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1. 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).
2. A digital luggage scale if you're tired of sweating at the bag check scale, hoping to avoid paying pesky overage fees. 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).
3. A set of portable soap sheets to keep stashed in your bag 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 three-pack (150 sheets total) from Amazon for $7.49 (available in larger multipacks).
4. And a pack of laundry soap sheets so you can pack a little (or a lot) lighter by washing a load of clothes in the hotel sink or bathtub during your stay.
Promising review: "Took them on vacation so I could pack light. These worked great! My daughter was covered in mud one day, and these took out all of it. Will be ordering them for future trips! Keep in mind you do not get a ton of suds, but your clothes still come clean and smell good." —Maggie Dennis
Get 50 sheets from Amazon for $9.02.
5. Or some Tide sink packets packed with the perfect amount of detergent for washing those salty bathing suits and dirty undies so you can avoid overstuffing your suitcase even on multi-weeks excursions.
Each pack comes with three packets, and they're tiny enough to easily slide into the side of any toiletry bag,
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 wash bag... Glad to have them. They don’t leak either." —Barbara Jefferson
Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.40.
6. Don't forget a six-foot travel clothesline that'll make drying your freshly cleaned laundry right in the hotel room a straightforward affair that doesn't involve draping wet clothes over every square inch of available space. You don't even need clothespins — just hang the clothes between the braided cords.
Promising review: "Love this clothesline! We take this with us on resort vacations. It's nice to be able to wash out swimsuits, etc. and hang them to dry every day so they don't smell after days of nonstop ocean fun. This one is nice because you don't need clothespins, and it stretches pretty far. I was able to hang up two kid's swimsuits, two kid's rash guards, two adult swimsuits, and two adult rash guards, and still had room for more. This is a must if you take any tropical vacation where it's humid and hard for clothes to dry out." —Haley G
Get it from Amazon for $9.94.
7. 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).
8. A versatile travel harness seat if you're nervous about showing up to the restaurant you've been excitedly scoping out for weeks, 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.
9. 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.
10. An all-in-one universal wall adapter so no matter where you go, you don't show up in a new country with no way to charge your family's tech!
Promising review: "Probably one of the best $13 I spent on anything. If you travel a lot, especially internationally, this is a must have because you have every kind of adapter on one plug and don’t have to worry about constantly buying a certain adapter every time you travel to a different country. This has it all." —Abby Santiago
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four colors).
11. Plus, an Anker charging port with six USB ports for ensuring no one in your vacation party starts bickering over available outlet space. With this, there's room to power all your devices and then some.
Promising review: "Device worked just as advertised. I ordered this to use on our vacation trip to the Caribbean and it was great not having to worry about having enough USB plug adapters." —Lionel Vega
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in black and white).
12. A Trtl neck pillow that actually supports your neck while trying 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).
13. Or, a memory foam travel pillow because it can be bent any which way to get you or your kids in a suitable sleeping position no matter what kind of trains, planes, and automobiles situation your vacay 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 seven colors).
14. 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 eight variations).
15. Or a waterproof toiletry bag with enough space to pack up the entire family's self-car eroutine. 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 10 colors).
16. A pair of backseat organizers with a clear tablet holder and tons of mesh pockets so backseat passengers have easy access to all the snacks, toys, and tech a successful road trip requires.
Promising review: "These held everything from snacks, tablets, Play-Doh, crayons, baby wipes, drinks, etc. and held up well with being kicked, tugged on, and generally mistreated during a long roadtrip to the beach with two preschoolers. We left them in the car for continued use now that we're back home." —jackie
Get a pair from Amazon for $17.99.
17. 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 $14.05 (also available as an iPad mount).
18. A pair of reusable anti-nausea bands that may help soothe churning stomachs caused by long car rides and cruises 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.
19. A refillable sunscreen sponge applicator because the quicker you get this gooey, greasy mess over with, the quicker you all can get back to what this vacation is really about. Simply fill up the chamber with the sunscreen of your choice, give it a shake, and the genius roller ball and sponge combo will take care of the rest.
Promising review: "Used for the first time today on my 7-year-old. First time in his life he actually enjoyed having sunscreen applied to his skin! Very easy to use and not messy at all. Extremely pleased with this purchase!" —amyj
Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in six colors and in multipacks).
20. And a tube of Burt's Bees after sun soother if a few sunburns are still likely, even with diligent sunscreen application. Apply this hydrating formula ASAP and enjoy sweet relief from pain and itching.
This product is formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or SLS.
Promising review: "I’ve had this bottle for over a year! It’s lasted with my family through Disney World, Destin spring break, and every time we go to the pool! I’ve had some bad sunburns. I slather this on and reapply after it’s soaked in and I wake up with a deep tan. Whatever is in it is like magic! The smell is kinda weird to me, but as well as this lotion works it could smell like cough syrup and I’d still happily use it." —Natalie Smith
Get it from Amazon or $9.99.
21. An in-flight foot hammock to make kicking back in the flight cabin a whole lot easier. It mounts onto the seat tray and not only ups that economy seat comfort, but can also reduce in-flight foot swelling. It's also great for tiny tots and their tiny legs to avoid constant seat back-kicking by having a place to rest their feet.
Promising review: "Used this foot rest on a 14-hour ride. Kids were able to sleep by resting their feet on this product. I did not have the usual sore legs with swollen feet after the long flight. It was easy to use by hanging it over the tray arms. We especially like the padding as they made our feet feel comfortable." —Mom of Irish Twins
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in three colors).
22. An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter so up to two people can actually use their Bluetooth earbuds to watch those free in-flight movies. It's time to liberate your family from tangled earbud cords!
Promising review: "Got for our flight with our kids. No tangled ear buds. Even my non-tech savvy husband got it working!! Great buy for frequent flyers." —TeachMomma
Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (also available in two other models).
23. A set of dry-erase travel games for keeping the kids entertained with a mess-free activity whether you're lounging by the pool, waiting for food at a restaurant, or stuck on the plane for approximately six more hours.
Jonley Gifts 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 Jonley Gifts on Etsy for $27.
24. 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 $381.99+ (available in five colors).
25. A pack of disposable potty seat covers because public bathrooms are usually kinda gross, but these disposable covers make the experience a little less so with long sides that'll help your kids avoid all direct contact with germy toilet seats.
Promising review: “I bought this for our vacation, and so glad I did. I have a 5-year-old and loved having these when we stopped at rest areas. The front hangs down so as she’s sitting, her legs were not touching the toilet. Not only was it perfect for her but for my whole family. Definitely will be purchasing more packs." —Juanina Mccollum
Get the pack of 24 from Amazon for $9.99.
26. A mini white noise machine if you (or your child) already has enough trouble sleeping at home let alone in an unfamiliar place. This teeny-tiny gadget will drown out big city noises and even doubles as a Bluetooth speaker for playing your favorite tunes on the go.
Promising review: "I travel a lot for work and need some kind of noise to cover up sounds from the hallway in hotels. This little device is the best one I've found. I've found one of the sound options that sounds just like an AC unit that puts me to sleep in an instant. The sounds on this little guy are the best ones I've heard. Buy this for travel and you won't be sorry!" —KJ
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
27. A portable SlumberPod to ensure your baby has a perfectly dark, private place to sleep — day or night — even if your vacation accommodations force you all to share a room. It's plenty breathable with built-in ventilation flaps and even has pockets for a fan and baby monitor.
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.
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
Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in three styles).
28. A heavy-duty bag strap so you're not stuck wearing (or holding) everyone's jackets while navigating the airport. 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.
29. An in-flight phone mount for a hands-free way to catch up on all the Ted Lasso episodes you downloaded for the flight. It can also mount onto luggage for long (aka boring) layovers, too.
Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on-the-go.
Promising review: "Recently traveled with my two boys, and I bought all three of us one of these. They worked great! They're a little clickety-clackety, but you'll get the hang of it. We even had an airline steward tell us how cool they were! Compact, great price, sturdy, multiple positions/clamping ability. Totally worth it for not hearing your kids complain about their wrist hurting from holding their phone or that their homemade phone prop wasn't working great. Tack this onto the back of the seat in front of your or even on your tray table, easy-peasy!" —alisathegirl
Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in black and purple).
30. 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.
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 $17.99+ (available in 10 colors and prints).
31. A foldable travel size drying rack with a bottle brush that fits inside because the constant bottle washing never stops, even on vacation.
Promising review: "Must-have for any type of travel! We’ve used this on a few trips so far and could not be happier with it. Compact, easy setup, and makes cleaning bottles and pump parts a breeze while on vacation. It will be coming with us everywhere we go!" —Megan P.
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
32. A roll-on blister-preventing balm if your upcoming travel plans include a lot of walking and do not include limping around because of painful blisters.
Promising review: "My family goes to Disney World every year, and even with rotating shoes every other day, we still get blisters. I bought this before our trip two months ago, and it was worth every penny. We rubbed it all over the top, bottom, sides of our feet and toes each morning, and our feet did not blister! I highly recommend this product for long Disney days or any time you will be on your feet for a long period of time." —Cari Sanders
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
33. A multipurpose car seat storage bag to keep the car clean and tidy even when you're caravanning across the country. This handy organizer has a lined and leakproof spot for garbage, plenty of mesh storage pockets, and a dispenser for tissues or wet wipes.
Promising review: "It holds a lot, so I never have trash lying around my van! Always got tissues if you need them, keep wet wipes and hand sanitizer, etc. in the pockets. I do long road trips so this is just super nice to have. The lid keeps everything inside so stuff is never falling out. I definitely recommend this to anyone with kids especially or if you take long road trips and wanna keep your vehicle tidy all the time." —Leanna Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
34. A portable door lock so you can up the security at any hotel or Airbnb with one low-tech addition that installs in seconds and is designed to fit just about any door you'd encounter.
Note: This can get flagged while 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 bought this to use in an Airbnb in an unfamiliar residential area. The lock system was easy to use, worked perfectly, and allowed my family to enjoy our vacation without worrying about security. It's a simple product that works!" —G. Mills
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
35. A collection of compression packing cubes for pulling off the ultimate magic trick by packing a week's worth of clothes and shoes in a carry-on. Houdini, who?!
Just be sure to look up any weight restrictions on carry-on luggage!
Promising review: "We used these for a recent trip on a cruise. Each family member got a different color to make finding our items easier. We love the convenience of a packing cube; these exceeded our expectations! The compression feature was a must. We were able to pack for a week using just carry-on luggage with these cubes. There are little cards you can label for each of the pouches; however, we didn't use them. Maybe next time. The only con was the shoe bag. If you have large feet (like my husband and me), the shoes don't fit well in the bag. It was better used for dirty clothes and other items we didn't want to pack with our clean items. Overall, these were a great purchase." —CMS
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $39.99 (available in 13 colors).
36. A slip-on luggage drink caddy that'll be a big help 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 33 styles).
37. A dishwasher-friendly travel tray cup holder adaptor because the fewer times you have to pull over and address a snack-tastrophe, the better. 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 $17.99 (available in six colors).
38. A combination access portable lock box to deter anyone from stealing your valuables while you and the crew head out to catch some waves.
You can also use this in your room to keep valuables protected.
Promising review: "We took this to the beach on a family vacation. All five phones went in easily, and we were able to swim in the ocean without worrying about our devices! Great product, easy to use." —Nelly Grinfeld
Get it from Amazon for $44.95+ (available in five colors).
39. A mini wallet emergency kit printed with the city skyline of your choice that's stocked with those easy-to-forget provisions that'll save you in a pinch! A bandage for new-shoe blisters, a sewing kit for lost buttons, or a deodorant wipe because — don't lie — we've all been there.
Anne Cate is a Cleveland-based, woman-owned small business creating minimalist keepsakes to commemorate your favorite locations, with over 100 hand-designed skylines depicting cities and colleges from around the world!
What you'll get: Inside your mini wallet, you'll find a hair tie, lip balm, floss pic, sewing kit, bandage, emery board, safety pin, earring backs, makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, deodorant wipe, Shout wipe, tampon, hand sanitizer, and pain reliever.
I, your resident forgetful person, bought the NYC skyline version of this to toss in my purse or work tote whenever I go out. It's filled with a bunch of easy-to-forget bits and bobs that will (and have) saved the day in a pinch, all pre-packaged in a stylish and high-quality wallet. It's my perfect little SOS kit.
Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in a variety of styles and in a mini dopp kit version).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.