IF YOU PRIDE YOURSELF ON ALWAYS BEING PREPARED, YOU’LL WANT TO CHECK OUT THESE 40 PRODUCTS BEFORE YOUR NEXT TRIP
1. A roll-on blister-preventing balm if your upcoming travel plans include a lot of walking and do not include limping around because of painful blisters.
Promising review: "My family goes to Disney World every year, and even with rotating shoes every other day, we still get blisters. I bought this before our trip two months ago, and it was worth every penny. We rubbed it all over the top, bottom, sides of our feet and toes each morning, and our feet did not blister! I highly recommend this product for long Disney days or any time you will be on your feet for a long period of time." —Cari Sanders
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
2. A waterproof pouch because you don't want to leave your phone behind on those wet 'n' wild vacation adventures (and miss those photos?!). You might as well skip the low-grade "What if it gets wet?" panic and give yourself peace of mind that your tech is protected.
It fits any phone up to 100mm x 170mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). And you can totally use the touchscreen through the case — including the camera! People take incredible photos with it.
Promising review: "The swim-up bar was our group’s meeting point every day while on vacation in Costa Rica. I had no worries about misplacing my phone nor damaging it in the pool. I caught lots of candid shots because I didn’t have to fumble with getting it out of a dry bag. I had my phone around my neck and shot through the plastic!" —Diane
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 14 styles).
3. An all-in-one universal wall adapter so no matter where you go, you don't show up in a new country with no way to charge your tech!
Promising review: "Probably one of the best $13 I spent on anything. 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 Graumann
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four colors).
4. Plus, an Anker charging port with six USB ports for ensuring no one in your vacation party starts bickering over available outlet space. With this, there's room to power all your devices and then some.
Promising review: "Device worked just as advertised. I ordered this to use on our vacation trip to the Caribbean and it was great not having to worry about having enough USB plug adapters." —Lionel Vega
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in black and white).
5. An airplane seat back organizer to slip over the tray table and really make this little slice of Airbus feel like home. The machine-washable surface provides a clean space for working and eating while adding some much-needed pockets for easy access to the snacks, drinks, and activities you've prepared to make it through this long-haul flight.
Promising review: "Very useful, especially when traveling with kids. Provided easy access and storage to things like water bottles, hand sanitizer, snacks, wipes, and headphones. I didn't have to access my carry-on." —JJ
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
Check out BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord’s Airplane Pockets review for more deets!
6. A pair of reusable anti-nausea bands that may help soothe churning stomachs caused by long car rides and cruises without copious amounts of Dramamine.
For more info on how to use acupressure for nausea management, check out this guide from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Promising review: "I have always suffered from motion sickness. My whole life, I have hated long car rides, even short car rides. As soon as I get in the car and buckle in, I already feel the nausea. I bought these for a 16-hour road trip, and they worked 100%. I felt perfectly comfortable the whole way through. I could even watch movies and text on my phone and feel alright. My two daughters suffer from the same thing (ages 1 and 3) to the point where they can't keep any food down. The kid's bands worked for them 100% of the time, too. 10/10 recommend. I'll be buying more for sure." —Veronica
Get a pair from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five colors).
7. A refillable sunscreen sponge applicator because the quicker you get this gooey, greasy mess over with, the quicker you all can get back to what this vacation is really about. Simply fill up the chamber with the sunscreen of your choice, give it a shake, and the genius roller ball and sponge combo will take care of the rest.
Promising review: "Used for the first time today on my 7-year-old. For the first time in his life, he actually enjoyed having sunscreen applied to his skin! Very easy to use and not messy at all. Extremely pleased with this purchase!" —amyj
Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in six colors and in multipacks).
8. And a tube of Burt's Bees after sun soother if a few sunburns are still likely, even with diligent sunscreen application. Apply this hydrating formula ASAP and enjoy sweet relief from pain and itching.
This product is formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or SLS.
Promising review: "I’ve had this bottle for over a year! It’s lasted with my family through Disney World, Destin spring break, and every time we go to the pool! I’ve had some bad sunburns. I slather this on and reapply after it’s soaked in, and I wake up with a deep tan. Whatever is in it is like magic! The smell is kinda weird to me, but as well as this lotion works, it could smell like cough syrup, and I’d still happily use it." —Natalie Smith
Get it from Amazon for $17.75.
9. A portable door lock so you can up the security at any hotel or Airbnb with one low-tech addition that installs in seconds and is designed to fit just about any door you'd encounter.
Note: This can get flagged while going through security, so you may want to put it in an easily accessible place in your checked bag to be safe.
Promising review: "I bought this to use in an Airbnb in an unfamiliar residential area. The lock system was easy to use, worked perfectly, and allowed my family to enjoy our vacation without worrying about security. It's a simple product that works!" —G. Mills
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
10. A pair of reusable waterproof shoe covers for smart weather prep that doesn't involve packing your absurdly heavy galoshes. These easily fold down tiny enough to stash in a purse, so you can keep your tootsies dry even when a storm rolls in out of nowhere.
Check the handy sizing chart on the product listing so you can find your ideal fit!
Promising reviews: "Exactly as described. The size was exactly right for my shoe size. Perfect for a trip, as they take up very little space in a suitcase and work quite well to keep the rain out and puddles away from shoes." —Caroljean
Get a pair from Amazon for $12.89 (available in unisex sizes S–4XL and five styles).
11. A multipurpose car seat storage bag to keep the car clean and tidy even when you're caravanning across the country. This handy organizer has a lined and leakproof spot for garbage, plenty of mesh storage pockets, and a dispenser for tissues or wet wipes.
Promising review: "It holds a lot, so I never have trash lying around my van! Always have tissues if you need them, and keep wet wipes and hand sanitizer, etc., in the pockets. I do long road trips so this is just super nice to have. The lid keeps everything inside so stuff is never falling out. I definitely recommend this to anyone with kids, especially if you take long road trips and wanna keep your vehicle tidy all the time." —Leanna Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
12. A freezable snack box with built-in cooling technology that you can load up with snacks to fuel your outdoor adventures knowing they'll stay cool and fresh all day long.
Promising review: "This is perfect for my kids to bring to camp! They love being able to have an easy cold snack on hot summer days, and I love that there isn’t an ice pack to lose. It kept everything very cold — maybe too cold for a granola bar. Will recommend to everyone." —McBs
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in additional colors/styles).
13. A pair of affordable wireless Bluetooth earbuds because everything is better — long flights, hotel hot tubs, you name it — when you're not tethered to your tech by a cord or fretting over water damage. Thankfully, these buds are waterproof, come with a handy travel/charging case, and connect to your devices in one easy step.
Promising review: "The earbuds are everything I had hoped they would be. I like the fit in my ear, and that is important for achieving the sound I want. I like the fact that they are waterproof and can use them on vacation without worrying about damaging them." —C S
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in two sizes and five colors).
14. Plus, an AirFly Pro wireless transmitter if you (and a buddy) actually want to use said Bluetooth earbuds to watch those free in-flight movies.
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
Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in black and white and three other styles).
15. A heavy-duty bag strap so you're not stuck wearing (or holding) your jacket while navigating the airport or a new city. This simple little add-on attaches to luggage, purses, or backpacks to free your hands of those travel essentials that are just too bulky for your bags.
16. A refillable travel perfume atomizer for a compact and shatter-proof way to transport your favorite scents so you don't have to spend your whole trip not smelling like your best self.
Using the atomizer is easy: Simply unscrew the cap to your perfume bottle, place the perfume nozzle into the hole at the bottom of the atomizer, and pump the perfume inside.
Promising review: "Usually, I'll take whatever samples I haven't tried out yet with me on vacation, but these let me take my favorite fragrances with me when I travel without worrying about losing or breaking the big bottle! I find myself throwing them in my purse or gym bag as well since they are so portable." —Labernatty
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $6.99.
17. A pack of moisture-proof travel pill organizers to make packing any emergency provisions extra space-efficient and easy, because no one wants to be stuck halfway through a walking tour with a migraine.
Promising review: "These were the perfect size to hold all our medicine. We didn’t need a Monday through Friday organizer. We just needed something to help consolidate medicine for travel. It held way more than I was expecting and came with labels so no confusion of medicine." —Momof3
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $8.97.
18. A tri-fold travel wallet that'll keep everything (and I mean everything) on hand and organized as you run to catch your flight. Money, cards, boarding passes, passports — you name it — all protected with RFID-blocking tech.
The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, a slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, a key holder, and a pen holder.
Promising review: "Great for traveling. It holds all my important info for an international vacation. Didn't have to worry about misplacing my passport or fear my card info being compromised." —Crystal
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 29 colors).
19. Or a waterproof travel document holder because you've got a whole gaggle of travelers depending on you to keep track of their passports and boarding passes, which is a lot easier to do when they're all organized in one easy-to-access place.
Promising review: "I took my kids on their first international trip, and this thing was a total lifesaver. It fits easily in a fanny pack or small purse for easy access, and it fits my whole family's passports, vaccine cards, boarding passes, and a pen with plenty of room for cash and cards if you decide to use it as a wallet for your trip. It made getting checked in a breeze and helped my family keep everything organized." —Kevin Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors).
20. A mini white noise machine if you (or your child) already has enough trouble sleeping at home let alone in an unfamiliar place. This teeny-tiny gadget will drown out big city noises and even doubles as a Bluetooth speaker for playing your favorite tunes on the go.
Promising review: "I travel a lot for work and need some kind of noise to cover up sounds from the hallway in hotels. This little device is the best one I've found. I've found one of the sound options that sounds just like an AC unit that puts me to sleep in an instant. The sounds on this little guy are the best ones I've heard. Buy this for travel and you won't be sorry!" —KJ
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in black and white).
21. A set of portable soap sheets so you can always guarantee access to cleansing hand soap, even in the most — How do I say this nicely? — ~neglected~ public restrooms.
Promising review: "Love this product. Provides great suds as any handful of soap would. This is excellent for travel, especially in public bathrooms that don’t always guarantee soap. Discreet and great for places where you might not want to touch the dispenser. A lot comes in one container. Gave some packets away to my family." —Kerry-Ann Archibald1
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $7.99.
22. A cute portable USB-C charger for supplying your phone with the juice it needs to take tons of pictures, call a ride, and pull up directions even if you're miles away from an outlet.
Here's a similar model for iPhone users, too!
Promising review: "I have used several different brands of battery backup chargers! This is by far the best one I have ever used. It charges your phone so much faster than other brands I have tried! Definitely very pleased with this purchase!! I have now purchased two of them!! Both work great!!" —Kari Walters
Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in five colors).
23. Slip-on quick-dry water shoes with sock-like flexibility to get that barefoot feel in the water without that barefoot vulnerability. Plus, the low profile makes them easy to pack, since we know shoe space is limited, to say the least.
Promising review: "Love these water socks. They are comfy and cute. I have never owned a pair before but I wanted to try these for an upcoming vacation in Belize. I have tried them out a couple of times in a swimming pool, and they are great. I love that they are so lightweight that I forget I am wearing anything on my feet at all. They give me the confidence to stand in the pool without worry of stepping on something or scratching my feet." —AJS
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in women's sizes 4–13.5, men's sizes 3–12, and in 43 styles).
24. A pack of Wi-Fi connected outlets that'll make virtually any electronic device in your home "smart" so you can control the lights from your phone and trick any nosy onlookers into thinking you're home when you're actually halfway across the world.
Promising review: "I love this product! Purchased four and then bought four more, plus an outdoor version for porch lights. I have every light labeled by location. Set each unit to turn on and off at appropriate times. We recently took a vacation and felt secure knowing our lights were on a preset pattern. Took only a few minutes to install to our 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi Network. The iPhone app allows me to change the on/off settings anywhere." —R. Ellis
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $20.99.
25. A set of refillable TSA-friendly toiletry containers if you're sick of spending a small fortune on name-brand travel-sized products and just want to make your own. You won't have to worry about leaking, and the entire set fits in the provided clear zip pouch.
Promising review: "I purchased one for myself and had a really good experience traveling with them. Nothing leaked, not even the witch hazel. I was really impressed and bought two more for my daughters and took them on our family vacation. We love these travel kits." —M
Get it from Amazon for $14.79+ (available in six variations).
26. A pack of disposable potty seat covers because public bathrooms are usually kinda gross, but these disposable covers make the experience a little less so with long sides that'll help your kids avoid all direct contact with germy toilet seats.
Promising review: “I bought this for our vacation, and so glad I did. I have a 5-year-old and loved having these when we stopped at rest areas. The front hangs down so as she’s sitting, her legs were not touching the toilet. Not only was it perfect for her but for my whole family. Definitely will be purchasing more packs." —Juanina Mccollum
Get the pack of 24 from Amazon for $9.99.
27. A travel-friendly anti-theft shoulder bag so you can focus less on guarding your belongings and more on snapping the perfect photo. This roomy crossbody is made from slash-proof material with an RFID-blocking card and passport slots and has plenty of pockets for organizing all the bits and bobbles you need for optimal sightseeing.
Promising review: "Bought this for a recent vacay and loved it so much it’s now my everyday purse. It has a great number of pockets that are all secured with anti-theft locks. It wasn’t difficult for me to unlock and get what I needed while shopping, and I didn’t have to worry while walking through crowds of people. There’s even a little purse flashlight that was attached to the inside! I love it." —D. Smith
Get it from Amazon for $39.24 (available in 12 styles).
28. A trusty stain-removing pen for tackling stains the minute they occur instead of being forced to wear your morning coffee through every museum tour and photo op.
Promising review: "This product works great and the three-pack is a good deal, whether you want to label each one for a specific use or share with members of the family. It is easy to use and doesn't take long to dry. I keep one in my purse and of course it is a must-have when traveling." —DeeNicole
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $7.88.
29. A combination access portable lock box to deter anyone from stealing your valuables while you and the crew head out to catch some waves.
You can also use this in your room to keep valuables protected.
Promising review: "We took this to the beach on a family vacation. All five phones went in easily, and we were able to swim in the ocean without worrying about our devices! Great product, easy to use." —Nelly Grinfeld
Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in five colors).
30. A hands-free luggage drink caddy that'll finally make it possible to handle your luggage, pull up your boarding pass, *and* transport your iced coffee at the same time.
Promising review: "This is an amazing travel accessory! When you are trying to juggle your hot beverage with a water bottle, your phone, and a boarding pass, this is a handy, easily stashable uni-tasker to have. Fits perfectly on my carry-on bag and larger rolling bags as well." —Pirate
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 25 styles).
31. A versatile travel harness seat if you're nervous about showing up to the restaurant you've been excitedly scoping out for weeks, only to find out they don't have a high chair for your tot. This adjustable harness rolls up tiny enough to stash in a bag and converts most any chair into a kid-friendly option for on-the-go feedings.
Liuliuby is a New York City-based small business founded by Mompreneur Mari Liu to reimagine everyday baby products after her own experiences as a new mother.
This harness is designed for ages 6 months and up.
Promising review: "This thing was amazing! Ten stars — it fits every type of chair we encountered on our Kenyan vacation! Kept our toddler controlled and made feeding on the go so easy. Very lightweight and packable, a vacation must-have!" —Kireme1
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
32. A helpful "Pack this!" checklist because sometimes the biggest travel headache is figuring out what to bring. This should help you generate ideas, and ensure you're not kicking yourself later after realizing you forgot your toothbrush.
Promising review: "This is perfect. Whenever we travel, my kids always say, 'Make me a list of what I have to pack.' I always worry I will forget to tell them something random like underwear or pajamas...so now, I just check the boxes, they pack, and can review the list if they want to add anything." —AmyH
Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in two colors and a road trip edition).
33. A smart garage hub and sensor so you'll never have to second-guess whether or not you closed the garage door before leaving. With this, you can control the door from your phone, give access to friends and family when you're away, and even get real-time door activity notifications for unparalleled peace of mind.
This works with the free myQ app for iPhone or Android to help you get connected with your very own smart garage. You can also give access to friends or family, create a close schedule, and receive real-time notifications about garage door activity.
Promising review: "I am recommending this to anyone who wants to get a separate remote for outside the garage. This is safer and more secure than hanging a remote. I like that I can access my garage from almost anywhere. I can open the garage while I am shopping or on vacation. I do not need to worry about someone knowing the code and opening my door. Also, I like that I can link it to my ring cameras to be more vigilant. This is a great buy." —robert vazquez
Get it from Amazon for $29.
34. Some Tide sink packets packed with the perfect amount of detergent for washing those salty bathing suits and dirty undies so you can avoid overstuffing your suitcase even on multi-week excursions.
Each pack comes with three packets, and they're tiny enough to easily slide into the side of any toiletry 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 $7.46.
35. Plus, a six-foot travel clothesline that'll make drying your freshly cleaned laundry right in the hotel room a straightforward affair that doesn't involve draping wet clothes over every square inch of available space. You don't even need clothespins — just hang the clothes between the braided cords.
Promising review: "Love this clothesline! We take this with us on resort vacations. It's nice to be able to wash out swimsuits, etc., and hang them to dry every day so they don't smell after days of nonstop ocean fun. This one is nice because you don't need clothespins, and it stretches pretty far. I was able to hang up two kid's swimsuits, two kid's rash guards, two adult swimsuits, and two adult rash guards, and still had room for more. This is a must if you take any tropical vacation where it's humid and hard for clothes to dry out." —Haley G
Get it from Amazon for $11.50.
36. A pair of Blink mini indoor security cameras to give you added peace of mind when you're out of the house. These cameras create a livestream of your home that you can watch any hour of the day and will notify you when there's motion detected. They also have two-way audio, so you can remind the neighbor kid watching your cat to give Pickles his medicine.
Promising review: "This product takes the worry away when you have to leave your house — on vacation, visiting family, or out of the country. Blink lets you see what's going on in your house. Leaves you with a sense of security and comfort." —RDH
Get two from Amazon for $49.99 (available in black and white and individually).
37. A digital luggage scale if you're tired of sweating it out at the baggage check counter, hoping to avoid paying pesky overage fees. This scale is super accurate so you can be confident in your under-50-pound pack-job.
To use, just hook the scale to your luggage handle, lift up, and the LCD display will show the weight! You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.
BTW, BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly recently put this scale to the test while packing for a trip to Iceland — check out her demo of how it works on TikTok!
Promising review: "Took this for a 10-day trip overseas with lots of flights. Weighed the luggage as things were added to it/purchased, and when we weighed in at the airport, it was perfectly accurate. Very important when the airline will charge $70 more for a suitcase that is too heavy or make you open the whole thing up and take stuff out in order to fly with it. Saved so much hassle." —B. M. O'Connor
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in six colors, as well as a two-pack and another style).
38. Some reusable bottle bags because the reasons you'd travel with wine are plentiful (host gift, celebratory bottle, a souvenir), but so are the fears of broken glass and wine-stained everything in your luggage if it breaks. This padded bag is designed with an absorbent lining, so even if the bottle breaks, the spill will stay self-contained.
JetBag is a small business specializing in bags designed to protect your wine and your stuff.
Promising review: "Love my jet bags. We can travel with a bottle of wine without having to worry that the bottle might break and ruin things in the suitcase. Love having a bottle of wine when we arrive at our destination!" —Kathy Karst
Get a set of three from Amazon for $15.99.
39. A set of dry-erase travel games for keeping the kids entertained with a mess-free activity whether you're lounging by the pool, waiting for food at a restaurant, or stuck on the plane for approximately six more hours.
Ellesmere Home is a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based Etsy shop run by a husband and wife team creating unique giftables for kids and adults alike!
Promising review: "The kids loved these on our flight and by the pool!" —Chelsea Kadish
Get it from Ellesmere Home on Etsy for $27.
40. A foldable water bottle if you love proper hydration (and not paying for overpriced disposables), but hate having a clunky empty bottle eat up valuable bag space.
Plus, it's lead-, latex-, and BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and can be used for hot or cold drinks.
Promising review: "Bought this water bottle for a trip to Disney World. At home, I always have my 40-ounce water bottle nearby. I was worried about walking around the park and not having quick access to water on those hot park days. We only brought a fanny pack in and didn't have room for something big. This was perfect! It wasn't too overbearing to hold and was super easy to fold up and throw in the bag when not in use. My only regret is I didn't buy two!" —E. Alarcón
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 3 sizes and 14 colors/styles).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.