1. A cute Shark Tank-famous thermal phone case to keep your phone from overheating as you enjoy the sublime beaches of Portugal. This insulated case can reflect more than 90% of the heat from the sun. Plus, it is sink-proof, so it'll keep your phone on the surface of your hotel's pool.

www.amazon.com

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 three sizes and six styles).

2. A stylish, vegan leather Cincha travel belt so you don't have to bother with carrying your cumbersome personal bag while pulling your carry-on. Just put the bag atop your suitcase and keep it secure with this adjustable strap that has a quick-release buckle.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Cincha is a small biz crafting adjustable, vegan leather travel belts!

Promising review: "This luggage strap is awesome!!! I travel a lot and use this to attach my tote to my luggage, and it worked better than expected. My tote does have a strap to slide over the handles of my luggage, but it was always falling to one side. This fixed that. I am so happy I stumbled upon this on Amazon. It is worth every cent!" —susan8047

Get it from Cincha on Amazon for $39.99 (available in 14 styles).

3. A pack of foldable hangers since the very few hangers that come with your hotel room simply won't hang all the fabulous dresses you brought with you. These compact hangers have a textured surface to help prevent clothes from slipping off them. They even open up to two sizes (child and adult).

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 $9.99. 

4. A sleek 3-in-1 handheld fan that's also a portable charger and flashlight, so if you're caught in the dark and it's hot and your phone is on 1%, you'll be glad to have this gadget in your back pocket.

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 I love the bright flashlight. Great price as well." —Satisfied Road Warrior - The sky is the limit

Get it from Amazon for $15.29+ (available in six colors).

5. Some noise-reduction earplugs to help prevent any in-flight discomfort. Don't let painful air pressure changes start your journey off on the wrong foot. Reviewers also say these are great for altitude changes that occur while driving.

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 2–3 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 1, 5, and 10).

6. An inflatable travel pillow for the perfect in-flight nap. It might even help with neck pain! It has space for your head to rest leaning forward as well as two holes on either side to slide your arms through.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I travel often. As much as I try, I cannot sleep on a plane. With this new pillow, I can. My favorite is that I can lean forward with the pillow's support, which is a very comfortable and relaxing position! Especially on long international flights. You can have a nice nap in this position or watch something on your phone. The perfect position pillow." —Brenda

Get it from Amazon for $20.95 (available in three colors).

7. A doorstop alarm if you wanna be on the safe side while sleeping away from home. This doorstop can prevent people from fully opening the door, and if the door is opened, a loud alarm will sound. Said alarm has three adjustable levels of sensitivity.

www.amazon.com

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 multi-packs).

8. A wireless transmitter because now you can use your wireless Bluetooth headphones anywhere there's a headphone jack. Easily watch movies while you're on the plane!

www.amazon.com

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 five styles and three colors).

9. An inflatable beach pillow that won't get blown away by the wind! This soft and durable pillow wicks away water and sheds sand, so you can lie comfortably by the shore.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I threw these in my bag last minute for a trip to a resort in Cancun, and we absolutely loved them! They take up no room, and I easily fit two pillows in my carry-on bag to have for the beach. Made the beach chairs so much more relaxing by being able to be comfortable. They blew up so easily. It just took four big breaths for each pillow. Loved that I could either use the straps or sand to hold them in place. I also like the idea of traveling with them in my carry-on in case we have a delayed flight, and I have enough time for an airport nap. I'll be bringing these on all future vacations." —Nikki Miller

Get it from Amazon for $35+ (available in 15 colors).

10. Tide sink packsso you can do your laundry in a sink if you're traveling to a place with no washing machine.

Amazon

Promising review: "Some in our party were forced to check their carry-on bags due to a lack of space on the plane. Our connecting flight then got canceled, and we ended up on a different plane. Some of the bags didn’t make it, and these Tide sink packs SAVED US! We were able to keep a rotation of things clean while we waited for our bags. I was ASTONISHED at how much sweat and grime came out of my clothes after a long, hot day of travel! Won’t travel without them ever again." —Kristin St. Martin

Get nine packets from Amazon for $6.26.

11. A durable and super-accurate digital luggage scale because you bought a lot of new clothes on your journeys, and you need to make sure your suitcase doesn't exceed your airline's weight maximum. 

www.amazon.com

You can 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 $8.54+ (available in four colors and also a two-pack).

12. A roll-up sun visor — this easy-to-pack, wide-brim visor is as cute as it is handy. Let it help you block the sunlight while you traipse through the Caribbean.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

The wide brim provides much more UV protection than regular caps!

Promising review: "I have long hair and always avoided hats because I hate having my hair sweating against my neck in a low bun or ponytail. With this sun visor-summer hat combo, I can keep my hair in a top knot and still keep my face and neck protected from the sun while catching a nice breeze. This is perfect (although a little large in circumference, and I have a big head 7-3/4 hat size), and it’s adjustable and can fit any head size. It rolls up well and has an elastic to keep it rolled. I’ll be recommending this item to all my friends!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in 11 colors).

13. A pair of travel "flossing" toothbrushes with dual-layered flossing bristles that are designed to get deep into the grooves of your teeth and gums so your teeth can look and feel sparklingly clean, even if your sugar tooth calls for a lottttt of gelato. If your hostel doesn't provide any complimentary toothbrushes for you (oops), these foldable toothbrushes have got your back (and your plaque)! 

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 a set of two from Mouthwatchers on Amazon for $9.99.

14. A waterproof phone pouch so you can go to the beach or pool without worrying about water damage to your phone. Wanna take a picture or send a text? No worries! You can still use your phone's touchscreen through the pouch. And it'll even allow you to take underwater photos!

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 reviews: "A vacation essential. I was skeptical about the case protecting my phone, but while kayaking on vacation, my phone fell into the water and was submerged in 6 feet of water. I was able to recover the phone with no water damage whatsoever." —Will N

"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 $6.49+ (available in 13 colors and designs).

15. A portable pack of soap sheets because you can't trust gas station bathrooms to have, well, anything. These are also great for use when out hiking and camping.

Amazon

Promising review: "I bring these with me whenever I travel. I recently got back from Namibia and Botswana. Can't even tell you how many times I found myself in a bathroom with no soap or a location with no soap and sink after handling animals or about to eat a meal." —Patrick

Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $10.95.

16. A portable stack of 50 gamesyou and the family can play on the go. Whether your kids are tired of watching the same episode of Bluey on their iPad or have no interest in watching the clouds from thousands of feet in the sky, these games will help keep them entertained for the whole ride.

www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "Traveled with seven kids, and these games were fun and entertaining." —Titaniumgal98

"I got this to play with my kids on a long road trip. Even the 6-year-old found games she thought were fun. We have played them during baseball games, on camping trips, while we are hiking, etc. Quite a few classics in there, but there are some I had never played as well. Very portable and convenient." —Tiffany

Get it from Amazon for $8.75.

17. An anti-nausea acupressure bracelet that may help prevent any day-ruining queasiness caused by road trips and boat rides.

www.amazon.com

Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Promising reviews: "I recently came back from a three-day cruise, and I feel amazing. No nausea and no seasickness, all because of these. I wish I found out about them sooner." —Eve

"I have now bought this for the third time. I wear them 24 hours a day, seven days a week because I suffer from extreme vertigo, and when I wear them, I experience no vertigo whatsoever. They say not to wear them all the time, but it works!" —C51

Get the pack of two from Amazon for $8.50+ (available in six colors).

18. A super useful (and portable) AI-powered smartphone stabilizer so you can finally take some halfway decent, non-blurry shots of the Eiffel Tower. That photo album from 2007 is low-key tragic...

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "The Insta 360 is small and compact and works well with the app. It’s intuitive and easy to handle, not bulky or heavy. Perfect size and takes all movement out of videos while walking or moving. Love this item." —Thomas

Get it from Amazon for $99.99 (available in two colors).

19. An Energizer clip-on light because the overhead lighting on the plane is honestly way too cruel (for you and your seatmates). Now you can see what you're reading without being a menace to your neighbor in seat 21J.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought this for travel and dim hotels. Perfect solution! It's not too large, the clip works easily, and I've used it for about 15 hours, and the battery is still going strong!" —Patricia

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two styles).

20. A cute lil' portable safe for keeping your phone, wallet, passport, and more secure while you enjoy your time on the Amalfi coast. You don't wanna think about your stuff getting stolen while you tour the Mediterranean.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I HIGHLY recommend getting this as a general precautionary measure to prevent your personal items from getting stolen while out on vacation. Great for traveling." —Terrica

Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in two colors).

21. A memory foam airplane footrest if you need your legs to be slightly elevated to feel any level of comfort while you fly from Point A to Point B. Just hang it from the tray table arms and get cozy!

www.amazon.com

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.

22. A travel shawl with UPF 50+ protection that'll block 98% of the sun's rays when traveling through hotter climes AND keep you warm as you check out the city's nightlife on a chilly evening. It's also pretty multi-talented since it can be used as a scarf, a poncho, or a blanket! 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I love my new everywhere scarf/shawl. I purchased the silver for travel and am now wearing it almost daily. It is sooooo soft and versatile. Looks great with jeans and a sweater as a scarf. Looks really nice as a shawl with a dress or slacks and a blouse. You will love how you feel wrapped up in it on an airplane or in the car on a trip. Don’t pass up owning this great accessory. Enjoy it!" —George K.

Get it from Amazon for $36+ (available in nine colors).

23. A luggage-mounted cup caddy so you can keep your hands free to deal with finding your boarding pass. No more uncomfortably juggling your water bottle or cup of coffee and your passport!

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 26 colors/patterns). 

24. An airplane window organization station for storing your beverages, phone, and other travel essentials. By moving things over to the window, you can use your tray for eating or, more importantly, napping.

www.amazon.com

This shelf only works if you have access to a full window. 

Promising review: "This little gadget made window seat life so much more roomie! I’m a plus-size girlie, and I normally book economy, so anything that will give me extra legroom on a flight I’m a sucker for! It works just like the directions say and is so light that I almost forget it’s in my bag. It’s also stronger and more stable than it looks, it held my phone, ear buds, and two cups easily. The glasses holder was so convenient when I was ready to take a nap and didn’t have to worry about forgetting anything in the seat pocket." —ashley-britt

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

25. A pair of portable USB-C cordless phone chargers if your device is chronically under 10% when you're out and about. You don't want your phone creeping to 0% while you're using Google Maps to figure out exactly where you are. This little guy gives you at least one full charge, shows you how much battery it has left, AND can even prop your phone up for watching videos or shows. 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

While it's compatible with most Android phones, it is only compatible with iPhones 15 and 16. 

Promising review: "I love these portable chargers! They’re super compact and easy to toss in a bag or even a pocket. The built-in cable makes it so convenient — no extra cords to carry around. I’ve used them on road trips, at school, and during long errands, and they’ve saved me from a dead phone multiple times. The digital display showing the battery level is a great feature, too. Charges quickly and works well with both my iPhone and my partner’s Android. Highly recommend for anyone who’s always on the move!" —Heidi McBride

Get it from Amazon for $25.49.

26. Alka-Seltzer hangover relief tablets because maybe you tend to drink more on vacation than you normally do. You don't want to have to deal with a hangover while you're on your feet all day, touring a new city.

www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "Individual packets are great for travel." —Ibanez13

"Got drunk the night before. Didn't eat or drink any water or Gatorade before going to bed. Woke up with a terrible hangover. Within 20 minutes of taking these, I seriously felt amazing. I've never gone from feeling extremely terrible to feeling like nothing was wrong with me that quickly. You'll only regret not buying these AFTER a night of drinking." —Griff

Get three boxes with 20 tablets each from Amazon for $14.28.

27. An Apple AirTag so you can be prepared in the event that you lose your luggage. You can set up the AirTag with your iPhone or iPad so that it can be found via the Find My app.

www.amazon.com

BuzzFeed writer Elizabeth Lilly uses these when traveling:

"Story-time: 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 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."

Promising review: "I now always use my AirTag when traveling to put in my checked luggage to make sure it doesn't get lost. It’s very easy to check on." —P Hampshire

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

28. A pack of Neutrogena makeup remover towelettes in case you couldn't bring your jug of micellar cleansing water with you, but you need to take off your winged eyeliner for the night so you don't wake up looking like a raccoon.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I always have a few of these in my purse as well as using them for travel. It is perfect for removing makeup and making your face feel fresh. I love that it is great for sensitive skin, and the individual packets make it perfect to always have some with you." —Bonnie Review

Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $6.88.

29. A Lay-n-Go cosmetic bag if you don't have too many beauty products but do want to keep them all in one easy-to-access place when traveling. Just lay this bag out, put your products on top, then pull the drawstring closed.

Lay-n-Go / YouTube / Via www.youtube.com

Promising review: "I was tired of fumbling around in my cosmetics case and saw this. I was skeptical, but...WOW! On my recent two-week trip to Europe, with constant laying out and packing up, this item was wonderful. I could find what I wanted quickly, right away. Packing up was just a matter of pulling the drawstring. At first, I wasn’t sure about changing to this bag, but now I could not do without it." —mojosharkey

Get it from Amazon for $24.95+ (available in three sizes and 31 colors/patterns).

30. Low-top Blowfish sneakers because they don't have shoelaces, which means you can easily kick these babies off when you're about to go through airport security and then easily put them back on once you're done.

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 $29.99 (available in women's sizes 5–11 regular, 7–10 wide, and in 27 colors).

31. Or a pair of ballet flats that are super comfortable to walk in and are easy to take off and on.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I normally cannot wear flats because they give me terrible blisters on the back of my feet. These didn't! I bought these in the nude for a city vacation with a lot of walking, but where sandals aren't necessarily worn, and these were perfect! They obviously don't have the support of sneakers, but I am so happy to finally have a cheap pair of flats that don't give me blisters. I did break them in with thin socks on around my house before wearing them out, and when possible, I wear them with little sock liners. Also — I was able to fold these in half like Tieks and fit them in a semi-small purse to change into to dance at a wedding! Score!" —Kate

Get it from Amazon for $21.60 (available in women's sizes 5–15, including wide sizes, and 22 designs). 

32. A TSA-approved Alleyoop portable razor for giving yourself a little touch-up in the hotel bathroom before you head out for a night of dancing in that amazing mini dress.

www.amazon.com

Alleyoop is a woman-owned small biz making products to help simplify your beauty routine.

This pack includes a water spray bottle, a shea butter moisturizing bar, and two triple-blade razor cartridges.

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 Alleyoop on Amazon for $20 (available in two colors). 

33. An eight-compartment pill organizer because you'll still need your multivitamins when you're in Greece. Six of the compartments are small, and two are big, just in case you have large capsules you need to pack.

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 $7.97+ (available in two color combinations).

34. A shoe bag if you don't want your dirty hiking boots touching the white pants you packed. This durable and water-resistant bag has three layers that can hold up to size 13 shoes and two more compartments for holding flip-flops or sandals. 

www.amazon.com

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). 

35. A pack ofDr. Frederick's Original blister bandages in case all your walking around a new city has caused a little pain. These help protect and prevent blisters!

www.amazon.com

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 than 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 four types of packs). 

36. Flushable toilet seat covers because rest stops and airport bathrooms simply cannot be trusted to be clean or free of germs. These biodegradable paper seat covers will help give you a little peace of mind.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These are perfect to take when traveling because you never know if you’re gonna come across a nasty bathroom. They’re compact, and they come in packs of 10, so they're small enough to put in your bag or even your pocket." —ChrisB_DZ

Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $9.99.

37. A portable white-noise machine that'll help you when you're missing the sounds of a bustling city while you vacation in the countryside. Designed for travel, this compact machine has three soothing sound settings that'll help usher you to sleep.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I was skeptical at first about how well this little noise machine would work in my hotel room (I am a frequent business traveler). However, skepticism gave way to satisfaction. This little sound machine blocked out hotel noises very well and helped me sleep through the night. For a little machine, it provides very good volume and different noise options. I highly recommend this product!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two styles, with a travel case and in multi-packs).

38. And if you don't have a carry-on to pack all of these things into, check out this wheeled carry-on bag so you can avoid clamoring for a spot in the overhead storage bins. It can easily fit under the seat in front of you. No need to fight with shoulder straps when you can just wheel this lil' guy around the airport. Plus, it's got a side USB port for charging devices.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This bag is amazing. There are a TON of different compartments and PLENTY of room. Seems well-made. The fact that it fits under a plane seat but is also a roller can't be beaten. Looks very nice as well. Worth every penny. The best travel bag." —Lance64

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in four colors).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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