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27 Products That’ll Make You Feel Like A Smarter Traveler, Because They’re Just Really Good
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. You’re gonna feel like a straight-up genius for bringing a Guinness World Record-winning stroller. I am a contributor and former editor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping since 2017, with a focus on beauty, travel, and practical products, and in addition to writing, am in the process of getting my master’s in speech-language pathology. My colleague Elizabeth Lilly travels A LOT. Here's what she has to say about the perks of signing up for this membership: "I put off getting TSA PreCheck and even Global Entry for YEARS despite flying ~10x a year because I'm a person who likes to get to the airport early and has getting through security down to an efficient routine. However, my breaking point was July 2021, when I had to wait soooo long at the airport when coming back to the country from Croatia (I had Mobile Passport at the time, but the machines were broken, so I had to wait in line with everyone else). I went to Italy about a month later after signing up for Global Entry, and coming back to the country was a breeze. I just had to let a machine take my picture, print out a receipt with said picture, and then place it in a nearby TSA agent's open palm. Then, onto baggage claim! I've since used the Global Entry portion six times and the TSA PreCheck about a dozen times since getting it. So I feel as if I've already gotten my money's worth in less than two years." Apply with the Department of Homeland Security for $120. Once you're approved, you have to do an in-person interview, and if approved on the spot, you can have your TSA PreCheck and Global Entry privileges available immediately. Elizabeth is also a big fan of Clear! Here's what she has to say about it: "I recently finally gave in to getting Clear after enjoying Global Entry and TSA PreCheck for 2.5 years. The hook was...the (pricey) annual fee is covered by my American Express Platinum every year! You can do most of the work online for an application and just spend a few extra minutes at a Clear kiosk in an airport terminal before you go through the security line. So the application is more convenient than Global Entry (no need to go in for an official interview) and gets you through the security line much faster than TSA PreCheck. I travel about 10x a year and have always been put off signing up for Clear because of the annual fee. Though, I (and so should you) take advantage of every single credit card membership benefit that I possibly can, so that was the clincher for me. Is it worth it if you only fly a few times a year? Unlikely. And if your main airport doesn't have the kiosks, it's even less worth the money. But if your credit card or someone else (like, ahem, your job that makes you travel) will foot the bill, go for it!" Sign up for $209/year from Clear or visit American Express to learn more about credit card rewards, including the paid annual fee for Clear through AmEx Platinum. Sam: These headphones had been on my wish list for AGES, and Bose was kind enough to send them to me recently, and they're even better than I imagined they'd be. I have tried MANY earbuds/headphones over the years — classic AirPods, Tozo headphones, Beats headphones, etc. The fit is just perfect — snug enough that they don't feel too big, without being too tight. They're SO COMFY! The sound quality on these is chef's kiss!!! When I tell you that there are lyrics in songs I've known for years that I'm realizing I was singing wrong because I hear them more clearly with these headphones, I'm not kidding (I'm too lazy to look up lyrics sometimes, sorry). And the noise cancellation? Let me just say, as a girl with sensory issues, these truly block out every sound. I am veryyyy noise sensitive, and even the sound of someone breathing near me when I'm feeling irritable and need to concentrate on something is enough to make me lose my focus. These headphones truly keep me ~in my zone~ and I am very grateful for that. 🙌 Promising review: "I used to be an AirPods guy, but after getting my hands (and ears) on these Bose QuietComfort wireless noise-canceling headphones, there’s no going back. I travel a lot for work, and these things are an absolute game changer. The noise cancellation is next-level, making flights and noisy cafes feel like peaceful retreats. They’re super sleek, incredibly comfortable, and the sound quality is unreal. Plus, I feel cool wearing them — at least in my mind, I do. If you’re still rocking in-ear headphones, do yourself a favor and upgrade to these. Highly recommend!" —Grumpy Veteran Get them from Amazon for $229+ (available in 11 colors). Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag. Promising review: "Game changer for travel! We were gone for two weeks, and I was able to wash all the clothes I had packed! Helped with using only a carry-on for the trip and kept my clothes fresh and clean! So easy to use and smelled nice! Will never travel without them again!" —Kristy The charger can be used in Mexico, Canada, the UK, the UAE, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and countries in Europe, Asia, and South America. Promising review: "LOVE this adapter! I travel from time to time internationally and have always used just the 'standard' adapters found in airports. Could not pass up the opportunity to purchase this one after reading the reviews. Exceeded my expectations of what it was capable of. I used it on a recent trip to Germany, and it handled everything needed — laptop, cellphone (USB ports are so very welcome), alarm clock, dryer, etc. Did not miss a beat on the power provided. And it is also attractive looking ;-) Thank you for making such a great, dependable product!" —Monkey Fun fact: This stroller was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2014 for the most compact stroller! It weighs 9.5 pounds and has a weight limit of 55 pounds. Promising review: "This is 100% the most crucial item that we took on our three-week trip to Europe with our 2-year-old. The wheels lock to maneuver uneven surfaces, and it’s super lightweight. Buy a backpack-style bag for it. You can also buy a cup holder attachment. Being able to put it in the overhead compartment on the plane was a game changer. No more waiting at the gate for a checked stroller or, worse, having it sent with your luggage. Takes just a little practice folding up, and sometimes a little elbow grease, but put your weight into it, and you’ll get it." —Kesley Get it from Amazon for $199.99+ (available in three styles and two colors). BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly gives this kit her stamp of approval! "I own and love this set! ... I've used this set on more than five trips, and for trips when I don't require body wash or shampoo (like to visit my parents), I use the extra room in the bag to shove in all my beauty products and daily contacts. Plus! It comes with labels that stay on the containers really well despite my thoroughly washing these containers between trips. I bought this set in spring 2019 and have, admittedly, lost a container or two. But the ones that I've held on to over dozens of trips have all held up well!" Promising review: "I used this recently on a trip to Europe. They worked great, had no leaks, and got through security in my carry-on just fine. I’m glad to have these for future trips." —Rachel Get it from Amazon for $9.90+ (available in seven variations). Promising review: "I will never travel again without these — crystal clear, so going through security is a breeze. Never expected these to hold up — at this price, I thought one and done...nope, amazingly durable! Now I want a bunch to organize all my cosmetics, creams, and hair products, as they are still crystal clear after many uses. A steal of a deal!" —Ellen Higgins Get a pack of three from Amazon for $10.19+ (available in 17 colors). You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements. My colleague Elizabeth Lilly tested this luggage scale out when packing for a trip to Iceland — check out her demo of how it works on TikTok! Promising review: "We used this on a six-flight trip across Europe and it made it easy to know that we repacked our bags according to the various weight limits. Some bags had a 10-kg limit, and some had a 50-lb limit, so it was convenient to switch back and forth between units (even though dividing by 2.2 isn't exactly rocket science)." —Zac Get it from Amazon for $9.89+ (available in three colors and a two-pack). It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, a travel pouch, a keychain holder, a quick-start guide, and a manual. My colleague Chelsea Stuart used it on a European trip — check out her Twelve South AirFly Pro review. Twelve South is a small business that has been creating innovative tech accessories since 2009. Promising review: "I loved being able to move around in my seat, eat, and stretch, and not get bothered by a cord from my Bluetooth headphones to the video screen on the airplane. It's a game changer for sure. The battery lasted from Accra, Ghana, to Texas, US — 18+ hours in the air! Buying a second one for my son for our next flight!" —Stephanie Schmidt Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in four styles and two colors). Promising review: "I am officially sold on packing cubes!! These things are amazing! I can't believe I've been packing without them my whole life. The mesh lining allows you to peek inside, and I was able to pack all my clothes, shoes, and toiletries for a 10-day trip to Europe (full contents listed below). I packed them as I normally would first, and then packed them in the packing cubes. There was SO much more room in my luggage after packing everything in the cubes! Items I fit in the cubes and bag include 2 jackets, 1 jean vest, 4 pants/capris, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 romper, 4 dresses, 1 maxi skirt, 7 tank tops, 4 shirts, 3 camisoles, 3 pajama sets, 15 undies, 6 pairs of socks, and 4 pairs of shoes. But why are you still reading?? Go buy these cubes!" —Tiffany Get a set of five from Amazon for $26.99 (available in 15 colors). Plus, it has a zipper compartment at the bottom, where you can put all your dirty clothes. Promising review: "I used these while traveling around Europe with four children and then later on a cruise. They were super helpful in both cases." —Tucker Sw Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in two sizes and five 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 definitely buy 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 $15.99+ (available in nine colors and patterns). JetBag is a small business specializing in creating bags to protect your wine and your stuff. It's designed with absorbent padding on the inside, so in the event that the bottle breaks, it won't get everywhere in your luggage. Promising review: "Bought to bring wine from France home from vacation. We bought three bottles (one of which was champagne). All three made it on the Eurostar and two flights in perfect condition." —Katie Get a set of three from Amazon for $14.99. Tube is a small business that specializes in uniquely designed storage travel pillows. Promising review: "I bought this looking to both save space and gain comfort for those long airplane rides. I was pleasantly surprised that they worked so well and fit so much into them while not sacrificing baggage space. I could fit at least a full day's worth of clothes in it. Also works well if you have one of those backpacks with the attachment clip and loop system, as you can use this as a strap to avoid purchasing another carry-on bag from airlines." —Victor Tolentino The wallet has a passport pocket, a 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. Promising review: "Buy it now! I went to Europe and visited five countries, and I was able to keep all my tickets/boarding passes here, along with important items like my passport, credit card, and even my phone! Loved it!" —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 21 colors). Promising review: "I purchased this for my trip to Europe as I sleep with white noise every night. The Rohm scores extra points for volume control, and it can get quite loud. It’s also lightweight and charges easily with a USB." —Jessie W. Get a pack of two from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two styles). Promising review: "If you travel a lot, buy this!! Even if you don't travel, this phone holder would be useful. My hubby and I fly fairly often, and I'm always tired of holding my phone or figuring out how to set it up during plane rides. This is a game changer for flights. Makes it so easy and convenient to watch movies or shows during trips. A few people even asked me where I got it from. Definitely recommend!" —Alex Norman Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in seven colors and packs of two). Promising review: "This works out so well for me. I’m a flight attendant, and I’ve had an infinite number of day trips over the summer. I got tired of carrying around my regular TravelPro spinner, so I finally ordered this. SOOOOO MUCH BETTER FOR ME. It’s light, has enough pockets, and can easily fit under a seat if needed. The ONLY picky thing I can think of is how loud it sounds going across rough concrete. The wheels aren’t as silent as others, but that won’t stop me from buying another in the future." —Kayla T. Get it from Amazon for $55.61+ (available in four colors). Promising review: "I got this for a friend after buying one for myself! I travel frequently and always struggle to organize my jewelry so it won't be in a tangled mess once I reach my destination. This organizer accomplishes that as well as helps me to easily see what I brought with me!" —Lauren Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and six colors and patterns). Promising review: "This footrest pillow is essential for those who travel very long distances. It is not only uncomfortable but unhealthy to leave feet dangling down for many hours or days at a time while traveling. I purchased this pillow to situate between my airplane seat and the seat in front of mine. It is wonderful to be able to prop my feet up, with bent knees, while watching movies or sleeping. I regularly fly the same route that is about 30 hours (including layovers), and when I am unable to get a seat upfront, this footrest pillow keeps me more comfortable at the back of the plane." —Yvonne N Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in four colors). Promising review: "I travel a fair amount and am an admitted tech gadget enthusiast 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 $16.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors). 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 $5.97 (available in three color combos). Promising review: "Definitely my new favorite purchase to make flying easier. Very easy to slip over the tray table, with lots of pockets to keep things organized and at your fingertips. Material is stretchy but not thin, folds up very small, and can be stored in your backpack, purse, or briefcase without taking up a lot of space!! Great product to keep things handy mid-flight, and you don't have to use that icky seat back pocket anymore!!" —Shirley Kinyon Check out BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord’s Airplane Pockets review for more deets! 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 a pair from Amazon for $7.89 (also available in multipacks). 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. Reviewers say it's ideal for a suitcase that can roll on four wheels! If you have a suitcase that tilts while rolling, just be careful if the drinks are open at the top. Promising review: "We travel by air a lot, and this is great for your carry-on luggage when you have no hands. We always get a drink at the airport, so this helps a lot." —Rhonda Bolash Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 15 colors, patterns, and styles). * Travel Products That’ll Make Your Vacation Companions Say, “Damn, I Should’ve Brought That” * If You And The Kids Are Going To Take A Long Car Ride, These 27 Finds Will Keep Them Busy In The Backseat * Pieces That’ll Turn Your Vacation Into A Fashion Show * Travel Light With These 43 Carry-On Packing Tips Plus, travel shoes and finds from Walmart. BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.