10 Must-Haves for Traveling | Best Useful Travel Items

Going on a trip can be either enjoyable or unbearable, but this all depends on how well-prepared we are for it. Even simple car rides with babies and toddlers can become a fun experience with the right equipment.

That’s why we at Bright Side did the research for you, and we found on Amazon the best traveling essentials for you and your whole family.

1. Pillow strap for comfortable napping while you travel by any vehicle.

Promising review:

• It is such a comfortable position for traveling as it doesn’t allow your head to drop — Just used this for my latest travel, on a flight from London to Cape Town. I slept really well. It is such a comfortable position as it doesn’t allow your head to drop forward. Seemed expensive, but if I can fly economy instead of Premium economy/business, it’s worth my weight in gold! — Amazon Customer

Buy it on Amazon here

2. Footrest accessory for comfortable long travels

Promising reviews:

• The best thing for short people — It’s so awkward sitting in seats when you can’t reach the floor or lean back in, but this product helps. I use it for travel and makes the journey more pleasant. Folds back up. — Munyi
• Made the flight more bearable — Used this on an international flight to Mexico, and for the first time ever I didn’t have restless or achy legs. It did slip down a little once when I first set it up, but it will definitely be in my hand luggage every time now. — Laura Emmott

Buy it on Amazon here

3. Pocket-sized, foldable blanket, perfect for any outdoor activity and travel

Promising review:

• One of the handiest & portable items on Amazon — It can comfortably seat 2 people, maybe a little cramped for more than that. I love the corner pockets for placing sand/stones to weight down the edges, such a simple yet genius idea... A lightweight blanket that will protect you from the damp ground also makes an ideal cover when the heavens unexpectedly open.
  I love that it folds so small and is so portable. Perhaps the design could have stitching along the blanket to help it fold more neatly back into place to assist with getting the blanket back in the bag after use. This is great for our walks down to the beach, but I will also give it to my son for when he goes to music festivals. — Rebecca Woodroofe

Buy it on Amazon here

4. Mess-free and practical urinal for women, perfect solution for traveling

Promising reviews:

• Practice makes perfect — This is a godsend. Long car journeys and weak bladders don’t mix. Parking in a quiet layby, open back and front passenger doors, sit in the passenger seat facing out and use as instructed. However, I would practice at home using a shower seat or the edge of the bath to sit on. As I said, practice makes perfect. Oh, keep an empty juice bottle and anti-bac wipes in the boot. — Annie Brown
• One of the most effective and reasonably discreet items — This keeps its shape while you use it and is bigger than cheaper ones. I’m very pleased with it, and so are the other people I bought them for. None of us wants to submit a photograph! — Joanna Furneaux

Buy it on Amazon here

5. Adjustable and portable highchair for toddlers that can fit in your handbag, great for travel

Promising reviews:

• Just perfect — We purchased two for when our twin 16-month-old granddaughters visit. The harness is sturdy, well manufactured, and attractive. Our dining room chairs are a modern bucket shape, but the product is flexible enough to fit and still be secured to the chair by the two straps. The girls love them. — Chris H
• One of the best things for vacations — The product is nice and lightweight and won’t take up much space in luggage or handbag. Great for travel and eating out or visiting family for dinner. Easy to fix to chairs and wash in machine or by hand.
  The fabric feels soft and strong, with secure straps, and it’s well sewn. Should last through toddler time. Would make a great baby gift. It’s different and very handy. Good value for your money. Might order another one in red color to keep in the car boot just in case when we travel. — Mairead

Buy it on Amazon here

6. Easy-to-carry air purifier and essential oil diffuser that will make your trip more bearable.

Promising reviews:

• Love it — It took a while to get mine going. I remembered a trick from when I would use steam hair rollers :) just added the tiniest bit of salt to the water. Now that it works, I absolutely love it! Quiet, compact, and perfect for my shared office space. — A. Trowhill
• Great and compact — Exactly as described. Works great. I have been using it for 6 months now with absolutely no problems. — Mama Bear

Buy it on Amazon here

7. Gel that prevents painful friction while walking and moving around

Promising review:

• This product is a lifesaver for people who love to travel. I go backpacking to sunny destinations when I can and as a woman with no thigh gap, treks anywhere, hot can soon become extremely painful and impossible to continue on when my inner thighs start rubbing and blistering.
  To give context, I’m a size 12. I use this once a day after the morning wash, and I’m good for the rest of the day, even around sweating. You would need to reapply if you’re getting in and out of pools or the sea, well I needed to anyway. Great product, wouldn’t travel somewhere sunny without it! — emma smith

Buy it on Amazon here

8. Bags for your shoes to save space in your luggage.

Promising reviews:

• Fantastic bags for travel — These 3 bags are fantastic, and cannot rate them highly enough. In three different sizes, the top folds over with Velcro to further secure. Used them on holiday to hold my mobile phone, and t-shirts at the beach. One of the best buys I’ve ever had. — Auntie Awee
• A must-have — I brought these space-saving bags for my suitcase when I travel, and they were great. Really handy. — Amazon Customer

Buy it on Amazon here

9. Great travel snuggle blanket to move your baby without waking them.

Promising reviews:

• You will need this — I brought this as a present when my daughter was a month old. It was the best present ever. Basically, you can move a sleeping baby without waking them, whether they have fallen asleep in your arms, in the car seat, or in the middle of your bed. You can gently lift them up without disturbing them. This is the 6th snugglebundi I have brought for friends. It’s the little black dress for a new mum. — C Leggett
• You must have this one as a mom who loves traveling — It’s so good. Especially if your baby is asleep right in the car, you can easily pick them up... Bring them whenever you need them without interrupting your baby. The label inside is in the wrong place. Sometimes can scratch your baby, but otherwise it is perfect. — leva

Buy it on Amazon here

10. Soft and reusable earplugs, a must-have for airplane flights

Promising review:

• Easy to use, comfortable, and they work. — Having routinely suffered from deafness, earache, increased tinnitus, and even a burst eardrum in the days following a flight, I thought these little plugs were probably worth a try.
  I wore them recently during 2 flights and was delighted to find that they cut down on a large percentage of the discomfort and deafness that I normally experience during and post-flight. A slight feeling of blockage in one ear was all that I experienced, and that ’popped’ within 24 hours of each flight.
  I would certainly recommend these things to anyone who suffers as I have done in the past, and I would not consider flying without them in the future. They are easy to insert and comfortable to wear and as they do not cut out sound it is possible to listen to music etc via headphones during the flight. — Mrs Manors

Buy it on Amazon here

How do you organize your vacations so that your trip feels relaxed? Do you have some tips for more bearable flights and car rides?

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