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. An airplane seat back organizer because air travel can actually be pleasant when all your in-flight essentials are within reach. Thanks to the four roomy pockets, this organizer can hold your snacks, drinks, electronics, books, toys, etc. so you may not need to squeeze past your seat neighbor 10 times in the same flight because you need to grab something else from your carry-on.
2. A travel cupholder that'll keep your coffee and water bottle contained so your hands are free to show your ticket to the gate agent.
Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time, I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, and when it was my turn to check my passport and ticket, the coffee cup fell to the ground and coffee spilled. It was a nightmare! This time, I bought this cup holder! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." —Philip
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 25 colors).
3. A waterproof trash can so the inevitable garbage you collect during long drives and road trips doesn't litter the floor.
It comes with 10 trash bags.
Promising review: "I have an SUV, and it works great! I travel a lot and am always on the road. It is a good size. I have it attached to the center console, and it sits in the back. It gives plenty of legroom for backseat passengers. I use the side pockets to hold my car needs: flashlights, books, etc. I use a regular plastic bag to line the can so I do not have to clean the cloth as much. I like this better than a regular small car trash can because it does not spill or tip over. The top keeps everything in, and there is a small strip of Velcro on the bottom of the bag to keep it in place." —Debra Henegar
Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in eight colors).
4. A digital luggage scale to save your wallet from any overweight baggage fees. You'll also be spared the embarrassment of having to repack your bag in the middle of the airport.
You can switch between pound and kilogram measurements.
Promising review: "Works great, a must-have when flying. Very accurate scale. Easy to read with the light on it. It's a must if you have a wife like mine who loves to shop for clothes and fill up her suitcase along with mine, or if you want to stay under that 40 pounds and avoid paying the extra for overweight baggage fees. Easy to use, very accurate, well made, and a nice design. Very pleased. Saved me money." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors).
5. A travel-friendly mini steam iron if you refuse to wear a wrinkly shirt. This is great for throwing in your travel bag so you can feel more put together in all your vacation photos for Instagram.
Promising review: "I bought this iron to take on a trip. It worked like a charm. The quality is great. It has several settings, which include steam and spray. You have to get all the water out before you lay it down, or it will leak. however, that's the way a lot of irons are. It does not have an automatic shut-off, but for the price it is great value for your money. I will be taking this whenever I go traveling. If you're on the fence, get it." —Savvyshopper
Get it from Amazon for $24.90+ (available in two colors).
6. A wrinkle-resistant top for wearing to the airport in the morning and then to a business dinner in the evening.
Promising review: "I've slowly purchased almost all the colors. I've sized down for a better fit for me, even with a wide back. There are no gaps in the front buttons. Very handy travel piece as well as used at home or wherever you need it. Great feel in warm/hot temperatures, UPF protection and wrinkle resistant." —anonymous
Get it from Athleta for $69.99+ (available in women's regular sizes XXS–3X, tall sizes S–XL, petite sizes XS–L, and in four colors — not all colors available in all sizes).
7. A set of portable soap paper sheets because we've all had to use shady public restrooms and cringed when we press the soap dispenser only to find that it's empty. Not anymore!
Promising review: "So many times I have been stuck using a public restroom with no hand soap. Total nightmare, especially nowadays. I can't stress enough how handy this product is. I keep one everywhere: one in my purse, one in my car, one in my diaper bag. They're small enough to fit anywhere. The packaging is super cute; a bit cheap feeling, but they do the job. The actual soap is amazing. It lathers up really well and doesn't leave a residue layer, nor does it leave your hands feeling mega dry. Definitely recommend!" —Giovanna
Get a pack (50 sheets total) from Amazon for $5.49 (available in three colors and larger packs).
8. And a pack of laundry soap sheets that'll clean your socks, undies, T-shirts, bathing suits, you name it so you don't need to pack one pair for every single 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 50 sheets from Amazon for $12.95.
9. Or some Tide sink packets so you can enjoy the same scent you use at home.
Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag.
Promising review: "I have taken these packets on travels throughout the world. They are small and fit in my bag. They are good for a wash in a sink or wash bag. Glad to have them. They don’t leak either." —Barbara Jefferson
Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.89.
10. A pocket-sized, refillable travel perfume atomizer to bring your signature scent with you. That bulky (albeit beautiful) glass bottle is def not TSA compliant and will take up valuable space in your toiletry bag.
BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly loves hers. In her own words: "I've been using for about a year. 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: "I bought these due to traveling a lot for work and needing to cut down on the size of things in my carry-on bag for flying. I can bring four different perfumes now instead of one big one. They're super easy to fill and haven't leaked so far, but I keep them in a sandwich baggie while traveling, just in case. I would 100% buy them again." —Emily
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $7.99.
11. A drink holder if you're always running out of space on those tiny airplane tray tables and risking spilling your Coke all over your neighbor. This try sits on the the window ledge and offers cup holders as well as slots for a phone, glasses, headphones, and more.
Heads up — you can only use this if you're sitting in a seat that has access to a full window!
Promising review: "I used this for the first time on a 737. It was fabulous! It didn't intrude into my sitting space nearly as much as I expected. Because the actual window is recessed from the side wall, this only sticks out from the side wall about an inch. If you're considering this, you likely fly enough to know that seats aren't always aligned with the windows. If your window happens to be right beside your seat or the seat in front of you, this won't be of much use. But because it doesn't jut out as much as I thought, you can use it in more situations than I expected. And when you can use it, it's great! I love not having to have my entire tray table down just to hold a 3-inch cup. My only suggestion would be to add a place to hold trash until the flight attendant picks it up. This is very small, very lightweight, and very useful. I'll be taking it on every flight from here on." —JBC
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
12. An international power converter for anyone traveling overseas — because there's nothing like landing in a new country and going to plug in your phone at the hotel only to realize...oh crap your charger doesn't work here. This is compatible with outlets in 150 countries and has voltage converters so you don't blow a fuse trying to straighten your hair.
Promising review: "I was traveling to several places in Europe and needed a travel charger that could easily fit in the electrical outlets overseas and safely recharge my US-rated appliances without frying. And along came this voltage converter that did the job very effectively while traveling in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, and Spain. Although the item is a bit bulky from my own carrying convenience point of view, it's quite manageable nonetheless. I've been very happy using this as a voltage converter while traveling the continent. It's a keeper for me for any future travel." —Expatriot
Get it from Amazon for $39.98.
13. A versatile ballet flat because they make the always-difficult task of selecting what shoes you're going to pack oh so easy. These check all the boxes: They won't take up a ton of space in your suitcase, they're appropriate for a variety of occasions (you might not need to pack other shoes!), they're really heckin' comfortable, and they're easy to slip on and off (no one wants to untie and wiggle out of chunky boots while a hundred people give you dirty looks because you're taking so long to get through security).
FYI, these are included in Prime Try Before You Buy so you can test them out before committing if you’re a Prime member!
Promising review: "I normally cannot wear flats because they give me terrible blisters on the back of my feet. These didn't! Bought these in nude for a city vacation with a lot of walking, but where sandals aren't necessarily worn, and these were perfect! They obviously don't have the support of sneakers, but I am so happy to finally have a cheap pair of flats that don't give me blisters. I broke them in with thin socks around my house before wearing them out, and when possible, I wore them with little sock liners. Also — I could fold these in half like Tieks and fit them in a semi-small purse to change into to dance at a wedding! Score!" —Kate
Get it from Amazon for $14.93+ (available in women's sizes 5–15, including wide sizes, and 35 styles).
14. A set of earplugs that'll help you deal with two very stressful experiences that are oh so common (and so annoying!) when flying: harsh noises and your ears popping. Inside these funny-shaped blue earplugs is a small ceramic filter designed to slow the shift in air pressure so there's less stress on the eardrum. They'll also help drown out the sounds of loud talkers, babies crying, and your seat neighbor refusing to wear headphones while they watch a TV show on their phone.
Promising review: "Never fly without these! Before I found these, I endured excruciating pain in my ears upon descent and landing. Felt like a hot poker being driven into each ear. My ears would also be plugged up, and it would often take two to three days for them to resume their normal state of being. I insert them about an hour before landing, as the plane is making its slow descent. I'm comfortable, and the most discomfort I experience is a slight adjustment of pressure feeling in my sinus. NO PAIN. NO TEARS." —K. Tombrella
Get a pack with three pairs from Amazon for $19.49 (also available in packs of 1, 4, 5, and 10).
15. A wireless transmitter so you can watch the free in-flight movies with your Bluetooth headphones even though you forgot your corded earbuds.
It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual.
Promising review: "I love this gadget. I fly a lot, and this works on the majority of wide-body planes I've taken over the past six months. Just plug into one of the three-prong outlets (or single outlet in economy), and you can connect any Bluetooth device. Doesn't always connect on the first try, as I have multiple devices that my headphones are searching for, but if you turn off all other devices, it seems to connect right away. Once connected, it works for many hours. A few planes I've taken recently (Qatar Airways) have USB charge points so close to the headphone jack that you can even plug it in while it's working and never lose the charge. Highly recommend for travelers." —Joseph Sikorsky
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in four styles).
16. An in-flight foot hammock to make your economy seat feel a bit more like business class. It attaches directly to your tray table and offers a cozy resting spot for your feetsies, keeping them elevated and helping prevent swelling and soreness.
Promising review: "I used this recently on an overnight flight to Europe. Definitely made me more comfortable to have my feet elevated off the floor (I'm 5'3"). It could have been a little wider (I have small size 7 feet). But it was ample enough and compact to travel with. It did not bother the person in front of me (I had it attached to my tray table). Glad I made the purchase, definitely felt like it gave my legs some relief." —daydoo72
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four colors and in multi-packs).
17. And speaking of swelling, a pair of of moisture-wicking compression socks if you're going on a long-haul flight or preparing for a long road trip. They apply pressure to your legs and feet to help with circulation issues and swollen legs/feet — two common symptoms of sitting for long periods of time.
Read more about compression socks and swelling on long flights at Cleveland Clinic.
Promising review: "I used these socks on a recent round-trip 8-hour flight. I usually get swollen ankles after flying, but not this time. The socks are very, very comfortable. I didn't want to take them off. They're like a hug for your feet. I recommend these compression socks 100 percent." —JB
Get them from Amazon for $16.22+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and 18 styles).
Check out my colleague's Physix Gear compression socks review for more deets!
18. A portable door lock for added security in a hotel or Airbnb if you're traveling alone. It jams the door so it's impossible for an intruder to force themselves in using the door handle.
Promising review: "I took my first solo trip and ordered this for extra security. Was super easy to install and didn't require me to leave my hotel door ajar for an extended amount of time for installation. My hotel door didn't even move when I tested out the lock. 10/10 recommend for a peace of mind."—Haley Gribble
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
19. A family travel document holder because asking each person to be responsible for their passport is a recipe for disaster. This organizer has 21 (!) pouches and slots for passports, ID, room keys, cash, pens, boarding passes, cruise tags, debit/credit cards, and any other very important document you might need.
20. A versatile and travel-friendly travel shawl that'll double (triple?) as a scarf and blanket. It's fantastic for climates that are warm during the day but chilly at night. It'll also come in handy if you're traveling somewhere scorching hot but may need to occasionally dress more modestly (churches in Europe will often require you cover your shoulder to enter). And! It's UPF 50+, which means the fabric is designed to block 98% of the sun's rays.
Promising review: "I love my new everywhere scarf/shawl. I purchased the silver for travel and am now wearing it almost daily. It is sooooo soft and versatile. Looks great with jeans and a sweater as a scarf. Looks really nice as a shawl with a dress or slacks and blouse. You will love how you feel wrapped up in it on an airplane or in the car on a trip. Don’t pass up owning this great accessory, enjoy it!" —George K.
Get it from Amazon for $46+ (available in eight colors).
21. A reusable collapsible water bottle so you're not spending $3.50 on a bottle of water at Disney. Instead, invest in these little roll-up bottles to keep the family hydrated and your wallet a bit happier.
Plus, it's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.
Promising review: "This is my favorite water bottle for traveling. I love how light and compact it is. It's great to carry around, and when it's empty, you can just roll it up and put it in your pocket. The carabiner clip is great for clipping it to your bag or hanging it from whatever you want. I would hook it on the belt clip of my pants when walking around or just carry it around on my finger. It's much more durable than you'd expect, as well. I was robbed in Brazil and thrown down concrete stairs, and the bottle is still fine. It has been through a LOT and still works great. It definitely does not look new anymore (lots of wrinkles), but it works just as good." —Geoffrey J.
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 4 sizes, 21 colors, and multipacks).
22. A contoured sleep mask to block out the sunlight — no, wait, that's just your seat neighbor's reading light. It molds to your face so the bright lights shining through your hotel window or coming from the iPad of the kid sitting next to you don't ruin your shut-eye.
Promising review: "Must-have for traveling and staggered bedtime! My partner has used a lot of other brands prior to finding this eye mask. He uses them to block out the TV light on nights I am up watching TV or when he takes naps in the daytime. It is the first eye mask that he's tried that blocks out light and is comfortable to wear. The material is very soft. It does come with a nylon travel case and earplugs. This is our second purchase in case one gets misplaced." —m.szegedy
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in six colors).
23. A cup holder adapter if you've ever suffered the annoyance of your Hydro Flask or Yeti rolling off the passenger seat and onto the car floor where you are now unable to reach it. 😠 What was once a daily occurrence will now be a distant memory thanks to this clever contraption!
Wine & Whiskey Co. is a Texas-based small biz selling a wide range of adorable phone cases and T-shirts, plus genius car accessories (obvi).
Promising review: "Really like this cup holder! I was worried it would be bulky and get in the way of my driving, or my water bottle would topple over if I ever had to slam on my breaks. So far, so good! It’s not bulky at all, and the Hydro Flask fits perfectly in the cup holder!" —Anna Wiskerchen
Get it from Wine & Whiskey Co. on Etsy for $12.99+ (also available in packs of three, four, and six).
24. A flight attendant-approved off-shoulder jumpsuit comfy enough for traveling (and snoozing) in yet stylish enough for wearing out multiple times during your trip.
Promising review: "I bought the navy blue to take on vacation after reading an article about how easy care these jumpsuits are. I loved it so much I bought the green. I take them out of my suitcase, hang them up, and they are ready to go in a few hours, no ironing needed. I get compliments every time I wear one of them." —AKSunshine
Get it from Amazon for $37.99 (available in women's sizes S–3XL and 32 colors/patterns).
25. A travel harness seat because sometimes (maybe all the time?) you wish you could eat your meal without having to also hold a squirming little one. This harness clips around regular chairs and has baby securely so they can sit up unassisted.
This harness is designed for ages 6 months and up.
Promising review: "My 7-month-old loved this seat. We used it while traveling for daily feedings at the table and for trips to the restaurant. The baby loved sitting at the table instead of their stroller and was comfortable and secure to the seat. Would definitely recommend." —Kristen
Get it from Amazon for $25.99.
26. A Trtl travel pillow that'll cushion your neck and keep it upright — which is the best position to prevent neck pain. Plus, your neighbors will silently thank you because it means you're not flopping your head from side to side and onto their shoulders.
Promising review: "Completely satisfied! I have a bulging disc in my neck and related neck/shoulder pain, so I can't afford to fall asleep uncomfortably when I travel via car or plane. This neck pillow looks a little goofy (as most do!), but it definitely works. It essentially helped me sleep sitting up on and off during a 10-hour car trip with no discomfort or pain. Once your head starts to fall to the side just a little, it will hold you up. I didn't feel it was as comfortable or natural to put the support under my chin, but it could definitely work that way if your head tips forward when you fall asleep. I will definitely take this on any and all long trips where I want to sleep and ensure I have proper neck support!" —Kris
Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (available in four colors and in a mesh breathable style).
27. A 2-in-1 travel pillow and blanket so you're not shivering for hours underneath a thin, itchy airline blanket. This ultra soft throw is made of a snuggly fleece, and it turns into a pillow when you insert it into its carrying case. Oh! And you can slide it to your suitcase so you don't accidentally leave it at the airport.
Promising review: "Wish I could give it 10 stars! I used this wonder blanket while staying in the ICU with my son for four nights. This warm and cozy blanket saved me from freezing and was so much warmer than the hospital blankets that were also available. I am relatively tall and this blanket was plenty long as well. I cannot recommend this snuggly but compact blanket highly enough! (It could also be used as a small pillow when folded into the little travel bag that it comes in!)" —J Bauer
Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in six colors).
28. A charging dock to keep everyone's mobile device topped off on long road trips — even if they're sitting in the back row, far away from the USB port.
Promising review: "This is a must-have for road trips with people in the back. No longer do they have to bring their own super long cables and fight to the death for the car port to charge their phone as they take a million pics from the backseat! Power bank for the car with its own long cables so everyone can be charged up and ready to use all their devices without anyone being left uncharged. Really compact but packs a punch and the price ain’t bad. Really liked this and recommend it!" —hollywoodhorror
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes/styles).
29. And a cute portable charger if you're going to be out and about for most of the day and don't want to be without a working phone. This one's itty bitty and will fit in your pocket. Plus, it doesn't require a cord = more room in your backpack for souvenirs.
This is for iPhones/Apple devices with Lightning ports. Try this USB-C version if you have an Android or a newer iPhone.
Promising review: "So cute! This is the most satisfying portable charger I have ever bought. It is not only small and compact but also very convenient to carry. It doesn't take up much space in my bag, especially when traveling. I have used it to charge my iPhone 14 without any problems." —Agnes
Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in six colors).
30. A mini lightweight flat iron for sleek, straight styles — even on vacay.
It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying!
Promising review: "This fits perfectly in my toiletries travel bag that I take with me as a flight attendant. Anything that comes in a small size and still works well is perfect for me." —Kathy S
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three colors).
31. A sunscreen stick with SPF 30 because you should be reapplying sunscreen every two hours (esp. if you're swimming or sweating). The fastest way to ruin a vacation = sunburn.
Promising review: "This small-but-very-effective stick of sunscreen was perfect for traveling with us on vacation. I took it to the beach, stuck it in my bag when we went exploring, and carried it in my purse when we were in town. The smell is so good, it makes you want to take a bite out of it! I found it perfectly fine for my face, not greasy or irritating. I'll most likely buy a bigger size of lotion for my next trip as well." —Pixie Mom
Get it from Amazon for $11.49.
32. A roll-up straw hat that'll keep the sun out of your eyes and protect your face from sun damage (it's UPF 50+, which means it blocks 98% of the sun's rays) while you're enjoying your tropical vacation. And it rolls up so it takes barely any space in your already crowded carry-on bag.
Promising review: "Let me start off by staying I've never been a beach hat type person...until now! I love this hat!!! When I bought it I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. (You know, it looks good on others but not so good on me.) Well, I just got back from Belize and this hat was amazing. I love how adjustable it is. I was able to comfortably wear it while riding a golf cart, all day at the beach, and even out on a kayak without it blowing off or being too tight. And it was just the right coverage for me. Enough to protect my sensitive eyes and fair skin from the sun yet not so large that it was in the way. I wore it much more than I thought I would because it was so useful, cute, and comfortable! Great buy." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in 21 colors).
33. A pack of 50 on-the-go games so the kids aren't on their phones the *entire* 10-hour car ride. This pack comes with a variety of games: guessing games, memory challenges, trivia questions, and more!
Promising review: "Bought this as a gift for my son as we had a 10-hour road trip in less than a week. We played several of the games, but the 'Guess the job' was our favorite. Played that for nearly two hours!! Our 12-year-olds loved it as much as we did!!! If playing in the car, I recommend playing when not in busy traffic so driver and navigator can play." —Sydney
Get it from Amazon for $8.13.
34. A set set of space-saver bags to make traveling with just a carry-on possible! Whether you're someone who likes ~options~ or you're traveling with a family but want to avoid paying checked bag fees, you'll believe in miracles when you see how much more room you have in your suitcase for souvenirs now!
Promising review: "These were life savers! We took a 10-day trip to Europe and were able to pack only in a carry-on using these! I used two medium in my carry-on, and my husband used three in his carry-on. I packed all my undergarments, five dresses, four jeans, multiple blouses, three pairs of shorts, and a few other pieces of clothing. And still had room for my shoes. These will definitely be used each time we travel now. Well worth it." —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $18.98 (also available in four other size packs).
35. A Kindle Paperwhite with an adjustable backlight if your favorite part of vacation is many uninterrupted hours of reading but you can't sacrifice space in your weekend bag for half a dozen hardbacks. This e-reader is waterproof so you can sit on the beach or by the pool without worrying that someone's kid cannonballing into the water will decommission your e-reader.
Promising review: "I love my Paperwhite. I used to read through the Kindle app on my iPad, but the bright light was hard on my eyes. The backlight and ability to change the brightness makes this a perfect e-reader to use when your partner is sleeping. And because it is for reading only, I don’t get distracted from reading by social media or the internet browsing." —Rhonda
Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available with 8 GB or 16 GB of storage and in four colors).
Big vacation mood:
