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29 Handy Travel Products That’ll Ensure Your Next Vacation Goes Off Without A Hitch
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BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More “Ahhhhhh” —that’s the sound of you relaxing on vacation. As a deputy editorial director on the BuzzFeed Shopping team with almost a decade in the lifestyle and service journalism sphere, I use my shopping editor eye to find and vet products across a variety of categories, including lifestyle, home, beauty, fashion, pets, cleaning, travel, aging, and more. Beauty Goodies is a small business that specializes in chic storage and travel accessories. Promising review: "This garment bag is an exceptional value for the money. Well-built, top-quality materials, including 'beefy' zippers, should hold up well for airline travel. Minimal wrinkles, if any, in garments, and a cavernous bag for storing shoes and other items for a trip. Added bonus, it fits easily in the plane overhead storage, similar in size to a standard roller bag. I highly recommend this product." —Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $42.99+ (available in four colors). 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 $15.99+ (available in four colors). These pretty much saved the day for BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly: "Storytime: After traveling last summer carry-on only, and being a person who tries to carry on whenever possible, I finally bought a couple of Apple AirTags during Black Friday sales. And I am SO grateful I did. My normal carry-on bag was too big to fit the Lufthansa luggage requirements (and BOY, do they check that!), so I had to check my bags for a December 2022 trip to Vienna and back from Prague (with a layover in Frankfurt). My bag didn't make it onto the plane in Frankfurt, and once I landed in Newark, New Jersey, I pulled up the app on my phone and saw that, yes, my backpack AirTag was indeed with me, but my suitcase AirTag was still in Germany. (The screengrab is from an Amazon review, but you get the gist.) The AirTag also helped me track FedEx's delivery of the suitcase to my parents' house, where I was spending the holidays immediately after my Europe trip ended. I was even able to see it on a highway less than an hour's drive from my parents' house. TL;DR: I think AirTags are very much a worthwhile investment if you travel a few times a year. And I'm not the only one who thinks so." Promising review: "I have never used these in over two million miles of traveling by plane. However, after a recent trip to Europe, I will never leave home with them again. They saved me when my bags were placed on a connecting flight. Upon arrival, my bags never showed. I went to the airline's lost baggage center. They could not tell me where my bags were. I had to show them that they were sitting in Terminal E in the Atlanta airport. They are now part of every piece of luggage we own." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $27 (also available in a four-pack for $99). Promising review: "I took my first solo trip and ordered this for extra security. It was super easy to install and didn't require me to leave my hotel door ajar for an extended period of time for installation. My hotel door didn't even move when I tested out the lock. 10/10 recommend for a peace of mind."—Haley Gribble Promising review: "I travel for a living and take injections. The frozen insert does everything it claims: It keeps my medicine cold through even the longest airline delays, even in this summer’s intense heat. The true test was when I got to my latest destination, and the refrigerator was broken. I used the cooling top for the first time, and I’m blown away. It’s been a full day; my frozen insert is still completely frozen due to the cooling top, and my medication is still safe. This is worth every penny and works better than I expected. Thank you for this wonderful product!!" —LadyLaff Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (available in blue or magenta). Promising review: "I'm so glad I bought this! It fits my Google Pixel 9 Pro perfectly. It does fit with a case, but the fit is much better without. I wore it at the beach so I could keep my phone with me at all times. I was unexpectedly pulled into a rip current and was thrashed about by the ocean, pulled underwater several times, etc. Aside from being worried about myself and losing my sunglasses, I was really impressed when I finally made it back to the shore to see that this was still around my neck with my phone COMPLETELY DRY inside. I cannot recommend it enough!! Obviously, the touchscreen isn't as responsive as when the screen is not covered, but it still works when it's in this little pouch. If you need a waterproof option for your phone, buy this!" —Gwendolyn Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 14 colors). Check out my colleague's review of this waterproof phone pouch for more deets! It features 11 sleep sounds and can also be paired with your phone and used as a Bluetooth speaker! Promising review: "We sleep with the larger version of this every night. I was so happy to find this smaller version for travel. It fit perfectly in the travel case I bought for it and traveled well in the corner of my carry-on luggage, taking up minimal space. I charged it before leaving home and used it all night for three nights. It still had a charge when I got home. The wireless feature is great when you have a limited number of outlets in a hotel room. I’ll never travel again without it. The choice of sounds and the volume are easy to select. Bonus: It syncs easily with a smartphone to use it as a Bluetooth speaker if you prefer to fall asleep with music. I recommend this sound machine for home or for travel." —BMM Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in black and white). It's recommended for kids ages 4–11 or 40–100 lbs. Promising reviews: "Bought it for a trip to Europe. It saved us a lot of money because we didn’t have to rent a child seat in the car rental. It is comfortable for the kids and lightweight to fit in the carry-on bag." —Maria Ines Vera "I had my doubts initially, but decided to order this for a trip with our five-year-old. I’m so glad I did! It worked great and was super convenient. It collapses quickly and is light, so I carried it in my carry-on bag and then was able to quickly inflate while waiting for our ride share. It positioned my child appropriately for the seat belt, and I was especially impressed with the shoulder strap positioning, which is not even a feature on many normal backless boosters. It was so helpful not to have to worry about ordering and waiting for a car with car seats/boosters." —LynnS Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three colors and a two-pack). SlumberPod is a woman-owned small business that appeared on Shark Tank as a portable way to give kids a dark, private place to sleep, even when the family is traveling away from home. BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Danielle Healy says, "My brother and SIL swear by this thing when they travel, which is quite often, to keep their (very cute) son on a consistent sleep schedule when they're out of the house. I've helped set it up several times and can attest that assembly is quick and easy peasy." Promising review: "We bought the SlumberPod on the recommendation of several friends before our family vacation. Our son was a chronic early riser, especially if even a tiny bit of light got in his room. I was dreading our vacation and certain I was in for 5 a.m. wake-ups every day. The first morning after using the SlumberPod, he slept until nearly 7 a.m. (for the first time in months). Every night and for every nap, the baby went down without complaint in the perfectly dark SlumberPod and often had to be woken up from naps because he was out cold! I was also nervous that the temperature would be iffy with zipping the baby into what is essentially a tent, but it was well-ventilated!! Absolutely recommend this product to any parent who wants to travel with their little ones and still ensure a good night’s sleep — worth every penny!" —Brianna Promising review: "We are so happy with these portable blackout shades! We use them for our infant’s room at our vacation home, which gets direct sun all day — and they’ve been a total game-changer. Our baby sleeps so much better now, even during daytime naps. The material is thick and truly blocks out *all* light, which has been a lifesaver for keeping a consistent sleep schedule away from home. They’re also super easy to put up and take down. The suction cups stick really well (no slipping!), and the shades pack down into a small bag that’s perfect for travel. Whether we’re using them in the nursery or taking them on a trip, they’re incredibly convenient and effective. If you're looking for a blackout solution for your little one or just need better sleep while traveling, these are 100% worth it. Highly recommend." —KWhis Get it from Amazon for $27.49+ (available in four designs). Promising review: "As a single guy who travels with mostly a few shirts, I find that this has been a great addition. It helps me travel with no bag a lot of times; I am able to fit most items right into it! Very economical buy when used properly. High quality." —Abbasbeydoun95 Promising review: "This has great security features. The compartment that holds cards has a locking zipper and sits securely against your back. Two side pockets for a water bottle, umbrella, etc. Very roomy and lightweight. I used it this weekend at a tulip festival in Washington. It lightly rained the whole time I was outdoors, and nothing in my bag got wet. It wiped dry easily. A great daypack for adventures!" —pixie Get it from Amazon for $79.78+ (available in 10 colors). Promising review: "I have an SUV, and it works great! I travel a lot and am always on the road. It is a good size. I have it attached to the center console, and it sits in the back. It gives plenty of legroom for backseat passengers. I use the side pockets to hold my car needs: flashlights, books, etc. I use a regular plastic bag to line the can so I do not have to clean the cloth as much. I like this better than a regular small car trash can because it does not spill or tip over. The top keeps everything in, and there is a small strip of Velcro on the bottom of the bag to keep it in place." —Debra Henegar Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four colors). Promising review: "Perfect for a cruise vacation where you have to iron clothes in the laundry room (if the ship has one). My husband and I found these very helpful, as did family members whom we shared them with. It's not the same result as an iron, of course, but good enough for what we needed. Definitely recommend!" —MJ I *finally* convinced myself to buy these for a two-week Europe trip that I planned to only bring a carry-on for — and they were great! Being able to pack fewer pairs of socks, bras, and undies (while still having plenty to see me through any nightmare "I pooped myself" scenarios) freed up a surprising amount of room in my suitcase. Some reviewers put these in their checked bags, but I did not. They went through security in both the US and Europe just fine! I did have one small hiccup, though: The sinks at the hotels (and this is probably more of an issue with hotels rather than Airbnbs) were either very shallow or had no drain stopper, so actually getting enough liquid in a sink to pour in the detergent and wash my clothes was a challenge. Through sheer luck, I had a square umbrella bag from a random museum and was able to fill that with water, which I then dumped my clothes into and agitated to clean everything. Using the packets in the shower while wearing your dirty clothes could be another option, but that didn't seem ideal. So! I would recommend getting a waterproof laundry bag if you're worried about the sink situation on your vacation. Promising review: "I have taken these packets on travels throughout the world. They are small and fit in my bag. They are good for a wash in a sink or a wash bag. Glad to have them. They don’t leak either." —Barbara Jefferson Promising review: "Great for travel and packs a powerful punch. Rich, smooth, and creamy lather that leaves your face clean and soft." —aclark Get a two-pack (64 sheets total) for $19.76+ (available in four styles). Promising review: "I love this item! I came back from 10 days walking around in Portugal, averaging about 22,000 steps a day. I bought new shoes (both sandals and tennis shoes) for this trip, not even thinking of the potential of blisters that these new shoes could create. So I quickly bought blister bandages and packed them away. Well, I stumbled across this miracle balm and said, 'Well, why not! I got bandages if this does not work.' And let me tell you, the bandages haven't been touched. THIS BALM SAVED MY TRIP! I applied this all over my feet before heading out for the unlimited hills that I was going to walk around in Lisbon, and NOT ONCE did I worry about blisters. I never needed to reapply, but some might for extra precaution. I was with two other females who were on the struggle bus of shoes and blisters, and I kept telling them to try this balm, but they never did. Joke's on them because as they kept fixing and reapplying new bandages on their blisters, I was skipping down the street. I need to buy this in bulk because I'm never gonna leave home without this." —Amazon Customer Promising review: "Purchased three pairs for our cruise. We all loved them. Best water shoes I’ve ever worn. Feels like you are barefoot, but keeps your feet safe from anything you step on. Very comfortable! Highly recommended!" —Donna M Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in 7 sizes and 44 colors). Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products. Promising review: "I used these on my travel toiletries on a month-long road trip. On several occasions, the toiletry lids opened, but none of the product leaked out of the toiletry skins. I was even able to pour the leaked shampoo back into the bottle. I rinsed out the skin and placed it back on for the next leg of my journey. These are my new travel must-haves." —Tyson Mohr Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three colors). You can switch between pound and kilogram measurements. Promising review: "Works great, a must-have when flying. Very accurate scale. Easy to read with the light on it. It's a must if you have a wife like mine who loves to shop for clothes and fill up her suitcase along with mine, or if you want to stay under that 40 pounds and avoid paying the extra for overweight baggage fees. Easy to use, very accurate, well made, and a nice design. Very pleased. Saved me money." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in four colors and as a two-pack). Promising review: "I was traveling to several places in Europe and needed a travel charger that can easily fit in the electrical outlets overseas and safely recharge my US-rated appliances without frying. And along came this voltage converter that did the job very effectively, while traveling in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, and Spain. Although the item is a bit bulky from my own carrying convenience point of view, it's quite manageable nonetheless. I've been very happy using this as a voltage converter while traveling the continent. It's a keeper for me for any future travel." —Expatriot Promising review: "This wallet made it soooooooo much easier to hold everything we needed together in one place. Made going through customs and security so smooth in the Mexico airport! Especially with little kids. I highly recommend it!!" —Malisa Promising review: "Great product! I bought it for my backyard picnic table. I think the table and bench covers are well made for the price I paid." —Maria Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in two sizes and eight patterns). Promising review: "Guys. If you’re going on a trip and need a cute hat but don’t want to worry about it getting smashed…look no further. I bought this hat last summer. It’s been as far as The Maldives, all over Europe, and I wear it on the reg in southern California. It’s totally kept its shape, and I’m not shy of shoving it in bags. 10/10 recommend! I’m sitting on a bus in Croatia right now thinking how awesome this hat has been and decided to write a review, as I rely on reviews for my purchases on Amazon. Hope this helps someone!" —Lyra S. Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in 21 color combos and 3 sizes). Promising review: "This power bank is compact yet very powerful. The 10,000mAh capacity and 45-watt output are more than enough to keep my phone and other devices charged while traveling. I love the built-in retractable cable — it’s super convenient and means one less cord to carry. It feels well-made, charges quickly, and is the perfect size for a bag or carry-on. Highly recommend for anyone who travels often or wants reliable power on the go." —Andre F. Webb Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in three colors). Promising reviews: "Promising review: "I bought two straps to use for my trip. It was so worth it! It held my family's light jackets and kids' travel neck pillows. We also used it to hold our water bottles on our hikes. I wish I knew about these sooner!" —Lisa H Definitely what I needed for my luggage as a flight attendant. Very heavy-duty and perfect for me. Works great with my extra luggage and lunch bag to hang on my suitcase. Thank you so much. Will definitely buy again." —Mary Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in five colors and in packs of two). Check out a TikTok of the drink holder in action. Promising review: "I bought this to use on a cruise. I had such an easy time carrying my drinks around. So many people asked where I purchased it from." —Jasmine Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in six colors). Check out a TikTok of the towel clips in action. Promising review: "I purchased these for a family of eight going on a cruise, and they loved them! So easy to use, just put your towel on the beach chair and clip it down with these. They said they were especially awesome on windy days when other towels were blowing away if they were not sitting on the chair. The family was able to go to lunch or take a walk and not worry that their towels had been blown away and someone had then snagged their seats. Very inexpensive and functional clips." —TypeA Get a set of 16 from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a pack of 8). FYI, depending on your situation, water may be enough to rehydrate you! Read more about electrolyte-enhanced drinks and hydration at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "I've made the mistake of spending too much time in the sun and ending up sick and headache-y from dehydration. I was introduced to this brand while in Hawaii, and it's become a staple — I always have packets of Liquid I.V. in my backpack. I especially love the pina colada and passionfruit varieties, while my other half likes the more subtle nature of strawberry and lemon lime. After my success of use in Hawaii, Liquid I.V. has helped me get through a lengthy canoe trip, a rigorous bikepacking trip in the desert, and whitewater rafting trips, in addition to helping me top up after long days of work or air travel. We have enjoyed all of the flavours we've purchased so far and appreciate that it mixes well, and it's never gritty. We won't leave home without it!" —OWK Get 16 packets for $23.46 (available in a variety of flavors and also with caffeine). * Travel Products To Help You Get From A To B With As Little Agony As Possible * Future You On A Trip Will Be Very Happy You Got At Least One Of These 44 Things Now * Travel Products To Help You Make The Most Out Of Only Bringing A Carry-On * If You’re Traveling With Friends Soon, You Should Probably Send This List Of Must-Have Products To The Group Chat Right Now * Things That’ll Make An Airplane Middle Seat Feel Almost Comfortable Plus, finds from Amazon, Target, and Walmart. The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity. BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.