32 Handy Items To Bring On Your Next Trip
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32 Handy Items To Bring On Your Next Trip

May 29, 2023

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.

Whether you're flying, road-tripping, or hoppin' on a train, you'll wanna make sure you pack these travel must-haves.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "Very useful especially when traveling with kids. Provided easy access and storage to things like water bottle, hand sanitizer, snacks, wipes, headphones. I didn't have to access my carry-on." —JJ

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

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 coffee spilled. It was a nightmare! This time I bought this cup holder! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." —Philip

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in 33 colors).

It comes with 10 trash bags.

Promising review: "I have a 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 leg room for backseat passengers. I use the side pockets to hold my car needs: flashlights, books, etc. I use a regular plastic bag to line the can so I do not have to clean the cloth as much. I like this better than a regular small car trash can because it does not spill or tip over. The top keeps everything in and there is a small strip of Velcro on the bottom of the bag to keep it in place." —Debra Henegar

Get it from Amazon for $9.87+ (available in eight colors).

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 $11.98 (available in six colors).

Promising reviews: "Great for travel. Lightweight and doesn't wrinkle. Can be worn casually or more dressy." —anonymous

"LOVE this blouse — comfortable, stylish, washes like a dream. Looks great with tights or Brooklyn pants but works great as a swimsuit cover-up too, so it's fabulous for travel — versatile and does not wrinkle." —Jude B

Get it from Athleta for $119 (available in women's regular sizes XXS–3X, tall sizes S–XL, petite sizes XS–L, and in five colors — not all colors available in all sizes).

Promising review: "This came SO in handy during my vacation to Europe! I was making lots of different stops to places with different types of weather. With these laundry soap sheets I was able to wash my clothes in the sink — letting me pack just the right amount of clothes for all the different places I went." —Katie Fujarski

Get 50 sheets from Amazon for $5.89.

Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag. I've packed these on international trips to much success!

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. I use tide at home donut is my wash if choose. Glad to have them. They don't leak either." —Barbara Jefferson

Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.93.

BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly loves hers. In her own words: "I've been using for about a year. As the reviewer down below mentions, it's great to just throw in your purse on the reg for a fragrance re-up throughout the day. As you can see, it's about the size of my thumb and therefore takes up very little room. Plus! It's smaller than most rollerball travel fragrances you can pick up. This first one is working so well, that I just have the other three in storage. But if this one bites the dust this summer during travels, I'll be OK about digging into my stores to use one of the remaining three...especially at this price point."

Promising review: "I bought these due to traveling a lot for work and needing to cut down on the size of things in my carry-on bag for flying. I can bring four different perfumes now instead of one big one. They’re super easy to fill, haven't leaked so far but I keep them in a sandwich baggie while traveling just in case. I would 100% buy them again." —Emily

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99.

Promising review: "I love my Paperwhite. I used to read through the Kindle app on my iPad, but the bright light was hard on my eyes. The backlight and ability to change the brightness makes this a perfect e-reader to use when your partner is sleeping. And because it is for reading only, I don't get distracted from reading by social media or the internet browsing." —Rhonda

Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available with 8 GB or 16 GB of storage and in four colors).

This bag is for single umbrella-style strollers. There is also a bag for 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 $17.99.

FYI, these are included in Prime Try Before You Buy so you can test them out before committing if you’re a Prime member!

Promising review: "I normally cannot wear flats because they give me terrible blisters on the back of my feet. These didn't! Bought these in nude for a city vacation with a lot of walking, but where sandals aren't necessarily worn and these were perfect! They obviously don't have the support of sneakers, but I am so happy to finally have a cheap pair of flats that don't give me blisters. I 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 $17.43+ (available in women's sizes 5–15, including wide sizes, and 35 styles).

Promising review: "Never fly without these! Before I found these, I endured excruciating pain in my ears upon descent and landing. Felt like a hot poker being driven into each ear. My ears would also be plugged up, and it would often take two to three days for them to resume their normal state of being. I insert them about an hour before landing, as the plane is making its slow descent. I'm comfortable, and the most discomfort I experience is a slight adjustment of pressure feeling in my sinus. NO PAIN. NO TEARS." —K. Tombrella

Get a pack with three pairs from Amazon for $19.53 (also available in packs of five or 10 pairs).

This works best if you're 5'4" or shorter.

Promising review: "This is an amazing product. It's so simple but works incredibly to prevent swelling and pressure on legs while flying. I just flew the first leg of an international flight and used it, and I am on a layover now and had to pause to write this review. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!! It easily attached to the tray table, and I adjusted to my desired height. It is like a hammock for your feet. You just prop them up inside the thing/swing/hammock — which is very cushiony — and your feet are hoisted up comfortably. I'm a big girl and weight is no issue. DEFINITELY MUST HAVE ON ALL MY FLIGHTS NOW. This thing is great!!" —Queen

Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Favorite compression socks for the price. I stand all day on hard floors and these help a lot with foot pain. I used to always have swollen ankles after long days but not when I wear these. I have five pairs now. For some reason the green ones seem longer and looser than the others so I don't know what that's about. I would recommend if purchasing multiple pairs to just stick to the same color, makes it easier when washing to pair them back up rather that trying to keep the same colors together." —Hayley Nyman

Get them from Amazon for $18.57+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and 13 styles)

Check out my colleague's Physix Gear compression socks review for more deets!

Promising review: "I took my first solo trip and ordered this for extra security. Was super easy to install and didn't require me to leave my hotel door ajar for an extended amount of time for installation. My hotel door didn't even move when I tested out the lock. 10/10 recommend for a peace of mind."—Haley Gribble

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

JMT Collections is an Arizona-based small business that makes passport holders, card holders, wallets, and more.

Promising review: "Looks great! It fits my husband's and my passports and vaccine cards perfectly so they don't fall out." —Alyssa Michelle

Get it from JMT Connections on Etsy for $9.99 (available in 22 colors).

Promising review: "I love my new everywhere scarf/shawl. I purchased the silver for travel and am now wearing it almost daily. It is sooooo soft and versatile. Looks great with jeans and a sweater as a scarf. Looks really nice as a shawl with a dress or slacks and blouse. You will love how you feel wrapped up in it on an airplane or in the car on a trip. Don't pass up owning this great accessory, enjoy it!" —George K.

Get it from Amazon for $46+ (available in eight colors).

Plus, it's lead-, latex-, and BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, and can be used for hot or cold drinks.

Promising review: "Well this is the coolest thing ever! I travel quite a bit, and I usually don't take a bottle with me because they are big and bulky and I usually lose them! This collapsible water bottle is a perfect traveling accessory. It stays collapsed until after security, and then I fill it up for the trip. It's a good size and fits in my side compartment in my travel backpack, and the cap screws in securely so I don't have to worry about it opening accidentally and spilling all over the place. I follow the instructions on how to clean it and it works just fine." —M. Lyons

Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "Must-have for traveling and staggered bedtime! My partner has used a lot of other brands prior to finding this eye mask. He uses them to block out the TV light on nights I am up watching TV or when he takes naps in the daytime. It is the first eye mask that he's tried that blocks out light and is comfortable to wear. The material is very soft. It does come with a nylon travel case and earplugs. This is our second purchase in case one gets misplaced." —m.szegedy

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in seven colors).

Wine & Whiskey Co. is a Texas-based small biz selling a wide range of adorable phone cases and T-shirts, plus genius car accessories (obvi).

Promising review: "Really like this cup holder! I was worried it was going to be bulky and get in the way of my driving or my water bottle would topple over if I ever had to slam on my breaks. So far so good! It's not bulky at all and the Hydro flask fits perfectly in the cup holder!" —Anna Wiskerchen

Get it from Wine & Whiskey Co. on Etsy for $12.99+ (also available in packs of three, four, and six).

Promising review: "I bought the navy blue to take on vacation after reading an article about how easy care these jumpsuits are. I loved it so much I bought the green. I take them out of my suitcase, hang them up, and they are ready to go in a few hours, no ironing needed. I get compliments every time I wear one of them." —AKSunshine

Get it from Amazon for $37.99 (available in women's sizes S–3XL and 35 colors/patterns).

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 $29.99.

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 $59.99 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "Wish I could give it 10 stars! I used this wonder blanket while staying in the ICU with my son for four nights. This warm and cozy blanket saved me from freezing and was so much warmer than the hospital blankets that were also available. I am relatively tall and this blanket was plenty long as well. I cannot recommend this snuggly but compact blanket highly enough! (It could also be used as a small pillow when folded into the little travel bag that it comes in!)" —J Bauer

Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "This is a must-have for road trips with people in the back. No longer do they have to bring their own super long cables and fight to the death for the car port to charge their phone as they take a million pics from the backseat! Power bank for the car with its own long cables so everyone can be charged up and ready to use all their devices without anyone being left uncharged. Really compact but packs a punch and the price ain't bad. Really liked this and recommend it!" —hollywoodhorror

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes/styles).

Promising review: "The holy grail of portable chargers!!! I was traveling to Disney for vacation and knowing me, I would drain my battery with just taking pictures alone. I wanted a portable battery but didn't want a carry a cord either, so I was excited when I found this little baby! It does exactly as described, pretty pink color, and I get one full charge of battery for my iPhone 11. Get it, you will not be disappointed!" —Meghan Doble

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six colors).

It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying!

Promising review: "This fits perfectly in my toiletries travel bag that I take with me as a flight attendant. Anything that comes in a small size and still works well is perfect for me." —Kathy S

Get it from Amazon for $14.97.

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 $9.78.

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 22 colors).

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 car, recommend playing when not in busy traffic so driver and navigator can play." —Sydney

Get it from Amazon for $10.33.

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 $8.99+ (available in four sizes and 42 colors).

Heads up — you can only use this if you're sitting in a seat that has access to a full window!

Promising review: "I used this for the first time on a 737. It was fabulous! It didn't intrude into my sitting space nearly as much as I expected. Because the actual window is recessed from the side wall, this only sticks out from the side wall about an inch. If you're considering this, you likely fly enough to know that seats aren't always aligned with the windows. If your window happens to be right beside your seat or the seat in front of you, this won't be of much use. But because it doesn't jut out as much as I thought, you can use it in more situations than I expected. And when you can use it, it's great! I love not having to have my entire tray table down just to hold a 3-inch cup. My only suggestion would be to add a place to hold trash until the flight attendant picks it up. This is very small, very lightweight, and very useful. I'll be taking it on every flight from here on." —JBC

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

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

Promising review: especially when traveling with kids Promising review: Promising review: Promising review: Works great, a must-have when flying. Promising reviews: Promising review: Promising review Promising review: Promising review: The backlight and ability to change the brightness makes this a perfect e-reader to use when your partner is sleeping. Promising review: Promising review: I am so happy to finally have a cheap pair of flats that don't give me blisters Promising review: I insert them about an hour before landing, as the plane is making its slow descent. I'm comfortable, and the most discomfort I experience is a slight adjustment of pressure feeling in my sinus. Promising review: I just flew the first leg of an international flight and used it, and I am on a layover now and had to pause to write this review. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!! I'm a big girl and weight is no issue. DEFINITELY MUST HAVE ON ALL MY FLIGHTS NOW. Promising review: Promising review: My hotel door didn't even move when I tested out the lock. 10/10 recommend for a peace of mind. Promising review: Promising review: I purchased the silver for travel and am now wearing it almost daily. You will love how you feel wrapped up in it on an airplane or in the car on a trip. Promising review: It's a good size and fits in my side compartment in my travel backpack, and the cap screws in securely so I don't have to worry about it opening accidentally and spilling all over the place Promising review: Must-have for traveling and staggered bedtime! It is the first eye mask that he's tried that blocks out light and is comfortable to wear. Promising review: Promising review: Promising review: The baby loved sitting at the table instead of their stroller and was comfortable and secure to the seat. Promising review: It essentially helped me sleep sitting up on and off during a 10-hour car trip with no discomfort or pain. Promising review: Wish I could give it 10 stars! Promising review: a must-have for road trips everyone can be charged up and ready to use all their devices without anyone being left uncharged Promising review: It does exactly as described, pretty pink color, and I get one full charge of battery for my iPhone 11 Promising review: Promising review: perfect for traveling with us on vacation not greasy or irritating Promising review: 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. Enough to protect my sensitive eyes and fair skin from the sun yet not so large that it was in the way. Promising review: Played that for nearly two hours!! Promising review: Promising review: And when you can use it, it's great! I love not having to have my entire tray table down just to hold a 3-inch cup. This is very small, very lightweight, and very useful. I'll be taking it on every flight from here on.