I’m by no means a travel expert, but I do excel in one area: finding useful travel products. As a shopping editor for the past 10 years, I’ve tried lots of things on different trips, from weekends back home to visit family to beach vacations in Hawaii and even visiting new countries in Europe. And one thing I know for certain is that what you pack can really make or break your trip. That’s why I’m sharing my list of products I don’t take a vacation without.
From a folding tote bag that can hold all my souvenirs to adjustable earplugs that work for both sleeping and concerts, these products are my must-haves. Add them to your cart now so you’re ready for your next trip!
- I’ve been using the same Dagne Dover Large Duffel Bag as my personal item on flights for the last five years. The stretchy neoprene fabric holds a lot, the inside and outside pockets are super useful (there’s one on the outside specifically for your phone!) and the size still fits under the seat in front of you. Trust me, it’s worth the splurge.
- Since you never really know what germs are lurking on a plane, I always have these Lysol Disinfecting Wipes in my bag. I use them to wipe down my seat and tray table, and they’re good to have on hand for other small emergencies while traveling.
- Shopping is one of my favorite things to do in any city I visit, so I keep The Foldie Tote Bag in my luggage as a backup in case I buy too much. It’s expandable and easy to carry around, and I can actually fit a lot in it.
- There’s no better way to tune out the noise on the plane than with Apple’s AirPod Pro earbuds. They’re compact, so they don’t take up much space in your luggage, and the charge can last for hours. Plus, it only takes a few minutes to charge them in the case so you can get back to enjoying your music.
- My skin honestly hates when I travel, so I always have these Mighty Patch Invisible Pimple Patches on hand for breakouts. Just pop one over a zit and you can go about your day without anyone noticing that you’ve got something on your face.
- I like to sleep in complete darkness, so I turn to the Ostrichpillow Eye Mask to help me catch some z’s on flights and in hotels. The ergonomic design allows me to fully open my eyes with the mask on but still be in total darkness.
- Wearing earplugs is also a must for me, especially when I’m sharing a hotel room with someone, and the Loop Switch 2 Adjustable Ear Plugs are my go-to picks. They can be adjusted to reduce from 20 to 26 decibels, which means I can block out all the noise at night or only filter out a bit when I’m at a concert. Plus, they’re super comfortable to wear.
- As a chronic overpacker, the Quince Expandable Carry-On Suitcase is the key to not having to check a bag. I recently took it on a six-day trip to New York, and it fit everything I needed (with space to spare) while sticking to Delta’s carry-on size restrictions.
- The Calpack Large Compression Packing Cubes are another savior for my overpacking habits. I load one of these up with almost everything I’m going to wear, and it takes up way less space in my luggage. Plus, the pattern is super cute!
- No matter if I’m headed somewhere tropical where my only goal is to read and relax or I just need some entertainment for a long flight, the Kindle Paperwhite is there for me. It’s super lightweight but can hold a ton of books, which I download from my local library for free using Libby!
- Staying hydrated is always important, especially when I’m traveling, and Owala’s FreeSip Water Bottle is perfect to take on the go. It’s easy to refill in the airport or anywhere else with a drinking fountain, and it does a great job of keeping the water cold for hours.
- When I’m out and about all day, I use this Anker Power Bank to give my phone a boost in the afternoon. It’s thin enough to fit in a small purse but can charge up to two phones pretty quickly.
- I always have this Dove Hand Sanitizer with me to keep my hands clean if there’s not a bathroom nearby. This one is my favorite because it actually moisturizes while it disinfects, leaving my skin feeling hydrated.
