Escaping Vacation Woes? Discover these 31 Travel Items to Alleviate Your Stress
You're about to embark on a stress-free vacation thanks to these amazing travel essentials! Packing doesn't have to be a nightmare anymore, not with these must-have items that will make your journey more enjoyable.
1. An Apple AirTag to give you peace of mind while flying. Pop it in your suitcase, wallet, or anything you're afraid to lose and track its whereabouts using the Find My app. If you lose your luggage, you can easily find it using the AirTag.
www.amazon.com Put the AirTag on Lost Mode and receive a notification when it's been detected by the Find My app. Promising review: "I bought a pair of these AirTags for a trip to France, and I'm so glad I did! The setup is super easy; I had zero problems and both were done in like five minutes. I put one in my purse and one in my suitcase. On the way back home, the airline lost my luggage. Checked the Find My app where the AirTag is tracked, and I could see that it never left the Charles de Gaulle airport. I felt more assurance being able to track my bag through the app as it made its way across the world back to me. 10/10 would recommend!" - Lindsay Kirby
Get it from Amazon for $28.99.
2. A digital luggage scale because no one wants to pay those ridiculous baggage fees! Just attach this bad boy to your luggage handle, lift it up, and the LCD display will let you know how many more outfits you can cram in without going over the weight limit.
www.amazon.com You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements. Promising reviews: "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
"Love it! Lightweight and easy to read! It even gives you the climate temperature (not that I need it but a neat feature). It reads in both kg and lbs. Definitely recommend if you're a frequent traveler and have weight requirements on luggage." - Patricia Velasquez*
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in four colors and as a pack of two).
3. A packing checklist so you never forget the essentials, like deodorant or underwear. This one has literally everything under the sun already listed for you so you don't have to make a list and realize underwear was somehow not on it.
Promising review: "We LOVE this! We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for trip 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 $7 (available in three styles).
4. A sand-free beach blanket because nobody likes packing sand. This bb is designed so that sand rolls right off it, and you don't end up bringing it home. It also comes with a little travel pouch, four stakes, and has eight pockets!
www.amazon.com Promising review: "I recently purchased this blanket for a family vacation to Florida, and everyone LOVED it! It's lightweight, big enough for the whole family to lay out on, and the sand rolled right off. One of the things I loved most about it is that it rolled up super compact and light so it was easy to pack! When you are going to the beach with kids, you drag along a lot of equipment! It was nice that this blanket was easy to pack and travel with. Fun fact: If you have one of those canopies to bring to the beach, this blanket fits perfectly under it!" - Megan Rose
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
5. A sand-removal powder bag - a talc-free and reef-friendly bag that'll remove all that sand easily. Don't let the sand stop you from enjoying your vacay; this bb is gonna take care of the part of the beach that you absolutely can't stand.
Shakalo is a small business based in San Diego.
Promising review: "We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1-2 times a week. And I even use it on my dogs' paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of too. I will definitely be buying the refill and another bag to have exclusively in the car." - Gabbs Uresti
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in a three-pack).
6. A handy RFID-blocking travel wallet complete with a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, a slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, a key holder, and a pen holder, all in one place. No more searching for where you put your boarding pass or digging through your carry-on for your credit card anymore.
www.amazon.com Promising review: "I absolutely love this wallet. I needed a new travel wallet, and this holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! I can fit my boarding pass, passport, ID, credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, and more in it, yet it doesn't bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. It's just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese yen (¥), which are larger. I didn't use the zippered pocket for coins as I much prefer a separate coin purse for that sort of thing. I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!" - Anthony Luu
Get it from Amazon for $9.59 (available in 37 colors).
7. A portable lock box so you can enjoy the water without worrying about your phone and credit card being stolen. Easily secure this bad boy to your beach chair and go see why Sebastian felt that life is better down where it's wetter.
www.amazon.com You can also use this in your room to keep valuables protected. You can either set a three-digit combination code or use the provided key!
Promising review: "This is a must-have for vacations. We took it to Atlantis in the Bahamas and it worked perfectly. Held our phones, room keys, etc. while we were out enjoying the beach or pool. Just looped it to our beach chair or table. Highly recommended." - Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in five colors).
8. An AirKids carry-on suitcase if you know your little independent one won't let you carry them, then wants you to carry them, then wants to get down, and every single time, you are rushing to the gate. This will give you the peace of mind that your kiddo is right next to you, and your little one will think it's a preview of the Disney World rides they're about to be on.
It's recommended for kids ages 3-7 and fits most standard economy seats. It has an adjustable strap so you can carry it over your shoulder, a top handle, and a mattress inside that can be removed and used while in the air. It can be used on your flight as a foot rest for your little one and parents have also used this product while waiting for their flight to keep kids comfy and content.
Promising review: "I dragged my feet on this purchase because of the price tag, but I have zero regrets after traveling solo with my 2-year-old and 5-year-old. This thing was so easy to maneuver through the airport and through the plane aisles that my 2-year-old pulled it herself for most of the trip. It was slightly too big for her to ride on, but my 4-year-old loved riding on it. The bed feature was super easy to set up and we used it to and from our destination. I was able to pack clothes for a five-day trip, the bed, a blanket, and stuffie. I will definitely be dumping more money into this company for our next trip. Happy customer!" - Casie Wilds
Get it from Amazon for $183.20.
9. Or a Lugabug travel seat if you don't really want to buy a new piece of luggage but still want to get through the airport swiftly. Attach this to your carry-on suitcase, sit your kiddo down, and shuffle your way through the airport.
www.amazon.com It's recommended for kids 2 and up and can hold up to 50 pounds.
Promising review: "I usually do not leave reviews, however, I read through the reviews prior to purchasing the LugABug seat and had mixed feelings about getting one, but I did anyway. I am so glad that I did. This product is AMAZING! If you have a toddler, this works extremely well. I frequently fly alone with my 2-year-old and I hate to carry extra stuff (strollers, car seats, carriers, etc.). My daughter loved getting in it and it made getting around through the airports a breeze. I was even able to enjoy a cup of coffee at the same time as pulling her along with my luggage. My daughter also took a hour and a half long nap in (in the leaned back position with my luggage handle resting on my knee). I just ordered another one because I don't want to travel without one. Can't say enough good things about this product. Also, since I fly standby I spend a lot of time in the airport and I received numerous inquiries about the LugABug from parents carrying kids about my daughter's age." - Gretta O. Rogne
Get it from Amazon for $47.50.
10. A Buzzfeed-recommended multi-vitamin to keep your energy levels high and avoid symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or weakened immunity during your vacation. It's best to start taking one daily a few weeks before your trip to see the full benefits.
www.amazon.com Promising review: "I love these vitamins! I did thorough research before choosing which vitamin to start a daily regimen with since I'm very selective about what I put in my body. I have been very pleased with these vitamins, and I feel better every day because of them. I haven't missed a day since I started taking them over two months ago. They're small, easy to swallow, and the packaging is cute (I have the unicorn one!). 10/10 would recommend!" - Jennifer Dayton
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three sizes and several fun designs).
11. A waterproof phone case so you can capture your memories underwater like a true mermaid or redditor. No need to worry about ruining your phone when you're diving in the ocean or splashing around in a pool.
www.amazon.com Works with normalCase and C Ballock style cases
Promising review: "This case is perfect for our family beach vacation! I get so annoyed with my phone getting sand and water on it, and with this on there, I don't have to worry about it anymore! I can take it in the ocean, pool, and everywhere else now! I've used it with my Samsung Galaxy Note 9, iPhone 8 Plus and 7 Plus, and all work perfectly. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. The case isn't big or bulky, and I can even check my emails and social media through it in the water! 5 stars!" - Daniel R.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
12. A popular sandwich bag brand's resealable plastic bags to store snacks, sunscreen, or wet swimwear without spilling them all over your luggage. Use them as a DIY laundry bag, too, so you don't forget dirty clothes when packing up to return home.
www.amazon.com 11" x 9.5" size
Promising review: "I've been using Glad ForceFlex Huggable Vent's plastic bags for over ten years now, and they continue to be the best I've ever used! They have great quality, can hold a lot, and are so convenient. Store snacks, fruits, vegetables, or even create your own laundry bags with these. I am always impressed with how strong they are, and they've never let me down. This brand has my loyalty!" - Amanda L.
Get it from Amazon for $14.98 (available in four sizes).
13. An emergency medicine kit stocked with essentials like pain relievers, anti-diarrhea pills, motion sickness medicine, band-aids, and antiseptic wipes. Be prepared for unexpected health issues during your adventure, so you can enjoy your vacation without worry.
www.amazon.com TSA-compliant size: 6" x 4" x 3"
Promising review: "This first aid kit has saved me numerous times! I've used it during day trips, hikes, and international travel. It's compact, fits easily into my luggage, and has had everything I needed so far. The quality is excellent and reinforces my faith in Amazon. I Highly recommend this product!" - Karen V.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
