The 15 Travel Essentials That Should Be in Every Traveler’s Bag — All on Sale From $6

Make your next trip a breeze with travel must-haves like packing cubes, adapters, and more.

Real Simple / Francesca Fasciglione

They say, “the more you travel, the easier it gets.” That’s true for many reasons, from learning how to score cheap flights to streamlining your packing routine, but it’s also due to the fact that frequent travelers have more opportunities to identify products that make their lives on the road easier — and those they can skip. For example, when packing cubes first became popular, I resisted them until I knew I needed to get more in my suitcase; I begrudgingly tried out some only to realize they were the exact solution to my packing struggles for longer trips.

Packing cubes are just one of the many travel essentials I’ve rounded up over the years — but there are even more best-selling items that are crucial to other travelers before they board a flight or head out on the road. From travel size containers to TSA-approved resettable luggage locks, I rounded up 15 of the best travel essentials and accessories that you can right now on sale at Amazon.

Veken 8 Set Packing Cubes

Amazon

$15

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Whether you’re a notorious overpacker or simply want to better organize your suitcase, packing cubes are the best solution. Personally, I use packing cubes so I can travel with carry-on luggage even during my longest journeys (up to three weeks!). My favorite cubes include this set of eight, which comes with: a large cube, which I fit all of my day outfits in; a medium bag, which I reserve for nighttime or formal outfits; and a small bag, which I fill up with under garments. There is also a bag for shoes and dirty laundry, plus a cosmetic carrier. Although I don’t use every bag for every trip, I like that this set comes with plenty of options so I’m always prepared.

Inspira Portable Digital Luggage Scale

Amazon

$10

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If you’ve ever gone through the tedious process of weighing yourself with a suitcase to ensure your bag isn’t overweight, then it’s time you meet this portable digital luggage scale. This slim scale can hold up to 110 pounds, so it should work for any type of luggage you have. All you have to do is attach the braided strap around the handle of your suitcase, secure the stainless steel hook, and lift it up to take an accurate reading. Its compact size makes it suitable for popping in your luggage to make sure you stay underweight and avoid baggage fees throughout your entire trip.

Redfly Travel Size Containers

Amazon

$6

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You don’t realize the true luxury of a reliable, leak-proof, and TSA-approved travel container until you’ve had your cosmetic bag ruined by a spill. Redfly’s travel size containers feature a three-layer leak-proof design to ensure that your items stay dry. Plus, reviewers like the wide opening of each bottle that makes it easy to access the contents as well as clean them when you get home. Choose from four different color combinations to make it easy to identify which bottle holds what liquid.

Dnsen Plastic Travel Bottles

Amazon

$6

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For those travelers who prefer to see exactly how much product is left in their TSA-approved travel bottles, the clear plastic design of this set will suit you better than the silicone option. Each of the five bottles in this pack can hold up to 3.4 ounces in addition to being leak-proof and lightweight enough to fit them side-by-side in your cosmetic bag. Another bonus is the flat top caps are easy to use and take up little space.

Tessan International Plug Adapter

Amazon

$16

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This versatile European travel adapter features 4 AC outlets and 3 USB ports, so you can charge just about everything at once while you’re traveling. The adapter is suited for most European countries (but keep in mind that it won’t work in the UK). At 3.1 by 2.2 inches, and only 4.1 ounces, people like that this adapter is extremely compact, despite the impressive amount of devices it can accommodate.

BeautifyBeauties Spray Bottle

Amazon

$8

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If you aren’t already traveling with a mist spray bottle, you may want to add it to your list. Fill this 360-degree sprayer with water once you get to your destination to help with hair styling. Or, fill it with a wrinkle-releaser from home to keep stubborn creases at bay. If you’re someone who uses essential oils as part of your nightly routine, this is also a great bottle to keep your favorite scent with you on the road. Just keep in mind that it’s 10 ounces, so if you fill it to the top before traveling, it’ll need to go in a checked bag.

Bagsmart Toiletry Bag with Hanging Hook

Amazon

$16

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Shaped like a packing cube, this large-capacity toiletry bag will fit in your suitcase seamlessly — and won’t take up all that much space. Its clever design allows you to store all of your toiletries in one place, including makeup, brushes, skincare, and more. The best part? You can hang it in the bathroom once you reach your destination and see everything you have in one glance. The inner main pockets can secure bottles upright, while a double zipper pouch gives you easy access to items without having to fully open the bag.

Ocheal Makeup Bag

Amazon

$17

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If the hanging toiletry bag isn’t right for you, there is also this compact makeup bag that might be a better fit for someone who doesn’t need as much space. It comes equipped with pockets and dividers to keep your toiletries organized, including travel bottles, makeup brushes, and more. The bag is available in a variety of neutral colors, too, including black, gray, pink, and green, so you can find an option that suits your style. The entire top zips open, so you can view everything you have at once, and it’s waterproof, so you can wipe it clean in between uses.

Bagsmart Toiletry Bag

amazon.com

$10

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For a more minimalist and sleek way to carry your toiletries, try this simple option from Bagsmart. Its main compartment is spacious enough to fit larger items like an electric shaver or toothbrush, and the side pocket is suitable for different travel-sized tubes and bottles. It’s both water-resistant and durable, with a convenient handle that can hang from a hook in smaller bathrooms.

Forge TSA Approved Cable Luggage Locks

Amazon

$25

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Despite many suitcases coming with their own locks these days, some travelers like to add an extra layer of security. These resettable cable luggage locks are a best-seller for a reason: The easy-to-set three digit combination is enforced by a cable lock, which is stronger than normal lock shackles. A feature travelers really love is that if a TSA inspector does open the lock with a key, they need to re-lock the suitcase before they can remove the key, which assures that your suitcase will remain locked for the entirety of the journey.

Portable Mini Refillable Perfume Spray Bottle

Amazon

$7

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I never knew I needed a portable perfume bottle until I received one in my stocking at Christmas (thanks, Mom!) Seriously, what was I thinking bringing mini perfume bottles in my carry-on bag, only to have them smashed not once, but multiple times? These mini spray bottles are the solution for traveling with perfume, cologne, or even aromatherapy oils: Just remove the cap, and fill it through the valve nozzle of your favorite scent. The visual window on the spray bottle ensures you don’t overfill it, and that you know how much you have left before heading out on your next adventure.

Vorspack Transparent Shoe Bags

Amazon

$10

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For a clean, easy way to pack pairs of shoes in your suitcase, get these drawstring shoe bags that are waterproof and reusable. They’re suitable for many different types of shoes, from flip-flops to hiking boots, so you can use them for all of your excursions. Even though I use packing cubes, I also love using shoe bags to keep my shoes — with soles that touch sticky restaurant floors and grubby city sidewalks — separated from my outfits. Plus, on the way home, I tend to stick my dirty laundry in them to keep a clean suitcase at all times.

Bagsmart Clear Toiletry Bag 

Amazon

$8

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For many years, I avoided having to place toiletries in a clear bag thanks to TSA Pre-Check. But, there are still some airports outside of the US that require you to place your liquids in a clear bag. In fact, I’ve had toiletries like deodorant, toothpaste, and even dry makeup powder scrutinized if it’s not placed in a plastic bag and then put in a bin before going through security machines. In this case, this pack of two quart size bags comes in handy to keep all my liquids in one place. I also find traveling with a clear bag helpful to organize my toiletries; it makes it easy to grab what I need immediately without rifling through my toiletry bag.

Venture 4th Travel Money Belt

Amazon

$20

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I’ve always been a firm believer that practical wins over pretty when it comes to travel. This thin travel belt is useful for keeping all of your travel documents safe because they’ll be as close to you as physically possible. It also has RFID blocking fabric that prevents illegal scanning of your personal information. It also acts as a kind of extra third carry-on item: Keep it on as you walk through the airport for easy access to your wallet and passport, then unstrap it and stow it in your bag as you board the plane.

Peak Gear RFID Travel Pouch

Amazon

$20

Buy on Amazon

Another way to keep your documents close to you while traveling is with this neck wallet. Similar to the money belt, it also features multi-RFID layers that shield credit cards, bank cards, passports, and any other personal information from potential e-theft. There are multiple pockets to keep your essentials organized, and it’s a little bigger to store a phone (up to an iPhone 15 without a bulky case) more comfortably.

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