27 Products That'll Transform How You Travel

May 31, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Stay tuned for the backseat organizers that withstood literally 20 hours of tugging and roughhousing by two road-tripping preschoolers.

BuzzFeed Staff

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 cozy...even 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." —S.Viruly

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in five colors and a two-pack).

It can also mount on your luggage for long layovers.

Promising review: "I travel for a living and fly often. I regret not buying this in the beginning when I started traveling. I can clip it to the back of the seat in front of me and also on the windows. It is small enough to fold up and fit in my pocket. This is random but related — if you are sitting in an exit row on an airplane you cannot clip this to the window until the plane is in the air — other than that they do not care it is clipped to the window during the flight. Highly recommended." —Chrissie Jo

Perilogics is a small biz that specializes in tech-oriented travel products and backpacks.

Get it from Amazon for $10.38 (available in five colors and in a set of two).

Just hook the scale to your luggage handle, lift up, and the LCD display will show the weight! You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly tested this digital luggage scale out when she was packing for a trip to Iceland — check out her demo of how it works on TikTok!

Promising reviews: "Took this on multiple overseas trips in the first two months. I can't believe I used to hold my bags and weigh myself and the bag on scales — and then subtract my weight. It was so time consuming, especially when we were either close to the limit or over. This small device literally saved us hours of frustration and possible unpacking at the airport check-in line. We couldn't live without this item now. We bought another one as a backup. Wouldn't hesitate to buy this exact item again." —AB

"Took this for a 10-day trip overseas with lots of flights. Weighed the luggage as things were added to it/purchased, and when we weighed in at the airport it was perfectly accurate. Very important when the airline will charge $70 more for a suitcase that is too heavy or make you open the whole thing up and take stuff out in order to fly with it. Saved so much hassle." —B. M. O'Connor

Get it from Amazon for $10.18+ (available in six colors, as well as a two-pack).

You can even pair two sets of headphones at once to the AirFly! They work on gym and gaming equipment, too.

Promising review: "Worked beautifully on a recent eight-hour flight from New York City to Frankfurt! Really easy to pair with my Bose noise-canceling earbuds and charges quickly. The sound quality was excellent. I'm so excited about this product that I'm going to buy one for each of my family members!" —emily p murray

Twelve South is a husband-and-wife-owned biz based in Charleston, South Carolina! They've been designing accessories inspired by and made for Apple products since 2009.

Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (also available in two other styles).

*Plus* decanting your creams and liquids into these babies will free up space in your carry-on and spare you weight.

PS: It also comes with pre-printed labels and a handy, clear zipper pouch!

Promising review: "Just took a trip to the Dominican Republic and used carry-on luggage only throughout the entire trip. I never once was questioned about the size. The bag they are in seems thin but it worked great to put bottles back in as well as some smaller items fit in the bag too, like lip gloss, mascara, and such. The holes are big enough to get your product in to the bottles without any complications. My fiancé and myself had plenty of shampoo, conditioner, sunblock and lotion for seven days. Highly recommend these bottles, they are perfect for carry-ons!!" —Stephanie Miller

Get a set of four 3-ounce bottles from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in a variety of sizes and colors).

Check the product description's "capacity calculator" for a in-depth summary of how much of every type of product (how many uses of oil cleanser, small pills, liquid toner, etc.) each container holds.

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Abby Kass is upping her travel-game with these containers: "I used these on a six-day trip recently, and they were perfect. I customized the label so I knew which one was my shampoo vs. conditioner and did a general label for any other things I wanted to bring along. They do hold a surprising amount, and were small enough to slip right into my toiletries bag and go through TSA with no problem. The container was easy to open in the shower (even with wet hands), and I had no leakage from them (like I did from my face wash bottle that will not be making the trip with me next time. SMH). These are an incredibly useful tool anyone who travels wants in their luggage."

Cadence is an Asian woman-owned small biz creating stylish reusable travel containers that are gentle on the planet and feature an intuitive, leak-proof design.

Get a set of six from Cadence for $76 (with free shipping).

Check out a TikTok of the portable charger in action.

Promising review: "iPhone users rejoice. This was the only portable charger I could find on the market that did not require a lightening adapter to charge an Apple product! I bought this for my fiancé since he spends long days on movie sets. This has been a life saver. It charges fast and you get more than one charge out of it. This would be great for travel, long work days, bad service areas (eats up battery faster), or older phones whose battery isn’t that great (this worked on his iPhone 7 and my iPhone XR). It may require you to remove your phone case, but that’s an easy accommodation. Highly recommend!" —Kelly Schuetz

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six colors).

It 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 $12.99 (available in 36 colors).

Promising review: "I put this on before long walks and it really helps! I am prone to wearing the wrong shoes when we travel so I will now be adding this to my travel items as well!" —Julie

Get it from Amazon for $9 (also available in bundles).

The charger can be used in Europe, UK, US, Australia, Canada, Russia, Asia, Central America, South America and the Middle East.

Promising review: "Probably one of the best $13 I spent on anything. If you travel a lot, especially internationally, this is a must have because you have every kind of adapter on one plug and don’t have to worry about constantly buying a certain adapter every time you travel to a different country. This has it all." —Abby Santiago

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

It fits 32-ounce and 40-ounce bottles.

Promising review: "Love it. Perfectly holds my 40-ounce Hydro Flask. No more rolling around the truck cab. Arrived quickly and works as described." —Jason J. Mease

Wine and Whiskey Co. is a small business that makes clothes, phone cases, and car accessories!

Get it from Wine and Whiskey Co. on Etsy for $12.99+ (also available in packs).

Reviewers say it's ideal for a suitcase that can roll on four wheels! If you have a suitcase that has to tilt while it rolls, just be careful if the drinks are open at the top.

Promising review: "Frequent traveler must-have. This is an amazing travel accessory! When you are trying to juggle your hot beverage with a water bottle, your phone, and a boarding pass this is a handy, easily stashable uni-tasker to have. Fits perfectly on my carry-on bag and larger rolling bags as well." —Pirate

Get it from Amazon for $10.79 (available in 21 colors and other styles).

It requires no wiring, just an 9V battery.

Promising review: "Travel must-have. I use this traveling, and it provides extra peace of mind in motel rooms considering I'm a cheapskate and stay in dives and my dog is getting so old he is likely to refer any criminal who breaks and enters to me for further processing. Works well, as a startled maid in a West Virginia motel can attest when she thought I had checked out and unlocked the door to clean. I gave the second one to my sister, who uses it at home." —QuintessentiallyYours

Get it from Amazon for $13.25.

It also includes a sling rope and carabiner for clipping onto a bag or belt loop.

Promising review: "I travel the airlines quite a bit with my small dog. It’s perfect!!! It’s different from other systems I’ve tried because it effectively takes the unconsumed water back into the bottle 100% — I’m no longer looking for a place to dump the water she doesn’t drink, nor am I putting a wet bowl back into my backpack. It’s one system with a locking mechanism to avoid accidental pressing of the water release button." —AnnaBelle

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors).

Promising review: "This eye mask is perfect if you like to have total darkness when you sleep. It is so comfortable around my face and the mask even comes with adjustable straps so you don’t wake up with sleep lines. Included are cute ear plugs enclosed in their own case and a silk drawstring bag to carry your things in. To add, I was also impressed with how aesthetically pleasing the packaging was. I totally recommend." —Bill Curtis

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "I travel very frequently and had never heard of a liquid travel bag like this before. I was a little worried because the back is not see-through, so I brought a 1-quart plastic baggie as backup just in case. But everything I needed fit perfectly and I had no issues in TSA/China security. So far I have been through MSP, IAD, NKG, and PEK airports using this pack already and it's a life-changer! I will never again have to worry about having to scramble to buy baggies just for liquids, and it is much more durable." —Courtney Swanson

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors).

Promising review: "We are a family of seven and this held all of our bathroom supplies for a weekend trip. This is a must-have for traveling. The best feature is it being able to hang up on a robe hook or the back of a door. It frees up hotel sinks and keeps you well organized." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).

Promising review: "This product works great and the three-pack is a good deal, whether you want to label each one for a specific use or share with members of the family. It is easy to use and doesn't take long to dry. I keep one in my purse and of course it is a must-have when traveling." —DeeNicole

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $7.74.

It features 20 nonlooping sleep sounds, 32 volume levels, and a timer — plus, it weighs less than half a pound!

Promising review: "Wonderful sound machine. Compact enough for travel. We took ours on vacation and are so glad we did. This drowns out hotel noises perfectly! I like how small it is when on my dresser at home, too. So thankful for the nonlooping sound. Would recommend over and over again." —Hill.jess

Get it from Amazon for $21.99.

Promising review: "Must-have traveling accessory. Best way to pack a suitcase! I’ll never go back to stuffing everything in on its own. These compartments held way more than I imagined and kept me organized. I will definitely add more to my collection. Makes a great gift for frequent travelers too!" —Lisa

Get them from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in eight styles and in packs of two, three, or six).

Promising review: "Perfect for small ear canals. Love the carrying case. These are perfect for a few reasons — I can break them into smaller pieces and fit them to my small ears. They are PERFECT for traveling — the case keeps them clean and safe. You can 'drown' out the noise without leaving the world. I can still hear with them in, but I sleep a lot easier with them in. The only drawback is that they ARE sticky — I find a lot of my hair stuck to them after a use. Price you pay though, for all of the positives." —tater.tot

Get a pack of six pairs from Amazon Fresh for $4.99.

It's also microwave-safe! Note that the 12-ounce size does not include a straw, but both the 16-ounce and 24-ounce sizes do.

Danielle: This is one of the first zero-waste swaps I made and I've never looked back. If you buy to-go coffee – whether you're jet-setting or just grabbing a mid-day pick-me-up — this cup is a must-have. So long as you remember to bring it, it's all the convenience of to-go coffee with none of the waste. It's leakproof and, when you're all done, it collapses down teeny tiny and can be tossed back in your bag. Oh! And it comes with a straw, so all you iced coffee lovers can get in on the action, too.

Stojo is a small biz founded by three New York dads who wanted a better way to get their convenient coffee fix without all the waste. Now they make stylish collapsible essentials in a variety of sizes and colors, including bottles and food storage containers.

Get it from Amazon for $24.55+ (available in four sizes and in 24 colors).

Promising review: "It holds a lot, so I never have trash lying around my van! Always got tissues if you need them, keep wet wipes and hand sanitizer, etc. in the pockets. I do long road trips so this is just super nice to have. The lid keeps everything inside so stuff is never falling out. I def recommend this to anyone with kids especially or if you take long road trips and wanna keep your vehicle tighty all the time." —Leanna Garcia

Get it from Amazon for $27.99.

Promising review: "These held everything from snacks, tablets, crayons, baby wipes, drinks, etc. and held up well with being kicked, tugged on, and generally mistreated during a 20-hour road trip to the beach with two preschoolers. We left them in the car for continued use now that we're back home." —jackie

Get a pair from Amazon for $17.99.

Promising review: "We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for a 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.

What you'll get: Inside your mini wallet, you'll find a hair tie, lip balm, two floss pics, sewing kit, bandage, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, deodorant wipe, Shout wipe, tampon, hand sanitizer, and pain reliever.

Danielle: I, your resident forgetful person, bought the NYC skyline version of this to toss in my purse or work tote whenever I go out. It's filled with a bunch of easy-to-forget bits and bobs that will (and have) saved the day in a pinch, all pre-packaged in a stylish and high-quality wallet. It's my perfect little SOS kit.

Anne Cate is a Cleveland-based, woman-owned small business creating minimalist keepsakes to commemorate your favorite locations, with over 100 hand-designed skylines depicting cities and colleges from around the world!

Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 97 styles).

It's also machine-washable!

Promising review: "I've been in the travel industry for 16 years and up til now I haven't found a durable and easy-to-access makeup bag. They are always too small or so big your makeup rolls around and gets on everything. This is the perfect size to fit a full face worth of makeup products without being bulgy or bulky. The brush holders inside work perfectly, and any small items like bobby pins or hair ties go great in the zipper compartment to keep them easily accessible. Highly recommended if you do make-up on the go." —ASilver105

Get it from Amazon for $24.95+ (available in three sizes and 33 colors).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.