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.
Promising review: "Very useful, especially when traveling with kids . Provided easy access and storage to water bottles, hand sanitizer, snacks, wipes, and headphones. I didn't have to access my carry-on." — JJ
Check out writer Emma Lord ’s Airplane Pockets review for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 .
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, when it was my turn to check my passport and ticket, the coffee cup fell to the ground and 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 $11.99+ (available in 26 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 $7.48+ (available in nine 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 $8.55+ (available in six 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: "The people I was traveling with made fun of me and said I was being extra bringing this. Guess who asked to borrow it almost every single day?? This little guy was a powerhouse. No problems or issues with the voltage in Europe once I switched the iron to that mode. Heats up fast and does the job well! For most materials, there’s no such thing as wrinkle-free packing, so this was a necessity. Even in hotels with no ironing board, I just ironed on the bed with no issues." — Abigail Holmquist
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (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 reviews: "I love the fabric of this shirt. It does not wrinkle, is soft, and the shirt is loose. It is a great shirt to travel in with leggings and look just as fresh at the end of the trip as when I left the house !" — anonymous
Get it from Athleta for $34.97+ (originally $99; available in women's regular sizes XXS–XL and three colors — not all colors available in all sizes).
7. A set of portable soap paper sheets because we've all had to use poorly maintained public restrooms and cringed when we pressed the soap dispenser only to find that it was empty. Not anymore!
Promising review: "It always seems that when I use a restroom in a store or restaurant, they never seem to have soap in the dispenser, so I bought these to carry with me. I tried them out at home to see how foamy they get, and it’s good. I carried one packet with me and gave one to my friend. Yeah, they’re worth getting." — alwaysbrowsing
Get 100 sheets from Amazon for $7.99 (available in four scents and larger packs).
8. Or some Tide sink packets that'll clean your salty bathing suits, sweaty T-shirts, and dirty undies. Rewear clothing instead of stuffing your suitcase with pieces you'll only wear once!
Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag.
Promising review: "These are super easy to use! I love that I can use it while traveling, camping, or even at work. There have been times when I needed something better than hand soap to wash a shirt, and this fits the bill. It's perfect for your go-bag when you’re traveling or just out camping. I love that the smell isn’t too pervasive, and the small amount of detergent is enough for me to wash 4–5 articles of clothing. And the best part: It’s not rough on my hands. So it’s definitely a good item to keep with you when you’re out on the go!" — Anna D.
Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.26 .
9. A drink holder so you can feel like the most powerful being on your plane by creating storage space out of thin air. This tray sits on 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 with 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 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 .
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.
Promising review: "This product is great for smaller bags or for going on vacation. It works well and hasn't leaked. I've had these for about a year now and would still get more. They look exactly like the photos and work well. Would get again." — Angelena
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in six color combos).
11. The newest Kindle Paperwhite — the fastest Kindle yet — if your favorite part of vacation is many uninterrupted hours of reading. 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. And a single charge should last you up to 12 weeks so you may not need to charge your device for the entire trip!
It also comes with three months of Kindle Unlimited for free!
Promising review: "I am absolutely loving my new Kindle Paperwhite. In the past, I have been reading my books on my iPad and seemingly happy with that format until I tried to read outside. The iPad screen was extremely difficult to view outside, and the battery life drained rapidly. Enter the new 2024 Kindle Paperwhite... The screen is so comfortable to view both inside, at night, and especially outside. Actually, the screen is fantastic for outside readability. Due to the Kindle's water resistance, on a recent vacation, I read for over an hour while in the resort's hot tub without worry of imposing water damage . The battery life on the Kindle seems to last forever! I've since read multiple books and it still has more than an adequate charge remaining. I feel that the new 7" size is perfect for page viewing and holding while reading. I can now highly recommend this Kindle Paperwhite. It has made my reading so much more enjoyable." — SRW
Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (16 GB of storage; available in three colors).
12. A stroller gate check bag for protecting your umbrella-style stroller from scratches and dings caused by rough handling, dirt, and who knows what else lurking in the cargo hold.
This bag is for single umbrella-style strollers. There is also a bag for standard/double strollers and car seats .
Promising review: "We never put our stroller in a bag when we gate checked, but we have a friend that works for Delta that loads planes and he said they are disgusting underneath and you should always cover baby stuff. We bought this and it's lightweight to store in your bag until needed and covers the stroller really well." — Kelsey
Get it from Amazon for $16.57 .
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).
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 did break them in with thin socks on around my house before wearing them out and when possible, I wear them with little sock liners. Also — I was able to 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 23 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 in my sinus. NO PAIN. NO TEARS." — K. Tombrella
Get a pack with three pairs from Amazon for $19.85 (also available in packs of 5 or 10 pairs).
15. 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: "This is so comfortable that I had to submit a review as I’m currently using it for the first time on this flight. I saw a woman use it for our Georgia to Washington flight a month ago. It seemed comfortable, so I decided to buy one for myself. I’m 5'2", for any who are curious. My husband said he didn’t need it. But I had him try it, and he didn’t want to give it back . We didn’t even have to adjust the length from how I had it set. He is 5'10". Buy it. You’ll enjoy your flight more if you fly economy like we do." — Kenia Figueroa
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in packs of two and four).
16. 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.
Promising review: "I bought these to help with a calf muscle injury, but have since worn them when traveling and on any given day when my legs/ankles/feet swell from too much sitting or standing. They are wonderful. Very comfortable, and my legs feel great while wearing them." — JYJ
Get them from Amazon for $14.45+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and 13 styles)
Check out my colleague's Physix Gear compression socks review for more deets!
17. 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 $11.99 .
18. 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.
Promising review: "This wallet made it soooooooo much easier to hold everything we needed together in one place. Made going through customs and security so smooth in the Mexico airport! Especially with little kids. I highly recommend it!!" — Malisa
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 .
19. 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 $36+ (available in nine colors).
20. 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 fit 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 works just as good." — Geoffrey J.
Get it from Amazon for $10.89+ (available in three sizes, 13 colors, and multipacks).
21. A contoured sleep mask to block out the sunlight — no, wait, that's just your seat neighbor's reading light. These may also come in handy when your body demands an afternoon nap because of jet lag.
Promising review: "I purchased this sleep eye mask for my trip to Europe. With the flights being 10+ hours each way, I wanted to block all light for some serious sleep time. This mask served its purpose. I was very pleased with it. I was a little concerned with the fit due to my small head. Some reviewers said it might be a problem, but it wasn't. It also came in handy for jet lag naps. I'm a side sleeper, so it takes a bit of getting used to against the face. However, judging from my deep sleep, I seem to have gotten used to it quite quickly. The softness was an added bonus. This was a good purchase." — Michele
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in eight colors).
22. A heavy-duty bag strap if you don't want to waste precious bag space on random accessories (travel pillows and blankets), bulky jackets, water bottles, and more. Simply clip them to your backpack and your hands are free to do more important things, like pull up your gate number for the millionth time just to make sure it hasn't changed.
Promising review: "I bought two straps to use for my trip. It was so worth it! It held my family's light jackets and kids' travel neck pillows. We also used it to hold our water bottles on our hikes. I wish I knew about these sooner!" — Lisa H
Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in four colors and packs of two).
23. 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 for 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).
24. 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 holds 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 $26.99 .
25. 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 putting 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 petite style).
26. 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 onto your suitcase so you don't accidentally leave it at the airport.
Promising review: "On a long flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, I gave this blanket its first test and BOY! I was glad I did. Despite wearing a shirt and sweater, the plane was very chilly after hours of travel. This soft, large, and warm blanket was perfect. It keeps me well-covered and warm. It is soft and snuggly, which makes it even more of a deal. I highly recommend this item. It is definitely an added bonus that it attaches easily to your backpack or other carryon luggage." — lowry martin ii
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in seven colors).
27. 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 carport 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).
28. A cute portable iPhone 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.
Promising review: "This literally gets my phone charged in no time. I’ll connect it to the charger and sit it down, and next thing you know, it goes from 20% to 100%. Not sure of how long but it doesn’t take too long. Definitely worth the buy and works great when traveling, and you don’t want to carry iPhone chargers." — Cameron
Get it from Amazon for $13.54+ (available in nine colors — here's a similar USB-C charger ).
29. 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 the 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 $15.17+ (available in three colors).
30. 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 $11.99 .
31. 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 three sizes and 21 colors).
32. 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, recommend playing when not in heavy traffic so driver and navigator can play." — Sydney
Get it from Amazon for $8.80 .
33. Some satin pillowcases to both baby your skin and hair (which is probably already dehydrated thanks to dry air in the plane) *and* bring some of the comforts of home to a hotel.
Promising review: "I travel for work and having this case has helped so much with my hair and it’s great quality, I have washed it so many times and yet it’s durable and comfy." — Maritza Cruz
Get two from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in four sizes and 37 colors).
Big vacation mood:
