40 Useful Things You Need If You’re A Travel Beginner
Amazon
Promising review: "We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for trips longer than a few days). I have found this list to be a lifesaver, and I also give it as a gift for other traveling families. It is easy to plan, organize, and list out items that are easily forgotten. You can also list the quantity of each item needed. It has a variety of clothing options and space to add more. Overall, wonderful purchase and has likely saved me many forgotten items!" —I-really-bought-this
Get it from Amazon for $8.25+ (available in two colors).
Promising review: "Bought this brush to replace my old travel brush. Love the storage compartment! Didn't realize that it actually CAME with hair ties, clips, and bobby pins (didn't notice these in the description). Such an amazing surprise. And the brush is great! Detangles and smoothes wonderfully. Even tamed my staticky hair. Love it!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
Allclair is a small business! Read more about aromatherapy and its potential benefits for nausea at Johns Hopkins.
Promising review: "Took this on my first cruise. Anytime that I started to feel woozy, I’d reach for it. I’m sure the required act of deep breathing helped a lot — and breathing in the fragrance of the essential oil is very calming and effective. Worked for me! Wonderful!" —Willy&Lilly
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a pack of four).
Promising review: "I fly 24-plus-hour international flights twice a year. I typically put my carry-on backpack under the seat in front of me and rest my feet on it, but on my most recent flight, I purchased this hammock to try. It made a huge difference to have my feet suspended, even if it was an inch or two above my backpack (on one leg of the flight, I stowed my backpack elsewhere and had nothing under the seat in front of me apart from the hammock, and that was even better). It stays mostly out of view in use, and for storage, it rolls tight in its own compact bag. Highly recommend this! Game-changer." —LiEr
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I was away for a month with just a carry-on, and these were a lifesaver. Not too sudsy, but enough to freshen up clothes. No heavy fragrance, and easy to use." —Andrea T
Get it from Amazon for $8.05.
Promising review: "These held up really well on my backpack that I took with me on a long trip. While having the two zippers clipped together did make opening the backpack a little bit more difficult, it also gave me a sense of security while wearing the backpack in public." —Jenna
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four color combinations).
Amazon
Plus, this vegan and cruelty-free formula is designed to work on all hair colors!
Promising review: "I always come back for this dry shampoo. I've tried what I consider to be a fair share of different brands and types of dry shampoos from sprays to powders. This is by far the best one for me. I have fine, straight hair, and I wash my mane ~1–2 times/week. This particular dry shampoo does the trick for me; it stays in my hair for up to 3 days, and keeps my hair manageable and from looking unwashed for the few days I skip washing it. " —Chel
Get it from Amazon for $16 (also available in a grapefruit scent).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It's designed to fit any phone up to 100mm x 170mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches).
Promising review: "I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend, and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck, and so my phone, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river, and I just assumed it would be discovered a thousand years from now and placed in a museum as an ancient artifact. Fast-forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County sheriff’s office diver, and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open, but there was not one single drop of water in it, and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!" —Julie McDonald
Get it from Amazon for $5.58+ (available in 14 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "On a trip to Europe, I used these hangers to hang my laundry to dry. I even hung a pair of wet jeans (through the belt loops). I thought the hanger would break, but it held up fine! Hotels never supply enough hangers, so I will be bringing these along when I travel." —debi
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $9.98.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "It’s the perfect size and packs easily for travel. The internal compartments keep pills totally separate, but the rotating top allows you to easily get what you need. It is spacious, and I was able to add whole bottles of a few supplements. It came with a pack of white labels. They adhere very well and are long enough for detailed identifiers or instructions for each compartment." —Kenya
Get it from Amazon for $7.89+ (available in eight colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "My husband and I travel a lot and take a number of prescription drugs. It was always a hassle accessing our medication when needed, so I purchased this organizer to make things easier. I used a label maker and labeled each little compartment, and it has performed wonderfully. I highly recommend this organizer to anyone who travels and needs medications throughout the day." —Jacqueline
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $6.97 (available in two color combinations).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
And don't be tricked by its compact size. It's "deceptively roomy," and its smart design beats "a clamshell bag [that] takes up twice its footprint."
Promising review: "I'm an avid traveler, and about a year ago, I finally bought my first hardside luggage. I got a gorgeous Samsonite set, which got lots of compliments in airports and hotels. However, I'm a 71-year-old woman, often travel alone, and the clamshell style simply didn't work for me. Whenever I wanted to pop a bag open to grab something, the lid, packed with clothes, was sooo heavy, I couldn't hold it up with one hand while digging with the other.. I had to find an area large enough to allow me to open the bag all the way...laying both halves flat...to retrieve any of the contents. When I checked my bag, it was a few pounds over, and opening it and pulling a few things out was a nightmare in the crowded airport. Couldn't use the luggage stands in the hotel rooms; I had to put my bags on the floor or lift them onto the bed in order to open them all the way. I didn't enjoy sitting on the floor digging through my bags, nor do I like putting luggage on the bed after it's been in the belly of a plane and on various shuttles. This Hanke just went with me to Mexico, and it was way, way easier for me to manage!! Nothing I don't like about it, and I'm once again able to lift the lid easily whenever I need to get inside. I love the nice neutral grey-beige color. The handles and the wheels work smoothly and feel like decent quality. I really didn't want to have to buy more luggage, but I'm so glad I did. I started with a larger bag, loved it so much, and I just got the carry-on for my trip in January. The carry-on has a compartment in the front for my laptop. Great luggage!" —GlamGalLovesStuff
Get the 20-inch carry-on from Amazon for $149.59+ (also available in 16-, 24-, and 26-inch sizes, in six colors, and with or without a laptop compartment).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Love this tag! Easy to use! Works and connects really well. It even has a keychain to clip onto your purse, your keys, kid's backpack, your luggage, or even just hide it in your vehicle." —Lakeesha kilbourne
Get them from Amazon for $27.99.
Each pack comes with bandages to fit your heel, toe, and foot.
Promising review: "So glad I thought ahead to buy these before going to Italy. I had new fashionable shoes and low-cut socks and we did 10 times more walking that I had anticipated. I tried the shoes on for an hour and got a blister. Wore these for 10 days in Europe and had zero issues, total comfort, left them on for several days through showers. I’ll never travel without these again." —Paul Hinman
Get the 12-count variety pack from Amazon for $13.99 (available in three other styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "This is an ideal duffel. Its black and white striped fabric is stylish, dirt- and stain-resistant, and durable. The size was a perfect carry-on fitting easily under the seat on the plane, and has a front pocket to hold things without digging into the spacious interior of the bag. I was able to fit a large puffy jacket, a pair of walking shoes, an iPad, a camera, several charger cords, and plugs, a travel pillow, an extra purse, a few snacks, several magazines, and more, lots more. It has a nifty feature on the back, a broad horizontal band that fits over the handle on my suitcase, which has a hook-and-loop fastener that holds the duffel on the handle. Storage is a bonus. The whole thing folds neatly into a flat envelope! Yep, this is a winner!" —Petey'spal
"It gets very small, so I can take it packed in my suitcase, buy souvenirs and gifts, which I often do, and have a second bag to bring them back." —Carolina Andrade
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in 11 colors).
BuzzFeed writer Chelsea Stuart uses the AirFly Pro and swears by it:
"Two years ago I splurged on some AirPod Maxes and for the amount of money I threw down on them, I was determined to get as much use out of them as possible and that included on plane rides. With the AirFly Pro, I can connect my headphones via Bluetooth and use the seat-back screen without having to fiddle with the free wired headphones they hand out that 1.) have horrible sound quality and 2.) don't fit my ears in the slightest (I swear my ear canals are tiny or something??)."
Promising review: "I fly a lot and bought this due to my dislike of corded headphones, as either the cable line breaks during flight and/or it gets tangled up. I just recently flew and used this for in-flight entertainment and did not have one issue. I also use these in the gym while connected to my iPhone for music. And I plan to use them on my PC at work for meetings." —Mark
Get it from Amazon for $34.97+(available in four styles and three colors).
Promising review: "These are seriously lifesavers! When traveling, I always have tons of clothes, plus lots of odds and ends that don't really fit in anywhere. These cubes saved the day. I reserved the two larger ones for clothes. They fit a pair of jeans, 14+ shirts, underwear and bras, pajamas, a light sweatshirt, and a sweater without an issue. They kept everything organized and secure. I didn't worry about anything falling about or getting lost. Plus, they kept everything tidy. The smaller ones were great for small odds and ends, like phone chargers, snacks, pens, bottles of medications, and more. I don't know how I ever packed before these! Worth every penny!" —Jessica McKelden Bennett
Get a pack of five cubes from Amazon for $24.14+ (available in 10 colors).
Promising review: "Loud little dude! Good for home and travel for hotel room doors. Sensitivity control and on/off switch. Be sure to measure from floor to bottom of the door to make sure it will engage the alarm. After demonstrating it, my sister-in-law, niece, and mom wanted them. A little peace of mind for very little money." —Jim Walker
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in two colors and in multi-packs).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant who basically lives in hotel rooms and I needed extra security. These seem to be the talk in the airline world so I ordered myself two. It took me a YouTube video to figure out how to install them, and yes, they're very easy and very secure. Safe sleeping is important, and I’m glad I have these." —Elizabeth C. Breton
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in packs of two and four).
Promising review: "Hate dragging out the old hotel iron and board, so I just spray my wrinkled clothes with this, and voila! Takes the wrinkles out, and off I go — no wrestling while putting the iron and board away. I even have a small travel iron or use my hair styling irons if I want a better finish, but this usually does the job nicely." —Audie
Get it from Amazon for $6.05.
Promising review: "Wow! I'm an avid traveler, and I love this little gem! It literally heats up in seconds and produces a steady cloud of steam powerful enough to take on linen. I used it first on a linen skirt with tons of ruffles; it was amazing! The ability to use this steamer in two ways makes it so much more effective than your usual steam press tools for travel." —Elizabeth C. Handley
Get it from Amazon for $76.99.
You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.
Promising reviews: "I cannot imagine how we would have managed a big international trip without this. It saved us so much stress and, I’m sure, surprise charges at the airport." —Potter Freak
"This scale works and was accurate on four flights. First flight was a test at 46 pounds, and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds, and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the fourth flight weighed 49, but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost, must-have item for air travel." —Robert
Get it from Amazon for $7.91+ (available in four colors and also a two-pack).
Just be sure to measure your phone before ordering!
Promising review: "This case works great outdoors or on the water. It keeps your phone from overheating and shutting down. It fits my iPhone Pro Max perfectly." —Fran O
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two sizes and six styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Excellent product!!! I love the two-speed function and how much air blows on this device. I take it with me everywhere while I travel via air, church, Disney, and out to dinner, etc. I love the fact that I can charge my phone with this device, and love the bright flashlight. Great price as well." —Satisfied Road Warrior - The sky is the limit
Get it from Amazon for $13.79+ (available in eight colors).
Promising review: "You can totally fit three pairs of shoes in this (size 6.5 female shoe, fit heels, wedges, and sandals)! I bought two and will absolutely be buying more for my husband. 10/10 would recommend! I travel frequently, and I always overpack; this helped cut down space and stress immensely!" —Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in nine colors/patterns).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
A Brighter Year is a woman-owned small business creating fun coloring books for adults and kids alike!
PSA: Reviewers say not to use alcohol markers because they'll bleed through!
Promising reviews: "Very cute and perfect for little hits of dopamine. If you have ADHD, this is such a great book that’s not overwhelming. I love that there are tons of different designs and no background, so you can add your own if you want. The size is also small and perfect for travel, desk, or just tossing in a purse." —Kelley H
"These little coloring books have been awesome! Great for travel. Easy to carry and keep the kids busy!" —Melody
Get them from Amazon for $29.99.
Promising review: "This is great to throw in my suitcase. I unzip it and throw my dirty clothes in it to keep them separate from my clean packed clothes and take it straight to the washer when I get home. Compact and brilliant!" —Kelly Conrad
Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in six patterns).
Amazon
Promising review: "This thing is the greatest thing invented since chicken and biscuits. It's like a nice scarf with just enough support to keep your neck just in the right position. I highly recommend it. Works great with big headphones, too." —Deana Hero
Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in four colors and two styles).
Promising review: "I travel a fair amount and became tired of dragging around a jumbled bag of cables, connectors, adapters, earbuds, thumb drives, card readers, MP3 players, and other necessities that resembled an episode of Hoarders. This little pouch tamed the beast — a place for everything and everything in its place. The other side of the double-sided pouch holds a power pack, a multi-port USB charger, and even a short extension cord. This is a great setup if you're frequently on the road, and you don't have to worry about forgetting that 'critical' connector." —Snowbound
Get it from Amazon for $16.01+ (available in two sizes and four colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $15.19+ (available in three colors).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
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 in my sinus. NO PAIN. NO TEARS." —K. Tombrella
Get three pairs from Amazon for $19.85 (also available in packs of 5 and 10).
Amazon
Mouthwatchers is a dentist-founded small business!
Promising review: "I didn't know traveling toothbrushes could be better than the standard design, but they can! I absolutely love these things. They even have little air holes to help keep the toothbrush dry when folded. *chef kiss* They hold well in the hand and, of course, the brush itself is excellent!" —Nicole K
Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two colors and in packs of two and four).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I brought this for a 10-hour overnight layover flight, and it was amazing. I take it with me on all my flights now. It attaches very easily to my carry-on and has a zipper section you can use to keep your important items. It definitely helped me take an easier rest, knowing my phone, passport, and money were right on my chest. I’m getting another color now." —LeshawnT
Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in five colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $9.99+ (available in 27 colors/patterns).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
One reviewer even says these sneakers feel "the exact same" as the Adidas Cloudfoam sneakers!
Promising reviews: "So comfortable. I brought these as my main shoes on a Europe trip where I would be walking 15,000–40,000 steps a day, and they were comfortable the entire time. I never complained. Great for the airport too since they are easy on/off." —Michela
"I bought these shoes after losing my lower leg in a crash. I needed something that is grippy without being sticky, cushioned and supportive, yet easy to slip on both my real foot and the prosthetic one. These are perfect. I wear them all the time in the house. They are lightweight for a suitcase and my 'go-bag.' The upper shoe is stretchy and fits over the prosthetic easily, and I can tighten it with the ties for the other foot. I had no idea what I needed when I ordered these while still in the hospital, and now I wear them all the time. They are machine-washable. My pair is two years old and looks new." —Dianamarie
Get them from Amazon for $35.09+ (available in sizes 6–10 and 14 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Hands down best sneakers (especially for travel). I purchased these prior to our family beach trip. I found out I was pregnant and needed some type of support when walking around on vacation rather than flat flip-flops. I read the reviews for these shoes and they were raving. I see why!! These could sell for more money but are reasonably priced. Great quality. There are no laces to tie — elastic bands. I really love these with or without socks. They are roomy but not too big width-wise. This is not a very narrow shoe. I would recommend this shoe for anyone traveling as the go-to shoe. They’re easy to get on and get off. Super stylish. My girlfriend ordered a patterned pair after seeing mine after I wore them to work. Definitely a great deal!!." —Nicole_B
Get them from Amazon for $34.99 (available in women's sizes 5–11 regular, 7–10 wide, and in soooo many colors/patterns).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "I used these on a cruise to Alaska, and they came in handy multiple times! Other travelers wanted them. Small, light, and easy to pack. Stayed charged for quite a while. A must-have." —Sam
"I bought these for an elderly relative who has poor perfusion, so their hands are constantly cold. They have loved using these, even though they are not tech savvy. They are easy to charge and hold their charge well. They are compact enough to slip inside gloves, but also generate enough warmth to penetrate through gloves." —sss
Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in seven colors).
Alleyoop is a woman-owned small biz making products to help simplify your beauty routine.
Promising review: "Great essential to have when traveling or on the go! Not to mention the soap smells amazing! Also includes two razor blades. Great value." —Myles Allbee
Get it from Amazon for $19 (available in two colors).
Promising review: "It’s a little hard to fill, but if you have a small funnel already, it makes it a lot easier. They’re super easy to use and really convenient for packing. I use it for the gym, travel, and I also travel for work often, and it comes in handy there." —Kelsey Jacobi
Get a set of two from Amazon for $6.99 (available in three colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "This jacket is well made. Wore it for traveling in cool spring weather. I appreciated the zippered pockets and Velcro closure at the wrist, as well as the hood in case of rain." —Richard B.
"I have had this jacket for over four years, and it has held up very well. I use it mostly for fishing. Getting stuck in the rain on a boat is not fun, but with this jacket, I stay dry. It has also come in handy to use instead of an umbrella. I hate trying to push a shopping cart to the car with an umbrella in my hand! This is the perfect solution. I love the zippers that allow airflow, so I can use them in the middle of summer and not sweat. I have told my whole family about this jacket, too. My husband has the men’s version. We also love how compact it is, so it’s easy to pack in a suitcase or throw on the boat." —Christy
Get it from Amazon for $55.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–3XL and in 16 colors).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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