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Mar 29, 2024

39 Things Less Than $25 To Make Traveling Easy

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

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.

I bet Kim K wish she knew about the Ring Thing before heading to the Maldives.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "Just returned from the EU and UK and this proved out to be a hit. Being able to plug US items in and charge various travel items using USB and C in several countries with different plugs in one unit just worked perfectly and saved carry lots of different style plugs. I put into my carry-on with no security issues and as returning to the US was happy I did — could charge several items at once in the US airport (as well as UK and EU) upon arrival while waiting for the next flight. A great travel addition." —LJJJ

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

Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Promising review: "I’ve always been kind of sick. I throw up on long car rides, I can’t read in the car, I get horrible migraines 24/7, etc. Recently I changed medications and because of that, my migraines came back with a vengeance. Thinking there was nothing I could do I kind of gave up, until, I was looking at BuzzFeed and saw this in their recommended. I thought it could help with any car sickness that I would get but man I was not giving these enough credit! Since I have bought them I wear them ALL. THE. TIME. I wear them in and out of the car, to bed, and just around the house. I no longer feel nauseous and my migraines are almost non existent. Whoever invented these are a freaking god! I don’t know think I could ever live without these! BUY THESE!! They're so worth it." —JohnDz

Get a pair from Amazon for $8.53.

Ring Thing Designs is a California-based Etsy shop that specializes in ring storage, and donates a portion of each sale to anti-human trafficking nonprofits.

Promising review: "Great concept, execution, and delivery!! I bought five for various daughters and daughters-in-law for their beautiful rings when they exercise or travel. So convenient and helpful in safeguarding their precious items...They LOVE! Thank you so much for making such a wonderful product at a reasonable price and quick delivery!" —Celia Flynn

Get it from Ring Thing Designs on Etsy for $19.95 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I left my fluoride toothpaste tube at home and used these tablets instead. No more worries about TSA looking in my bags! Clean, fresh taste. Works well with my electric toothbrush. Most of the time I used one tablet, but if I wanted to brush longer (after a spicy or smelly meal), I'd use two tablets. I like that these tablets dissolve well and have no aftertaste. Will buy again!" —javamama

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two flavors).

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.

Promising review: "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 dollars 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 $10.99 (available in six colors, as well as a two-pack).

Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products.

Promising review: "These covered various sizes of products — hair care, body wash, etc. Nothing leaked out of these whatsoever, even after a lid popped open during a flight. These prevented it from leaking out on the other contents of my luggage. Easy to use. Not flimsy. Very flexible. LOVE THESE!" —TAG

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in an eight-pack).

Promising review: "I’ve had these for about a year and I’ve used them on a number of trips. They are excellent for travel. The inside does come out so be careful with overloading. Was excellent for my family of six; we used one for kids' medicine and one for adults." —Matthew J. Norrid

Get a set of three from Amazon for $8.99.

Promising review: "This is a terrific cosmetic travel bag. It’s very compact but holds a lot. I’ve loved the hanging stying and my old one was falling apart. This is an even better — more sections and I like how the hanger tucks in and flaps that cover the compartments. Good design. The medium size is substantial for packing enough for a two or three-week trip." —Beverly Houwing

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and 12 colors).

Promising review: "Had high hopes for these and was not disappointed! We travel by air a lot and anything that takes the size of a full container is fantastic. Rather than taking an entire bottle of cologne or perfume, these slip into my wife’s purse or even a pocket or backpack. Easy to use, worked on every bottle we tried so hopefully the same for you. Highly recommended!" —Cosmicpapa

Get a set of four from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four color combinations).

Promising review: "When I travel, I try my best to always use a carry-on. I always panic or end up having to take clothes out because they don't always fit. On this trip, I carried a 20" roller and I used the TWO medium sized cubes and fit: four pairs of leggings, one pair of jeans, two pairs of shorts, two T-shirt dresses, two long dresses, five shirts, six pairs of undies, two bras. I even had enough room for my toiletries bag (which I normally have to carry in my backpack) AND my hair straightener and curling wand!!" —Lanie

Get a set of six from Amazon for $24.99 (available in eight colors)

Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, I dropped and spilled my drink everywhere when it was my turn to check my passport and ticket. It was a nightmare! This time, I bought this cup holder to do me a favor! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." —Philip

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in 28 styles).

Read more about aromatherapy and stress and tension at Johns Hopkins.

Promising review: "This stuff is my go-to fix when I feel a migraine coming on. I suffer from sinus headaches and migraines usually once or twice a week. This product I put on each temple, under my nose and on my wrists when I feel the pressure starting and it cuts the pain to a minimum. It seems to stop the worst pain before it has a chance to start. Thank you for a great product! I will buy again and again!" —Brenton1985

Read BuzzFeed's Migrastil Migraine Stick review for more deets!

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

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 $17.59.

Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multileg, ultra-long-haul trip and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes, and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer. At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well-built, and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time. Thus far it still feels solid and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" —Earendil

Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in three colors and two pack sizes).

Read more about compression socks and long flights at Cleveland Clinic.

Promising review: "With three weeks of international travel coming up, I purchased these to combat swelling in my feet during the flights. I had noticed swelling after three-hour domestic flights, so I was worried about what almost 30,000 miles would do! I wore these on every leg of the trip and never noticed any swelling — even after the 10- to 15-hour flights. They are very comfortable, too!" —J. Beaty

And check out our Physix Gear Sport compression socks deep dive for more info!

Get them from Amazon for $18.33+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 13 styles).

Psst...even flight attendants love this luggage strap!

Promising review: "I love this little gadget. I used it to attach my jacket and computer bag to my luggage on an extended business trip. It made my airport walks so much easier. Now that I'm back home, I've been using it daily to attach my jacket or cardigan to my work bag or purse." —Michele

Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in six colors, as well as packs of two).

It's made by Henney's Boutique, a small biz based in LA specializing in handy leather goods.

Promising review: "I love this! I bought one for myself, then one for my husband, then I've been sending the link to everyone who asks me where I got it... They're the best for keeping both your passport and your vaccine card safe for travel." —Paige Devlin

Get it from Henney's Boutique on Etsy for $11+ (available in six colors and with extra slots).

The wallet 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.

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 $13.99+ (available in 36 colors).

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 2–3 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 feeling in my sinus. NO PAIN. NO TEARS." —K. Tombrella

Get a pack with three pairs from Amazon for $18.49+ (also available in packs of five or 10 pairs).

The pad has 60 sheets, so it'll last a long time — even for frequent fliers.

Promising review: "A must if you travel a lot. An easy way to know you have everything you need for a trip! Great inexpensive gift for a traveler." —Keitha M.

Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in three colors).

This works on mosquitoes, bees, wasps, biting flies, sea lice (sea lice?!), and more!

Promising review: "I bought this because I saw it on TikTok, and I have been having issues with mosquito bites. Used it a few time to relieve itchiness, and I am convinced it works! I have been recommending it to my family and friends. Read the directions and follow them carefully. Don't use this on your face or neck, or other sensitive areas. Don't do a lot of suction, just a little bit. And do it a few times if needed. Great invention!" —Joe

Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (also available in seven colors and in packs of two or three).

Promising review: "I purchased this for a trip to Cuba, where I needed to carry all of the money I needed for that week in cash. Although I am not typically worried/normally cautious when traveling, the idea of carrying that much cash on me made me nervous. Traditional money belts/fanny packs just didn't seem like a fit for me. I was worried they would become uncomfortable in the hot sun. This security belt was perfect. It allowed us to carry most of the money for the trip hidden within the belt and carry in my purse the money I needed for that day. It also worked like a breeze with no issues getting through security. I'm not sure how much I'll use this in the future, but it was perfect for our needs for a trip to Cuba." —fendi

Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available for pant sizes 20"–50" and in seven colors).

Promising review: "This was a LIFESAVER while traveling. I kept my cards and cash in it and had no stress about thieves lifting my essentials while traveling heavily pickpocketed cities. I loved it so much, I actually continued to use it when I got home instead of carrying a purse! The top flap did start to unravel after about six months — but this was also after six months of everyday use." —Krista Hinz

Get it from Amazon for $18.94 (available in pink and black).

Psst: It comes in recyclable/compostable packaging, making it more eco-friendly than plastic bottles!

Promising review: "I was definitely skeptical about a bar shampoo and conditioner, but I travel a lot and really wanted to cut down the use of plastic products as much as possible. I honestly am in love! I got the Heali Kiwi shampoo bar and the Wonderbar conditioner, as well as one of their eco-friendly bamboo and sugarcane storage containers, and my very long, fine, oily hair, which I do have to wash daily, looks and feels great. I recommend anyone on the fence to definitely give it a try! It works! So wonderful for travel, too!" —M.A.

Get it from Amazon for $15 (available in 11 scents, as well as packs of two).

BuzzFeed Shopping's Jasmin Sandal loves this thing: "I didn't realize I'd ever use a makeup product in my 20s that had the ability to transport me back to something I used in sixth grade, but here we are; and here I am using a multitool pen...for my face. I gotta say, I love the concept of the Pen Pal from Alleyoop! After using all of the functions (eyeliner, highlighter, lip liner, eyebrow pencil) and as someone who LOVES makeup but was applying as little as humanly possible during lockdown, I think it’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their routine. It's ideal to use for touch-ups come the end of the work day, or a subtle, minimalist way to apply makeup in the a.m. The brow pencil is particularly soft and pigmented, and filled in my eyebrows quickly. I just adore the ease of application of each product, and appreciate the universal, does-it-all-for-you concept. Plus, it saves me so much room in my already overflowing makeup bag!"

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE the Pen Pal, especially for travel. It's so nice to have a tool for brows, highlighter, bronzing, eyeliner, and lip liner all in one. It's a convenient way to carry everything and fits all in one pack. Sometimes you have to warm up the liner a little bit on your skin but it's so smooth and pigmented." —theshirshow

Get it from Amazon for for $25 (available in three shades).

It's got two sides — one that can wipe off all your makeup with water and a light scrubbing, and another that exfoliates your skin. And each one lasts for up to five years!

Promising review: "This did exactly what it claims to do. I use some warm water on a little part and my whole makeup comes off, even mascara! I used to always buy makeup wipes and this has saved me so much money. I just throw it in with the laundry and it’s perfect. I’ve been using it for over six months now and it hasn’t failed me at all, it’s worth the money!!" —Sharmin Rahman

Get it from Amazon for $19+ (available in 15 styles).

Promising review: "This came SO in handy during my vacation to Europe! I was making lots of different stops to places with different types of weather. With these laundry soap sheets I was able to wash my clothes in the sink — letting me pack just the right amount of clothes for all the different places I went." —Katie Fujarski

Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $12.51.

BuzzFeed Shopping's Emma Lord says: "I swear by this to the point where if I can't find it in the morning on a summer run, I just won't go out, LOLOL. My boobs chafe SO BADLY under my sports bra bands, no matter what kind I'm wearing, but putting on a tiny bit of this before I leave works like a charm. Absolutely no more friction and no more going 'OW OW OW' in the shower because my literal boob wounds were stinging."

Promising review: "I used this stuff on the Appalachian trail and it works amazing. Like marble on marble and instant relief. A must-have for any trail hiker." —Draco

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes, as well as packs of two).

Promising review: "Saw this product in a TikTok review and thought to give it a go. I definitely say it causes new shoes to be less painful however if you apply a lot it can be a little transferable on shoes. Overall though I think this product is definitely worth it and it does make a difference with new shoe wear!" —Mich Elle

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

It works on up to 1,000 gallons of water before it needs to be replaced, and for each one purchased, a child in need receives safe drinking water for an entire school year. Note: If you’re immunocompromised, be sure to read all the package instructions to make sure it’s safe for you.

Promising review: "I bought this item for a hiking/camping trip in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and did it work amazing! It is an advantage to carry this around with you instead of bottles of water or a hydration pack. I was not afraid at one second to stick this into a random creek we came across and start to drink. The initial drink was a little tough. (Just need to get the water through the filter) But I would rather it be like that, so I know that the filter is doing its job. After that, the rest of the sips were easy. Make sure you clean this according to the instructions after each use. Do not hesitate to purchase this product and use it in a water source when you are thirsty." —Gadde15

Get it from Amazon for $16.59+ (available in three colors, as well as packs of two, three, and five).

Promising review: "I love this bag for travel. It's the perfect size. Unlike so many travel laundry bags, this one is the perfect size for clothes and undies. So many are too small, like a lingerie bag, or too big, like a bag to take to the laundromat. This is cute and folds up into itself." —N. Newman

Get it from Amazon for $16.

Read more about electrolytes and hydration at Cleveland Clinic.

Promising review: "Never travel without them! These tablets taste good (I like lemonade) and do the trick when you're flying. Usually when I travel I feel crummy no matter how much water I drink on the plane. I toss these into my water either once or twice throughout the day and I have more energy after I've landed. They also break easily, so I can put them into any water bottle." —Rachel Johnson

"I take these when I’m having a girls' night out and we drink it before we start drinking and after. Haven’t had a hangover since!" —JD

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three flavors and multiple sizes).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.