25 Things Anyone Who Ever Travels Needs

Oh the places you'll go!

1. A set of genius packing cubes to help you do what you thought was impossible — actually get your suitcase to close with room to spare!!!

amazon.com

Promising review: "I'm officially sold on packing cubes! These things are amazing! I can believe I've been packing without them my whole life. These are great quality and come in fun colors. I appreciate the mesh lining that allows you to peek inside. They're also a great value. I packed my clothes, shoes, and toiletry bag for a 10-day trip to Europe as I normally would first, and then packed them in the packing cubes. There was so much more room after packing in the cubes! The items I fit in the cubes and bag were: two jackets, a jean vest, four pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, a romper, four dresses, a maxi skirt, seven tank tops, four shirts, three camisoles, three pajama sets, 15 pairs of undies, six pairs of socks, and four pairs of shoes. Why are you still reading?? Go buy these cubes!" —Tiffany

Get a set of four plus a laundry bag from Amazon for $24.99 (available in eight colors).

2. A BPA-free, stainless steel insulated water bottle that'll actually keep your drink cold throughout your entire journey.

Macy's

It can keep liquids hot for eight hours and cold for 24 — so if you fill it at the water fountain before your flight, it'll keep things cool till you arrive, no matter how long your trip. It also resists condensation and has a rubber carry loop on the top, so it won't be a pain to schlep around.

Get it from BuzzFeed's Goodful line, exclusively at Macy's for $21.99 (available in four colors).

3. A comfy go-everywhere cardi with roomy pockets that's here to save you from overly air conditioned planes and the unfailingly unpredictable weather at your destination.

Amazon

Why is it that no matter how much you check the weather before you go, you always wish you'd packed differently?

Promising review: "This sweater (which I have in both black and navy) is a GREAT sweater at a great price! I bought these for a trip to Europe and the Middle East where I would be facing varying climates. I didn't want to spend a lot on them, because I knew they'd face heavy wear during the trip. This sweater was perfect. It kept me warm in cold and windy weather and cool enough in hot weather. It wore very well despite the ardors of travel and held its shape despite being balled up and tied around my waist at times. It didn't pull, snag, or pill. I washed this sweater when I got home because it had been on many hikes in dusty places, and I hung it up to dry. It came out as good as new — it's one of the great travel items that can go into the washing machine!" —Charlotte in CA

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes S-XXXL and in 14 colors).

4. A map-printed travel size laundry bag that can fold up into a pouch to clip on your bag. It's so convenient, you and your sweaty clothes would be totally lost without it.

Amazon

Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two prints).

5. A genius travel pillow you can use as a neck pillow or zip into a rectangular, classic pillow shape for all your cozy needs. It's truly ahead of the game.

Amazon

This baby was picked as the best inexpensive travel pillow by BuzzFeed Reviews!

Promising review: "I bought this pillow for my study abroad trip to Germany. My journey from the Midwest to Germany was around 24 hours, and this travel pillow made it far more comfortable. Though a little large, I consider this pillow to be an excellent purchase. I used it on planes, trains, and buses. It's comfortable and doesn't get too hot, like some of the other travel pillows I've tried. One side has a smoother cloth texture, while the other side is a little soft and fuzzy. This was really handy — depending on the temperature and humidity of where I was, I could switch to suit my preference. I highly recommend this product." —Emily

Get it from Amazon for $14.52+ (available in three colors).

6. Or an equally clever puffer jacket that packs into a neck pillow, because you simply don't have the suitcase space for products that only do one thing.

Madewell

Get it from Madewell for $128 (available in sizes XXS-3X and in four colors).

7. A just-add-alcohol, on-the-go cocktail kit that'll allow you to make a classic Old Fashioned on a plane or in a hotel room. This is the future of luxury travel, people, nothing old fashioned about it!!!

Amazon

It includes enough ingredients to make six Old Fashioneds (other than the alcohol): aromatic bitters, orange bitters, grapefruit bitters, six sugar cubes, three cocktail picks, a muddler spoon, and a linen cocktail napkin so you can be extra fancy.

Promising review: "Everyone on the plane was jealous. I used this on a three-hour flight yesterday and had the closest thing you can get to a perfect Old Fashioned on an airplane. The flight attendant was confused at first when I asked for an extra glass, but after I explained, she was fascinated and actually watched me make the drink! She said it looked like a chemistry experiment. I highly recommend, even if it's just to start conversation on a flight." —Briana Sircy Wright

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

8. A pair of cool joggers for a comfy and chic take on classic sweats. Because hey, even if you can't upgrade to first class, you can still upgrade your travel wardrobe.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "These are very soft sweatpants. I wore them during a 10 hour flight and couldn't have been happier." —Caitlin

Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in sizes XS-XXL and 38 styles).

9. Or some super stretchy, moisture-wicking trousers basically made for being on the go.

Rhone

The back pocket has a handy zipper compartment to keep your valuables safe while you're on the move!

Promising review: "These pants were great right out of the packaging. I’ve gone out to a nice dinner with them on, flown cross country, and scrambled up on a roof. These pants look great, are very comfortable and move with me." —Matthew E.

Get them from Rhone for $128 (available in sizes 28-42 and in seven colors).

10. A super cute and spacious weekend bag you can hook onto a suitcase handle — it really takes the "carry" out of "carry-on."

Amazon

If and when you DO have to carry it, though, it has a handy shoulder strap!

Promising review: "I needed an under-the-seat carry-on for a flight, and this bag fit the bill perfectly. It's roomy and well-made with pockets for small things. It's large enough to fit a laptop inside with room to spare, and you can, indeed, slip it over the extended handle of your rolling suitcase. I can't tell you how long the bag will last, but I can say that I was pleased on its maiden flight." —Leila Lodencraft

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in 10 colors and prints).

11. A roomy passport wallet with pockets, pockets, and more pockets, plus RFID-blocking technology so you can keep your important documents more safe and sound than a Capital Cities song.

amazon.com, amazon.com

It'll show you what you wanna see and take you where you wanna be.

Promising review: "I've been looking for the perfect travel wallet that can fit a lot of stuff but not look bulky and I think I've found it :). It's so difficult to find one that can fit all the stuff that you need in one place. I love the navy blue color and the material, and the design is very sleek. It has a lot of pockets inside for cash (bills and coins!), a pen, passport, IDs, and ESPECIALLY airline tickets! It's almost the size of a regular/medium greeting card envelope. It saves you the hassle of rummaging through your bag to look for what you need or having to take out a different kind of wallet for money and ID, etc. I'll definitely get one for my daughter or as a gift for someone who likes to travel organized and in style." —MoonMaiden_1980

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 35 colors).

12. A game-changing drawstring makeup pouch that expands into a mat. It turns out the solution to losing your makeup and toiletries when you travel is to never actually have to take them out of the bag, technically.

Amazon

It also has a zipper compartment roomy enough for multiple brushes, so you can keep 'em separate from the rest of your beauty stuff.

Promising review: "This is a great little bag for traveling. I bought one for makeup and one for my jewelry. I put each piece of jewelry in an individual small plastic bag, and then into this travel bag. I can open it up and view the contents very easily. It takes up very little space and opens so that you aren't searching for that one particular item. Everything is in plain view. I highly recommend it!" —Debra J.

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

13. A lifesaving Pack This! notepad that'll take over the responsibility of remembering everything you need (and that you were definitely going to forget).

Amazon

It's got space at the top for you to record where you're going, list special events you'll attend while you're there, and note the weather, plus a list of basically everything you could possibly need on your vacay. Just mark off how many (if any) of each of the suggestions you're taking and them check them off as you pack! They've seriously thought of everything, from formal dresses to motion sickness medicine, so it's relevant to whatever kind of trip you're taking. I know, it's rough when a piece of paper is more responsible than you are.

Promising review: "My girlfriend loves this. She suffers heavily from wanderlust as well as forgetfulness, so this helps immensely with both. She loves the amount of detail it goes into, and it helps her remember the little things." —Adam Despen

Get it from Amazon for $7.

14. A gorgeous scratch-off world map so you can record and display your world travels for years to come. The only thing more satisfying than finally taking the trip of your dreams? Scratching off your destination on this baby.

Amazon

Promising review: "This is so fun! I absolutely love it and am planning to add it to my list of Christmas gifts for friends this year. First of all, I love that you can scratch individual states off the US portion of the map. It also gives us a fun way of tracking our travels and shows our small kids how big and wide the world really is. I'm so motivated to get out and travel now, and will consider scratching the map the final act of every new trip we complete. It's super high quality too. I'm looking forward to watching my children interact with it for years to come. I could definitely see us framing this when the children are older as a way of commemorating our family vacations." —RobisonTx

Get it from Amazon for $25.95.

15. A comfy foot hammock, which attaches to arms of the tray table in front of you and will finally allow you to actually do what the flight attendants tell you — sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight.

Amazon, amazon.com

Stiff, swollen legs at the end of an international flight? I don't know her.

Promising review: "Most of my flights are 10-12 hours long, and staying comfortable is a constant struggle. I recently tried this on a couple of shorter flights (three hours each) and was pleasantly surprised by how much more comfortable I felt. On one of the flights, I was seated in the middle seat. The footrest was completely unobtrusive to my surrounding passengers. The adjustable straps easily fit around the arms of the tray table of the seat in front of me. I kept the tray table up most of the time, and rested my feet flat with my knees bent. For the return flight, I adjusted the length as one would adjust the strap on a backpack and slid the footrest behind my calves, elevating my legs. It felt as if I were sitting in a recliner with my feet raised. I highly recommend trying this product, as it makes a ride in coach feel like first class. Update: Just returned from 10 hours of flying and was able to fall asleep using this footrest. I felt quite comfortable. Finding ways to sleep on a plane has been a long process of trial and error. With this footrest, I've finally solved my problem!" —Malia

Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (available in three colors).

16. An amazing piece of smart luggage by the Insta-famous brand Away that must have been designed by a travel wizard or something. It comes with a built-in lock, an ejectable battery back for charging your devices on the road, and tons more cool features that may make you swear off regular suitcases for good.

Arielle Calderon

BuzzFeed writer Arielle Calderon tried this Insta-famous luggage and said it was def worth the splurge!

So what else does this thing offer, you ask? Well, where to even begin? It comes with converters so you can power up the battery pack in foreign countries. It's got three handy compartments that make packing way less sucky — one for clothes, one for loose things (it zips closed so stuff won't go everywhere), and a thin middle one for laptops and tablets and the like. The middle compartment can also be buckled down and used for compression so you can fit more stuff. It even comes with a travel laundry bag! And as if all that weren't enough, when you buy it you get a 100 day trial — if you use it and don't like it in that time, you can return it and get a full refund! Seriously!

Get "The Bigger Carry-On" suitcase from Away for $245 (available with or without the battery and in 10 colors), and find more sizes of luggage here.

17. A 3-in-1 travel razor that's not only super easy to pack, but also perfect for trips where you don't have access to a shower or, let's face it, just aren't showering every day but still wanna stay ~smooth~. You are on vacation, after all.

Free People

This genius little gadget features a blade (it also comes with one replacement, and you can buy refill packs on the brand's website), a little spritzer bottle you can fill with water, and bar of shave balm. All three are stored within the gizmo, and you just turn the dial in the middle to switch between them!

Get it from Free People for $15 (available in four colors) or Amazon for $17.99 (available in four colors).

18. A hella detailed Moleskine travel journal with pages for planning each day, space to map out your budget, and even tear-out packing lists!

Amazon

The front of the journal features a world map and important travel information like country codes for different destinations. It has a mix of blank, lined, and dotted pages so you can journal your trip in whichever medium suits you! It even comes with stickers and has a storage pocket for mementos.

Promising review: "This is a beautiful, sturdy travel journal. It continues to hold up well after several trips. I love the size and the little pocket in the back." —Tisha

Get it from Amazon for $19.65+ (available in three colors).

19. A set of three eye masks so you can get some damn sleep on your flight, even if your seatmate has the window shade open or their reading light on.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I like how these eye masks cover the nose as well. Having an eye mask with a nose piece blocks out a lot more light than one without it. The mask itself doesn't touch much of my face, which I also like. My roommate stays up late with the light on, this has blocked out most of the light and helped me sleep a lot better. They come in a reusable bag, so they're great for someone who travels a lot." —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three color combinations).

20. A gentle, hydrating bar of travel soap that's infused with luxe ingredients like olive oil and honey, because your skin deserves better than that super-drying hotel bar soap.

DHC Care

Promising review: "I've probably used this soap daily for ten years. I started using it when I received a sample and never looked back. Even my husband uses it. When I switched to something else that was less expensive, he was the first to complain and asked why we switched. I immediately ordered the mild soap again and we haven't used anything else since. I love pretty much everything about it. It doesn't dry out my skin and there's no fragrance." —Anonymous

Get it from DHC Care for $2.50.

21. A duo of bright geometric luggage tags sure to stand out from the sea of black and brown luggage and help you escape the torture that is baggage claim a heck of a lot faster.

Amazon

Promising review: "My daughter just went to Australia and we needed tags that would make her bags easy to spot in the airport. These tags worked perfectly on her black luggage. They have a great spot for your address and then the flip side is this rubbery, flexible punch of color. They attached securely. No issues and would buy again!" –Sheila Weber

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99.

22. A 4-in-1 clip-on lens kit that'll basically turn your phone into a fancy-ass camera, while being way easier to schlep around than a fancy-ass camera.

amazon.com, Amazon

It comes with a 12x zoom telephoto lens, a fisheye lens, a wide lens, and a macro lens, all of which can be clipped onto most smartphones! The kit also includes a phone holder and tripod, a cleaning cloth, four lens covers, and two clips.

Promising review: "I used to carry a heavy DSLR camera, but it's not convenient, especially when I travel. Recently, I found this cellphone telephoto lens kit, and was very happy with the purchase. The lenses are very easy to install — basically, you just screw the lens on the clip and attach it to the cellphone, no extra tool needed. It's very sturdy. I've tried the telephoto lens and the macro lens, and I'm pretty happy with the results. The images are clear, and the macro lens can show details." —Alicia

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

23. A universal power adapter to ensure all your must-have devices are as ~charged~ as you are about your international vacay.

Amazon

It works with outlets in over 150 countries and can charge up to five devices at once!

Promising review: "I just traveled to the Scotland, Belgium, and Switzerland with a MacBook, an iPhone, an Anker battery, and USB-chargeable headphones. I was able to charge all four at the same time with no problems. I'd been worried about what would happen if the hotel room plugs were recessed, but I had no issues with that with either the UK or EU plugs." —Julia Lerman

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors and with or without a Type C USB port).

24. Airborne chewable tablets full of vitamins C, A, and E and other helpful minerals like zinc and magnesium for an on-the-go immune system boost. The best part? You don't have to dissolve them in water for one of those icky, chalky health concoctions.

Amazon

As a germaphobe who is disgusted by similar products that you have to dissolve in your drink, I'm never without a bottle of these chewables. Listen, there's no 100% foolproof way to make sure you never get sick, other than like a Seinfeldian Bubble Boy situation, but it definitely makes me feel better knowing I can give the ol' immune system a mega-boost of vitamins.

Promising review: "I recently traveled on a 17-21 hour flight and was in and out of airports. Taking Airborne a couple of weeks before my trip as well as after helps me boosted my immune system and helped me avoid many germs that I might otherwise succumb to. I take these during cold season or anytime I'm going to be in close proximity or contact with other folks that might not be all that healthy, like people on planes who might be coughing or sneezing. I haven't come down with anything since using these so I think they work well." —Michelle Dunn

Get it from Amazon for $5.49+ (available in two flavors).

25. National Geographic's 50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do, a stunning tome that proves you don't have to go far to have amazing adventures.

Amazon

It provides a mix of practical info (like tourism offices) and unexpected ideas for what do in whatever state you're visiting. Whether you're planning a road trip or are looking for a reason not to dread having to go to your acquaintance's wedding on the other side of the country, this book's got you covered (Get it? Cause books have covers? Okay, sorry, I must be jet lagged if my puns are getting this bad).

Promising review: "I saw this book at the library and needed to have my own copy. It has so much great information. I also like that for each state, it gives you some movies/music/books relating to that state. We travel via camper to many of these states, and while some of the information may be repeated from previous books, there's a lot of new stuff in here too. It's a great resource to have." —Getting There

Get it from Amazon for $16.96.

Still need more stuff for your next trip? Check out one of these lists:

27 Genius Travel Products That'll Make You Want To Take A Trip

17 Stylish Travel Products You Need In Your Life

18 Multipurpose Products That'll Make Any Traveler's Life Easier

32 Essentials Our Readers Always Pack In Their Carry-On Bag

23 Things To Keep You Entertained During Your Next Flight

Time to book a vacay!

Bravo

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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