31 Travel Products To Make Your Vacation Less Stressful
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31 Travel Products To Make Your Vacation Less Stressful

Apr 03, 2024

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Because stress and vacation shouldn't even be in the same sentence, and this packing list knows that.

BuzzFeed Staff

You can put the AirTag on Lost Mode and receive a notification when it's been detected by the Find My app.

Promising review: "I bought a pair of these AirTags for a trip to France, and I’m so glad I did! First of all, the setup is super easy; I had zero problems and both were done in like five minutes. I put one in my purse and one in my suitcase. On the way back home, the airline lost my luggage. Checked the Find My app where the AirTag is tracked, and I could see that it never left the Charles de Gaulle airport. I felt more assurance being able to track my bag through the app as it made its way across the world back to me. 10/10 would recommend!" —Lindsay Kirby

Get it from Amazon for $28.99.

You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.

Promising reviews: "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

"Love it! Lightweight and easy to read! It even gives you the climate temperature (not that I need it but a neat feature). It reads in both kg and lbs. Definitely recommend if you're a frequent traveler and have weight requirements on luggage." —Patricia Velasquez

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in four colors and as a pack of two).

Promising review: "We LOVE this! We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for trip longer than a few days). I have found this list to be a lifesaver and I also give it as a gift for other traveling families. It is easy to plan, organize, and list out items that are easily forgotten. You can also list the quantity of each item needed. It has a variety of clothing options and space to add more. Overall, wonderful purchase and has likely saved me many forgotten items!" —I-really-bought-this

Get it from Amazon for $7 (available in three styles).

Promising review: "I recently purchased this blanket for a family vacation to Florida, and everyone LOVED it! It's lightweight, big enough for the whole family to lay out on, and the sand rolled right off. One of the things I loved most about it is that it rolled up super compact and light so it was easy to pack! When you are going to the beach with kids, you drag along a lot of equipment! It was nice that this was easy to pack and travel with. Fun fact: If you have one of those canopies to bring to the beach, this blanket fits perfectly under it!" —Megan Rose

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Shakalo is a small business based in San Diego.

Promising review: "We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1–2 times a week. And I even use it on my dogs' paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of too. I will definitely be buying the refill and another bag to have exclusively in the car." —Gabbs Uresti

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in a three-pack).

Promising review: "I absolutely love this wallet. I needed a new travel wallet, and this holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! I can fit my boarding pass, passport, ID, credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, and more in it, yet it doesn’t bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. It's just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese yen (¥), which are larger. I didn’t use the zippered pocket for coins as I much prefer a separate coin purse for that sort of thing. I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!" —Anthony Luu

Get it from Amazon for $9.59+ (available in 37 colors).

You can also use this in your room to keep valuables protected. You can either set a three-digit combination code or use the provided key!

Promising review: "This is a must-have for vacations. We took it to Atlantis in the Bahamas and it worked perfectly. Held our phones, room keys, etc. while we were out enjoying the beach or pool. Just looped it to our beach chair or table. Highly recommended." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in five colors).

It's recommended for kids ages 3–7 and fits most standard economy seats. It has an adjustable strap so you can carry it over your shoulder, a top handle, and a mattress inside that can be removed and used while in the air. It can be used on your flight as a foot rest for your little one and parents have also used this product while waiting for their flight to keep kids comfy and content.

Promising review: "I dragged my feet on this purchase because of the price tag, but I have zero regrets after traveling solo with my 2-year-old and 5-year-old. This thing was so easy to maneuver through the airport and through the plane aisles that my 2-year-old pulled it herself for most of the trip. It was slightly too big for her to ride on, but my 4-year-old loved riding on it. The bed feature was super easy to set up and we used it to and from our destination. I was able to pack clothes for a five-day trip, the bed, a blanket, and stuffie. I will definitely be dumping more money into this company for our next trip. Happy customer!" —Casie Wilds

Get it from Amazon for $183.20.

It's recommended for kids 2 and up and can hold up to 50 pounds.

Promising review: "I usually do not leave reviews, however, I read through the reviews prior to purchasing the LugABug seat and had mixed feelings about getting one, but I did anyway. I am so glad that I did. This product is AMAZING! If you have a toddler, this works extremely well. I frequently fly alone with my 2-year-old and I hate to carry extra stuff (strollers, car seats, carriers, etc.). My daughter loved getting in it and it made getting around through the airports a breeze. I was even able to enjoy a cup of coffee at the same time as pulling her along with my luggage. My daughter also took a hour and a half long nap in (in the leaned back position with my luggage handle resting on my knee). I just ordered another one because I don't want to travel without one. Can't say enough good things about this product. Also, since I fly standby I spend a lot of time in the airport and I received numerous inquiries about the LugABug from parents carrying kids about my daughter's age." —Gretta O. Rogne

Get it from Amazon for $47.50.

Promising review: "The best thing for traveling ever!! I have to have espresso every morning and most small hotels and gas stations don't have espresso coffee so this is perfect! Easy to use. The cleaning takes 30 seconds; just rinse with water and let it dry." —Joanna Verdeja

Get it from Amazon for $54.90.

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).

The smaller size is accepted as a carry-on by all international airlines, including European budget ones, while the larger one meets all US airline standards.

Promising review: "Great design that allows me to organize everything I need in much less space than I ever expected. Take your time to select and pack your things thoughtfully and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you can get into this carry-on. I have several pieces of luggage in multiple sizes and I’m giving them away because this is all I need. The size and versatility make it the perfect carry-on." —Michelle C.

Get it from Solgaard for $295+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).

Lamare is a Florida-based small biz established in 2017 that specializes in planners and journals.

Promising review: "It’s exactly what I wanted. It has specific areas for budgeting, things to do, hotel check in and check out, even a few pages per vacation area to write notes. I was super excited to get it and start writing everything down for my future vacations. I really like this travel planner" —Poptart

Get it from Amazon for $13.95.

Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Promising review: "These were awesome! My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially carsickness. 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 $8.53.

The set comes with four bottles, two jars, two spray bottles, two scoopers (to help transfer creams), one funnel (to help transfer liquids), one cleaning brush, a page of labels, and a bag that everything fits in.

Promising review: "This is essential for flying! I fly pretty often throughout the year and after having numerous leakage issues with regular plastic travel containers, decided to go the silicone route and am so glad I did. I love that this set includes different sizes of bottles and tools to help fill/empty them so reusing them is a breeze and there is no wasted product. The variety of colors is great so I can easily tell apart my toiletries, even without the included labels! Love this set and highly recommend it!" —Hennie S.

Get it from Amazon for $14.97.

I know it seems like this stuff would have fairy dust sprinkled in it, but it actually contains vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12, and vitamin C and claims to enhance rapid absorption of water and key ingredients into the bloodstream. You can learn more about when and how to use electrolyte drinks here.

Promising reviews: "Listen, I'm going to be straight up, I mostly use these to recover after a night of drinking too much alcohol and not nearly enough water. Yes, it definitely works for hiking, when it's warm, etc. However, I'm thinking some of you have come here because you want a hangover remedy. This. Is. IT! I've used this at countless birthday parties, bachelorette parties, or a night when the grocery store had BOGO wine. I drink one of the packets before I even start drinking, another friend of mine will drink hers after she drank but before she goes to bed, and another friend takes it the next morning. All three of us seem to have good results. Some people are balking at the flavor. I've tried this and their lemon lime version, and I give a slight advantage to this one. Look, it's full of electrolytes so it's not going to taste like Sunny D. Just guzzle it and be thankful you won't feel like death." —Jen PDX

"I purchased these to use while in Mexico at an all-inclusive resort (I knew I'd be enjoying many margaritas!). Recently, I had been experiencing hangovers from even one or two glasses of wine so I was worried about drinking alcohol on vacation. THIS STUFF WORKS!!!!! I used one packet during the day and one before bed and had ZERO symptoms of a hangover the next day. Same for my husband and he drank a lot more alcohol than me LOL! It did make me thirsty overnight night due to the high sodium content, but I was expecting that. Highly recommend!!" —Jamie Rathbun

Get 16 packets for $23.45 (available in multipacks).

You can connect up to two pairs of earbuds at a time, and it has 16+ hours of battery life for extra long flights.

Twelve South is a husband and wife-owned biz based in Charleston, South Carolina that specializes in designing accessories inspired by and made for Apple products since 2009.

Promising review: "Ever since I purchased my wireless Bose earbuds, I always hated having to use another set when I was on an airplane with the seat-back entertainment system. I tried many different models to connect the system to my Bluetooth headsets until I came across this one, and it is amazing! It seamlessly connects to my headset, very clear and reliable audio, and it takes the stress away from having to carry a number of headsets! Thank you!!!" —Ryan Malloy

Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in three styles and two colors).

They come with four sizes of silicone tips (XS–L) to comfortably fit your ears and a charging case that provides more than 24 hours of listening time.

Promising review: "I’ve never owned AirPods before and I debated spending this much on earbuds. Seemed stupid but I was going on a nine and a half hour flight and I thought the noise cancellation would be smart. Plus, I had tried my son's older AirPods and the sound was so nice so I just did it. And you know what? I don’t regret it AT ALL. I can blow dry my hair and barely hear the loudness of that. I can fly on a loud airplane or go on a loud bus and it sounds like I’m in a quiet church. These are seriously incredible." —Rebecca L.

Get them from Amazon for $199.

Promising review: "I was tired of fumbling around in my cosmetics case and saw this. I was skeptical, but...WOW! On my recent two-week trip to Europe, with constant laying out and packing up, this item was wonderful. I could find what I wanted quickly, right away. Packing up was just a matter of pulling the drawstring. At first I wasn’t sure about changing to this bag, but now I could not do without it." —Mojosharkey

Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in three sizes and 32 colors).

As if that were't enough, it's also made of 100% recycled polyester!

Promising review: "How did I ever travel without this weekender? I brought this as my carry-on piece on a 17-day trip to London, and it is CLUTCH. I'm telling you, buy it yesterday!! I got the lightest color, and it's incredibly durable, so many pockets inside and out, super spacious inside, many straps to choose from to carry, and looks sleek. I was concerned about the price at first, but it's worth every single penny. I love how the pass-through on the outside that holds this bag onto the handle of your luggage can be zipped closed to use as another pocket." —LAinFlight

Get it from Everlane for $95 (available in six colors and with or without a label).

Cincha Travel is a small BIPOC-owned biz based in Oakland, California that specializes in adjustable vegan leather travel belts. The brand donates 100 airline miles for each purchase to help reunite migrant families.

Promising review: "Such a simple yet brilliant solution for the ever falling bag when trying to juggle all your luggage. It definitely made traveling less stressful." —Samantha

Get it from Cincha for $39.99 (available in 15 styles).

Promising review: "Took this on vacation and I bought two, one for myself and one for my boyfriend. My feet are women’s size 6 and my boyfriend's are men’s size 9. We were both able to fit one pair of slipper/slides and one pair of shoes. My boyfriend and I just placed on top of each other. We had mud on our shoes and sand but it didn’t get mixed up with the rest of our belongings (hence why I purchased the darker color, I knew the lighter one would stain/look so dirty). I will def use this every single time I travel." —OctoberPaperTrails

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a four-pack and in 10 colors).

Multitasky is a BIPOC woman-owned and -run small biz that specializes in products that are both functional and cute.

Promising review: "What can I say? 😍 I’m obsessed with Multitasky’s blush pink collection! This Flyport is one of my faves — I always need more ports to charge all my devices from my phone, to my watch, to my power bank, to my AirPods. It's so convenient and cute!! Perfect for travels too because hotels never have enough USB ports!" —Ginger D.

Get it from Multitasky for $25 (available in three colors).

It can hold kids who weigh up to 55 pounds and it only weighs 9.5 pounds.

Promising review: "Best stroller ever! WE LOVE THIS STROLLER! My husband originally purchased it because I was afraid to take our big stroller on the plane to gate check. I was traveling alone, so ease of use and portability was really important. I was amazed at how convenient it was to collapse and slide under my seat on the plane and it maneuvered well through the airport and throughout our trip. I received a lot of compliments and a few moms even asked me where to buy one. Since then, we have been on a few more flights and many excursions and are still in love with this purchase!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $259.99 (available in four styles and two colors).

Pstttt! Grab yourself some ponchos so you don't have to pay any ridiculous fees on vacay!

Promising review: "A must-have for vacations. This rain cover and mosquito net was perfect for our vacation! It fit over our stroller nicely and was great for the two-day trip we took to Cincinnati as some days we used the net and one day it rained when we went to the zoo so we used the cover! The baby didn't get overheated inside and was a happy camper since he could see through it. Very easy to use and worth every penny!"—Tlake33111

Get it from Amazon for $16.80+ (available in two colors).

JetBag is a small biz that makes bags to protect things like wine and other fragile items. It's designed with absorbent padding on the inside, so in the event that the bottle breaks, it won't get everywhere in your luggage.

Promising review: "I love these bags. I frequently travel overseas and always want to bring olive oil, wine, or the like back. These bags are perfect at protecting my finds, and I am comfortable that they will absorb the liquid if it does get broken. My husband actually put a bottle of cracked-open wine in the bag to test it, laid the bag on its side, and it absorbed the liquid!" —JHN

Get a set of three from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four styles).

Promising reviews: "I found out about this razor on TikTok, and I’m officially obsessed! I’ve been using it for the last week, so here’s my honest opinion. It’s perfect for missed spots or touch-ups, your gym bag, vacations, and I can see this being great for camping trips. The razor is not meant for full shaves or to replace your regular shower shaving routine, it’s very obviously for when you just need a quick touch-up here or there. I love that it has everything you need for a close shave — the refillable water spray bottle, a shea butter moisturizing bar that doubles as a pre-shave lotion and an after-shave moisturizer, and two 3-blade razors. The product is super compact for everything that it holds. If you’re considering buying this to replace your regular shower razor — don’t. But if you’re looking for a smart, convenient solution for a quick shave or touch-up, or something more convenient to travel with, then this is your new go-to travel razor!! I think everyone should have one of these in their car, purse, gym bag, travel bag, etc. Honestly can’t go wrong with it, it’s a 10/10 for me!!" —Helen Mantilla

Get it from Amazon for $14 (available in two colors).

Promising reviews: "Love this backpack, especially for traveling. I own one and and have purchased three as gifts. It has plenty of compartments and is holding up well." —MB

"I love everything about this bag. Favorite features: all the pockets, the storage, the amount of space, and the fact that this bag has a bottom that allows it to stand up. This is a huge upgrade to my hiking backpack that doubled as a work backpack. It's stylish and professional, lightweight, and sturdy. My only wish is that it had a waist strap to help distribute the weight when the bag is full/heavy. I still would highly recommend this bag to anyone of any age who carries a laptop, chargers, and other essentials like a small umbrella, gum, books, folders, a water bottle, etc. It all fits nicely and has its own place. Last, I very much like the secret pocket on the back/waistband area for a wallet or other valuable item." —NSLacy

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four sizes and 25 colors).

Anne Cate is a woman-owned small biz based in Cleveland, Ohio that specializes in handmade minimalist keepsakes with skylines from more than 100 cities and colleges around the world!

The kit includes a vegan leather mini wallet, hair tie, chapstick, floss pic, sewing kit, bandage, emery board, safety pins, earring backs, a makeup wipe, bobby pins, a deodorant wipe, stain remover wipe, tampon, hand sanitizer, pain relief medicine, and mints.

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Danielle Healy says: "I, your resident forgetful person, bought the NYC skyline version of this at the start of COVID-19 to keep in my work tote. Unfortunately, I didn't touch my work tote for months because...*gestures at the world around*...but it's a really handy kit that will save me a ton when I regularly leave the house again. Everything from Anne Cate is super high-quality. The wallet on its own is adorable and could be used for a million different things."

Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 96 skylines).

Promising review: "This footrest pillow is essential for those who travel very long distances. It is not only uncomfortable but unhealthy to leave feet dangling down for many hours or days at a time while traveling. I purchased this pillow to situate between my airplane seat and the seat in front of mine. It is wonderful to be able to prop my feet up, with bent knees, while watching movies or sleeping. I regularly fly the same route that is about 30 hours (including layovers), and when I am unable to get a seat up front, this footrest pillow keeps me more comfortable at the back of the plane." —Yvonne N

Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (also available in a two-pack and in four colors).

Promising review: "I used this on four international flights last month and it made all the difference in the world. It's compact, easy to inflate/deflate, very versatile in how you can position it, doesn't rely on the tray table, and works well for bulkhead seats as well as those with someone in front of you. I can't sleep with my head back without snorting myself awake, so this is a perfect alternative. I can very comfortably lean forward in my seat and sleep almost like I can in a bed. I'm 6'2" and this pillow is plenty tall enough to just rest on my lap and let me lean forward into it without feeling crunched over. This pillow will easily let me get enough comfortable periods of sleep on a nine-hour flight that I don't feel completely drained upon arrival. My wife tried mine out before we left on vacation and loved it so much she had me order her one. We both wouldn't travel without them now." —Still Chilly In Colorado

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

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

Promising review: the setup is super easy; I had zero problems and both were done in like five minutesI felt more assurance being able to track my bag through the app as it made its way across the world back to mePromising reviews:was accurate on four flights.Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low cost must have item for air travelLightweight and easy to read!reads in both kg and lbsPromising review: As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for trip longer than a few daysYou can also list the quantity of each item needed.Promising review:It's lightweight, big enough for the whole family to lay out on, and the sand rolled right off.Promising review: This item has changed our entire lives!It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1–2 times a week.I will definitely be buying the refill and another bag to have exclusively in the car.Promising review:I can fit my boarding pass, passport, ID, credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, and more in it, yet it doesn’t bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess.Promising review:must-have for vacations. Held our phones, room keys, etc. while we were out enjoying the beach or poolPromising review:This thing was so easy to maneuver through the airport and through the plane aisles that my 2-year-old pulled it herself for most of the trip. It was slightly too big for her to ride on, but my 4-year-old loved riding on it. Promising review:it made getting around through the airports a breeze.Promising review:best thing for traveling ever!! Easy to use. The cleaning takes 30 seconds;Promising review: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. Promising review:allows me to organize everything I need in much less space than I ever expectedyou’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you can get into this carry-on.Promising review:has specific areas for budgeting, things to do, hotel check in and check out, even a few pages per vacation area to write notesPromising review:My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially carsickness.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.I have suffered for decades and now I know better. I will never travel without mine again!Promising review:essential for flying!this set includes different sizes of bottles and tools to help fill/empty them so reusing them is a breeze and there is no wasted product I can easily tell apart my toiletriesPromising reviews: Yes, it definitely works for hiking, when it's warm, guzzle it and be thankful you won't feel like deathTHIS STUFF WORKS!!!!! I used one packet during the day and one before bed and had ZERO symptoms of a hangover the next day. Promising review:I tried many different models to connect the system to my Bluetooth headsets until I came across this one, and it is amazing!Promising reviewI can blow dry my hair and barely hear the loudness of that. I can fly on a loud airplane or go on a loud bus and it sounds like I’m in a quiet church. Promising review:I could find what I wanted quickly, right awayAt first I wasn’t sure about changing to this bag, but now I could not do without it.Promising review: it's incredibly durable, so many pockets inside and out, super spacious inside, many straps to choose from to carry, and looks sleek.I love how the pass-through on the outside that holds this bag onto the handle of your luggage can be zipped closed to use as another pocket.Promising review:definitely made traveling less stressfulPromising reviewWe had mud on our shoes and sand but it didn’t get mixed up with the rest of our belongings (Promising review:o convenient and cute!! Perfect for travels too because hotels never have enough USB ports!Promising review:I was amazed at how convenient it was to collapse and slide under my seat on the plane and it maneuvered well through the airport and throughout our trip.Promising review:The baby didn't get overheated inside and was a happy camper since he could see through itPromising review:My husband actually put a bottle of cracked-open wine in the bag to test it, laid the bag on its side, and it absorbed the liquid!Promising reviews:It’s perfect for missed spots or touch-ups, your gym bag, vacationsI love that it has everything you need for a close shave — the refillable water spray bottle, a shea butter moisturizing bar that doubles as a pre-shave lotion and an after-shave moisturizer, and two 3-blade razors.Promising reviews: "It has plenty of compartments and is holding up wellFavorite features: all the pockets, the storage, the amount of space, and the fact that this bag has a bottom that allows it to stand up.I still would highly recommend this bag to anyone of any age who carries a laptop, chargers, and other essentials like a small umbrella, gum, books, folders, a water bottle, etc. IBuzzFeed Shopping editor Danielle Healy says:Promising review: essential for those who travel very long distances.this footrest pillow keeps me more comfortable at the back of the planePromising review:I'm 6'2" and this pillow is plenty tall enough to just rest on my lap and let me lean forward into it without feeling crunched over.