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 packing list pad that'll ensure you remember every last item you needed to bring with you on your vacay — from your toothbrush to your passport, no item will be left behind.
Promising review: "I hate packing — I mean, I really hate packing! I am always afraid I am going to forget something, and the entire ordeal is a stressful one for me. Since I have to travel a lot, this is a game-changer. No more guessing if I forgot my underwear — everything I need is on this list. I am thinking of just keeping one bag totally packed, filled with the items on the list, and just add my suit in when I am ready to travel. :)" —Dr. Oceanfront
Get it from Amazon for $7 (available in three styles)
2. A Trtl neck pillow, so you'll never wake up mid-flight to discover you've been out cold and drooling all over your neighbor's shoulder (yikes!) It's surprisingly supportive and looks waaaay more stylish than those U-shaped pillows.
BuzzFeed editor Ciera Velarde loves this product, she said:
"I've used this for the past few years and swear by it! Before this, I always found traditional neck pillows uncomfortable and would end up ditching them halfway through the flight and getting frustrated. The Trtl pillow is adjustable — you wrap the pillow around your neck and secure it with Velcro, and if you find it's too loose, just make it a bit tighter! I've truly never slept better on a plane than with this pillow."
Promising review: "I can't stop recommending this pillow to all of my friends! It has let me comfortably sleep on flights that take place on the most uncomfortable airplane seats. On long flights, I always need to prop up my hand and I rest my head on it. But this method always ends with my arm falling asleep and I end up waking up every 30 minutes. Now this pillow provides that exact same support without needing my arms to prop me up! It's small enough to fit in your bag and doesn't take up much space." —Simona Krifman
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in four colors).
3. A waterproof toiletry bag you can hang instead of trying to fit your entire skincare routine on the too-small hotel bathroom countertop. It comes with four zip-up compartments and packs up into a cute lil' purse, making it the *perfect* travel companion/
Promising review: "I. Love. This. Bag. Seriously, I had a cheap toiletry bag from Target that essentially did the same thing, only way worse. It was too small, the hook didn't rotate so you could only hang it at an angle, if anything ever leaked, it would seep right through the bag, etc. But THIS bag has NONE of those issues! It fits everything I need and then some, meaning I don't have to skimp on my 10-step Korean skincare routine when I travel anymore. It never leaks. And I love that the hook swivels so you can hang it anywhere, and your stuff hangs perfectly. I also love the handle and the overall flatter shape. It makes it so easy to travel with! Cannot recommend this bag enough." —KaiEli
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and six colors).
4. A cute portable charger that'll basically take up .01% of the space in your "personal item" and save your butt when you realize your phone is at 13% after you've been scrolling TikTok for an hour before you've even gotten on the plane.
Check out a TikTok of the portable charger in action.
This gadget gave my phone enough juice to ensure I made it through the entirety of the Taylor Swift concert after a day of traveling and running around prior. Can you imagine if my phone died without capturing 'Getaway Car' live with Jack Antonoff???? I charged it fully before hand and plugged it directly into my phone as needed. I loved that I was able to charge my phone while holding it and without having to fumble with any annoying cords. I'll definitely start popping this into my bag whenever I know I'm going to be out for extended periods of time.
Promising review: "The holy grail of portable chargers!!! I was traveling to Disney for vacation and knowing me, I would drain my battery with just taking pictures alone. I wanted a portable battery but didn’t want a carry a cord either, so I was excited when I found this little baby! It does exactly as described, pretty pink color, and I get one full charge of battery for my iPhone 11. Get it, you will not be disappointed!" —Meghan Doble
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in five colors) — and don't forget to clip the coupon to save 15%!
5. An airplane phone holder to clip onto the tray in front of you whenever you travel — never stress about only owning wireless headphones again! No need to *only* choose from the handful of meh movies the airline is showing.
Perilogics is a small business.
I used this on a flight with my restless toddler and was extremely impressed. Not only does it do its job — attaching to the tray in front of you and holding your phone — but it's SO durable. Seriously. When my kid wasn't watching Encanto during the flight he was twisting and pulling on this thing to no end. I could not BELIEVE we didn't have to try to reattach it at any point during the flight. It's getting a 10/10 from me.
Promising review: "If you watch anything on your phone during a flight, you need one of these! I purchased for my husband and I for use on a recent flight, and they worked like magic. The design is lightweight and compact to pack, easy to 'hang' and adjust to keep your phone at eye-level to then sit back and relax. Definitely better than having to hold your phone in your lap or the tray table and get a kink in your neck looking down. Everyone sitting around us on the plane asked where we got them. Totally worth it and highly recommend." —Amy Fritzer
Get it from Amazon for $12.97.
6. A jewelry organizer lined with clasps that'll ensure you don't waste a minute of your much-needed vacation stressfully trying to untangle your favorite necklaces from one another.
Promising review: "Great product! First, it’s adorable. I love the color and fabric quilting, the gold zippers. Second, it is the perfect size for my jewelry when I travel. I don’t usually bring much jewelry so this is a good size for me. The necklaces stayed tangle-free, and there are enough small zippered compartments for my bracelets and larger earrings. I was concerned about the organizer only having a snap closure and not zipping up all the way, but everything stayed secure and nothing fell out of place, so there’s that. Overall, a great product and I would assume the other sizes and varieties are of similar quality." —Emily
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and nine styles).
7. Spot My UV's SPF-detecting stickers which will give you a heads up when the sunscreen you've oh-so-meticulously put on needs to be reapplied. Just keep an eye an eye out for when it turns purple!
The waterproof patches last 12 hours or through six applications of sunscreen — whichever comes first. When purple, it's time to reapply and when clear, you're good to go!
Promising review: "I am very sensitive to UV rays and I burn very easily. Discovering these UV stickers was the best thing to ever happen to my vacations. They take the guesswork out of knowing when to reapply your sunblock, helping you stay burn free without watching the clock and doing math. These work with both lotion and spray on sunscreen. One sticker works all day long and doesn't come off while you are out having fun." —Rachel W.
Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in packs of 16, 32, and 48).
8. A set of cooling towels to sling across your forehead or neck and help you literally chill out after a day of laying out in the sun.
Promising review: "I saw these recommended on a TikTok for disabled people who can't regulate their temperature in the heat, and omg, was it worth buying them. You just add cold water and it's like an ice pack without the burning of the ice. They worked great for cooling my arm after the COVID shot! Excited to use them all summer!" —Muirgen Neal
Get a set of four for $19.99+ (available in 12 color combos).
9. Mosquito-repelling bracelets coated with essential oils (citronella, like your fave outdoor candles) to help you kick back during your camping trip and relax without having to think twice about being eaten alive by pesky bugs. (Gross!)
Check out a TikTok of the mosquito-repelling bracelets in action.
Promising review: "I moved last year from Southern California to North Carolina. Bugs of all types have always been attracted to me but the amount of bites I got last summer was WILD. Someone gave me one of these types of bracelets to use one day and it seemed to work SOOOOOO I decided to buy myself an arsenal to prepare for this summer. I read the reviews and about 99% of them had great results. I've only used this bracelet twice but both times I was outside and un-touched. Delivery was very quick so that was a plus. I'm not fond of the smell, I'm hyper sensitive to smells, but I'd rather have the odor than being chewed alive." —Tracey Agopian
Get a ten-pack from Amazon for $8.49.
10. A packable floppy hat you'll have no problem throwing into your beach bag or suitcase — what's the point of going to the beach if you're not going to bring the *draaamaaa* with a fabulous oversized hat?
Promising review: "Honey, this hat was giving me everything I needed it to give! I felt Gone With The Wind fabulous in this hat for my cruise vacation. It provided the adequate shade for my face and shoulders while allowing me to shade myself from people I didn’t want to talk to! Bay-bay! It was EVERYTHING I needed it to be AND the size XL fit over my braids. So my girls with protective styles or just big hair, this is the hat for you! 🎉" —1922blue
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in sizes M–XL and in eight colors).
11. A digital luggage scale, so you can head off to the airport confidently knowing you won't get a surprise overweight luggage free. Toss it into your bag to ensure you're also good to go on the way home when your bag is chockfull of souvenirs.
Check out BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly's TikTok of the digital luggage scale in action.
Promising reviews: "I cannot imagine how we would have managed a big international trip without this. It saved us so much stress and, I’m sure, surprise charges at the airport." —Potter Freak
"This scale works and was accurate on four flights. First flight was a test at 46 pounds and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the fourth flight weighed 49 but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost, must-have item for air travel." —Robert
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three colors and also a two-pack).
12. A set of homeopathic jet lag pills designed to help you fight the good fight against time zone changes — which is no easy feat! Added bonus? They won't leave you drowsy and looking for a nap.
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.
13. Black Girl sunscreen you won't know how you've ever managed to live without — it goes on completely sheer and won't leave you with that irritating residue that seemingly NEVER blends in. It's also infused with jojoba and avocado to hydrate your skin while also protecting it from harmful rays.
Promising review: "I used to dread wearing sunscreen because of that horrible ashy cast it gave my brown skin. Now? I actually look forward to putting this stuff on. I love how moisturizing it is and that it is completely sheer. What it is advertised to do it actually does. I layer this on top of my moisturizer. You do need to work it in a little bit but it absorbs into the skin nicely. To all my brown/Black ladies/fellas, what are you waiting for? Buy it!" —MD
Get it from Target for $15.99.
14. Or Sun Bum Hypoallergenic, Paraben-free, Gluten-Free Sunscreen — available in an array of SPFs, so you'll rest easy knowing your skin is protected and hydrated at all times.
I'm very fair-skinned and typically burn with ease. I've tried many (many!) sunscreens and Sun Bum has become my go-to. It's affordable but truly works, keeps my skin protected, and smells INCREDIBLE. I also love their tinted face lotion and would 100% use it year-round.
Promising review: "Great sunscreen. The proof isn't so high that you won't get some sun and it's got good moisturizing lotion inside of it to keep skin hydrated. Also some of the better smelling sunscreen that I've used. The 3-oz. tube size is great for traveling with carry-on bags." —Jordan
Get it from Amazon for $11.49+ (available in two sizes and SPF 15–70).
15. And Burt's Bees After Sun Soother lotion, because summer is here and so are the sun's harsh rays! This lotion is packed with aloe and coconut oil to help your skin feel cooler after a day of outdoor adventures.
It doesn't contain any parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or SLS.
Promising review: "I bought this before I went on a cruise. We stayed in a hotel for a few days prior and I got a little toasty by the sun. Used this and it helped drown down the burn feeling and helped heal my skin within days. By the cruise I was fine with no pains from the burn. Continued to use it daily while on vacation. Works like charm. Love it! Smells great too! Its not a loud smell or anything. Would totally recommend and buy again!" —Victoria Ramsey
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
16. The Ring Thing — a waterproof clip-on holder you can pop your most treasured rings into and ensure they're safe and secure while you go for a walk along the beach or take a dip in the ocean.
Ring Thing Design is a woman-owned small business dedicated to creating stylish and functional products. A portion of each sale for this product is donated to nonprofits working to stop human trafficking.
Promising review: "I was unsure about this purchase. I didn’t think I would use it to its full potential, but, man oh man, was I wrong. I use it every day. It’s where I store my engagement ring. While at work, I put it in the Ring Thing, and after, I am free to pop it back on. It has given me the power to shut my fiancé up when I 'forget' my ring. I NEVER FORGET NOW! It’s always with me. This is money well spent. Don’t sleep on getting yours." —Liliana
Get it from Ring Thing Designs on Etsy for $19.95 (available in seven colors) or Amazon for $19.95 (available in five colors).
17. A low-profile chair to ensure you'll be so comfortable the next time you plop down at the beach — it has a a cup holder to hold your emotional support water bottle (or whatever other beverage you might be sippin' that day) and a pouch on the back to protect your towel from getting dirty.
Promising review: "These are our new favorite folding chairs. We’ve used them at the beach, at the park, and in the backyard. My young children even used it to watch a movie in the living room (it allowed them to stretch their legs comfortably and recline). They are relatively light and easy to unfold. Folding it back is difficult the first time but once you get the technique, it's easy. The back pocket is where we usually store the bag and is still big enough to fit towels, phones, or tablets. The feet sink a little bit in the sand, but so does any chair. It is just more noticeable because the seat is close to the ground like a beach chair should be. I also love that it has cup holders that can rotate in and be hidden if you don’t need it. All in all, its an excellent and well-made beach chair." —K Fernandez
Get it from Amazon for $31.34.
18. BruMate insulated can cooler, featuring a double-walled stainless-steel layer that will keep your drink *~cooler than cool~* so you can enjoy your favorite summer bevvy while soaking up the sun.
Promising review: "Like to keep your beer cold? Get this. Slow drinker but don't want to let your friends on to how slow you're drinking? Get this. Want your White Claw/Truly to stay as cold as it was when you took it out of your fridge? Get this. I kid you not, this thing keeps drinks cold like that's its job (because it is). Once I got mine and saw how effective it was, I decided all of my cold beverage loving friends and family will be getting one also. With most of my friends being Michelob Ultra and White Claw drinkers, this seems to be the perfect fit. So hard to find a can koozie that holds those slim cans! Love this product and definitely recommend!" —Brooke Stull
Get it from Amazon for $21.25 (available in 31 colors).
19. A portable lock box designed to be secured around two beach chairs, so you can stow your wallet/phone/keys away safely and enjoy a long swim without constantly having to poke your head up to check that your items are still there.
You can also use this in your room to keep valuables protected. Safego is a small business!
Promising review: "I bought this to take on a vacation to the Virgin Islands because my husband is super paranoid about leaving valuables unattended on the beach. At first, he scoffed that this little plastic thing wasn’t going to stop a thief, and I had wasted my money. Then he admitted that the plastic was pretty sturdy, and it was cool that we could secure the cable to our beach chairs, a fence, or a tree (most petty thieves don’t carry around cable cutters). Next thing I know, he’s storing his wallet, phone, and room keys in it along with mine. He laced the cable through other things he didn’t want stolen, like the bags containing our snorkel gear. Neighboring beachgoers asked about it and where they could get one, and he was quick to demonstrate its features. And when we got home, I overheard him showing it to his friends, with as much approval as he could muster. Hate to say I told you so...OK, no I don’t." —Patsy
Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in five colors).
20. A satin-lined backless CurlCap you can count on to protect your skin (and scalp) from the sun while also keeping your hair from sticking to the back of your next in the heat. This hat was specifically designed to work for natural hair, as it has an open back and a scrunchie-like band that will comfortably sit on your head.
CurlCap is a Black-owned small business started by Britney Sade to create hats made specifically for natural hair with an open back and scrunchie design.
Promising review: "I absolutely love my cap. One of my buddies tagged me in a post about this one specifically because I am planning a trip to Florida this summer. I have a ton of hair, and it’s hard to put it all under a traditional cap. I love this so much and even ordered another one and will probably order a few more! I absolutely love the fact that it is a black0owned company and obviously created by someone who understands that our natural curls don’t always fit in all spaces!" —SimplyMarquisha
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in 21 styles).
21. A spinning snack container that'll entertain your picky toddler (and, hopefully, keep them fed) so you can enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet while relaxing at the beach. No need to pack five different snacks and hope they'll eat one of them — this will provide you them with enough options for the whole day.
GoBe Kids is a small business!
Promising review: "My 3-year-old will love something one week then despise it the next, so I love that I can put several different things in there for him to choose from. It’s been great for in the car and at the park! He’ll need to take a snack to preschool in a couple of months, which is why I bought this. I will be buying a couple more!" —Ashley Yon
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in two colors).
22. A waterproof pouch to toss your phone into before heading towards the water. It'll protect it from the elements and also provide you with a spot to keep your credit card, ID, and cash.
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.
BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly also loves this pouch:
"I buy these for every water-adjacent vacation (so mostly warm-weather trips like Croatia and Greece). But! As soon as I booked my flight for Iceland, I bought one of these to take along to The Blue Lagoon. It survived rain, hail, and all kinds of steam rising off the water.
With these, I find that they're good for about a day due to condensation. So, for a trip, I'll buy two to three, except for this one where I just knew I'd be in the water at The Blue Lagoon. And while I'm on the subject, check out a TikTok I made using the phone case! On the day I went, we had to duck and run inside because of rain. And it was hailing on us when I was in the water, so I had to face a certain way to keep from getting pelted in the face. But, when in Rome! Then, we went inside and at lunch at the Lava Restaurant, and it was GORGEOUS and clear outside post-lunch. So, this case worked well taking pics in both bad and good conditions (as you can see from the two pics for comparison). I've used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So, I really trust these!"
Get it from Amazon for $7.19 (available in 13 colors).
23. A universal phone shade that'll protects your face from the sun (and make it less likely to burn), but also blocks the light so you can continue to endlessly scroll TikTok and giggle to yourself over the latest dance trends.
Shadey Attachments is a UK-based small business that came up with this idea after seeing people struggle to view their phone while lounging in the sun. The shades attaches to most mobile devices by suction and fans out to protect your face from UV rays.
Promising review: "I ordered this last-minute for Christmas holiday, and I can honestly say, I now can’t use my phone in the sun without it! It took a second to get going and to realize you have to point it at the sun to put your face in the shade (also better for the wrinkles). It's literally the best thing ever for the sun." —Hayley Place
Get it from Shadey Attachments on Etsy for $17.74 (available in six colors).
24. Tozo earbuds many swear are *just* like AirPods but for waaaaaay cheaper — you can tune out all of the chit-chat, crying babies, and extremely loud toilet flushing (it really is intense, isn't it?!) during your flight.
Check out a TikTok of them if you're not yet convinced!
Promising review: "Okay these are by far the best earbuds I’ve ever used. No exaggeration. My husband had these in his Amazon cart a couple of months ago but never checked out. Well it’s about to be Christmas soon, so I chose to get these on the sly for him. When they came in I wanted to make sure everything was working correctly before wrapping them up for Christmas. The sound quality is absolutely perfect, the noice cancellation is AMAZING! They were on low and the sound was crystal clear. I asked my 6-year-old son to talk so I could see how well they canceled out noise and I couldn’t hear him, so I told him to shout and I still couldn’t hear him at all. My husband will absolutely love these!! Also, now I need to get myself a pair as well! Definitely happy with my purchase!" —Ashley Haley
Get them from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in five styles).
Be sure to clip the coupon for an additional $5 off!
25. And an AirFly Pro wireless transmitter that'll let you use your Bluetooth headphones to watch whatever ~*movie of the month*~ is playing during your flight.
It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual.
Twelve South is a small business that has been creating innovative tech accessories since 2009.
Promising review: "If you have a wireless earpiece and fly frequently, this is a must-have. Most newer planes have a monitor on the seat backs that enables you to watch movies, etc. This unit enables you to do it using your wireless earpiece. Connection is simple and automatic once you have initially paired your device or devices. It's convenient. I'm happy with the purchase." —JCE
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three models).
26. A solid hair conditioner bar, because the TSA liquid-limits shouldn't be allowed to deprive you of having beautifully moisturized hair in your once-in-a-lifetime vacation photos.
BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly had a lot to say about this helpful conditioner bar:
"This is me on a week-long trip to Croatia two years ago 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 $13.99.
27. And a bar of natural, plastic-free solid shampoo that won't leak all over the outfits your carefully curated for your trip.
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 $15.50+ (available in nine varieties).
28. A pair of sunglasses that'll definitely help you make some friends — it has a built in bottle opener on the frame! You're going to quickly become the Hero of the Day when everyone realizes the beers they brought along with with them are not, in fact, twist-offs.
WearMe Pro is a small business!
Promising review: "Maaaannnnnn, I bought these for Cancun, and they’ve been used and abused here in the saltwater pool and beaches, but they are worth the money in my opinion! Yes they feel a tad bit cheap, but hey, they’ve opened so many bottled beer and sodas, and I like how they look. I’m happy with my purchase! Will be buying more to keep in my car and in my work truck." —Erik Perez
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two colors).
29. Retro heart-shaped sunnies to shade your eyes while also allowing you to channel your inner-Barbie Girl — pair 'em with a striped black and white bathing suit (you know the one) and blast Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice's version of "Barbie World" for the rest of the summer.
One of my friends actually bought a pair of these for her entire bachelorette party a few months ago. We all have very different face shapes and they were shockingly lovely on every last one of us!
Promising review: "Constantly asked if these are YSL sunglasses. You can tell they’re cheaper when handling but apparently, no one else notices when they’re on. Highly recommend, especially if you’re someone that loses or breaks your sunglasses easily" —Katie K.
Get them from Amazon for $11.95+ (available in 19 styles).
30. A Stojo collapsible travel cup in a variety of fabulous colors — fill it up when you get through security instead of buying an overpriced bottle of water. It'll also be great for taking your hotel coffee out on the go when you get to your destination, then easily fold back into your bag.
It even comes with a straw, can hold both hot and cold liquids, and is dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Stojo is a small business aiming to eliminate single-use plastics with their portable and reusable products.
Promising review: "I purchased this one for a week-long trip where I would only be traveling with a carry on and was light on extra space. This little collapsible cup was perfect. When I got up to hit the town for the day I’d collapse this down and put it in my crossbody bag. I’d stop for a drink and pull this out and then when I was done with my drink I could collapse it back down to put back in my bag. At the end of the day I’d rinse it at my hotel and let it dry until the next morning. My biggest worry was that after I had used it and put it back in my bag, the dregs of my drink would leak out but this cup was airtight and I had zero leakage." —A.W.
Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in three sizes and 22 colors).
31. A genius Alleyoop Pen Pal that'll replace your eyeliner, lip liner, brow pencil, and highlighter in your makeup bag so you'll have extra room to pack hair accessories, lip sticks, etc!
My BuzzFeed shopping colleague Jasmin Sandal has this and loves it. She says:
"I didn't realize I'd ever use a makeup product in my 20s that had the ability to transport me back to something I used in sixth grade, but here we are; and here I am using a multitool pen... for my face. I gotta say, I love the concept of the Pen Pal from Alleyoop! After using all of the functions (eyeliner, highlighter, lip liner, eyebrow pencil), and as someone who LOVES makeup but was applying as little as humanly possible during lockdown, I think it’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their routine. It's ideal to use for touch-ups come the end of the work day, or a subtle, minimalist way to apply makeup in the a.m. The brow pencil is particularly soft and pigmented, and filled in my eyebrows quickly. I just adore the ease of application of each product, and appreciate the universal, does-it-all-for-you concept. Plus, it saves me so much room in my already overflowing makeup bag!"
Promising review: "Such a time saver to have this 4-in-1 tool! I use it daily and love that it is so compact." —Lauren F.
Get it from Alleyoop for $25 (available in three shades) or Amazon for $25 (available in two shades).
32. A pop-up beach tent complete with a splash pool and UV protection that'll keep your baby cool — can't promise they'll be calm and collected, but it's a start.
This item is noted for children under the age of 3. Note: be sure to keep all eyes on your little one when they're using this product (and any water product!).
Promising review: "Found this after our first experience with our 9-month-old at the beach. He wanted to crawl straight in the beach so I wanted to find something that would keep him busy but yet be able to play with sand and water! This was perfect!!!! He loved it and it kept him occupied all day, on and off. We didn’t use the shade since we had a canopy up already for shade so not sure how strong the shade part of it is." —Brittany
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
33. A portable door lock you can attach to any door and transform any hotel, vacation rental, or room in a guest house into one with a properly functioning lock. Safety first, friends.
BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly has this and noted: "If you're flying with this in your carry-on, make sure to put it in an easily accessible pocket. I've had TSA pull me aside a few times to ask about the large piece of metal in my bag."
Promising review: "Buy it! Went on a trip and was going to see the hotel without my husband and was nervous. I bought this, and it was so easy to use and safe. I tried myself to open the door a few times, and it didn't budge. If anybody living in an apartment in need of extra security or if they need to take a trip alone and need that extra security while being alone, don't hesitate to buy it!!" —Anna
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
34. A waterproof Kindle for any lit lover whose main goal during a vacation is to plow through a *ton* of books on their TBR stack — this will ensure you can bring as many as you'd like without taking up precious space in your luggage or carry-on bag. Not to mention you can safely read it by the pool or at the beach.
I have a Kindle and surprisingly have become a big fan of it — especially when traveling. While I absolutely prefer a hardcover book, it's nearly impossible to put more than two (which is a stretch in itself) in my suitcase along with my clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc. I read most of my books these days through the Libby app (all you need is a library card for access) which can be used via your phone or Kindle. No need to spend tons of money on novels when I simply am not someone who rereads them! I like that I can use this one near water without fear of it getting destroyed (yikes).
Get it from Amazon for $149.99+ (available in 8GB and 32GB and in four colors).
35. A pair of quick-dry water shoes that'll help you conquer even the rockiest of beaches — no one wants to stumble and hop around in pain in front of the cute lifeguard.
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 $9.88+ (available in seven sizes and 44 colors).
36. Tansynella Organic Bugscreen — it's made with organic sunflower oil and tansy (an insect-repelling herb). Slather it all over your body when you're showering and enjoy the benefits throughout the rest of your day. (That means less bug bites, more moisturized skin!)
Get it from our Goodful shop for $20.
37. A crinkle cut-out one-piece in a fun color that'll make you even more excited to get out and enjoy the sunshine by the pool with your besties. All that'll be left to determine is whose bringing the snacks and iced coffee for everyone 🥤.
Promising review: "This is my first one-piece suit and I absolutely love it. It's a one piece, but very cute and I feel great. I don't normally like one pieces on my body, but this one feels great." —Anonymous
Get it from Aerie for $29.97 (originally $59.95; available in women's sizes 2XS–2XL and two colors).
38. And Away's popular The Carry On for anyone who detests the hassle of checking a bag (no one wants to wait around at baggage claim after a long day of travel). It has plenty of space for a variety of outfits, shoes, all of your chargers, etc, and has a laundry compartment! It comes in an array of fun colors, and for an extra 20 bucks, you can add a USB charging port — no more draining your phone battery pre-flight. Plus, the TSA-approved lock means only you and airport security can access your belongings.
I (Heather) have owned this bag for nearly five years and I'm such a fan. It rolls so smoothly that my just-learning-to-walk toddler had no issue pushing it around the airport for fun before our flight (seen above, left). I've never had an issue getting it into an overhead bin and the outer shell has stayed in great condition over the years (minus a few scratches, of course). My husband has one as well — we loved The Carry On so much we invested in The Large (when you're a family-of-three sometimes it *is* easier to check a bag).
Promising review: "I was in Rome and Florence, Italy, for nine days, and the Away Carry-On was just perfect. From being able to charge up my iPhone at the airport or on the train traveling from Rome to Florence, it worked perfectly. Stylish and very versatile. It also kept my belongings packed beautifully, plus the perk of a laundry bag for my dirty clothes. Getting through security was a breeze, plus the added compliments of how beautiful it was. You have a customer for life. I was very happy and impressed." —Keith H.
Get it from Away for $275+ (available with or without a USB charger and in five colors).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.