23 Things That Helped Self-Professed Nervous Travelers, So Maybe They'll Make A Difference For You, Too
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So you can focus more on actually enjoying your vacation you've been looking forward to for six months.
1. A set of Sea Bands with a little nub that targets the acupressure point on your wrists meant to help reduce nausea. This'll be great in case you get motion sick in a budget-friendlier plane, car, bus, or ferry ride.
Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Promising review:"I get motion sick so ridiculously easy! I went on a cruise with my family and I was so nervous about getting seasick. I put these on from the time the cruise started until it ended, and I did not get sick at all. Not even for one second. We hit some rough seas, and the ship was pretty rocky and I was nervous as other people in my party were starting to feel the effects of the motion. I didn't get sick at all. I absolutely recommend these. I also took them on a snorkeling tour in Hawaii and did not get sick at all. Absolutely a must for those who get motion sick. I don't know how they work but all I can say is amazing." — Francisco
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.53 (available in adult and children's sizes, and six colors).
2. A stroller fan with bendable foam legs for wrapping around a stroller, car seat, or pretty much anything to keep your lil' munchkin cool as a cucumber, even when it's a gazillion degrees outside.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"We went to Mexico this past week to visit my grandmas. Took my 8-month-old old and I was beyond nervous about the 98+ degree weather. If it weren't for this little fan, idk how he would have survived the nights. Best purchase ever!" — Violeta O.
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in three colors).
3. A portable door lock that'll attach to any regular old door for your hotel, vacation rental, room in a guest house, or, well, just any door. It's super easy to install and won't damage the door. It'll be a comfort for solo travelers, especially.
Note: This can get flagged with 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 went on a solo trip to Europe and Africa and used the door lock to boost security. The lock fits and secures the lock. It's very easy to use. I would just suggest you watch the video and practice at home before your holiday." — Jaye
"I bought this for a business trip because I was going alone. It provided me with the extra security I needed to have peace of mind. I was nervous being alone, although I was in a safe place. This little item gave me extra security, and I appreciated feeling more at ease." — Allie
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (also available in a two- and four-pack)
4. A portable safe you can attach to a beach chair to keep your valuables safe or to keep your passport in your hotel room in case there's no safe or the safe isn't working. (Raise your hand if you've stayed in a small hotel without a safe. ::raises hand::)
I bought this back in summer 2021 after putting it in several stories and it's turned out to be such a good investment that I gave it to my friend who lives in Greece and whose husband always wanted to guard their stuff at beach clubs. Now they can both frolic in the waves! The cable attaches easily to all sorts of things like umbrellas and chair frames so you can enjoy actually *being* at the beach instead of keeping an eye on your stuff. I always ALWAYS pack this for trips and while there was a trustworthy safe in my recent cruise cabin, I used this for stashing my wallet (and friends' wallets) at a Barbados beach club when we were busy swimming with sea turtles and slinging shots from the bar. I will warn, though, that when flying I keep it unlocked and in my personal item so it's easy to open up. The cable a lot of times shows up on the TSA X-ray machines, so I've gotten pulled for it. To me, it's totally worth it though.
Get it from Amazon for $23.98+ (available in three colors).
5. An Apple AirTag for each bag to give you peace of mind as you hop continents — or even just leave your suitcase at the hotel while you explore post-checkout.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Storytime: After traveling last summer carry-on only, and being a person who tries to carry on whenever possible, I finally bought a couple of Apple AirTags during Black Friday sales. And I am SO grateful I did. My normal carry-on bag was too big to fit the Lufthansa luggage requirements (and BOY, do they check that!) so I had to check my bags for a December 2022 trip to Vienna and back from Prague (with a layover in Frankfurt). My bag didn't make it onto the plane in Frankfurt, and once I landed in Newark, New Jersey, I pulled up the app on my phone and saw that yes, my backpack AirTag was indeed with me, but my suitcase AirTag was still in Germany. (The screen grab is from an Amazon review, but you get the gist.) The AirTag also helped me track FedEx's delivery of the suitcase to my parents' house, where I was spending the holidays immediately after my Europe trip ended. I was even able to see it on a highway less than an hour's drive from my parents' house. TL;DR: I think AirTags are very much a worthwhile investment if you travel a few times a year. And I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
6. An anti-theft backpack because yes you should always be aware of possible pickpockets, but the main compartment's zipper facing your back will help you focus a bit more on La Sagrada Familia instead of if your wallet is still in your bag.
Not only does the backpack open from the inside, but it also has a phone pocket, document pocket, front zippered pocket, and an exterior side pocket. It's also made of nylon, so it's waterproof and has a strap to change it into a shoulder bag.
Promising review:"I tucked this bag into my luggage for a trip to London. I was a bit nervous about pickpockets and I liked the security features. I ended up using it every day and it was fantastic. It's very attractive, light, durable, affordable, and safe — the opening is in the back. I kept putting more and more stuff in it as the day went on (a light jacket, a hat, a few purchases, etc. etc.). I'm not sure I would use it every day at home, as there aren't many pockets on the inside (although there are two pockets on the outside I didn't even notice until well into the trip), but I will always take it for travel. Highly recommend." — Martha Bush
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in two sizes and eight colors).
7. A waterproof pouch that I buy for every water-adjacent vacation (so mostly warm-weather trips like Croatia and Greece). But! As soon as I booked my flight for Iceland, I bought one of these to take along to The Blue Lagoon. It survived rain, hail, and all kinds of steam rising off the water.
It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It also keeps out sand, dirt, and rain.
With these, I find that they're good for about a day due to condensation. So, for a trip I'll buy two to three, except for this one where I just knew I'd be in the water at the Blue Lagoon. And while I'm on the subject, check out a TikTok I made using the phone case! On the day I went, we had to duck and run inside because of rain. And it was hailing on us when I was in the water, so I had to face a certain way to keep from getting pelted in the face. But, when in Rome! Then we went inside and ate lunch at the Lava Restaurant, and it was GORGEOUS and clear outside post-lunch. So, this case worked well taking pics in both bad and good conditions (as you can see from the two pics for comparison). I've used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So, I really trust these! (Though I rec testing yours before using it for your phone around water by putting a tissue inside the pouch, locking it, and then dunking it in water to see if any water seeps inside.)
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 13 colors).
8. A trifold travel wallet so all your important documents are in one place and you're not wearily holding up the line when it comes time to show the TSA agent your passport and boarding pass.
The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, key holder, and pen holder.
Promising review:"Easy to use. I'm a nervous flyer and feel like I'm forgetting all my travel documents. Having this travel wallet made traveling so much easier for me and lower stress about having my documents bc they were all in one place." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 33 colors).
9. A pair of compression socks because since you saw Karl and Frank from Succession snap on their own, you've thought "Hmm, maybe I should get some of those."
www.amazon.com
Read more about compression socks for travel at Johns Hopkins and The Huffington Post.
Promising review:"I was nervous about my legs on our long 10–11 hour flights to and from Europe, so I got a pair of these. They were very snug but felt great, and I was glad I had them for the flights – no swelling! And I thought the design was cute." — websaver
Get them from Amazon for $13.08+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and in 13 colors).
10. A Trtl pillow that, thanks to its scarf-like construction, you can easily to adjust to your perfect comfort level and tilt angle to get some Zzzzzs while someone else gets you to where you're going. No need to catch another flight because all the window seats are taken.
Amazon
Promising review:"I was really nervous about the long flight from the US to Australia, so I did some research on how to make it more comfortable. This pillow came up a few times, so I thought I'd try it out. I'm glad it did. The neck support is great; I never woke up because my head snapped forward. It easily attaches to the handle of my bag instead of having to go inside, so it was easy to travel to a few cities with it. I also like that the scarf part easily comes off the neck form so it can be washed. If Trtl makes one in a different fabric, I'd definitely buy it. I always find fleece a little static-y." — Katherine
Ciera Velarde, a former editor here at BuzzFeed, also loves this! She says:"I've used this for the past few years and swear by it! Before this, I always found traditional neck pillows uncomfortable and would end up ditching them halfway through the flight and getting frustrated. The Trtl pillow is adjustable — you wrap the pillow around your neck and secure it with Velcro, and if you find it's too loose, just make it a bit tighter! I've truly never slept better on a plane than with this pillow."
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in five colors and also a set of two).
And check out our full Trtl Pillow review here.
11. A set of packing cubes that'll magically help you pick lots and lots of outfit options because 1) European summers get sweaty and 2) you've already planned out all your photo ops and 3) sometimes you just get caught up in the moment and drip chocolate gelato alll over your nice white shirt.
Promising review:"Just returned from a month-long trip to Europe and only took backpacks. Was a little nervous about this, but these cubes made it a breeze!! With traveling every couple of days to various cities, these were the only things that kept us organized and made living out of a bag actually enjoyable!! I also didn't have to tell my husband where things were in his bag since it was so neatly organized. The laundry bag it comes with is a great bonus too — for the laundry as well as shoes. I will never travel without these again!! Game changer for sure :)" — Amy
Get a set of four from Amazon for $21.99 (available in nine colors).
12. Some reusable bottle bags because did you even go to the Champagne region if you didn't bring back some goodies? If your bottle breaks in this while in transit, the bag catches the spill!
Amazon
JetBag is a small business specializing in creating bags to protect your wine and your stuff. It's designed with absorbent padding on the inside, so in the event that the bottle breaks, it won't get everywhere in your luggage.
Promising review:"I was a little nervous to transport alcohol back in my checked baggage after seeing how they fling things around without care, but these worked like a dream! Not one out of 6 (oops) bottles came back broken! Highly recommend!" — Melanie
Get a set of three from Amazon for $13.99 (available in four colors).
13. A stroller that'll fold up and fit in the overhead on a plane so you don't have to gate check your stroller and wait around to start on your grand family adventure.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It folds up so small that it was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2014 for the most compact stroller. It can hold kids who weigh up to 55 pounds, and the stroller only weighs 9.5 pounds.
Promising review:"Went through airport security holding a 1-year-old in one arm, folded this stroller up with the other. To be fair, I practiced a lot beforehand because I was nervous, but I got it done because of this bad boy. It's great to just keep it in the car in case you need it. Small pocket and shade — not great for everyday use, but perfect for travel." — ajames
Get it from Amazon for $199.95+ (available in two styles and two colors).
14. A waterproof satin-lined Hairbrella hat to easily fold up and be ready for those days when you look like you have GREAT weather. Then, all of a sudden the sky opens up and starts pouring, ruining your perfect hair day.
www.amazon.com, Hairbrella / Via www.youtube.com
Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that has been creating fashionable hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather since 2016.
Promising review: "I purchased my Hairbrella before my recent work trip to Hawaii. It was the rainy season, and I was so nervous that if my hair got wet, there would be no fixing it. Thank you so much for Hairbrella! My hair was laid the whole week! I got lots of compliments on it, and I was glad that I didn't have to wear a coat in the 80-degree weather just to protect my hair." — Nikki Jay
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in seven colors).
15. A packing list pad so you can rest assure that you DID bring everything you intended, including which things you wanna include in your carry-on and which things you wanna check.
www.amazon.com
16. A waterproof travel backpack with allllll sorts of things that you could possibly want in a travel backpack, including a "wet bag" so you can take a last-minute dip in the hotel rooftop pool and then put your wet swimsuit in the backpack before heading to the airport.
Promising review:"This bag was EVERYTHING during my trip to Japan. I get nervous that I will lose things or have some sort of crisis while traveling. The amount of space and organization this bag provided me saved my mental health during my 12-day adventure in Japan. The shoe compartment came in clutch when the airline lost my suitcase for a day. The quick-drying fabric was completely necessary when it poured rain on me at Disneyland. On light walking days, it was a bit bulky, but the side straps cinched in that extra space. The only thing I didn't like was the padding on the back (I think it's for laptop protection) was heavy even when I had nothing in the bag. I was totally grateful I bought this. It fit A LOT of souvenirs throughout the day plus clothes and all the daily essentials of someone who has anxiety." — My battery was COMPLETELY dead! This thing saved my life!
Get it from Amazon for $33.29+ (available in two sizes and 40 styles).
17. An anti-theft neck wallet that's also RFID-blocking to help you more easily navigate your cruise-ship excursions without having to keep your hands hovering over your pockets the entire time. Pickpockets exist, and you've gotta be aware of 'em, but let's focus on taking in the sights.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I am always nervous about traveling to another country and possibly misplacing my passport. On a recent trip, I carried my important papers in this bag, and it makes it so easy and safe to keep everything together. It is small enough to wear under my jacket." — Kathy H
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three colors).
18. A set of silicone "EarPlanes" you'll simply pop in for takeoff and landing when you can especially experience popping and discomfort from the rapid changes in air pressure. I invested in some after a quick descent to Grand Cayman left me with a weird-feeling ear for half my vacation, and I haven't had any complaints since!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I punctured my eardrum on a flight years ago when I had a bad head cold and had to fly. I was SO nervous about a recent flight when my head was very stuffed from allergies. These earplugs are incredible- I would seriously become a spokesperson for them! I will recommend them to everyone I know." — Jackie Hornet
Get a pair from Amazon for $7.76.
19. A portable crib canopy to create a sleep pod for your little one. And it even has pouches for a monitor and fan! Sleeping in unfamiliar places is tough enough for adults. Let's make it easier for the kids too — which in turn will also make the adults happier.
www.amazon.com
SlumberPod is a small biz that's been featured on Shark Tank!
Promising review: "This product saved our cruise! My daughter is sleep trained so we were very nervous about her not sleeping well. One of my friends told me about the slumber pod and we debated but finally decided to make the purchase. It was worth every penny! 😊 We bought this a few weeks before the trip and did some training in it before, so when bedtime came on the cruise, she was excited to see it and rest in something she was comfortable in. I never leave reviews but this is so awesome I had to!" — Lesly busbee
Get it from Amazon for $179.99.
20. A travel urinal with reviews that show the proof is in the pudding because there are lots of reviewers who were former skeptics 'til they experienced some pee emergencies that this helped solve.
Amazon
Promising review:"Seriously one of the best products I have bought for my potty training son. We have used this so much whether it's traveling in the car or even running errands. There are times he gets nervous about using the toilets, especially the automatic flushing ones that can be loud, so we would use this instead. Comes apart to wash too!" — Matt
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
21. A five-pack of packing cubes with mesh tops to help you separate everyone's clothes into different cubes while still making the most of your space.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Shacke is a small biz specializing in travel gear and accessories.
Promising review: "Just returned from a month-long trip to Europe and only took backpacks. Was a little nervous about this, but these cubes made it a breeze!! With traveling every couple of days to various cities, these were the only things that kept us organized and made living out of a bag actually enjoyable!! I also didn't have to tell my husband where things were in his bag since it was so neatly organized. The laundry bag it comes with is a great bonus too — for the laundry as well as shoes. I will never travel without these again!! Game changer for sure :)" — Amy
Get them from Amazon for $19.79 (available in 10 colors).
22. An inflatable toddler travel bed with bumpers for keeping kids who are past their pack 'n' play stage from rolling out of bed. And! You'll get to have the hotel bed to yourself.
Promising review:"We don't really travel much and definitely haven't much since our kid was born. I was nervous to stay at a hotel since they've only ever slept in a crib or on a Los mat at daycare. This bed went above and beyond. Our kid absolutely loved it, to the point where whenever we came back to our hotel room he climbed right in. If you're questioning if this is a good purchase, do it." — Jackie
Get it from Amazon for $74.92.
23. Plus an inflatable bath tub that'll be a godsend for the hotel tub — or a hotel room that *just* has a shower. But reviewers love it for home use, too!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "We recently moved overseas and had this inflatable bath delivered to where we were staying. It was easy to inflate, using an air mattress pump, and bub (12 months old, 25 lbs) was comfortable, clean, and secure during bath time. We are nervous about the cleanliness of hotel baths/showers when traveling, so using this gives us peace of mind. Not to mention, you don't have to fill an entire bath. When we needed to store it, we drained it, let it dry, then deflated it. It fits flat inside a suitcase. A very convenient, space-saving option. We use it at home now for bub's nightly bath. He loves it!" — JC Mahon
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Takeaways from AP's report on the business interests of Trump's surgeon general pick
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump's pick to be U.S. surgeon general has repeatedly said the nation's medical and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health. Yet as Dr. Casey Means has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of products in ways that put money in her own pocket. The Associated Press found Means, who has carved out a niche in the wellness industry, set up deals with an array of businesses. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found. Means, 37, has said she recommends products that she has personally vetted and uses herself. Still, experts said her business entanglements raise concerns about conflicting interests for an aspiring surgeon general, a role responsible for giving Americans the best scientific information on how to improve their health. Here are some takeaways from the AP's reporting. Growing an audience, and selling products Means, 37, earned her medical degree from Stanford University, but she dropped out of her residency program in 2018, and her license to practice is inactive. She said she saw firsthand how 'broken and exploitative the healthcare system is" and turned to alternative approaches to address what she has described as widespread metabolic dysfunction driven largely by poor nutrition and an overabundance of ultra-processed foods. She co-founded Levels, a nutrition, sleep and exercise-tracking app that can also give users insights from blood tests and continuous glucose monitors. The company charges $199 per year for an app subscription and an additional $184 per month for glucose monitors. Though scientists debate whether continuous glucose monitors are beneficial for people without diabetes, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted their use as a precursor to making certain weight-loss drugs available to patients. With more than 825,000 followers on Instagram and a newsletter that she has said reached 200,000 subscribers, Means has a direct line to an audience interested in health, nutrition and wellness. Many companies, including Amazon, have affiliate marketing programs in which people with substantial social media followings can sign up to receive a percentage of sales or some other benefit when someone clicks through and buys a product using a special individualized link or code shared by the influencer. Means has used such links to promote various products sold on Amazon. Among them are books, including the one she co-wrote, 'Good Energy"; beauty products; cardamom-flavored dental floss; organic jojoba oil; sunglasses; a sleep mask; a silk pillowcase; fitness and sleep trackers; protein powder and supplements. She also has shared links to products sold by other companies that included 'affiliate' or 'partner' coding. The products include an AI-powered sleep system and the prepared food company Daily Harvest, for which she curated a 'metabolic health collection.' On a 'My Faves' page that was taken down from her website shortly after Trump picked her, Means wrote that some links 'are affiliate links and I make a small percentage if you buy something after clicking them.' It's not clear how much money Means has earned from her affiliate marketing, partnerships and other agreements. Daily Harvest did not return messages seeking comment, and Means said she could not comment on the record during the confirmation process. Disclosing conflicts Influencers who endorse products in exchange for something of value are required by the the Federal Trade Commission to disclose it every time. But most consumers still don't realize that a personality recommending a product might make money if people click through and buy, said University of Minnesota professor Christopher Terry. While Means did disclose some relationships like newsletter sponsors, the AP found she wasn't consistent. For example, a 'Clean Personal & Home Care Product Recommendations' guide she links to from her website contains two dozen affiliate or partner links and no disclosure that she could profit from any sales. Means has said she invested in Function Health, which provides subscription-based lab testing for $500 annually. Of the more than a dozen online posts the AP found in which Means mentioned Function Health, more than half did not disclose she had any affiliation with the company. Though the 'About' page on her website discloses the affiliation, that's not enough, experts said. She is required to disclose any material connection she has to a company any time she promotes it. Representatives for Function Health did not return messages seeking comment. While the disclosure requirements are rarely enforced by the FTC, Means should have been informing her readers of any connections regardless of whether she was violating any laws, said Olivier Sylvain, a Fordham Law School professor, previously a senior advisor to the FTC chair. 'What you want in a surgeon general, presumably, is someone who you trust to talk about tobacco, about social media, about caffeinated alcoholic beverages, things that present problems in public health,' Sylvain said, adding, 'Should there be any doubt about claims you make about products?' Potential conflicts pose new ethical questions Past surgeons general have faced questions about their financial entanglements, prompting them to divest from certain stocks or recuse themselves from matters involving their business relationships for a period of time. Means hasn't yet gone through a Senate confirmation hearing and has not yet announced the ethical commitments she will make for the role. Emily Hund, author of 'The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media,' said as influencer marketing becomes more common, it is raising more ethical questions — like what past influencers who enter government should do to avoid the appearance of a conflict. 'This is like a learning moment in the evolution of our democracy,' Hund said. 'Is this a runaway train that we just have to get on and ride, or is this something that we want to go differently?' ___ Swenson reported from New York.
