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 Beis backpack that zips open like a suitcase without *looking* like one of those backpacks that does that. It's sleek and minimalist on the outside while allowing you to pack a weekend's worth of stuff into it (unless you're an overpacker). OK if you're an overpacker, it's just an overnight bag.
I snagged this backpack after hearing my colleague Chelsea Stuart sing its praises. I had a trusty (now discontinued) InCase backpack I used as a personal item and served me well on dozens of trips for about five years. But I wanted a bag for some upcoming travel (2.5 weeks in Europe with *just* carry-on for five flights) that opens up like a suitcase for easier packing. Since buying, I've taken it on two long weekend trips (Amtrak to Newport, RI, for a wedding and regional train to a CT country lake house) with no complaints. In fact, for both of those trips I packed MORE than I needed.
Inside, you'll find a mesh zippered pocket and a plastic pocket perfect for your toiletries. I can fit enough wet toilet toiletries in the second pocket as I'd be allowed to carry-on for a plane. In the mesh pocket I put other necessities like cotton swabs, medicine, eye glasses, etc. The main compartment is deceptively deep so you can easily roll clothes and Lego-fit them in together without using packing cubes. In fact, I fit all of the stuff in the second picture in that section (a romper, PJs, a bikini, sunscreen, five pairs of undies, a pair of jean shorts, nap dress, three pairs of socks, two pairs of sandals, two T-shirts, a slip skirt, sleep mask, curling iron, mini flat iron, makeup bag, and tote bag). AND it has stretchy X-straps to keep it all secure like you'd see in a roller suitcase so when I unzip it, everything stays put. But before I forget, there's a separate cushioned laptop pocket close to the backpack straps that I found works well for books or a Kindle if your travel leaves you laptop-less.
I love that this backpack has DEEP side pockets so your umbrella or water bottle won't fall out. In fact, I stuck a flashlight and an umbrella in one side pocket. (You could always use a flashlight.) Plus! It has a generously sized pocket on the front of the backpack with easy access for sunglasses, snacks, writing pens...all sorts of those little extras you need to access quickly. To top it all off, the backpack straps and top handle are STURDY. I felt totally secure toting it around and slinging it into overhead storage compartments on the trains. I love the look and construction of it with faux leather and sturdy black canvas, and the trolley passthrough to easily fit on my roller suitcase I'm about to drag through a bunch of airports. At nearly $80, this isn't the cheapest backpack option but if you're a frequent traveler, you'll get so much mileage on it and seriously save on some baggage fees, making it well worth the cost. This backpack and I are going places, for sure.
Get it from Beis Travel for $78 (also available in black).
2. A wheeled carry-on bag small enough to qualify as a personal item on super stringent airlines. It can fit underneath an airplane seat! You can avoid checking a bag, glide through security, *and* don't have to hurt your shoulder by carrying a duffel bag that'd also fit strict bag measurement policies. Take that, Spirit Airlines. (This'll pay for itself after a few trips.)
3. A weekender bag can easily slide over the handle of your wheeled suitcase in case you're in the market for a new personal item. (It'll also fit under an airplane seat, according to reviewers.)
Promising review: "I’m so happy I purchased this bag! I’ve been using a backpack as my carry-on for years but saw this and thought I’d give it a shot. I was able to pack a small backpack (approx. 12"x14" but the top was folded), a purse (approx. 10"x6"), Beats headphones (in their bubble case), a pair of Birkenstocks, and a travel blanket with plenty of room to spare. The side zipper/compartment is SO convenient to hold your cellphone/wallet/passport for easy access. I love that it sets nicely on top of a carry-on size bag without toppling over. The bag also has a shoulder strap which was nice to use when actually boarding the plane." —Jen
Get it from Amazon for $38.99 (available in 10 colors/patterns).
4. An airplane footrest that loops over your tray table so you can kick back, relax, and hopefully head off to Snoozeville as soon as you get comfy in your seat that was most definitely the cheapest on the plane. (We're birds of a feather, you and I.)
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant and I travel A LOT! This is a game changer! Folds up super small in the cute bag they provide and really makes a difference when on those long flights. The people in front of me had no idea I was using it. Thanks for the great product!!!" —sarah rubin
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in three colors).
5. A bodycon midi dress that'll look oh-so-glamorous at that fancy dinner you're going to...or just drinks at a fancy place before you grab a cheap slice of pizza (or your destination's equivalent of a cheap slice). You're going to be able to get multiple outfits out of this beaut.
Promising review: "I am in love with this dress! It is so soft and stretchy but looks sexy and chic even though it’s only $17. It wasn’t see through at all. It hit me at the perfect midi length and it was great being able to slightly adjust the straps. I wore it with nude heels for a fancy dinner out and got so many compliments, but it would also be great layered with tights and boots and a sweater for fall/winter. I 100% recommend this dress! Best Amazon purchase ever! I can’t wait to wear it again." —Sarah L.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and eight colors).
6. Or a satin spaghetti strap dress you can buy in every color because it's that fancy *and* comfy to wear...which is really all you could ask for in a vacation ensemble.
Promising review: "I recommend 100%. I loved the fit and and was super comfortable. Got a lot of compliments about it and it was accurate on the size. Perfect!" —Cynthia Arizpe
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in sizes XL–4X and eight colors).
7. Pedialyte powder packets because yes you are a grown-ass adult, but sometimes you indulge a little too much or start to feel a cold coming on from traveling and could use some electrolytes. I always pack these for trips and have never regretted it. And they're much tastier than electrolyte tablets you dilute in water. Go through security FULLY hungover knowing you can fill up your water bottle with this *right* after.
~Trust me~ when I tell you that these will work in a pinch. I bought them a few years ago to take on a bachelorette party to New Orleans, and everyone in the Airbnb was grateful I did. Since then, I've always had them in my carry-on bag when going on a trip. They REALLY came in handy when I went to the Greek islands for 10 days with an apparent mission to eat every piece of seafood and cheese within sight while washing it down with jugs of wine. These are powder in small individual packets, so they're so easy to pack! And also you don't have to lug around a bottle of Gatorade to feel better.
Get a 24-count from Amazon for $25.59.
8. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount to help you watch what you want or take advantage of the movies available online for those budget airlines without TVs in the back of the seats. It'll work on the plane *or* while you wait to board.
Promising review: "This phone stand is a must-have for long air travel. Super versatile and can be configured on anything that has an edge for it to clip on." —Charlie Nguyen
Get it from Amazon for $12.97.
9. An Airfly wireless transmitter that'll let you connect your Airpods or any wireless headphones to your airplane seat...even without Bluetooth!
Promising review: "I was a little nervous that they wouldn’t connect but once I got on the plane ✈️ plugged it in and pressed AirFly (four seconds) then pressed and held AirPods Pro back button. Voila, connected YAY 😀! Now I can get caught up on a couple of movies 🎥 I missed. LOVE IT 💚. Volume is loud and clear." —Nicole J
Get it from Amazon for $54.99.
10. A set of four *washable* market bags to ball up really tiny in your bag and can serve as a beach bag or a way to carry souvenirs. (And if you need to store some things a little more securely inside, use an opaque pouch.)
11. A portable door lock you can attach to any regular old door for your budget-friendly 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.
Check it out in action on TikTok here!
Promising review: "My apartment door has a deadbolt but no lock on the door handle. The latch is also misplaced so if it’s not dead bolted anyone can just push my door open. Took a few tries to get this right but makes me feel much more secure and it’s easy to use when you get the hang of it! I also take this with me when traveling as it fits almost all doors. Definitely recommend, thanks TikTok for showing this to me." —Anna
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
12. A TSA-approved lock that reviewers say is slim enough to fit a variety of lockers (including in hostels!).
13. 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::)
Promising review: "This safe has become a MUST-HAVE on all our vacations. We no longer travel without it. We put two iPhones, cash, and car keys in this little safe, locked it to a beach cabana, threw a towel over it and took off for a hour of snorkeling. Never once worried about our belongings. We now use several of these as room safes AND as 'hide a key' lockboxes outside our vacation condo for teens who come and go throughout the day. They are invaluable!" —KeepIT Reel
Get it from Amazon for $21.88+ (available in three colors).
14. A set of homeopathic jet lag pills made to help you fight off time zone changes and disrupted sleep schedules thanks to some weird (but cheaper!) flight schedules. Plus, you can actually sleep while taking these. I've taken them on a couple of red eyes and I think they help!
According to the instructions, you should take them at take-off and then every two hours and then again once you arrive to help with relaxation and combat sleepiness.
Promising review: "My husband and I have used this product now for five years for multiple trips overseas and these really work. How do we know? We've forgotten to use them on a couple of legs and there has been a night/day difference in our energy levels. We use precisely as directed, setting timers on our phone when possible to remember the doses. On a few occasions we've slept through the timer, so missed the timing of a couple of doses, and we've been fine. Our last trip to Australia was 34 hours door-to-door on the outbound. We would have been a complete wreck without these. As it was, we arrived late morning, remained awake and lively (enough) through dinner, and then got a good night's sleep. The next day we felt as good as new. For the years before I used this, I would need to sleep for a few days after a leg like that. We never travel without this now. I highly recommend this product." —motokat
Get a pack of 32 pills from Amazon for $14.40.
15. A collapsible silicone water bottle that'll make sure you stay hydrated (drink water on that flight!) without making you sacrifice other things in your bag or buying tons of water bottles at airport prices.
16. A bendy travel pillow for helping you sit upright in the most awkward of positions, whether it be on a bus, train, plane, or ferry.
Promising review: "This travel pillow design is simply brilliant! You can bend it into whatever shape your heart (or neck) desires! The memory foam is 150x better than the beads or stiff foam you find in most travel pillows. Also, unlike most travel pillows, the case is removable for easy cleaning. The cover is also super soft; it reminds me of a jersey T-shirt material. Talk about versatile also - I use it as lumbar support/comfort and my son uses it as a lap pillow when watching his iPad. Just buy it!!" —Tiffany Wood
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in navy).
17. A digital luggage scale to make sure that you aren't slammed with an overweight luggage fee (ugh) or having to move stuff from your checked bag to your carryon to avoid said fee (also, ugh).
Promising review: "We use this in every trip to avoid paying for extra weight as we travel internationally quite often. I have tested in several ways and also always note the weigh number in the airport. After several trips, I can say that the accuracy of it is right within 2 lbs. I have it for almost two years and I am still using the same batteries." —Cass Young
Get it from Amazon for $12.53.
18. 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 were awesome! My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially car sickness. My little one gets sick in the car on a regular car ride through the city. So I knew that a long road trip was going to be a disaster. I was amazed at how well these bands worked for everyone! Not one single person complained about being sick for 12 hours in the car. At one point I did have one child remove their bands because they said they were getting too tight. But after only a few minutes without them, a headache started to come on, so they immediately put them back on and the relief was instant. I have suffered for decades and now I know better. I will never travel without mine again!" —1SmartCookie
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.59 (available in adult and children's sizes).
19. 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 work so great. Love it!!! I put my favorite perfumes in each one. When I wear a perfume I put the matching one to the perfume I’m wearing for the day in my purse. So I can freshen up my scent later! I like to smell pretty all day!!! They are small and compact but hold enough before you have to refill as well." —Nikki
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99.
20. A pair of quick-dry water shoes that'll help you traverse nearly every kind of ground you may come upon without blowing your travel shopping budget. Seriously, if you're going somewhere with a sea or ocean (or any body of water, really), please google if water shoes are recommended and then follow that rec...lest a sea urchin cramp your vacation shoe style.
Promising review: "I bought these shoes a couple of years ago before a river hike. UM THESE ARE AWESOME. They lasted a long time and the only reason I bought these yellow ones were because I wanted a new color, haha. My older pair did start to wear out in the toes from scraping them on rocks and such when hiking but still no holes in them. These shoes feel like socks but with enough of a sole that you can walk on gravel with no problem. It really is like walking barefoot. Also, these are the only water shoes that I have worn that do NOT let a bunch of debris into the shoe making you constantly have to take it off to empty it or just deal with the irritant. You can play on the beach with minimal sand stuck between your toes. Thoroughly impressed by that. So with that, I do recommend if you are a half size to size down so they are snug, otherwise the sock like ability to keep stuff out might not work so well." —Samantha Lindsay
Get it from Amazon for $8.68+ (available in seven sizes and 44 colors).
21. A romper that'll make it look like you're not sweating it...even if you are VERY MUCH sweating it on your summer trip. Plus, this'll make a cute day outfit *and* swim coverup for when you go to lunch.
Promising review: "This romper is super cute. It is very lightweight and perfect for warm weather. I love that the neck piece fits perfectly! There is no gap between my armpit and the 'sleeve' part of the romper, which is amazing." —Styles in Twin Acres
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 18 colors).
22. A collection of compression packing cubes you can use over and over again without having to remember to pack a pump for sucking out the air in case you know you won't be beholden to luggage weight limits.
Again, just be sure to look up any weight restrictions on carry-on luggage. I ran into that problem last summer (it was in Croatia while flying British Airways, btw), but the person at the airport check-in counter that gave me some trouble about my bag just seemed to care about my roller carry-on. So I'd suggest using these in a backpack or tote bag you plan to put under the seat.
Promising review: "Easy to clean, lightweight material. All of the compression bags have a mesh front which makes it easy to see what’s inside, plus there is a small clear vinyl pocket on the front for a label. I tested one of the medium bags with four sweaters (one long and bulky, plus three medium-thickness pullovers). They fit in the bag nicely with the bag zipped closed (not compressed yet). It was not difficult to zip the compression closure, although I did take special care to push down and 'help' the zipper along. No signs of strain or damage to the zippers once fully closed. These bags seem very sturdy. As seen in the pictures, there is a significant size reduction! Will definitely use in my travels and would highly recommend." —Clarissa Sheats
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $25.99 (available in three colors).
23. A handmade leather cord organizer to keep your wired listening BFFs from getting tangled up in your pocket, making it so much easier to empty said pockets for the security line or find your headphones when it's time to drift off to some true crime podcasts.
After putting this well-reviewed item in stories for YEARS, I finally bought one for myself because I'm one of those AirPod holdouts who's still managed to stick with the wired OGs. But! That means that I've clocked too much time untangling said wires. This little leather square with a buttoned strap is so simple, but works so well. I can easily throw it in a jeans pocket but most often put it in a jacket or coat pocket for my everyday. I do the same when traveling. It takes me about 10 seconds to unravel (or re-ravel) my headphones and I'm on my merry way listening to my fave podcasts or Spotify playlist. For such a small amount of money, it really does make my day to day much easier.
Promising review: "No more tangled headphone cables! I bought a pair for my desk at home, and I'm purchasing another pair for my office. I love how neat and untangled my earbud cords are when using this organizer. It's leather, which I'm sure will last many, many years for such a great price." —Jane M
Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in five colors).
24. A solid hair conditioner bar (you won't have to put in your toiletries bag for TSA) so you aren't stuck with the subpar hotel conditioner for all your exotic photo ops.
This is me on a week-long trip to Croatia last year with three city stops that I did a carry-on only for, knowing I had a tight layover in Amsterdam and would be riding two ferries. But, um, my hair had to look good for wonderful sunset photo ops such as this (the bar is Buza Bar in Dubrovnik, go there!). So I packed a shampoo bar by another brand that I felt pretty meh about and this wonderful new go-to bar. Here, I used hotel shampoo (it was pretty fancy, NGL), this shampoo bar, and my roommate's Moroccan Oil curl cream. The bar is basically foolproof. You rub it directly on your wet hair after rinsing out your shampoo. I normally wash my naturally curly hair once or twice a week but on this trip was taking daily dips in the sea, so I washed my hair 5x over a week. Because of this, I let the conditioner sit for a few minutes, though you probably don't need to do that if you're washing your hair your usual amount on your trip. Each bar is supposed to last 200 washes and it might do a little less for me, but I know this'll be good for many future trips! I've used it on about five trips now and it doesn't look any smaller than it did when I used it the first time.
Get it from Amazon for $13.97.
25. And a bar of natural, plastic-free solid shampoo you can easily make room for in your bag. Plus, it won't leak!
Promising review: "I was definitely skeptical about a bar shampoo and conditioner, but I travel a lot and really wanted to cut down the use of plastic products as much as possible. I honestly am in love! I got the Heali Kiwi shampoo bar and the Wonderbar conditioner, as well as one of their eco-friendly bamboo and sugar cane storage containers, and my very long, fine oily hair, which I do have to wash daily looks and feels great. I recommend anyone on the fence to definitely give it a try! It works! So wonderful for travel too!" —M.A.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 12 varieties).
26. A Hairbrella 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 I wanted something that would protect my head/hair/blowout without lugging an umbrella. This definitely did the trick. Two of the three days were rainy (some quite heavy) and my hair stayed totally dry. It stows nicely, too. I'm still learning how to adjust it while it's on my head (easier to adjust first and then put it on). Also, when I do have it tightened/pulled to the right place, the loop/slack from where I adjusted it sort of sticks out and gets in my peripheral vision. I wish the adjustment/clasp was on less prominent. But, all in all, this is perfect for anyone who wants to keep their blowout fresh in the rain." —Miss Information
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in nine colors).
27. Satin pillowcases that I own and love! I'm a hot sleeper at home and tend to blow out my hair, then wash only twice a week. So these make a big difference in keeping my skin and hair moisturized over cotton pillowcases. I'm SO in love with them, that I pack one when I travel to keep my hair situation in check. One of these will take up the tiniest amount of room in your suitcase.
Promising review: "I was originally looking for silk pillowcases, but decided to give these a try because they were a better price. I am not disappointed! I have seen a noticeable difference in my hair in the mornings and overall they are so smooth and comfortable to sleep on. I’ve washed them several times and haven’t seen a difference in the quality. I would buy again." —Kate
Get two from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four sizes and 22 colors).
28. A bandeau bikini set made of a quick-dry material that'd also make the top a worthy crop shirt for all the mixing and matching you're doing while you island hop.
Promising review: "Talk about the best bathing suit ever!! I normally don't purchase bathing suits online, but this one is perfect. I followed the sizing guidelines, and it fits so true to size!! I love the adjustable straps as well. I'm top-heavy and nervous about a top not holding me up well, but this is the very few that have done the job. I will definitely be buying another one." —Erica Faircloth
Get it from Amazon for $25.36+ (available in sizes S–XL and 18 styles).
29. Or a strappy bikini with an interesting enough top to make it a strong contender to pair with that cute high-waisted skirt you're packing for dry activities. Just make sure you wear sunscreen!
Promising review: "If I could leave more than 5 stars for this swimsuit, I WOULD!!!! I want to scream from the rooftops about how amazing the fit and feel of this beautiful set. I put this on and immediately felt like a million dollars. The top boasts padded cups and adjustable everything, making it fit well no matter your size. I generally have a hard time staying in bikini cups, and I was able to tighten the back AND sides of this suit for a perfect fit. Well-made, well-loved, and I will wear this suit to EVERY beach and pool party from now on!!" —Annie Hinz
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in sizes M–3XL and four styles).
30. Tide sink packets with the perfect amount of detergent for a sink wash to help lighten your clothing load. Plus! These'll easily slide into the toiletries bag that you thought had no. more. room. Seriously, it's time to get over packing an outfit for every freaking day of your trip. No one cares.
Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag. I've packed these on international trips to much success!
Promising review: "Taking these out of the country to wash under things is exactly the right size." —Laura Wilson
Get nine packs from Amazon for $8.99.
31. Or a pack of laundry soap sheets you won't even have to slip into your toiletries bag if you're flying. This way you can save more room for souvenirs than three changes of underwear for every day of your trip.
Promising review: "This came SO in handy during my vacation to Europe! I was making lots of different stops to places with different types of weather. With these laundry soap sheets I was able to wash my clothes in the sink — letting me pack just the right amount of clothes for all the different places I went." —Katie Fujarski
Get it from Amazon for $7.19 (available in four other styles, including hand soap and shampoo).
32. A pack of insect-repellent wipes that'll be easier to keep on you at all times than a bottle of liquid. And, you guessed it, can be tucked in your luggage anywhere because it's not a liquid that has to fit in with your toiletries! I keep mine in a side packet on my backpack.
When I was a kid, someone told me that mosquitoes love me because I'm so sweet. And I FULLY believe that as an adult because I still get eaten alive if I'm out for long periods of time without wearing some kind of repellent. I've used these wipes on several park days here in NYC (sitting on a picnic blanket drinking wine with friends is more or less screaming COME GET ME to skeeters). But I've really found success with them on a recent hot weekend trip to Savannah, Georgia. I don't notice any smell when using them and have found one wipe to have enough repellant for my arms and legs. So basically, a one and done. I don't think that I've gotten *any* bug bites on days I've used these wipes. Plus, I have extremely sensitive skin but haven't had any irritation from these seemingly powerful wipes!
Get three packs of 12 wipes from Amazon for $18.87.
33. A TSA-friendly toiletries set you can easily fill, clean, and then refill with your go-to regular products. And the bag is sturdy as HECK.
Yep, I also 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 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 onto over dozens of trips have all held up well!
Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in eight variations).
34. Or if you're not in need of containers, a clear TSA-approved toiletry bag so you can Lego-fit all your liquid and spreadable bbs in there with ease.
Promising review: "Everything I needed fit perfectly, and I had no issues in TSA/China security. So far I have been through MSP, IAD, NKG, and PEK airports using this pack already, and it's a life-changer! I will never again have to worry about having to scramble to buy baggies just for liquids, and it is much more durable." —Courtney Swanson
Get it from Amazon for $12.86 (available in 11 colors).
35. A waterproof Kindle to let you bring a TON of reading material (without a stack of books hogging space in your carry-on) for your time sipping a mimosa near the gate, then on the flight when you can't fall asleep, during layovers, on downtime during your travels, you get my drift.
I own one of these and swear by the Overdrive app to load up my Kindle with tons of library books before I go on a trip. (Hot tip: Share the app login with your family members who live in other places, so you can access multiple library systems. My family uses three library systems for ours!) It takes up a small amount of space in my bag and easily fits into the back pocket of a plane seat. Plus, it doesn't cause eye strain because it's built to look like an actual page of paper. When I'm not traveling, I use it nearly daily to play games and, naturally, read books. When I buy something, I normally try to justify it by asking myself if I'll use the item at least once for every dollar I spend. Welp, I've gotten use 4x over in that sense with my Kindle.
Get it from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in 8GB and 32GB and in blue).
36. And a waterproof pouch to help you capture all kinds of impressive memories, making people pause at your IG videos and wonder if you have a social media assistant capturing all this stuff. I bring these on all my beach vacations and have taken some really cool underwater videos.
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.
Promising review: "I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend, and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck, and so it, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river and I just assumed it would be discovered a thousand years from now and placed in a museum as an ancient artifact. Fast forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office diver and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open, but there was not one single drop of water in it and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!" —Julie McDonald
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 14 colors).
37. A flying USB port so you can power up all your essential gadgets...even if you opted for the budget hotel that seems to only have one outlet. It has four places for cords, so you should at least (mostly) be covered.
Multitasky is a small business founded by Julia Xu in 2020. They're known for their adorable and functional tech products, including power banks, laptop accessories, and more!
Promising review: "It does as it says it does, allowing my Dell XPS15 to operate a pair of USB devices from my lightning port! The laptop has two USB ports, one of which is always occupied by my USB mouse dongle and the other by my protected USB drive. If I wanted to plug in my phone to switch data or add another thumb drive to transfer a device, everything might have to be disconnected, but not anymore. It was really worth it." —Liberty
Get it from Multitasky for $18 (available in three colors).
38. A cooling towel you simply soak in water and wring out to bring some chill to your outdoor activities. Yeah it's a hot one, but nature and adventure are calling!
Promising review: "I am so in love with these, mostly use them for running, etc. I use them at night a lot because I’m going through menopause. It has been a miracle for me, I’ve tried all kinds of supplements they help but this actually works better for me. Also had a virus and used one to cool me down and help with fever. So they have so many uses, I suggest that everyone get these!" —Annette Looper
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $10.19 (available in four color combos).
39. A bug bite suction tool to help you out with existing bites to remove the irritating venom, and help reduce itchiness, pain, and swollenness. Plus it works on other insect stings. Think about all the scratching you could've saved yourself!
Promising review: "We carry our Bug Bite Thing in the car, take on vacations, etc. Love it. We use for mosquito bites mostly...but I will tell you, my husband actually got stung by a wasp after we bought this and I cant tell you how excited I was! Not for this discomfort of course, but I could wait to see if the bug sucker would actually suck out the stinger...it did!!!!! So satisfying." —E. Horvath
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
40. Single serving Cafe Bustelo instant coffee packets for when you need a caffeine boost but are VERY particular about your cups of joe. We get it. It also may turn out being cheaper than running out for a fancy coffee.
Promising review: "Best instant coffee I've ever tasted in my LIFE!! I use these to make iced lattes with almond milk; no need to use hot water, just add a packet or two, ice, almond milk, and stevia, shake it up and you've got an iced latte just as good as Starbucks for a fraction of the price!" —Jennie
Get four boxes (with six packets each) from Amazon for $8.38.
41. A pair of hoop earrings that won't drag down your lobes thanks to their lightweight construction. Plus, IMO throwing on hoops is the easiest way to make any outfit look so much more glam. Even your travel outfit of leggings and a V-neck shirt!
Promising review: "These are beautiful earrings and look just like the $500 designer pair I was looking at. Very comfortable and the perfect size (50mm). Purchased in rose and yellow because I love them so much." —Sara Muroff
Get them from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in three sizes and three finishes).
42. A reviewer-beloved pair of waterproof EVA slides that'll be perfect for beach days, water activities...all kinds of stuff! And they're affordable enough that you can have a travel pair and a home pair.
Promising review: "For what I paid for these shoes, I did not expect much beyond the fun style. Instead, I’m pretty sure I just found my favorite summer shoe! These are comfy and pretty darn cute too! They sort of feel like the materials that Crocs are made of, and look just like the Birkenstock shoe of the same material, except with no name printed on the side. There is support in the middle of the foot all the way across, not just in the arch. I suffer from plantar fasciitis and I expect this will actually help that. But mostly it’s just a super soft waterproof shoe that will go everywhere with me except maybe a formal dinner! Then again, if the dress were long enough, I might even consider sneaking them in ... LOL. Buy the shoe, you won’t regret it." —Nicole M.
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in sizes 6–11 and 38 colors).
43. A satin scarf you can wear as a top, tie around your ponytail, use as a headband, tie on your tote for a lil' extra flair. There are so many stylish possibilities for jazzing up your travel capsule wardrobe without making it *look* like you're working with a capsule situation!
Beginning Boutique is an Australia-based woman-owned small biz.
Get it from Beginning Boutique for $9.99 (available in one size).
44. A membership to Scott's Cheap Flights so someone else can dig through travel info to find flight deals for ya'. There are two levels of membership, both of which entail *several* daily emails tailored to your "home" airport with priced-out deals and time windows they're available.
I signed up a few months ago for a Premium membership and am forever forwarding deals to my friends. I flirted with the idea of signing up but when my friend Marissa (who's a total booking fiend) told me that she and her husband used it to book a sweet, sweet deal to Italy, I decided to go ahead and do it. The thing about this is, you sometimes have to act fast because people snap up these tickets! I've used it to inform travel dates and windows to destinations, including figuring out that September is a great but affordable time to visit Alaska for a family trip.
Premium members receive airlines' mistake fares from all their departure airports (up to 10). And Elite members receive the same for every single mistake fare Scott's Cheap Flights finds. Additionally, Elite members can refine results for fare classes. So if you absolutely refuse to sit in Economy (good for you, I'll sit wherever on a plane), you won't receive alerts for Economy deals as an Elite member.
Sign up for Premium membership for $49/year or Elite membership for $199/year.
45. A lotion bar in a travel tin you won't have to throw in your toiletries bag and to help save you from hotel lotion.
Busbee's Bath Shoppe is a Riverview, Florida–based Etsy shop that specializes in bath and body items.
Promising review: "Perfect, this is my go to for my small cross body bag. I like the slim design and smells great. Just as described." —Jennifer Draut
Get it from Busbee's Bath Shoppe on Etsy for $3 (available in a variety of scents).
46. A *solid* Neutrogena SPF 50 sunscreen that really sticks to your skin on your tropical (or just plain sweaty) vacation. Oh, and because it's a solid, it's carry-on friendly!
I first bought this for a weeklong Croatian vacation last year when I did carry-on, and as long as you are *thoroughly* reapplying, this stuff stays on pretty well. On a beach club afternoon, I did haphazardly reapply and missed a strip on one arm, but I tend to do that with spray-on or lotion sunscreen, too. Since then, I've packed this for any trip I've been on, including a two-day Disneyland trip where I toted this around in my bag and shared with friends. I sometimes carry it with me in my purse on my everyday adventures because I know it's so easy to apply. Also worth mentioning...I am about the palest lady you've ever seen and swear by daily application of sunscreen. But when on a beach trip, I'm constantly swimming in the water and sweating. So yeah, this stuff works.
And if you're a bit hesitant about jumping on the solid sunscreen bandwagon, you can pack a stick of this, knowing you have enough sun protection to get you through to finding some spray-on or lotion SPF at your destination.
Get it from Amazon for $8.97.
47. 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: "I got this nice little and compact hair straightener for my trip to the beach. It is small and lightweight. Perfect for a trip. It heats up really fast, with in seconds it is very hot. It comes with a pouch to tuck it away in. You do need to move slowly through your hair because the heated part is small but it does a good job. I made a little video to show how nice it is. Also I like the comfort of the design to hold it. Fits nicely in my hand. Not heavy like the bigger bulkier ones are. I took my time and shopped around for a travel one. I think this will be good to use every day. It doesn’t take up much space either." —Connie Cunningham
Get it from Amazon for $17.57.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.