If You're Determined To Do More Traveling This Year, These 34 Handy Products Will Help You Feel Like A Seasoned Jet-Setter

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12-03-2025

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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Tools to help you pack lighter, fly more comfortably, and gain some sweet, sweet peace of mind.
1. 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
Check out BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord 's Airplane Pockets review for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
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 or 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. A Trtl neck pillow for actually supporting your neck while you try to catch some mid-flight Z's. It's way less bulky than traditional travel pillows and will keep you from head bobbing onto your neighbor's shoulder.
Promising review: "I am a terrible flyer who recently took the red-eye from Dubai to Chicago (15 hours). The Trtl Pillow was a mini lifesaver! I was able to comfortably rest my head on the support and felt warm enough to actually doze off....a rare accomplishment for this skittish flyer. The Velcro works wonderfully with regard to adjustment, and I liked wrapping the fabric around my mouth and nose. Sort of felt cozy...even if I did look like a ninja in a neck brace! Overall, this product has changed the way that I fly, and I am so thankful for this invention and the opportunity to support a small company with big ideas." — S.Viruly
Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (available in four colors).
4. Or a neck pillow you can stuff with clothing if it's your life's mission to never pay extra baggage fees. This downright magical hack clips to your luggage and can hold 2–3 days' worth of clothing, so all those chunky knits can come out of the carry-on and cushion your head during your snooze in the skies.
www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok showing how someone used a similar neck pillow to just take that and a personal item onto a RyanAir flight that was charging for hand luggage.
Promising review: "I travel a lot and try to use Spirit, which, as we know, charges extra fees. I put three days' worth of clothes in this and had room to spare. Freed up space in my computer bag for bulky items. One thing: it is definitely larger than a typical neck pillow. I attach it to my computer bag, and nobody has said anything." — david
Get it from Amazon for $49.95.
5. A set of portable soap sheets so you and the fam can always guarantee access to cleansing hand soap, even in the most — How do I say this nicely? — ~neglected~ public restrooms.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Love this product. It 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 three-pack (150 sheets total) from Amazon for $7.59 (available in larger multipacks).
6. 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.
www.amazon.com
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 $13.74+ (available in 24 styles).
7. An all-in-one universal wall adapter to avoid showing up in a new country with no way to charge your phone — no matter where you go — since several chargers for that multi-country expedition are valuable space we can't afford to lose.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Probably the best $13 I've 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).
8. Plus, a braided 4-in-1 fast charging cord because why pack four chargers when you can pack one super long and sturdy cable that can handle all your destination charging needs?
Promising review:" My husband and I have different phones with different charging ports. This was great for our international travel and limiting the number of cords we needed to carry. Was useful during travel for charging both devices and for charging other family members' devices as well. Quick charging as well." — veronicawhite
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
9. Or a foldable 3-in-1 wireless charger for forgetful packers who always seem to leave behind at least one vital charging cord. With this all-in-one dock, you'll always have what you need to power your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
Promising review: "I bought this for myself and have also given it as a gift three times. It's one of those little things that makes your life that much better when you're traveling. It works perfectly, and my devices connect to it super easily and charge quickly. It packs up so nice and small and is 100% worth the money." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in eight colors).
10. A pair of lace-up loafers with over 10,000 5-star ratings if you're in desperate need of a comfy shoe you can easily slip on and off at airport security. Reviewers say they are remarkably lightweight and super flexible — sort of like if a slipper and a sneaker got together and had a best-of-both-worlds baby.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:" I bought these for my trip to Italy and Greece this year, and I don't regret it! They were very flexible when packing them inside my suitcase and didn't take up too much room. The support is something to be desired, but I was still comfortable using them while walking all over Rome and Athens! I got home and washed them and they were great and looked like new! I'm hoping to get another pair soon!" — Mae
Get them from Amazon for $33+ (available in women's sizes 5–12 and 36 styles).
11. 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 $21.99.
12. 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.
www.amazon.com
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 $29.98.
13. A pack of space-saving compression bags to significantly compress your clothes by sucking out all the air — no vacuum required! These are designed for travel, so all you have to do is fill up a bag and roll it out to release air through the built-in valves.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord has had major success with these:
"HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews, I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn't require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion, I still couldn't quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly, all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and made a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips needed them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I'm never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny."
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.98.
14. 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 that as she's sitting, her legs are 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.
15. A pair of compression socks for anyone whose feet, ankles, or legs tend to swell up on long flights. These cozy socks can help prevent that, and double as another thermal layer (planes be cold).
Read more about compression socks and swelling on long flights at Cleveland Clinic.
Promising review:" After wearing these socks for over 24 hours straight for travel on an overseas flight, I had absolutely no swelling at all in my feet or ankles. I was worried about the potential for blood clots being on an airplane for a long time. So, I am glad I made the investment in these socks. Very comfortable. Washed them out by hand and hung them to dry. They were ready to wear the next day. I will definitely continue to wear these and recommend them." — islandgirl
Check out our Physix Gear compression socks review.
Get it from Amazon for $14.24+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and in 13 colors).
16. 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.
You can also 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 $8.99+ (available in four colors).
17. 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.
18. A refillable travel perfume atomizer that's a quick and easy way to transport your favorite scents so you don't have to spend your whole vacay 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:"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).
19. An in-flight foot hammock to make kicking back in the flight cabin a whole lot easier. It easily mounts onto the seat tray, and not only ups that economy seat comfort, but can also reduce in-flight foot swelling.
www.amazon.com
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).
20. 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 $24.99+ (available in five colors).
21. Plus, an AirFly Pro wireless transmitter so you (and a buddy) can actually use said Bluetooth earbuds to watch those free in-flight movies.
www.amazon.com
BuzzFeed editor Chelsea Stuart used it on a European trip — check out her Twelve South AirFly Pro review.
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 two other styles).
22. 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 $15.89 (available in unisex sizes S–4XL and five styles).
23. A heavy-duty bag strap if you'd rather not be stuck wearing (or holding) everyone's jackets while navigating the airport. 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.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
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 six colors).
24. A moisturizing saline gel so you can put an end to the frequent nosebleeds and restore some desperately needed moisture to your dry irritated nasal biome. If you use a CPAP machine or get dried out on long-haul flights, I'd add this to cart STAT.
Promising review: "I love this stuff! It's very gentle but effective and helps prevent nose bleeds and irritation from dry nose. I use it before every flight to prevent drying out from the gross recirculated cabin air, which is notoriously dry air to begin with." — RLM
Get it from Amazon for $3.62.
25. A spacious travel backpack that pushes the spatial limits of what you thought a personal item could carry, making it the perfect companion for all the outfits you couldn't cram in the carry-on.
Reviewers say it meets even Spirit and JetBlue 's personal item rules and fits under airplane seats!
Promising review:"This is a perfect size backpack for traveling on a plane as your personal item, especially to international destinations. You could fit rolled-up clothes in here for another week, and it has a very handy shoe bag and tons of places for your electronics. This will be an excellent addition to my carry-on suitcase. Best purchase all year. I consider myself an expert on travel bags. I have way too many. It's smaller than it looks but so roomy." — AP
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three sizes and 22 colors).
26. A waterproof hanging toiletry bag with enough space to pack up your entire 14-step self-care routine in the most space-efficient way possible. Plus, it's equipped with a rotating hook so you can hang it on the back of a door or in the shower for convenient access.
Promising review:"Seriously?! Do you see how much this holds?! Full shampoo bottles, face washes, hair brush... everything I could need or want to bring FITS IN THIS ONE BAG! And it's so cute! It also feels great quality — all the hardware came with protective wraps to keep from scratching, and the zippers feel very hardy. The hook at the top is also VERY WELL-SECURED to the bag, it's double stitched to the top panel and almost feels like seatbelt material. And I love the extra pockets and netting inside. I would absolutely recommend this!" — mahea_c
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two sizes and five colors).
27. A travel-friendly anti-theft shoulder bag because now 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.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $46+ (available in eight colors and prints).
28. 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.
Tide
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.
29. Some reusable bottle bags so when traveling with that host gift bottle of wine, you won't spend the whole trip fretting over broken glass and stains. This padded bag is designed with an absorbent lining, so even if the bottle breaks, the spill will stay self-contained.
Amazon
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 $13.99 (available in four styles).
30. A freezable snack box with built-in cooling technology that you can load up with snacks to fuel your adventures, knowing they'll stay cool and fresh all day long. Vacation time is too short to spend any of it hunting down snacks just to avoid hangry meltdowns.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:" This will carry four frozen breastmilk bags and keep them frozen for six to eight hours, which is perfect for domestic airport travel or small outings. I like to bring a few extra bags with me on trips for a night out or if it will be hard to nurse somewhere. Awesome product and less bulky than other cooler bags." — Joshua
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in 15 colors and prints).
31. A teensy white noise machine to ensure you get a good night's sleep with 20 nonlooping soundscapes that'll help drown out everything from big city beeps to small town creaks.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:" We bought this specifically for when we're traveling after a few nights at some noisy hotels. It's got great options for sound, volume, and timers. The only drawback we've found is that our charging cord sometimes wiggles out due to the vibrations if we have it on a hard surface. Doesn't happen a lot, but it can happen." — Tony Oldani
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
32. A cute portable USB-C charger for supplying your phone with the juice it needs so you never have to skip a photo op because of a nearly dead battery.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Here's a similar model for iPhones with Lightning ports, 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 $26.99+ (available in five colors).
33. 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.
www.amazon.com
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 $9.99+ (available in three styles).
34. Or a set of Cadence containers with custom removable labels and wide openings so traveling with TSA-compliant versions of your entire self-care routine is a breeze. And, yes, they're totally leakproof, airtight, and supremely space-efficient since they magnetize together.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This "daily routine" set includes four flex medium and three flex small Capsules.
BTW you can also get sets with labeled tiles for hair care and skincare!
Cadence is an AAPI woman-owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon with the goal of eliminating single-use travel-sized plastics. The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.
Promising review: "I am a chronic over-packer with a tendency to jam-pack my toiletries bag with anything and everything I mistakenly THINK I need to bring on a trip with me. Not only does this reel me in to bring what I actually need in compact, beautiful containers, but these vessels also stay together with the greatest ease and keep my essential products ready to go for my next trip. No more buying wasteful travel-size cosmetics. The best part is they seal so well and just live in my travel bag, so I know all my creams and soaps are ready to go for my next getaway. Thanks, Cadence, for helping me keep it all together!" — Amazon Customer
Get the daily routine set from Amazon for $138 (available in five colors and other sets).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.