23 Travel Essentials Our Editors Swear By

Travel

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By Bellamy Richardson

Whether you’re taking a deserved vacation to the beach, jet setting across the world to visit a friend or traveling for work, the Buy Side staff has ideas for your packing checklist. And for the people in your life who love to travel, don’t miss our list of the best gifts for travelers.

$314 at Amazon

$370 Save $56

“I pride myself on being a light packer, and even though this suitcase is quite petite, I still had room for everything I needed for a 10-day trip to France, albeit with one round of laundry in my Airbnb. The upside of going with a 20-inch carry-on like this one is that it’s impressively lightweight and easy to maneuver through busy airports and cobblestone streets. The 360-degree spinner wheels are a godsend when I’m trying to make a flight or traverse through Paris without looking too much like a tourist.” —Madeline Diamond, staff editor

$11 at Amazon

$13 Save $2

$13 at Weleda

“I’ve brought this Weleda product on every trip I’ve taken in the past six years, ever since Katie Jane Hughes, who has since become a major TikTok beauty influencer, recommended it to me while doing my makeup for some photos. It is actually many products in one: You can use it to protect your face from dry plane air, on legs after shaving, on dry patches on knees or elbows, to smooth cuticles or to de-frizz the ends of your hair. Also unique: You can wear it under makeup for a smooth base, or blended with your makeup (I mix it with this CC cream for a natural look), or on top of your makeup for a dewy glow. I’d never heard of Weleda, the German maker of plant-based skin care, and while the name sounded funny and the price put me off at first, these tubes last ages making it a solid value.” —Leslie Yazel, editor, head of content

$148 at Cuyana

“In preparation for my last trip to Italy, I was searching for a durable crossbody bag that would look stylish on the streets of Rome and also be comfortable to carry during long days of walking and sightseeing. I picked up Cuyana’s Small Recycled Sling Bag in black and it was the perfect solution. Although it looks compact, it perfectly fits all my essentials for a day out (even a small Italian phrase book). Plus the recycled fabric is washable, meaning I didn’t worry about spills and scuffs.” —Alix Milne, marketing director

$30 at Eagle Creek

$40 at Amazon

“When I travel for business, I often find myself running around with my bags all day before I get a chance to unpack. To keep my dresses in great shape when I don’t get to hang them up for hours, I have been using Eagle Creek’s Pack It Reveal Garment Folder. It’s a very simple concept, giving you a flat plastic board to get a perfect department-store-worthy fold and then the folder secures around your clothes. I can poke around in my bag for whatever I need without worrying about my nicer items getting rumpled.” —Jessica Woodbury, director, commerce partnerships

$48 at Amazon

$55 Save $7

$55 at Twelve South

“I haven’t owned wired headphones in years, so every time I’d fly I found I had to give up using my AirPods for the in-flight wonky headphones they provide to watch movies. The Twelve South AirFly Pro Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter is a must have for flying if you don’t want to give up using your AirPods or wireless headphones to comfortably enjoy airline entertainment. Two pairs of AirPods or wireless headphones can also be used together, which makes it convenient if you’re traveling with someone!” —Irma Sahinovic, editorial and product operations coordinator

$200 at Amazon

$200 at Nordstrom

“Traveling with a very-young child presents challenges. For instance, if you book one hotel room for the family and your kid goes to sleep at 7 p.m., what do you do until grown-up bedtime? Unwilling to spend our vacation sitting in the dark, I invested in a SlumberPod. This popular contraption looks like a camping tent and fits snugly over a travel crib. Its breathable fabric blacks out light and has pockets for a fan, baby monitor or white-noise machine. I initially balked at the price and worried about airflow inside the tent, but my concerns eased as my husband and I chatted over a bottle of wine while our daughter slept soundly and safely a few feet away.” —Samantha Sharf, deputy money editor

$140 at Ebags

$200 Save $60

“My wife and I are stubborn—we refuse to check bags when we fly. We prefer to pack light and leave our hands free while we’re exploring. That’s why we both travel with Mother Lode Travel Backpacks from Ebags. The carry-on-size backpack has proven to be large enough for 10-plus days abroad with a two-segment main compartment and plenty of pockets, and we don’t have to worry about wheeling a rolling bag over rough streets or through crowded airports.” —Nick Guy, senior staff writer

$40 at Amazon

$40 at Rei

“I don’t go anywhere overnight without my toiletry bag—it’s the one thing I keep in my duffel bag so I never forget it. I’m a big fan of Nite Ize’s waterproof toiletry bags, which can store all my toiletries while keeping them safe and dry. I can easily take my toothbrush, toothpaste, contact lenses, moisturizer, retainers and more with me to the bathroom all at once, and the see-through front helps me see exactly what I put in there. Plus, this one features an easy-hang handle, and its waterproof quality allows you to take it to the beach or pool—don’t forget your sunscreen.” —Bellamy Richardson, contributing assistant editor

$315 at Away

$335 at Away

“When my partner and I went to Italy a few years ago, we visited three cities in 10 days. We got around with a combination of boats, trains and a short flight, and discovered the Away carry-ons are great for European travel. The small carry-on size is especially great for the smaller, city-hopper planes, while the bigger carry-on is great for longer hauls when you need to pack more. The detachable battery saved us many times. The wheels braved many walks on cobblestone roads. Away’s customer service was easy to work with when I needed the bag’s battery door replaced last year, which really made this a great investment. I’ve since recommended the bags to a few friends who were looking to upgrade to a set of luggage that they’d like to keep for a long time.” —Chao Li, head of product

$99+ at Priority Pass

“My Priority Pass membership (thank you, American Express) changed my travel behaviors. No longer do I wait until the last minute to arrive at the airport. I now arrive early and relax, eat, (have a drink or two), charge my devices and enjoy the perks of lounge access. The annual price of this membership is minimal compared with the benefits. The app makes the process seamless, all I have to do is open my account and I can walk right into any of their lounges. From Newark to Abu Dhabi, I know I can rely on my Priority Pass.” —Emily Schwartzberg, SEO manager

$549 at Briggs & Riley

$549 at Bloomingdale's

“My Briggs & Riley carry-on may look small, but it is mighty. This carry-on hardside suitcase has handy compartments and features like the zipper lock and USB port that make my travel feel extra luxe. I’ve become the quickest in the security line; I only have to pop open the front compartment to take out my electronics.” —Emily Schwartzberg, SEO manager

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“My absolute travel essential is my monzo card. Gone are the days of having to queue at travel agents to get cash in different currencies prior to trips—my monzo allows me to upload money with ease and pay in any currency with no fees. The app is extremely user-friendly and enables me to track my spending easily or send/request money from friends when splitting costs—you can even start tabs for maximum efficiency. Within the app there are ‘pots’ available to create in advance of your vacation to put money aside and save up for particular spending. My newest pot is labeled skydiving!” —Mia Clark, media coordinator

$125 at Saks Fifth Avenue

$125 at Net-a-Porter

“I travel frequently from Los Angeles to New York, and between the drying nature of airplane air and the jet lag, I’m always on the lookout for products that will help me feel and look refreshed. I love this Dr. Barbara Skin Care Set, which offers a great sampling of some of my favorite products to deliver hydration and reduce irritation. Another perk is they are all sized so that they are allowed in a carry-on.” —Emily Welsh, head of marketing and business development

$80 at Amazon

$90 Save $10

“When my kids were small I flew alone with them several times and it was hardest when they were toddlers and there was just this one easy-to-remove belt between them and running down the aisle. I was a little wary of this harness because of the price point, but it worked like a charm. You just pull it down over the back of the seat and run the bottom loops through the seat’s belt and now your toddler has a harness that makes them feel like they’re in their usual carseat—my kids settled right down. It turned out that these harnesses are so popular to rent out in neighborhood parenting groups that you can quickly make your money back if you want to!” —Jessica Woodbury, director, commerce partnerships

$280 at Ibex

$240 at Ibex

“I had to pack light for a spring family trip to London and Edinburgh, but our wide range of plans made this a challenge. Plus, we were staying with two sets of cool friends I hadn’t spent much time with in a decade, so I’ll admit I wanted to look put together. I was surprised that the MVP of my packing turned out to be this Ibex navy wool jacket. I had been testing it as a ski layer all winter, but for this trip I wore it on the plane layered under a puffer, on a hike layered over a tee, to a premier league match at Craven Cottage under a fitted, white denim jacket and out to a chic gastropub dinner with floral, flowy trousers. I’ve now purchased this bomber style sans hood because while it’s a higher price than my usual spend, the quality, soft wool means it never absorbs odors or gets musty on long trips.” —Leslie Yazel, editor, head of content

$76 at Cadence

“I love these leakproof travel capsules to keep toiletries like my moisturizer, serum and sunscreen at the ready in my cosmetic bag. I find that each capsule holds between five days to a week’s worth of product, depending on what it is, and they take up very little space in my luggage, keeping clutter from various bottles and tubes to a minimum (bonus: they’re magnetic and snap together). Plus, I appreciate the added security of knowing that I’ll never open up my bag to spilled products.” —Madeline Diamond, staff editor

$95 at Dagne Dover

“Whether I’m exploring far-off places or just taking a local adventure, this little gem keeps me hands-free. I love its non-flashy design and ample storage space. It’s made of soft water-resistant neoprene, which is awesome for keeping my stuff dry. Plus, there’s a handy interior card pocket and a key clip, so I never have to worry about misplacing my keys again! I can’t even begin to describe how much my shoulders appreciate this fanny pack. Whenever I want to give them a break from lugging around heavy bags, I simply put this on, and I’m good to go. I’ve hiked trails and wandered the bustling streets of Manhattan with this fanny pack, which made BuySide’s best fanny pack pick.” —Astrid Stawiarz, photo editor

$55 at Lesportsac

$135 at LESPORTSAC

“No matter how many different toiletry bags and travel pouches I have, I always go back to my LeSportsac cosmetic cases. The classic bags are made with ripstop nylon fabric so they’re extremely lightweight, machine washable and durable. They have a variety of sizes and styles so I’ll use one pouch for cables, one for carry-on cosmetics, etc. Plus, LeSportsac collaborates with different brands and designers so they are always coming out with new and fun patterns. Their weekenders are also great if you know you’ll be shopping on your trip. Sometimes I will throw a Deluxe Large Weekender in my suitcase that I can fill with souvenirs on my way back. It doesn’t weigh much or take up a lot of space in your carry-on.” —Brittany Nguyen, marketing and business development manager

$17 at Amazon

$30 Save $13

$28 at Bookshop

$30 Save $2

“If I stare at a screen too long, my eyes glaze over. So the true travel essential for me is a good book. Top of my reading list this summer: David Grann’s ‘The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder.’ This nonfiction potboiler—an ultimate ‘dad book’— offers plenty of intrigue to defeat the boredom of a departure terminal. Just hope that your flight turns out better than this crew’s ill-fated voyage to Tierra del Feugo.” —Ian Salisbury, money editor

$45 at Amazon

$46 Save $1

“It’s a problem I’ve run into many times—we are on vacation and want to go to the nearby beach or lake or make a picnic and eat outside, but we are staying at a hotel and don’t have a cooler to bring to keep our drinks and food nice and cold. No one wants to sit on a beach with lukewarm beverages! Enter the Wise Owl backpack cooler. I bought this for picnics in the park and kayak excursions around New York, but have started traveling with it on tropical and other outdoorsy vacations. It is compact for packing in a suitcase, the roll-to-close feature means the size is adjustable, it has backpack straps for easy transport, and really keeps everything nice and cool!” —Caroline Wernecke, senior marketing manager

$65 at DSW

$65 at Nordstrom

$55 at Teva

$55 at Backcountry

“Teva’s Midform Universal sandals are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever tried, particularly in the hot summer months. On my last sightseeing trip I was amazed at how long I was able to walk in these sandals before my feet got tired. The midform sole is the ideal height, easy to walk in, but with just enough of a platform to give them a stylish lift. I opted for the black/white Black/Bright White combo, but the sandals also come in a range of fun contrasting colors.” —Alix Milne, marketing director