I went to Rome for a week last month and bought this fanny pack to take with me. It was perfect! I wore it in the front across my chest, and I never felt unsafe.
It was super convenient when I needed to grab something! It fit my phone, wallet, keys, and even GoPro! It was the perfect size while also being super stylish and complementing all of my outfits. Highly recommend!" — Stephanie C. Get it from Dagne Dover for $40+ (available in 13 colors and in two styles).
22. A pair of compression socks because since you saw Karl and Frank from Succession snap on their own, you've thought "Hmm, maybe I should get some of those." Read more about compression socks for travel at Johns Hopkins and The Huffington Post .
Promising review: "Bought these to wear on a three-leg flight to Europe. My legs are thin and the socks were tighter than I anticipated when I put them on. Was a little concerned they might be uncomfortable but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at my destination 15+ hours later with NO swelling in my ankles/feet.
The only downside is they are thin, like thick stockings. I wore ankle boots over them which was great on the plane but not so comfortable walking around when I arrived at my destination. Should have changed to (or added) thicker socks at that time so boots would fit better and feet wouldn't get sore from sliding forward in shoes.
" — LJA Get them from Amazon for $14.13+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and in 18 colors). And check out our full Physix Gear compression socks review here.
23. A Trtl pillow that, thanks to its scarf-like construction, you can easily adjust to your perfect comfort level and tilt angle to get some Zzzzzs while someone else gets you to where you're going. Promising review: "I just returned from a trip to Europe and I would not have survived without this pillow.
I hate middle plane seats and I still somehow got stuck with a middle seat on a 9.5-hour flight. With the Trtl I was actually able to get some sleep! It's neither big nor bulky and it didn't hog valuable suitcase space.
It really does look like a hefty scarf wrapped around your neck, and I loved that I could adjust it to cover the bottom part of my face to prevent any awkward sleep-faces in public." — Julie Ciera Velarde , my former colleague, also loves this! She says: "I've used this for the past few years and swear by it! Before this, I always found traditional neck pillows uncomfortable and would end up ditching them halfway through the flight and getting frustrated. The Trtl pillow is adjustable — you wrap the pillow around your neck and secure it with Velcro, and if you find it's too loose, just make it a bit tighter! I've truly never slept better on a plane than with this pillow.
" Get it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in five colors and in a breathable style). And check out our full Trtl Pillow review here.
24. Or an inflatable wedge pillow if you prefer to lean on something as you sleep. This easily fits on your tray table and reviewers even say they used it upon arrival and their destination! Promising review: "I traveled to Europe, and they had very flat pillows where I was at.
I opened this up and put my flat pillow on top, and it literally saved me. I have to have a nice full pillow to sleep, or I don't sleep. I'm happy I had this to save me from no sleep for an entire month!" — Megan Widdig Get it from Amazon for $24.
99. 25. A pair of Thigh Society cooling shorts to save your inner thighs while you trek up those picturesque Lisbon hills.
Plus, they're super thin so they won't make you overheat. Promising review: "I bought these to wear under dresses for a trip to Europe because it was supposed to be really hot, and they worked great. They were light, stretchy, and there was no chafing.
Maybe not the most moisture wicking, but they were very comfortable, and I wore them several times." — Meghan O'Leary Get it from Thigh Society for $39+ (available in women's sizes XS–2XL, six lengths, and in 11 colors). 26.
Some expandable hangers will help you better organize all your beautiful ensembles *and* have a legit place to hang up any clothes you launder while you're on your luxurious two-week vacation. Promising review: "On a trip to Europe, I used these hangers to hang my laundry to dry. I even hung a pair of wet jeans (through the belt loops).
I thought the hanger would break, but it held up fine! Hotels never supply enough hangers, so I will be bringing these along when I travel." — debi Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $12.99 .
27. A HappyLuxe travel wrap you can use to guard against the cold on the plane or as a scarf to cover your shoulders when you're taking a macabre peek in the Cathedral of Otranto (look it up!) but it's definitely wear-as-little-clothing-as-possible weather outside. Promising review: "I absolutely love this wrap!! It is the perfect weight and size for travel.
It didn't leave my side on an 11-day backpack trip through Europe and was used as a scarf, blanket, towel, and wrap all through the trip. Fashionable enough to dress up a basic travel day outfit, warm enough to keep away a chill on a cooler night, and light enough to pack away small into a bag or tie around a purse strap. I can't say enough great things! I am buying these as gifts for everyone I know who travels.
" — Jenn Get it from Amazon for $46+ (available in nine colors). 28. A hanging toiletry bag to contain alll of your beauty haul if you're the check-your-bag type because of your multi-step skincare routine.
Its hook on top means it's super easy to hang on the back of the bathroom door. Promising review: " I love how it kept all my toiletries organized and in plain sight when hanging. It's very sturdy and great quality.
I ordered this before I went on a two-week trip to Europe and was so happy that I did. This travel bag exceeded my expectations!" — Jackie Cooney Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).
29. A set of packing cubes that'll magically help you pick lots and lots of outfit options because 1) sometimes you get sweaty and 2) you've already planned out all your photo ops. Promising review: "I am officially sold on packing cubes!! These things are amazing! I can't believe I've been packing without them my whole life.
The mesh lining allows you to peek inside, and I was able to pack all my clothes, shoes, and toiletries for a 10-day trip to Europe (full contents listed below). I packed them as I normally would first, and then packed them in the packing cubes. There was SO much more room in my luggage after packing everything in the cubes! Items I fit in the cubes and bag include two jackets, one jean vest, four pants/capris, two pairs of shorts, one romper, four dresses, one maxi skirt, seven tank tops, four shirts, three camisoles, three pajama sets, 15 undies, six pairs of socks, and four pairs of shoes.
But why are you still reading?? Go buy these cubes!" — Tiffany Get a set of four from Amazon for $21.99 (available in many colors). 30.
Or a packing cube that comes with built-in shelves (!!!!) that'll surely come in handy if you're bopping between a few different cities and don't want to completely unpack for two nights in one hotel. You can take it out of your suitcase and hang it in your closet. Plus, it has a zipper compartment at the bottom you can put all your dirty clothes in, so they don't get mixed together and you end up just washing everything when you get home (bc that's usually what happens to me).
Promising review: "I used these while traveling around Europe with four children and then later on a cruise. They were super helpful in both cases." — Tucker Sw Get it from Amazon for $34.
49+ (available in six colors and also a smaller size ). 31. Or a set of space saver bags if you're REALLY just trying to pack carry-on only.
This highly rated set comes with a small travel hand pump! Promising review: " When the bag is re-inflated, the wrinkles all go away. Keeps stored stuff free of dust and moisture. They're see-through, which makes identifying contents a no-brainer.
I would recommend these for traveling as well. Was able to get double into my carry-on . Yay!" — Tina Get a pack of six small bags from Amazon for $25.
99+ (also available in other sizes and packs). 32. A portable white-noise machine because you booked a spot in THE best neighborhood for nightlife — which was all well and good until the night you went to bed early to catch the (cheap) first flight out.
(Ahem, Trastevere.) Promising review: "I purchased this for my trip to Europe as I sleep with white noise every night. The rohm scores extra points for volume control, and it can get quite loud.
It’s also lightweight and chargers easily with a USB." — Jessie W. Get it from Amazon for $19.
99 . 33. Some reusable bottle bags because did you even go to the Champagne region if you didn't bring back some goodies? Even better: If your bottle breaks in this, the bag catches the spill! JetBag is a small business specializing in creating bags to protect your wine and your stuff.
It's designed with absorbent padding on the inside, so in the event that the bottle breaks, it won't get everywhere in your luggage. Promising review: "Bought to bring wine from France home from vacation. We bought three bottles (one of which was champagne).
All three made it on the Eurostar and two flights in perfect condition." — Katie Get a set of three from Amazon for $14.99 (available in four colors).
34. A simple luggage strap will hold your essentials like a travel pillow, jacket, personal item, and more as you scoot along through the airport and once you land. Here's to quickly gathering all your stuff post-screen and freeing up those hands! Promising review: "This is seriously so useful for traveling.
I bought this last year and used it on my two Europe trips — six different countries and lots of bus, train, and plane journeys, and it made my life so much easier. I hooked it to my book bag and hooked my neck pillow, collapsible umbrella, and reusable water bottle to it. I even hooked my parka through it some.
110% recommend. It is super sturdy, and I never had any issues with it even with me dragging it along with all the stuff hooked to it." — Logan Get it from Amazon for $7.
99+ (available in five colors and also packs of two). 35. A stroller that'll fold up and fit in the overhead on a plane so you don't have to gate check your stroller and wait around to start on your grand family adventure.
It folds up so small that it was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2014 for the most compact stroller. It can hold kids who weigh up to 55 pounds and the stroller only weighs 9.5 pounds.
Promising review: "100% the most crucial item that we took on our 3-week trip to Europe with our 2-year-old. The wheels lock to maneuver uneven surfaces, and it’s super lightweight. Buy a backpack-style bag for it.
You can also buy a cup holder attachment. Being able to put it in the overhead compartment on the plane was a game changer. No more waiting at the gate for a checked stroller or worse, having it sent with your luggage.
Takes just a little practice folding up, and sometimes a little elbow grease but put your weight into it and you’ll get it." — Kesley Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in four styles colors).
36. An inflatable foot rest you might have to buy multiple of so everyone in the family has one of their own. You can inflate it to three different heights! (I just saw someone use this on an overnight flight from New York to Lisbon.
) Promising review: "I was hesitant to order this for our upcoming travels to Europe, but I'm so glad I did. The foot rest pillow is sturdy, inflates very easily (with a choice of two different heights), and once deflated, folds into a small carry pouch. The footrest came with a contoured sleep mask and ear plugs.
" — Maria N. Get it from Amazon for $21.24+ (available in four colors and also in a two-pack).
37. A travel pouch that attaches to your bra so you can safe guard your cards and money — even when you're on the metro in Paris that everyone in your life warned you about before you set out on your trip. Promising reviews: "So love this product, I hardly notice that I was wearing this the whole time during my trip in Paris especially — when we taking the metro.
" — grace Get it from Amazon for $17.02+ (available in three colors). 38.
A waterproof satin-lined Hairbrella hat that'll easily fold up and be ready for those days when you look like you have GREAT weather. Then, all of a sudden the sky opens up and starts pouring, ruining your perfect hair day. Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that has been creating fashionable hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather since 2016.
Promising review : "I traveled to London last month with a raincoat that did not have a hood, and wanted something that would protect my head/hair/blowout without lugging an umbrella. This definitely did the trick. Two of the 3 days were rainy (some quite heavy), and my hair stayed totally dry.
It stows nicely, too." — Miss Information Get it from Amazon for $44+ (available in 13 colors). 39.
A travel scarf with hidden storage in it that, yes, will help add that one last accessory your ensemble needs and *also* keep your neck toastier on your flight. Waypoint Goods is a small biz that specializes in travel accessories. Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE my travel scarf.
This piece is perfect for every occasion. Whether I am traveling on a plane or a road trip, at work, or trying to dress up an outfit to go out, it is perfect and functional. My phone, credit cards and keys fit seamlessly in the pocket without changing the look or fit of my scarf.
At times I have put all of that plus a boarding pass and passport in the pocket!!" — Caroline Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in seven styles). 40.
An airplane seat back organizer because those seat back pockets are NEVER as big as you need them to be. With this, you can actually store your snacks, water bottle, and so much more without having to get up and get stuff out of the overhead throughout your flight. Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action.
Airplane Pockets is a small business that specializes in sanitary, portable travel organization products. My colleague Emma Lord owns and loves this: "I used this on a roundtrip from NYC to Tokyo, both with connecting flights in Canada, and cannot sing its praises enough. It fit all four of the different tray tables I used it on and was so ridiculously handy for keeping track of all my littler odds and ends like AirPods, the plane's headphones, earplugs, a sleep mask, a book, gum, a scrunchie, and little snacks.
The hanging end of it easily tucked into the built-in sleeve of the seat in front of me for takeoff and when other passengers needed to scoot past me in my aisle seat. Usually, I feel like a hot mess and get frustrated rooting around in the grimy sleeve for my stuff, and this was such a refreshing solution! Several flight attendants even asked where I got it to buy one for themselves!" Promising review: "Very useful, especially when traveling with kids . Provided easy access and storage to things like water bottles, hand sanitizer, snacks, wipes, and headphones.
I didn't have to access my carry-on." — JJ Get it from Amazon for $29.99 .
41. A quick-drying microfiber beach towel built to shake off sand and pack small in your suitcase. No need to sneak out a hotel towel to the beach! Promising review: "Love this! I am a flight attendant and keep it in my suitcase for various uses, but it's an outstanding for beach or picnic blanket.
It weighs nothing, beautiful, and great quality! My new go-to gift item." — Laurance F. Haun Get it from Amazon for $29.
99+ (available in many colors/patterns). 42. A flat RFID-blocking fanny pack can work underneath your clothes or as just a regular waist bag.
Promising review : "Discreet yet spacious. I purchased this for a recent trip. I was able to fit my phone, passport, credit cards, and cash in it easily and it wasn’t bulky or obvious under my clothing .
It was comfortable to wear for extended periods of time." — KailensMom Get it from Amazon for $12.76 (available in many styles and two sizes).
43. Some luggage wheel protectors to help guard your precious, perfectly sized carry-on's wheels from all those cobblestones in Paris's Marais district. (I needed these for that specific situation.
) And it'll make for smoother moving through the airport when the airline had the nerve to give you a great deal, but the catch was a super-tight connection. Promising review: "These [wheel covers] are fire! Definitely provides little grip, moves quietly, doesn’t mess with the luggage wheel rotation , and little less vibration, I guess, because rubber is absorbing. Love the bright red color that goes well with my carbon fiber luggage.
Easy to install, and it’s funny they have directional line/arrow like car tires lol details count for me." — Tieng Nguyen Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $9.99 (available in eight colors).
44. Gentle 2-in-1 travel flossing toothbrushes that'll fold up to half their size (every inch in your luggage counts!) and really get in there to give your mouth a super-clean feeling. Like, just-back-from-the-dentist cleaning.
I always pack these for trips and their tiny flossing bristles make my travel nighttime routine a lot easier and efficient. Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines. Promising review: "I love that this travel toothbrush has its own self closing cover.
Makes it very handy for travel at half the size of a regular toothbrush when packed and full size brush when open . Also really love the bristles on this brush, they are soft but have enough stiffness to get between teeth when brushing." — Yvonne Get it from Amazon for $6.
14 . 45. A set of three Cadence containers that are magnetized and'll stick together in your toiletries bag AND on your metal cruise ship bathroom walls.
They're super sturdy, leak-proof, and even work great for a few days' worth of vitamins or holding small jewelry. They've quickly become one of my packing go-tos. Cadence is an AAPI woman-owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon as a way to eliminate single-use travel-sized plastics.
The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic. But I'm not the only fan on the BuzzFeed Shopping team. My coworker Abby Kass has these and loves them! Here's what she has to say about them: "I recently got a set of four of these, and, wow, I love them so much.
I used them on a six-day trip recently, and they were perfect. I customized the label so I knew which one was my shampoo vs. conditioner and did a general label for any other things I wanted to bring along.
They do hold a surprising amount. According to the brand, they hold approximately one to two weeks of skincare products, more than two weeks' worth of serum, two to three days' worth of haircare, and more than 15 tablets (for medicine and such). And while two to three days' worth of haircare might not seem like enough, I found it held more than that for me, but I also don't wash my hair every single day.
They were small enough to slip right into my toiletries bag and go through TSA with no problem. The container was easy to open in the shower (even with wet hands), and I had no leakage from them (like I did from my face wash bottle that will not be making the trip with me next time, SMH). These are an incredibly useful tool anyone who travels will want in their luggage.
" Promising review: "I absolutely love these! I ended up buying more of the labels and extra containers on the website. These are perfect for a first-time set and the perfect size for flying. 100% makes my packing lighter and more contained overall.
" — Sara Get a set of three from Amazon for $42 (available in five colors and in five styles). 46. A set of DEET-free handy mosquito-repelling bracelets in case the thought of putting something else on your skin besides SPF (like smelly bug repellent) sounds like a total nightmare.
Cliganic is a small biz specializing in health and wellness products. Check out a TikTok of the mosquito-repelling bracelets in action. Promising review: "I bought this to take on a cruise.
Never had issues with bites. Once back home I put them on my son who is allergic to some bites and always itchy after time outdoors. Since he’s had these on outside it’s hardly an issue anymore.
Very cool." — MardiGrasGirl Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $9.99 .
47. Some anti-pickpocketing clips that'll easily attach two zippers and make it extra difficult to quickly zip open. Promising review: "Prefect for international travel! Easy to use and protected against theft/pickpockets.
Used it on my recent trip to Europe!" — Rachel Bristol Get a four-pack from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four color combos). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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