1. A 50-count set of laundry soap sheets for keeping clothes clean and fresh without dropping a ton on detergent or — even more expensive — hotel laundry services. These biodegradable sheets work best with handwashing, which means you don't have to schlep it to a laundromat for clean clothes.
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 a pack of 50 from Amazon for $12.
95 . 2. And hand soap sheets because you never know what the soap situation will be when you're on the go.
The container easily fits in a bag or pocket and will help you feel better when you see a gloriously flaky croissant but can't remember the last time you saw a soap dispenser. Promising review: "Recently travelled and there were times there was no soap these definitely are handy and easy to use. Need more than one sheet to get a lather but I am so happy I had these.
" — Bubbles Get a set of 12 boxes — a total of 240 sheets — from Amazon for $8.45 . 3.
A sturdy and lightweight eight-compartment pill organizer so you can ditch those bulky bottles while eliminating the ever-infuriating "did I take my meds today?" debacle. Promising review: "These travel pill cases are totally worth it! We are always out and about traveling, and this case helps keep the travel pharmacy organized! No more clunky pill bottles. The pill case is very sturdy and has a clasp that stays tightly latched.
The compartments on the inside are easy to open with plenty of storage for pills. I was able to fit about 10 larger pills into the smaller compartments. It’s nice to have the larger compartments too.
You can fit wrapped cough drops or other medications in those. Highly recommend!!" — Sydney Harsh Get a three-pack from Amazon for $7.97 (available in two color combos).
4. A set of travel compression cubes so that even the most chronic of over-packers can travel "light" for a change — or at least make it look that way. Plus, these bags use a two-zipper compression system, so you don't need to rely on a vacuum to recompress when you repack.
Promising review: "Must-have traveling accessory. Best way to pack a suitcase! I’ll never go back to stuffing everything in on its own. These compartments held way more than I imagined and kept me organized.
I will definitely add more to my collection. Makes a great gift for frequent travelers too!" — Lisa Get them from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in 11 styles and in packs of two, three, or six).
5. A shoe bag because days of shoving your dirty shoes into your suitcase and pretending they're clean while you pile on your clothes should be over. Denial is fun, but this is better.
Each bag can fit three pairs of shoes, but some reviewers report they've fit as many as five. Honestly, whatever saves your undergarments from the bottom of your sneakers. Promising review: "You can totally fit three pairs of shoes in this! (Women's size 6.
5 shoe, fit heels, wedges, and sandals.) I bought two and will absolutely be buying more for my husband. 10/10 would recommend! I travel frequently, and I always overpack; this helped cut down space and stress immensely! " — Taylor Get it from Amazon for $22.
99 (available in nine colors and patterns). 6. A comfy and ergonomic Trtl neck pillow that'll keep your head upright on the plane so you're not accidentally leaning on the poor soul next to you or taking up valuable bag space later.
It's also proven to prevent the dreaded post-flight-nap stiff neck and shoulders, which is really priceless by itself. This machine washable pillow is lightweight and can connect to luggage when you're strolling around the airport. And when you're not snoozing, it still works as a scarf if you're someone who is always cold on planes.
Promising review: "I have been through several travel pillows. None of them kept your head from rolling around. They just weren’t comfortable.
This one is amazing! It’s soft, small enough for travel, and it works! You can use it for car travel also. Love it!!" — J Mitchell Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (available in four colors).
7. A mini steam iron so you're not relying on a steamy hotel bathroom and *good vibes* to get the wrinkles out before whatever you have on your agenda. And coming in at just over a pound, there's still plenty of room to spare in your suitcase.
Promising review: "Best travel iron available. I travel so much and hotel irons are just unreliable no matter what clothes you use them on. This one is a champ; it has a steamer option and fits in your weekender bag or business luggage.
Security inspected my carry-on and they couldn’t get over how small it was. Make this your travel go-to!" — Yesenia Get it from Amazon for $34.99 .
8. A packing checklist to help you organize the packing process and *hopefully* prevent overpacking while you're at it. These are also great if you're someone who always forgets sooooomething (shout out to all of you desperately looking for a nearby Target in a new city).
Promising review: "We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for a 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 colors/styles). 9. A TSA, carry-on compliant Neutrogena SPF 50 face and body stick sunscreen that is a *solid* way to make sure you're protecting your skin on your trip without opening up your suitcase and finding an exploded bottle of sunscreen.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly brought this on an international trip and loved it: "I first bought this for a week-long Croatian vacation last year when I did carry-on, and as long as you are *thoroughly* reapplying, this stuff stays on pretty well. On a beach club afternoon, I did haphazardly reapply and missed a strip on one arm, but I tend to do that with spray-on or lotion sunscreen, too. Since then, I've packed this for any trip I've been on , including a two-day Disneyland trip where I toted this around in my bag and shared with friends.
I sometimes carry it with me in my purse on my everyday adventures because I know it's so easy to apply. Also worth mentioning..
.I am about the palest lady you've ever seen and swear by daily application of sunscreen. But when on a beach trip, I'm constantly swimming in the water and sweating.
So yeah, this stuff works. And if you're a bit hesitant about jumping on the solid sunscreen bandwagon, you can pack a stick of this, knowing you have enough sun protection to get you through to finding some spray-on or lotion SPF at your destination." Get it from Amazon for $9.
88 . 10. An all-in-one universal wall adapter that covers 150 different countries so your phone charger doesn't spark while you're traveling between countries.
The charger can be used in Europe, the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Russia, Asia, Central America, South America and the Middle East. Promising review: " If you travel a lot, especially internationally, this is a must-have because you have every kind of adapter on one plug and don’t have to worry about constantly buying a certain adapter every time you travel to a different country. This has it all.
" — Abby Santiago Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four colors). 11.
A set of silicone travel bottles so you don't have to check an enormous bottle of your favorite shampoo or risk it exploding en route. These TSA-friendly bottles make sticking to a carry-on easy without having to sacrifice your little luxuries on vacation. Bonus! Each bottle is labeled and the handy carrying pouch is included.
Promising review: "Just took a trip to the Dominican Republic and used carry-on luggage only throughout the entire trip, never once was questioned about the size. The bag they are in seems thin but it worked great to put bottles back in as well as some smaller items fit in the bag too, like lip gloss, mascara, and such. The holes are big enough to get your product in to the bottles without any complications.
My fiancé and I had plenty of shampoo, conditioner, sunblock and lotion for seven days. Highly recommend these bottles, they are perfect for carry-ons!!" — Stephanie Miller Get a set of four 3-ounce bottles from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three sizes and a variety of colors).
12. A travel Gillette razor with a carrying case because if you choose to shave on vacay, there is absolutely no reason to tote around a huge razor. This carry-on-friendly razor can last up to 30 days, making your shaving routine easy and product-minimal.
Even though one blade will last for 30 days, five replacement blades are included — so start looking into your next vacation destination, stat! Promising review : "I got this for a vacation and it was great! The little carrying container is awesome, and keeps you from having a weird, loose razor floating around in your suitcase. Plus, the heads are the same as a regular-sized razor , so you can keep using it when that one is worn out!" — Tegan H Get it from Amazon for $9.99 .
13. An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter that allows you to connect your wireless earbuds to the headphone jack for in-flight entertainment — saving you from needing different sets of headphones or being forced to buy theirs. And if you want to listen in with a buddy, you can connect two sets of earbuds at the same time — saving you from the very difficult task of trying to start a movie at the exact same time.
This product also works at the gym and on gaming equipment — because the treadmill is no reason to miss out on RHOC. Promising review: "Worked beautifully on a recent eight-hour flight from New York City to Frankfurt! Really easy to pair with my Bose noise-canceling earbuds and charges quickly. The sound quality was excellent.
I'm so excited about this product that I'm going to buy one for each of my family members!" — emily p murray Twelve South is a husband-and-wife-owned biz based in Charleston, South Carolina! They've been designing accessories inspired by and made for Apple products since 2009. Get it from Amazon for $54.95 (also available in three other styles and in two colors).
14. A compact, carry-on friendly portable espresso maker because you shouldn't have to fork over a ton of money buying your morning coffee from a coffee chain when you can make it just as well where you are. It's also compatible with Nespresso pods and requires no electricity since it's completely hand-operated.
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 $43.
92 (and here are some Nespresso pods to go with it). 15. And reusable, collapsible coffee cup so you're not stuck with hotel room coffee in a hotel mug.
This cup will allow you to have your java on-the-go without taking up valuable packing space. Now, go enjoy that fresh morning walk. It's also microwave-safe! Note that the 12-ounce size does not include a straw, but both the 16-ounce and 24-ounce sizes do.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Danielle Healy has this and loves it. She writes: "This is of the first zero-waste swaps I made and I've never looked back. If you buy to-go coffee – whether you're jet-setting or just grabbing a mid-day pick-me-up — this cup is a must-have .
So long as you remember to bring it, it's all the convenience of to-go coffee with none of the waste. It's leakproof and, when you're all done, it collapses down teeny tiny and can be tossed back in your bag. Oh! And it comes with a straw, so all you iced coffee lovers can get in on the action, too.
" Stojo is a small biz founded by three New York dads who wanted a better way to get their convenient coffee fix without all the waste. Now they make stylish collapsible essentials in a variety of sizes and colors, including bottles and food storage containers. Get it from Amazon for $14.
95+ (available in four sizes and in 24 colors). 16. A makeup-removing cloth that's comparable to the famous Makeup Eraser , but much less expensive.
Just wet the towel and gently use it to take off makeup and dirt, allowing you to leave big bottles of makeup remover at home while still getting the most out of your favorite cleanser. It certainly beats using rough hotel towels to get the job only half-done. I started using makeup removing towels a few years ago and would never go back to just hoping my cleanser is taking care of it.
If I pay that much for skin care, it darn well better leave my skin glowing — makeup removing towels help! Promising review : "This is incredible! I can't believe how well this works! I travel a lot for work and usually take makeup remover wipes because of the liquid restrictions for travel, but they are expensive and heavy. I have been using this cloth all week and LOVE IT! A bit of warm water and everything comes off in a few easy swipes. I am super excited to travel with this.
It weighs nothing and rolls up to take very little space. I am ordering another for my mom who also travels. Highly recommend!" — KT Get it from Amazon for $6.
99 (available in four colors). 17. A hands-free phone mount that can attach to an airplane tray table, the arm of a hotel chair, or even a suitcase so you can stream to your heart's content without having to lug around your bulky laptop.
Added bonus: without a laptop, you won't be tempted to check in and see how many work emails are building up. Vacation mode: activated. Promising review : "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra-long-haul trip and it more than held up the entire duration .
I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table . It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel, too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer .
At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well-built and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time.
Thus far it still feels solid and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" — Earendil Perilogics is a small biz that specializes in tech-oriented travel products and backpacks. Get it from Amazon for $12.
57+ (available in five colors and in packs of two). 18. A lightweight money belt to keep your cash close at hand and your mind free at ease when traveling.
Simply wear a belt as you normally would and stash your cash in the hidden pocket. Easy peasy. Promising review: "Wore this belt on a recent 10-day trip, with several hundred dollars neatly folded in its full-length zippered pocket.
The bills (USD) had to be folded lengthwise, in thirds, and for practical reasons, in stacks of 4–5 (or less). My belt had room for four such stacks, so theoretically $2,000 could be comfortably carried in complete concealment. The nylon buckle was perfectly adequate for its purpose, and nothing about the belt would indicate its hidden purpose.
Well worth it." — Tony B. Get it from Amazon for $17.
99 (available for pant sizes 20"–50" and in six styles). 19. A jewelry organizer because there is nothing worse than opening up your jewelry carrier and finding a tangled mess that takes forever to fix.
With a place for rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and a small footprint, packing jewelry was never so easy. Promising review: "Best jewelry travel pouch ever. Plenty of room for all my travel jewelry needs.
Half the size of previous pouches I have tried and holds more than any of them. " — T Rex Mom Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and 12 colors).
20. A satin-lined Hairbrella that keep your hair both safe from rainstorms and frizz-free once you dry out. It's small enough to keep in your bag and you get the satisfaction of letting your perfectly coiffed hair down while everyone else is drenched.
Nothing like a little main character energy vacation moment. Promising review : "Works like a charm! So..
.of course the day I get my hair done, an unexpected torrential downpour occurs and I have NO umbrella. But.
..I DID have my Hairbrella in my bag! This was the first time I would get to try it out since I purchased it so I was REALLY hoping it would live up to its hype.
I loosely pinned my hair up with a few bobby pins, secured that sucka in place and took off! While I looked like I just exited a dunk tank after my valiant sprint to my car, my hair was BONE DRY!!! 🙌🏾 Not a drop of moisture hit my hair. Hairbrella is the TRUTH!!!" — Lina Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that specializes in hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather. Get it from Amazon for $44 (available in 14 colors).
21. A Wallet Ninja with enough functions (18 in all!) to handle almost any little problem you can come across. From a phone holder, to a bottle opener, to a screwdriver, to even a fruit peeler, this TSA-friendly, wallet-sized tool is worth having on hand.
The card includes an eyeglass screwdriver, letter opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, screwdrivers, and a fruit peeler. Promising review: "This is definitely helpful to have on hand! The Ninja is small and slim but punches above its weight class in terms of usefulness. The tools are all things you might find yourself searching through a drawer for and are useful in a pinch.
It fits comfortably in your wallet and will help you open a beer or tighten a screw. The coolest feature that I couldn't find on most other similar products was the credit card phone stand. It is great for planes and other travel applications (I haven't had trouble bringing this on a plane anywhere I have traveled, FYI).
" — Mary "I bought this as a gift for my husband. I can't tell you how many times this little card has come in handy. We take it with us when we travel and we always end up using it.
" — Andy Aguirre Get it from Amazon for $14.98 (also available in packs of two, three, and five). 22.
A portable white-noise machine to help you sleep even when the city is loud and the walls are thin. Say good-bye to honks and sirens and hello to gentle beach waves. Promising review: "I was skeptical at first about how well this little noise machine would work in my hotel room (I am a frequent business traveler).
However, skepticism gave way to satisfaction. This little sound machine blocked out hotel noises very well and helped me sleep through the night. For a little machine, it provides very good volume and different noise options.
I highly recommend this product!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (also available in packs of two and with a carrying case). 23.
A Hackwith Design House shirt that can be worn over five different ways — saving you suitcase space and making sure you have a top for any scenario. No more staring at your closet and whispering "I haven't worn this in six years, but I might just need it..
." Promising review: "I’m being honest when I tell you this is the most 'worth-it' top around. I read a review from some frequent flyer who claims this is her go-to for flying.
She said aside from the top’s flexibility – which allows much less packing as the top itself looks and behaves like four shirts and a jacket – it’s a savior on planes because it allows you to get into a usually overheated plane, and to weather the transition to iceberg that happens about twenty minutes into most flights, and it holds its shape and looks great. I was skeptical, as I do not have the money to blow on someone else’s opinion, but my husband told me to try it as I have the same issues with temps. Long story short, I got it.
It’s a gorgeous fabric despite my usually hating the ribbed thing. It’s nice. REALLY nice.
Yes, it’s extraordinarily flexible, and yes, it’s like a jacket,. There is a travel shirt Santa Claus. Ordering in the off-white now.
Glad I read the article, and glad I bought the shirt. You should too." — Mary B.
Hackwith Design House is a woman-owned small business that creates made-to-order apparel. This shirt can be worn as a V-neck, off-the-shoulder, boatneck, V-back, and even open as a jacket. Get it from Hackwith Design House for $145 (available in women's sizes XS–4X and in three colors).
24. A handheld fan to keep you cool no matter how long the wait is. This rechargeable fan has two speed settings and even a flashlight, making it an easy and useful thing to throw in your bag for the day.
I bought one of these specifically for a trip to Florida and it was so worth it. It was a huge relief for both my kids and myself and I've been using it back home, too. Promising review: "This fan is INCREDIBLE.
I own two and use it for work almost every single day. I work outside and am able to cool down quickly due to the high speeds of this fan. This fan also acts as a portable charger and can bring my phone from dead up to about 80% before running out of battery, which I find amazing.
It also has a flashlight which is quite bright and is very helpful. I would 10/10 recommend this for anyone who needs a fan, portable charger, or a flashlight." — Benjamin Phoenix Get it from Amazon for $14.
39+ (available in four colors). 25. A neck reading light for when the person next to you on the plane is sleeping and your cabin light is offensively bright.
This is also great if you're sharing a hotel room and not quite ready for bed, or just want to do some reading without bright overhead lights on. Promising review: "I don’t have the best lighting in this house or the best eyes, and that makes for a hard time cross-stitching. These are absolutely wonderful! I can see my patterns and do my cross-stitching, which is great.
Be sure to charge every night after use though. And they are so lightweight I forget I’m wearing them! Highly recommended!" — Nini Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors).
26. A pair of motion sickness relief bands that uses acupressure to help reduce the feelings that come along with motion sickness. These bands are small in size, but a HUGE relief for travel on planes, boats, cars, or wherever else that would be ruined by unrelenting queasiness.
Promising review: "I have used these for years when I go in a boat. I just replaced my old ones for the new ones. I went on a trip and used them while we were at sea.
As usual, they save my live or I would be sick as a dog! You just have got know where to put the pressure point. And also what is great about these little guys is that they are so small and they come in a compact little flat box so they are very portable!" — C. Gustin Get a pair from Amazon for $5.
49+ (available in six colors and in packs of one, two, three, four, and five) 27. A cellphone cooler pouch to keep your phone from overheating no matter how scarce AC is in your vacay destination of choice. It also FLOATS, meaning getting too close to the pool has nothing on you.
Promising review: "This is a great product. I took it to the beach for 8 days. It was nearly 100 degrees the whole time.
It kept my phone cool and also keep the sand out. I totally recommend to anyone that asked." — MaryJane Smith Get it from Amazon for $39.
99+ (available two sizes and in eight colors). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity..
