Latest news with #CassYoung

Buzz Feed

If You're Planning On Traveling To Europe This Year, Here Are 27 Products You Should Pack

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. Shopping · Sometimes it's the journey, not the destination, but in this case we're trying to get straight to the destination as soon as possible. 1. A digital luggage scale if you've ever waited to weigh your bag at the airport only to realize you're 4 pounds over, so then you have to carry your MASSIVE size 10 Dr. Martens platform sandals in your purse for the whole flight. Amazon Check out this TikTok showing the luggage scale in action. Promising review:"We use this in every trip to avoid paying for extra weight as we travel internationally quite often. I have tested in several ways and have always noted the weight number in the airport. After several trips, I can say that its accuracy is right within 2 pounds. I have had it for almost two years, and I am still using the same batteries." — Cass Young Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in eight colors and also a two-pack). 2. A portable door lock to help ease any anxiety if you're traveling by yourself. It's easy to set up, fits right in a carry-on or suitcase, and will help you feel a little more safe if you're staying in a hotel room on your own. Amazon Promising review:"My apartment door has a deadbolt but no lock on the door handle. The latch is also misplaced, so if it's not dead-bolted, anyone can just push my door open. Took a few tries to get this right, but makes me feel much more secure, and it's easy to use when you get the hang of it! I also take this with me when traveling as it fits almost all doors. Definitely recommend." — Anna Get it from Amazon for $11.99. 3. A Hackwith Design House shirt you can wear six different ways, so you don't have to feel like you're wearing the same shirt over and over again while you're on vacay. Hackwith Design House is a woman-owned small business that creates made-to-order apparel. This shirt can be worn as a V-neck, off-the-shoulder, boatneck, V-back, and even open as a jacket. And the color is simple, which means it can be paired well with many different bottoms. Promising review: "I'm being honest when I tell you this is the most 'worth-it' top around. I read a review from some frequent flyer who claims this is her go-to for flying. She said aside from the top's flexibility – which allows much less packing as the top itself looks and behaves like four shirts and a jacket – it's a savior on planes because it allows you to get into a usually overheated plane, and to weather the transition to iceberg, ho! that happens about twenty minutes into most flights, and it holds its shape and looks great. I was skeptical, as I do not have the money to blow on someone else's opinion, but my husband told me to try it. I have the same issues with temps, and he's probably self-protecting so as not to hear me complain so much. Long story short, I got it. It's a gorgeous fabric despite my usually hating the ribbed thing. Not for my pleasure, thank you. But it's nice. REALLY nice. Yes, it's extraordinarily flexible, and yes, it's like a jacket, and Yes, Virginia. There is a travel shirt Santa Claus. Ordering in the off-white now. Glad I read the article, and glad I bought the shirt. You should too." — Mary B. Get it from Hackwith Design House for $145 (available in women's sizes XS–4X and in three colors). 4. An LED around-the-neck reading light if you are a considerate person and don't want to use the overhead lighting at your seat, which will inevitably keep everyone around you awake. Plus, it has three different light colors, so you can adjust it to your preferences! Amazon Promising review:"I couldn't be happier with this light. I use it for reading in bed and when I travel. It's comfortable, has different settings, is easy to use, and the battery stays charged for a long time. You can turn on either one or both sides of the light and its flexibility allows the light to be adjusted easily. I highly recommend this light for reading in bed, for outdoor walking at night, and for doing close work that requires good lighting." — Jean G Get it from Amazon for $17.58+ (available in six colors). 5. A tri-fold travel wallet with tons of slots, so you can keep your passport, credit cards, IDs, and vaccine cards safe with RFID-blocking tech while you're out jet-setting around the world. 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. The all-in-one holder could also arguably be considered a cult-favorite travel product. Promising review:"Guys, I'm beyond happy with this. I've been looking for a passport and ticket holder for a while but had never found the right size until I decided to try out this one. Besides, the material feels high quality and long-lasting, the red color is even better in person, and it's wildly pretty." — BazantSol Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 22 colors). 6. A Trtl neck pillow that's less bulky than a traditional neck pillow so it'll easily fit in your carry-on and you won't have to worry about unpacking and repacking your whole bag when you want to take a mid-flight nap. Amazon 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 regards to adjustment, and I liked wrapping the fabric around my mouth and nose. Sort of felt 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." — Get it from Amazon for $45.49+ (available in four colors). 7. Or an inflatable wedge pillow so you can feel like you have your own personal sleeping pod, even if you're surrounded by strangers on a six-hour flight from Los Angeles to NYC (godspeed). Promising review:"I am a very frequent traveler and had lived through many 13+ hour flights prior to purchasing this pillow. After using it for the first time on my 13-hour flight to Tokyo, I will never fly without it again! It was comfortable not only for sleeping leaning forward but also for leaning against the window on the larger international plane. If you're traveling with a companion, it was also very comfortable being used between two people. I especially love how there are holes for your arms and can be used at different angles/positions. It made for a very restful flight overall." — Elizabeth B Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 8. A pair of Thigh Society cooling shorts because you ~love~ getting to know a new city by walking around, but you *hate* the thigh chafe that comes along with it. And these are super lightweight, so they'll help you stay nice 'n' cool, too. Thigh Society Promising review:"I bought these to wear under dresses for a trip to Europe because it was supposed to be really hot, and they worked great. They were light, stretchy, and there was no chafing. Maybe not the most moisture wicking, but they were very comfortable, and I wore them several times." — Meghan O'Leary Get it from Thigh Society for $39 (available in women's sizes XS-2XL, four lengths, and in nine colors). 9. A set of expandable hangers to help hang dry your clothes that you have to wash in the sink. They're also super handy if you're going on a group trip where you're sharing a room with other people, but the hotel only provided two hangers. Promising review:"These worked well for drying clothes in hotels during an extended international trip. Durable and easily stored in luggage when folded. Highly recommend for travel." — DD Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $9.99. 10. A HappyLuxe travel wrap you can use as a scarf or shawl to keep you warm while you're in the airport, but then also use as a blanket for napping if the plane you're on is incredibly chilly. Promising review:"I absolutely love this wrap!! It is the perfect weight and size for travel. It didn't leave my side on an 11-day backpack trip through Europe and was used as a scarf, blanket, towel, and wrap all through the trip. Fashionable enough to dress up a basic travel day outfit, warm enough to keep away a chill on a cooler night, and light enough to pack away small into a bag or tie around a purse strap. I can't say enough great things! I am buying these as gifts for everyone I know who travels." — Jenn Get it from Amazon for $37.72+ (available in nine colors). 11. A hanging toiletry bag as magical as Mary Poppins' bag because you can fit basically anything in it. Plus, it has a rotating hook, so you can hang it on the back of a door or in the shower for convenient access wherever you're staying. Promising review:" I love how it kept all my toiletries organized and in plain sight when hanging. It's very sturdy and great quality. I ordered this before I went on a two-week trip to Europe and was so happy that I did. This travel bag exceeded my expectations!" — Jackie Cooney Get it from Amazon for $16.19+ (available in four colors and two sizes). 12. A 16-piece travel toiletries set approved by TSA, so you don't have to waste money on buying travel-sized versions of your favorite products. With these, you can just make them on your own! The set comes with four bottles, two jars, two spray bottles, two scoopers (to help transfer creams), one funnel (to help transfer liquids), one cleaning brush, a page of labels, and a bag that everything fits in. Promising review:"I used this for a two-week international trip. I did two mini trips to other locations. The squeeze bottles did not leak, held enough product for the trip, and are cute. The spray bottles worked well for hair products. I wish there were a couple more bottles instead of the jar containers, but that's the set. The zippered bag worked fine, though I probably only opened/closed it about 10 times." — Jan Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in seven colors). 13. A packing cube with a built-in shelf, so you don't have to totally unpack your whole bag to look for that one top you really wanna wear. Just hang this in the closet, and you're GTG! Plus, it has a zipper compartment at the bottom you can put all your dirty clothes in, so they don't get mixed together and you end up just washing everything when you get home (bc that's usually what happens to me). Promising review:"I used these while traveling around Europe with four children and then later on a cruise. They were super helpful in both cases." — Tucker Sw Get it from Amazon for $25.59. 14. An international power converter in case your travels take you across the pond (or anywhere else in the world that doesn't take US outlets), so you're not in a pickle when you're abroad. Promising review:"I was traveling to several places in Europe and needed a travel charger that can easily fit in the electrical outlets overseas and safely recharge my US-rated appliances without frying. And along came this voltage converter that did the job very effectively while traveling in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary and Spain. Although the item is bit bulky from my own carrying convenience point of view, it's quite manageable nonetheless. I've been very happy using this as a voltage converter while traveling the continent. It's a keeper for me for any future travel." — Expatriot Get it from Amazon for $35.98. 15. A three-pack of jet bags so that you can bring home wine, fancy liquor, hot sauce, olive oil, and even perfume (in your checked bag, obvs) without worrying about any spilling-related fiascos. Promising reviews:"On the last few trips, I have found bourbon or wine but was not comfortable putting it in my travel luggage, and TSA will not allow it in a carry-on. This product eliminated that concern and worked perfectly. I am definitely keeping one of these in a pocket of each piece of luggage I carry from now on." — B. Creager "It did exactly as it was supposed to. The bags protected two bottles of wine on our way back from Europe, and they were in soft-sided hiking backpacks, so I was very pleased they survived." — Stephanie Bowe Get a pack of three for $13.99 (available in four styles). 16. An add-a-bag luggage strap you can clip to a backpack, suitcase, or purse to free your hands from carrying jackets, hats, shopping bags, or more luggage! Promising review:"I thought this was a bit gimmicky, but I fell for it and gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised! One wears layers when traveling, and I usually run hot. However, I still need to carry a jacket for the cold planes or destination, etc. I usually tie it around my waist (ugly, I know) as a last resort or tuck it madly into my bag. I clipped this to my backpack, and it held my jacket perfectly! Easily accessible, and the jacket never dragged or fell. It also worked well to clip my backpack to my luggage while in between flights." — roxysea 17. A stroller that's small enough to fit in the overhead bin! This means you don't have to wait around for it to be retrieved from storage after you deplane. You can just open the stroller and go. 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 only weighs 9.5 pounds. Promising review:"This thing is amazing for international travel where you do not get your stroller right away with a gate check. No more walking a mile with bags and a baby. Fits on the plane and even up and down the aisles. It's also great for tourist attractions and shops with tight squeezes and little-to-no handicap access." — Porchies Get it from Amazon for $122.66+ (available in two styles and two colors). 18. A travel pouch that attaches to your bra so you can keep cash and cards close to you without having to worry about pickpocketers stealing your most valuable items while you're exploring a new city. Promising review:"I would recommend this for international travel. I wore it attached to my bra strap on my back. I usually carry a backpack when I travel, so it hid this well. A light jacket or sweater will keep it hidden. The fabric is very soft, so I would forget I was wearing it. Not good if you are wearing tight clothing. But, I would put my money, credit cards, paper copies of my passport in it. It's much more comfortable for me than a belt." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $13.95+ (available in two colors). 19. A genuine pebble leather Bandolier phone case with a wallet and a strap so you can keep your phone close by for taking pics without having to hold it in your hand and risk losing it or dropping it. Amazon, Abby Kass / BuzzFeed Promising review:"I'm obsessed with my Bandolier. It's so useful having my phone and Metro Card so accessible so I don't have to dig through my bags. I feel comfortable wearing it, and I love the hands-free aspect. I never worry about someone stealing it, and I don't go anywhere without it!!!" — Lo Get it from Amazon for $86.70+ (available in five phone sizes and three color combinations). 20. A waterproof satin-lined Hairbrella hat small enough to fold up and keep in your bag because you did spend 45 minutes doing a blowout, and you don't want it to be ruined by some unexpected rain. Hairbrella / Via 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 traveled to London last month with a raincoat that did not have a hood, and wanted something that would protect my head/hair/blowout without lugging an umbrella. This definitely did the trick. Two of the 3 days were rainy (some quite heavy), and my hair stayed totally dry. It stows nicely, too." — Miss Information Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in 10 colors). 21. An Airfly wireless transmitter so you can connect your wireless Bluetooth headphones, like AirPods, to the airplane TV and marathon-watch hours of your favorite show without having to use the lower-quality ones they hand out on the plane. Amazon It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual. Twelve South is a small business that has been creating innovative tech accessories since 2009. Promising review:"Someone sitting next to me on a flight had this product, so I asked them about it, and it was highly recommended, so I bought it. I love being able to use my Bluetooth Bose noise-canceling headphones with the movies on board. The sound quality is 100 times better than the plug headphones that are required if you don't have this product. I would definitely buy it again!!" — Monica Buterbaugh Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in three styles). 22. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit filled with all the essentials you might need when you're traveling (i.e., Tylenol, a hair tie, etc.) but that's small enough to have in your carry-on bag and then throw in your bag when you're out and about. And it's available in 96 different skylines, so you can customize it to your trip. Anne Cate Anne Cate is a woman-owned small business based in Cleveland, Ohio that handmakes minimalist keepsakes with a skyline from more than 100 cities and colleges around the world! The kit includes a hair tie, lip balm, two floss pics, a sewing kit, bandages, an emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, a makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, a deodorant wipe, a Shout wipe, a tampon, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol. BuzzFeed Shopping editor Danielle Healy says:"I, your resident forgetful person, bought the NYC skyline version of this at the start of COVID-19 to keep in my work tote. Unfortunately, I haven't touched my work tote in months because...*gestures at the world around*...but it's a really handy kit I know will save me a ton whenever I regularly leave the house again. Everything from Anne Cate is super high-quality. The wallet on its own is adorable and could be used for a million different things." Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 96 skylines). 23. A Master Lock portable safe if you're a chronically anxious person, like I am, and don't want to be distracted from enjoying your trip because you're worried about someone messing with your valuables back at your hotel room. Promising review:"This travel safe is great. It's extremely secure and not big or bulky. I used it for international travel. Easy to set, open, and close! Get it!" — KAJ121 Get it from Amazon for $19.97. 24. A set of packing cubes if you want to keep all your stuff organized and know exactly where everything is. I never travel without my packing cubes because they help me pack sooo much lighter and save tons of room in my bag! With these, fitting everything in your carry-on is a breeze. Smell ya later, checked luggage! Promising review:"I am officially sold on packing cubes!! These things are amazing! I can't believe I've been packing without them my whole life. The mesh lining allows you to peek inside, and I was able to pack all my clothes, shoes, and toiletries for a 10-day trip to Europe (full contents listed below). I packed them as I normally would first, and then packed them in the packing cubes. There was SO much more room in my luggage after packing everything in the cubes! Items I fit in the cubes and bag include two jackets, one jean vest, four pants/capris, two pairs of shorts, one romper, four dresses, one maxi skirt, seven tank tops, four shirts, three camisoles, three pajama sets, 15 undies, six pairs of socks, and four pairs of shoes. But why are you still reading?? Go buy these cubes!" — Tiffany Get a set of four from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in 14 colors). 25. Or a set of vacuum-free space-saving compression bags so you can take advantage of all the space your ~seemingly~ tiny carry-on has to offer. Just throw your clothes in, zip up the bag, roll the air out, and watch your clothes shrink. Promising review: "These were the things I never knew I needed for traveling. They work just as advertised and are really useful when going on a trip. I always hate, at the end of a trip, having to mix dirty and clean clothes — a 'laundry bag' or plastic shopping bag never really felt like a good enough separation. These bags seal up and conceal the most stinky, wet clothes from your clean unused clothes. They are going to be one of my new necessities for my big family when traveling." — Sarbello Get it from Amazon for $15.98 for an eight-pack. 26. A TSA-approved toiletry carry-on to make going through TSA a breeze. With this, you won't have to take skincare products out to switch them into the see-through plastic bags they supply at the security line. Amazon Promising review:"This thing truly packs a punch. I could fit everything I needed for an overnight hotel stay plus seven-day cruise to the Caribbean. Passed through TSA checkpoints without any problem, too. The sturdy build and tough zipper make this a quality toiletry pouch. Very happy with my purchase!" — Orange Blossom Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors). 27. And finally, a luggage-mounted cup caddy with two slots, so you don't have to fret over spilling the drink you waited in line for 20 minutes to get when you're running across the terminal to make your flight to Heathrow. 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, I dropped and spilled my drink everywhere when it was my turn to check my passport and ticket. It was a nightmare! This time, I bought this cup holder to do me a favor! 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 $8.99+ (available in 23 colors and patterns).