9 Essential Travel Items We Love

Traveling well is a fine art, and choosing the best travel essentials means the difference between travel master and total disaster. As a die-hard digital nomad with 29 countries under my belt, I’m your go-to girl when it comes to packing wisdom. I’ve suffered the trials and errors of curating the perfect pro-level travel kit, so you don’t have to. Ditch packing things “just in case” — yep, I’m looking at that stack of books you’re eyeing up; just get yourself an e-reader and be done with it. But this isn’t about what not to bring. Let’s get into the ultimate trip essentials to elevate your journey. Whether you’re flying, driving, or train-hopping, you should high-tail these picks to the apex of your packing list pronto.

_{Prices are accurate as of October 8, 2024. Subject to change.}

NapFun Neck Pillow

The most unsung of all travel heroes? The humble neck pillow. Pre-pillow days, I’d emerge from a flight or bus ride with a cricked neck — a big fat F for fail, and a shaky start to my trip. The NapFun pillow is simple and well-made without a bunch of poor-quality accessories thrown in to bump up the price. With 360-degree support, plush memory foam, and an adjustable lock, you’ll find the sweet spot for your in-flight snooze before you can say “prepare for take-off.” Plus you can remove the cover for a good wash when it starts to smell a little, um, well-traveled. I love that it comes with a cute pack-away bag, too. Bye-bye bulk, hello convenience.

Apple AirTag

Every (Apple-inclined) traveler needs a set of AirTags. Fact. After my passport, these are item number two on my packing list. AirTags allow you to track the location of, well, pretty much anything. I pop one in my luggage (no more separation anxiety at the bag drop), one in my purse, and one on my car keys — for keys, you’ll need to add a case. Set-up is super simple: connect to the Find My app to keep a close eye on the whereabouts of your precious possessions. 

Hiluckey Solar Power Bank

My boyfriend gifted me this solar-powered power bank when I set off on the Camino de Santiago, and it’s been on my travel checklist ever since. It juices up your iPhone’s battery to 50% in just 30 minutes, and with a triple-port design (two USB-C and one USB-A), you can have a few devices resurrecting from digital death simultaneously. Expect six or seven full charges for your phone or three for your tablet. The pièce de résistance? The solar panels. When your power bank’s battery dips into the danger zone, just leave it in direct sunlight for an au-natural recharge. It errs on the heavy-duty side, but those extra grams mean a more robust gadget.

Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist Toner

Stuffy airports and overpowering car AC take their toll on your skin while traveling and it’s not pretty. But on the bright side, the Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist Toner has your back, allowing you to spritz some vitality and hydration back into your skin. Packed with rose, pea, and clove extract, this formula collabs with Mother Nature to plump and firm your skin whenever you need a pick-me-up. Those public restroom mirrors needn’t be such a scary place, after all.

e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi-Stick

The Monochromatic Multi-Stick by e.l.f. is no less than miraculous for adding a flush of color to your skin after a long travel stint. It’s super creamy and blendable, while the added shea butter and vitamin E make for fresh-faced radiance. Use it on your lips, cheeks, or eyes for an instant glow-up, whether you’re mid-flight or on the highway. And the icing on the cake? It’s solid, so it won’t eat into your cabin-bag liquid allowance.

Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs

A small accessory with mighty impact, the Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs create a silent buffer between you and unavoidable travel commotion. Whether you’re drowning out your road trip buddy’s questionable radio choices or the whirrs and burrs of an airplane engine, these earplugs are made for the job. They come with different ear tip sizes, so you can find the perfect fit, too.

Alaska Bear Silk Eye Mask

Catching the red-eye needn’t result in actual red eyes. Well, not with your new secret weapon: the Alaska Bear Organic Silk Eye Mask. As paramount to your travel comfort as your neck pillow and earplugs, this sumptuous eye mask ensures you can drift into sound sleep oblivious to any clamor around you. Designed with 100% Mulberry silk, this light-blocking eye mask infuses a little luxury (and a lot of peace) into your travels without a hefty price tag.

Boogie Antibacterial Hand Wipes

This one’s about as essential as it gets. Stay hygienic on your travels with a pack of Boogie hand wipes. These come in handy mini-packs of 20, so you’ll barely notice them tucked in your bag. They’re antibacterial and totally safe for your skin — plus, you can give your seat, tray, armrests, or steering wheel a squeaky-clean wipe-down, too. Peace of mind for germaphobes? Check.

Kindle Paperwhite

If you haven’t yet switched to an e-reader, the Paperwhite is about to become your favorite travel companion. Sure, the smell of a new book is great, but so is not breaking your back carrying an entire library in your bag. There are several Kindle models currently available, but the Paperwhite is the best. You’ll get 10 weeks of battery life, a glare-free display, and 16 gigabytes of storage for all your favorite titles. So, you can have your library, after all.

Feature Image Credit: Pixel-Shot/ Shutterstock