We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A digital luggage scale if you're tired of sweating it out at the baggage check counter, hoping to avoid paying pesky overage fees for all those gifts you're hauling. This scale is super accurate so you can be confident in your under-50-pound pack-job.
You can also 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 $8.99+ (available in four colors).
2. A freezable snack box with built-in cooling technology that you can load up with snacks to fuel your adventures knowing they'll stay cool and fresh all day long. Travel days are hard enough without spending any of it hunting down snacks just to avoid hangry meltdowns.
Promising review: "This will carry four frozen breastmilk bags and keep them frozen six to eight hours, which is perfect for domestic airport travel or small outings. I like to bring a few extra bags with me on trips for a night out or if it will be hard to nurse somewhere. Awesome product and less bulky that other cooler bags." —Joshua
Get it from Amazon for $14.34+ (available in 10 colors and prints).
3. A waterproof travel document holder because you're in charge of keeping track of everyone's passports and boarding passes, which is a lot easier to do when they're all organized in one, easy-to-access place.
Promising review: "I took my kids on their first international trip, and this thing was a total lifesaver. It fits easily in a fanny pack or small purse for easy access, and it fit my whole family's passports, vaccine cards, boarding passes, and a pen with plenty of room for cash and cards if you decide to use it as a wallet for your trip. It made getting checked in a breeze and helped my family keep everything organized." —Kevin Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors).
4. A set of portable soap sheets so you and the fam can always guarantee access to cleansing hand soap, even in the most — How do I say this nicely? — ~neglected~ public restrooms.
Promising review: "Love this product. Provides great suds as any handful of soap would. This is excellent for travel, especially in public bathrooms that don’t always guarantee soap. Discreet and great for places where you might not want to touch the dispenser. A lot comes in one container. Gave some packets away to my family." —Kerry-Ann Archibald1
Get a six-pack (300 sheets total) from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in larger multipacks).
5. A cooling memory foam seat cushion to make you and your aching back feel ~supported~ even on painfully long drives (or flights).
The velour cover zips off for easy cleaning in the washing machine.
Promising review: "We enjoy traveling and spend several weeks on the road each year. I have lower back problems that require my getting cortisone shots for pain relief. For the last few weeks, I have also been having trouble sitting for more than a few minutes because of a pain in the area of my tailbone. I ordered this item for our last trip. I could not believe the difference it made! I was able to sit comfortably both driving and riding without any pain, and that made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the trip. When we got home I ordered a second one so I could leave one in the car and have one inside. I am recommending it to all my friends who need some relief." —Susan S.
Get it from Amazon for $43.99 (also available in three colors).
6. A foldable 3-in-1 wireless charger for forgetful packers who always seem to leave behind at least one vital charging cord. With this all-in-one dock, you'll have everything you need to power your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods for the duration of the holidays.
This is only compatible with iPhones 12 and newer, AirPods 2 and 3 and AirPods Pro/Pro 2, Apple Watch Ultra/SE/8/7/6/5/4/3/2.
Promising review: "I absolutely hate having to worry about all the different cords I need for travel — iPhone, AirPods, watch. This is extremely convenient and saves me the hassle of having three different cords. Absolutely love this gadget!" —Blanca
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in nine colors).
7. A versatile travel harness seat if you're nervous about showing up to your auntie's house for Christmas dinner only to find out they don't have a high chair for your tot. This adjustable harness rolls up tiny enough to stash in a bag and converts most any chair into a kid-friendly option for on-the-go feedings.
Liuliuby is a New York City-based small business founded by Mompreneur Mari Liu to reimagine everyday baby products after her own experiences as a new mother.
This harness is designed for ages 6 months and up.
Promising review: "This thing was amazing! Ten stars — it fit every type of chair we encountered on our Kenyan vacation! Kept our toddler controlled and made feeding on the go so easy. Very lightweight and packable, a vacation must-have!" —Kireme1
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
8. A pair of reusable anti-nausea bands that may help soothe churning stomachs caused by long car rides and even pregnancy without copious amounts of Dramamine.
For more info on how to use acupressure for nausea management, check out this guide from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Promising review: "I have always suffered from motion sickness. My whole life I have hated long car rides, even short car rides. As soon as I get in the car and buckle in, I already feel the nausea. I bought these for a 16-hour roadtrip, and they worked 100%. I felt perfectly comfortable the whole way through. I could even watch movies and text on my phone and feel alright. My two daughters suffer from the same thing (ages 1 and 3) to the point where they couldn't keep any food down. The kids bands worked for them 100% of the time, too. 10/10 recommend. I'll be buying more for sure." —Veronica
Get a pair from Amazon for $8.53.
9. A Trtl neck pillow for actually supporting your neck while you try to catch some mid-flight z's. It's way less bulky than traditional travel pillows and will keep you from head bobbing onto your neighbor's shoulder.
Promising review: "I am a terrible flyer who recently took the red-eye from Dubai to Chicago (15 hours). The Trtl Pillow was a mini lifesaver! I was able to comfortably rest my head on the support and felt warm enough to actually doze off....a rare accomplishment for this skittish flyer. The Velcro works wonderfully with regards to adjustment, and I liked wrapping the fabric around my mouth and nose. Sort of felt cozy...even if I did look like a ninja in a neck brace! Overall, this product has changed the way that I fly, and I am so thankful for this invention and the opportunity to support a small company with big ideas." —S.Viruly
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in four colors).
10. Or, a memory foam travel pillow because it can be bent any which way to get you in a suitable sleeping position no matter what kind of trains, planes, and automobiles situation your travel plans entail.
Promising review: "Love how soft and flexible this pillow is; my only complaint is that I didn't get more. I have two kids, and they fought constantly over it! It's very comfortable and easy to use. My favorite thing about it is that the cover is removable and washable. I always feel yucky after a flight and love that I can wash it!" —Amanda and Pam
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in six colors).
11. A heavy-duty bag strap so you're not stuck wearing (or holding) the winter jacket that couldn't fit in your carry-on. This simple little add-on attaches to luggage, purses, or backpacks to free your hands of those travel essentials that are just too bulky for your bags.
Promising review: "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 $8.49+ (available in six colors and in packs of two).
12. A pair of backseat organizers with a clear tablet holder and tons of mesh pockets to give backseat passengers easy access to all the snacks, toys, and tech a successful holiday road trip requires.
BuzzFeed editor Heather Braga is a big fan of this organizer:
"I ordered this backseat organizer for our first road trip with my 1-year-old and it was the best backseat companion I could've hoped for. I loaded it up with toys, books, and his favorite snacks for our six hour drive and I'm so glad I did. It held everything/anything I needed and made it easy for me to see what my options were for keeping him entertained/soothed. I ended up keeping it in the car full time so we always have a book, toy, or wipes on-hand whenever we leave home. Definitely recommend it!"
Get a pair from Amazon for $15.99.
13. Or, a universal Kindle Fire car headrest mount for keeping the kiddos fixated on something more fun than being trapped in a car for hours. Parents love this option because it easily mounts onto any headrest, so even babes in backward-facing car seats can enjoy their favorite flicks.
Promising review: "My baby hates the car and I mean HATES the car. This has literally been a lifesaver. We use it for our Amazon tablet as well as our iPad, and it is very easily adjustable. We just took it with us on vacation because we couldn't live without it." —Cam Ray Jacobs
Get it from Amazon for $15.50 (also available as an iPad mount).
14. An adaptable hair diffuser if you're tired of lugging your blow dryer half way across the country just so you won't have to be without your diffuser. This attachment adjusts in size to fit most any blow dryer so packing light and using the hotel dryer doesn't feel like a sacrifice.
Promising review: "Purchased for a recent trip to UK, Croatia, and Montenegro. Doesn’t disappoint. Great for curly hair. Lightweight, small enough, and doesn’t take lots of room. Highly recommend for international hotel travel!" —Karen and Liz
Get it from Amazon for $25 (available in seven colors).
15. A pack of moisture-proof travel pill organizers that'll make packing the ever-growing collection of prescriptions and vitamins now required to maintain your body MUCH more space efficient than the alternative — a plastic bag of stray pill bottles. Feeling good during the holidays is already an upward battle in a lot of ways so...pack accordingly.
Promising review: "These were the perfect size to hold all our medicine. We didn’t need a Monday through Friday organizer. We just needed something to help consolidate medicine for travel. It held way more than I was expecting and came with labels so no confusion of medicine." —Momof3
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $7.97.
16. A helpful "Pack this!" checklist because sometimes the biggest travel headache is figuring out what to bring. This should help you generate ideas, and ensure you're not kicking yourself later after realizing you forgot your toothbrush.
Promising review: "This is perfect. Whenever we travel, my kids always say 'make me a list of what I have to pack.' I always worry I will forget to tell them something random like underwear or pajamas...so now, I just check the boxes, they pack, and can review the list if they want to add anything." —AmyH
Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in two colors and in a road trip edition).
17. A set of festive drawstring gift bags to save yourself the heartache of spending time wrapping presents only to find your handiwork's been destroyed in all the traveling chaos. This fabric option will hold up a lot better in transit than paper and can be reused next year when it's time to do it all again.
18. An airplane seat back organizer to slip over the tray table and really make this little slice of Airbus feel like home. The machine washable surface provides a clean space for working and eating while adding some much-needed pockets for easy access to the snacks, drinks, and activities you've prepared to make it through this long-haul flight.
19. A pair of compression socks for anyone whose feet, ankles, or legs tend to swell up on long flights or drives. These cozy socks can help prevent that, and double as another thermal layer (planes be cold).
Promising review: "After wearing these socks for over 24 hours straight for travel on an overseas flight, I had absolutely no swelling at all in my feet or ankles. I was worried about the potential for blood clots being on an airplane for a long time. So, I am glad I made the investment in these socks. Very comfortable. Washed them out by hand and hung them to dry. They were ready to wear the next day. I will definitely continue to wear these and recommend them." —islandgirl
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and in 13 colors).
20. A set of refillable TSA-friendly toiletry containers if you're sick of spending a small fortune on name-brand, travel-sized products and just want to make your own. You won't have to worry about leaking, and the entire set fits in the provided clear zip pouch.
Promising review: "I purchased one for myself and had a really good experience traveling with them. Nothing leaked, not even the witch hazel. I was really impressed and bought two more for my daughters and took them on our family vacation. We love these travel kits." —M
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 12 variations).
21. Or a waterproof toiletry bag with enough space to pack up the entire family's self-care routine. Plus, it's equipped with a rotating hook so you can hang it on the back of a door or in the shower for convenient access.
Promising review: "We are a family of seven, and this held all of our bathroom supplies for a weekend trip. This is a must-have for traveling. The best feature is it being able to hang up on a robe hook or the back of a door. It frees up hotel sinks and keeps you well organized." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and in 12 colors).
22. A super-cool garment bag duffel that'll keep your spiffy party clothes neat and wrinkle-free, while still offering an empty bag's worth of space for all your other travel bits and bobs.
Bonus — the bag is water-resistant and has two exterior zip pockets, two interior shoe pockets, and a padded handle wrap.
Promising review: "I purchased this in preparation for some day trips for work and it sure did the job. My suit stayed crisp and I was able to fit everything I needed. The bag feels very durable, which I can't say for some of my other bags that cost five times the amount. Although many bags have a separate compartment for shoes, be careful not to overlook the importance of this feature when shopping for luggage. The last thing you want is to wake up and get dressed, only to find that something on the bottom of your shoes found its way onto your clothes. The side pockets make it easy to get essentials out of your bag, including when it's in the overhead bin on a plane." —Ronald
Get it from Amazon for $43.19+ (available in five colors/styles).
23. A dishwasher-friendly travel tray cup holder adaptor because the fewer times you have to pull over and address a snack-tastrophe, the quicker you can all get to grandma's place. An adaptor and "grippi" are included, providing four different sizes to accommodate most cup holders.
Promising review: "If you travel a lot or are constantly on the go, this is for you. We went on a 16-hour drive with our toddler, and this was so handy. It also has an attachment for different-sized cup holders. We were able to put all his food or snacks on there and his apple juice box or water cup. It’s a nice hard plastic, so it’s sturdy and easy to wipe down or wash." —Gabriela Burgueno
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in six colors).
24. Some reusable bottle bags so when traveling with that wine you planned to gift you won't spend the whole trip fretting over broken glass and wine-stained everything in your luggage if it breaks. This padded bag is designed with an absorbent lining, so even if the bottle breaks, the spill will stay self-contained.
JetBag is a small business specializing in bags designed to protect your wine and your stuff.
Promising review: "Love my jet bags. We can travel with a bottle of wine without having to worry that the bottle might break and ruin things in the suitcase. Love having a bottle of wine when we arrive at our destination!" —Kathy Karst
Get a set of three from Amazon for $13.99 (available in four styles).
25. An in-flight foot hammock to make kicking back in the flight cabin a whole lot easier. It easily mounts onto the seat tray, and not only ups that economy seat comfort, but can also reduce in-flight foot swelling.
Promising review: "This was a lifesaver on a recent nonstop flight from LA to Paris and back. Not only was the footrest super comfy and easy to use, it really made the long flight bearable. At the end of the flight, my feet and legs were not swollen at all, like they usually are after a long flight. I like to kick off my shoes during long flights and when I put my shoes back on, they fit like they normally do, no swollen feet, ankles, or legs. I will never fly again without this footrest." —Dawn Sullivan
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
26. A set of dry-erase travel games for keeping the kids entertained with a mess-free activity whether you're waiting for food at a restaurant or stuck on a plane for approximately six more hours.
Ellesmere Home is a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based Etsy shop run by a husband and wife team creating unique giftables for kids and adults alike!
Promising review: "The kids loved these on our flight and by the pool!" —Chelsea Kadish
Get it from Ellesmere Home on Etsy for $27.
27. An airline-approved pet carrier with a cozy fleece lining, leash tether, luggage strap, and so many more functional details that'll make traveling with your furry BFF easier on you both.
Mr. Peanut's is a small biz creating high-quality and safe pet care products that simultaneously gives back to at-risk animals and donates supplies to shelters across the USA.
After my parents loved a similar carrier by the same brand, I picked one up for my dog, Pinto, before our first flight with him and I couldn't be happier with it. It looks great, the quality feels amazing, and it's really thoughtfully designed for both car and flight travel. The front zip window is the detail I never knew I needed. Not only was it nice to have easy access to Pinto for some reassuring pets, but we also found that Pinto loved sticking his head out to look around while we navigated the airport. We had zero issues with airport security and the carrier fit comfortably under the seat as promised.
Get it from Amazon for $79 (available in five colors).
28. Plus, a leakproof dog water bottle so you can easily keep your pup hydrated during long layovers. The one-button locking mechanism allows you to release water into the trough and let un-drunk water flow back in so nothing goes to waste!
The water bottle also includes a sling rope and carabiner for clipping onto a bag or belt loop.
Promising review: "I travel the airlines quite a bit with my small dog. It’s perfect!!! It’s different from other systems I’ve tried because it effectively takes the unconsumed water back into the bottle 100% — I’m no longer looking for a place to dump the water she doesn’t drink, nor am I putting a wet bowl back into my backpack. It’s one system with a locking mechanism to avoid accidental pressing of the water release button" —AnnaBelle
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two sizes and in three colors).
29. A set of travel organizers if you struggle to stay organized when living out of a suitcase (Join the club!). This set should help with three packing cubes for added space efficiency and three laundry pouches to keep yesterday's stinky socks out of the way.
Get it from our Goodful shop for $11.99 (originally $19.99; available in eight colors/prints).
30. A contoured sleep mask because the bright light of this random kid's iPad is making it *very* difficult to sleep through the flight. The concave shape effectively blocks out light, and the adjustable strap helps you get a comfy, customized fit.
Promising review: "This eye mask is perfect if you like to have total darkness when you sleep. It is so comfortable around my face and the mask even comes with adjustable straps so you don’t wake up with sleep lines. Included are cute ear plugs enclosed in their own case and a silk drawstring bag to carry your things in. To add, I was also impressed with how aesthetically pleasing the packaging was. I totally recommend." —Bill Curtis
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in seven colors).
31. A genius car cupholder adapter so your precious water bottle doesn't have to tumble around on the floor for the duration of this eight-hour car ride. It'll also work well for any jumbo sodas at the drive-thru!
Wine and Whiskey Co. is a Texas-based Etsy shop selling a wide range of adorable phone cases and T-shirts, plus genius car accessories (obvi).
Promising review: "Love it. Perfectly holds my 40-ounce Hydro Flask. No more rolling around the truck cab. Arrived quickly and works as described." —Jason J. Mease
Get it from Wine and Whiskey Co. on Etsy for $12.99.
32. A plush velvet travel jewelry case to make traveling with your favorite, dainty necklace a reality without also committing to a half-hour untangling sesh when you pull it out to wear on New Year's Eve.
Promising review: "I purchased this box for a weekend getaway. In the past I have just thrown all of my jewelry into little makeup bags, but then everything gets tangled and disorganized. I love that this box keeps everything organized and leaves all my necklaces tangle-free!" —Dogmom206
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 13 colors).
33. A slip-on luggage drink caddy for helping out when you and your whole family have luggage, drinks, *and* boarding passes to manage with only a limited number of hands.
Promising review: "Super easy to take out of your bag or purse and slide on. Holds my phone and sanitizer...my drink and my kid's drink. No more annoyance of everything having to be in my purse, adding weight and tearing my shoulder off in the airport." —Anne
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 24 styles).
34. A three-piece connectable suitcase set with easy-to-use fastener panels and a pull strap that makes it easy to maneuver multiple pieces of luggage with ONE HAND. Reviewers say it's great for family travel since there are more free hands available for kid wrangling.
Promising review: "This is BY FAR the BEST luggage set we've EVER used! QUICK and EASY to connect/disconnect making it smooth and easy to roll around with just ONE HAND as well as making the load feel feather-light even though they are fully loaded. This set has more than enough pockets/compartments to organize everything for a long trip. We get stopped by people every trip to inquire about this set and it's extremely easy to recommend them." —MRS GIB
Get it from Amazon for $378.99+ (available in five colors).
35. A pair of escape tracks because it'll be such a lifesaver if your parked car greets you with spinning tires thanks to copious snow, sand, or mud. No pushing or towing required thanks to heavy-duty "teeth" that'll help your car gain traction and get moving.
Maxsa is a family-owned small business on a missions to create products that make people's live's easier, including auto accessories, home electronics, replacement parts, and more.
Promising review: "Bought these a few months ago and have since used them twice in a situation where I had gotten stuck; both were in deep snow and they did their job and held up fine. Definitely happy with my purchase and would buy again" —Josh Newland
Get them from Amazon for $129.99.
When you get that travel day cry count down to one, instead of breaking your high score like last year:
