If You're Going On A European Vacation This Summer, Check Out These 28 Products

1.An add-a-bag luggage strap you can clip to a backpack, suitcase, or purse to free your hands from carrying jackets, shopping bags, or even more luggage!

Promising review: "I thought this was a bit gimmicky but I fell for it and gave it a try. I was pleasantly surprised! I wear layers when traveling, and I usually run hot. However, I still need to carry a jacket for the cold planes or destination, etc. I usually tie it around my waist as a last resort or tuck it madly into my bag. I clipped this to my backpack, and it held my jacket perfectly! It was easily accessible, and the jacket never dragged or fell. It also worked well to clip my backpack to my luggage while in between flights." — roxysea Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in nine colors). amazon.com

2. A digital luggage scale so you don't have to dread getting your bag weighed at the airport only to find out it's 56 pounds and not 50, and then you have to carry your ginormous size-10 platform sandals in your purse the whole flight. (I may be speaking from personal experience here.)

www.amazon.com

You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.

Promising reviews: "I cannot imagine how we would have managed a big international trip without this. It saved us so much stress and, I’m sure, surprise charges at the airport." —Potter Freak

"This scale works and was accurate on four flights. First flight was a test at 46 pounds, and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds, and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the fourth flight weighed 49, but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost, must-have item for air travel." —Robert

Get it from Amazon for $7.64 (available in four colors and a two-pack).

3. A 3D-contoured sleeping mask that's basically like your own personal blackout curtain with contoured eyecups that ensure you don't have too much pressure on your eyes while you snooze during your flight.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Plus, it comes with a set of earplugs to block out all the noise around you!

Promising review: "This mask lets zero light in. I wore it on an international flight and forgot I had it on. I opened my eyes and thought I had died for a second. It’s that good." —Carrie Wils

Get the set from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in seven colors).

4. An Anker charging port with six USB ports, so you don't have to worry about any of your devices dying mid-flight and having to read a book like a nerd (just kidding).

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought one of these before an international trip to ease the charging needs of two phones, a tablet, and auxiliary power devices. It worked extremely well. I just needed one outlet and one plug converter, and I could charge all my devices. I started using it for all my travel. When not traveling, it stayed in a drawer until I realized that it was even more valuable at home. So, now it sits on a desk in the kitchen, usually with one or more devices charging. When our adult children were home for Thanksgiving, it really got a workout. That's when I decided to buy two more as a gift for each of the boys. Highly recommended." —Blabby

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in black and white).

5. A Hackwith Design House shirt that you can wear six different ways so you can pack light without feeling like you're wearing the same outfit over and over again.

Hackwith Design House

Hackwith Design House is a woman-owned small business that creates made-to-order apparel. This shirt can be worn as a V-neck, off-the-shoulder, boatneck, V-back, and even open as a jacket. And the color is simple, which means it can be paired well with many different bottoms.

Promising review: "I’m being honest when I tell you this is the most 'worth-it' top around. I read a review from some frequent flyer who claims this is her go-to for flying. She said aside from the top’s flexibility – which allows much less packing as the top itself looks and behaves like four shirts and a jacket – it’s a savior on planes because it allows you to get into a usually overheated plane and to weather the transition to iceberg, ho! that happens about twenty minutes into most flights, and it holds its shape and looks great. I was skeptical, as I did not have the money to blow on someone else’s opinion, but my husband told me to try it. I have the same issues with temps, and he’s probably self-protecting so as not to hear me complain so much. Long story short, I got it. It’s a gorgeous fabric despite my usually hating the ribbed thing. Not for my pleasure, thank you. But it’s nice. REALLY nice. Yes, it’s extraordinarily flexible, and yes, it’s like a jacket, and Yes, Virginia. There is a travel shirt, Santa Claus. Ordering in the off-white now. Glad I read the article, and glad I bought the shirt. You should too." —Mary B.

Get it from Hackwith Design House for $145 (available in women's sizes XS–4X and three colors).

6. A travel wallet with tons of slots, so you can keep your passport, credit cards, IDs, and vaccine cards safe with RFID-blocking tech while you're out jet-setting around the world. 

www.amazon.com

This wallet has a passport pocket, a boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a SIM card pouch, a coupon ticket slot, a cellphone pouch (max 5.8 inches), a money and coins zippered pocket (fits US dollars), a key holder, a pen holder, and a slim pocket.

Promising review: "I recently took an international trip. I was gone for three weeks. I needed a place for my passport, COVID test, Vaccine card, credit cards, and US and local currency. Not only did this wallet hold it all, but it snapped shut consistently and was easy to carry. I highly recommend!" —JCR

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 27 colors).

7. A Dagne Dover fanny pack made with a sleek neoprene fabric that can be dressed up and down, so you can have a versatile bag to wear with every 'fit on your vacay.

Dagne Dover

Promising review: "I went to Rome for a week last month and bought this fanny pack to take with me. It was perfect! I wore it in the front across my chest, and I never felt unsafe. It was super convenient when I needed to grab something! It fits my phone, wallet, keys, and even GoPro! It was the perfect size while also being super stylish and complementing all of my outfits. Highly recommend!" —Stephanie C.

Get it from Dagne Dover for $95 (available in 18 colors).

8. A pair of compression socks in case your legs and feet are prone to swelling on flights. These will help encourage circulation and make the whole experience way more comfortable.

Gyan Yankovich / BuzzFeed

Read more about compression socks for travel at Johns Hopkins and The Huffington Post.

Promising review: "I travel frequently internationally for work and often spend upwards of 20 hours on a plane as I fly to various locations. A few colleagues have told me that compression socks greatly improve travel, and I finally bought a pair to try them out. I finished a series of flights to get from Washington, DC, to Abuja, Nigeria, and after over 12 hours in the air and 24 hours in transit with my compression socks on the whole time, I feel great! It made a huge difference and definitely increased my comfort while on the plane. I plan to buy a second pair when I get back to the US." —Alexandra

Get them from Amazon for $14.35+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and 17 colors).

And check out our full Physix Gear compression socks review here.

9. A Trtl pillow that's less bulky than a traditional neck pillow, so it'll easily fit in your carry-on, and you won't have to worry about unpacking and repacking your whole bag when you want to take a mid-flight nap. 

Amazon

Promising review: "I travel on international and domestic flights quite a bit and have tried different kinds of travel 'pillows.' This is by far my favorite. I've read lots of reviews about an inferior brand. The first time I ordered the Trtl Pillow, I received the style most people prefer: the three finger style. Anyway, it's an amazing product, and it really helps me actually sleep on long flights! I won't use anything else now. It fits in my backpack fine, but I can also strap it to the outside if I'm packed full. I bought it on the recommendation of a friend who also uses one for long-distance air travel. I'll also be taking this on car trips as well!" —M. Summers

Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (available in four colors).

And check out our full Trtl Pillow review here.

10. Or an inflatable wedge pillow because the best part about being on a plane is taking a three-hour-long nap in the middle of the day with absolutely zero shame.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I am a very frequent traveler and had lived through many 13+ hour flights prior to purchasing this pillow. After using it for the first time on my 13-hour flight to Tokyo, I will never fly without it again! It was comfortable not only for sleeping, leaning forward but also for leaning against the window on the larger international plane. If you're traveling with a companion, it is also very comfortable being used between two people. I especially love how there are holes for your arms, and they can be used at different angles/positions. It made for a very restful flight overall." —Elizabeth B

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

11. A pair of Thigh Society cooling shorts if you are anything like me and suffer from chronic thigh chafing during the warmer months. Plus, they're super thin, so they won't make you sweat! 

Thigh Society

Promising review: "I bought these to wear under dresses for a trip to Europe because it was supposed to be really hot, and they worked great. They were light and stretchy, and there was no chafing. Maybe not the most moisture wicking, but they were very comfortable, and I wore them several times." —Meghan O'Leary

Get it from Thigh Society for $39+ (available in women's sizes XS–2XL, six lengths, and in 10 colors).

12. A pack of laundry soap sheets because packing liquid detergent is basically begging the traveling gods to make it explode and ruin everything in your luggage. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I took this with me on international travel. I did laundry by hand for five weeks and made it through 'til the end with this one package. They do not sud up, but they work just fine. When I was doing a big bucket of laundry, sometimes, I put in several sheets. I felt like these did help to clean and freshen, but don't expect bubbles. Also, don't handle the soap sheets with wet hands because they do stick together." —R Mack

Get it from Amazon for $12.95 (also available in a hand soap style).

13. And a few expandable hangers in case you're staying at a hotel that for some reason only supplies, like, two hangers per room. These are also great for air-drying any sink laundry! 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These worked well for drying clothes in hotels during an extended international trip. Durable and easily stored in luggage when folded. Highly recommend for travel." —DD

Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $12.99.

14. A HappyLuxe travel wrap you can wear as a cute little scarf while you're jetsetting across the airport but then use as a blanket when it's ridiculously freezing on the plane. 

Amazon

Promising review: "I absolutely love this wrap!! It is the perfect weight and size for travel. It didn't leave my side on an 11-day backpack trip through Europe and was used as a scarf, blanket, towel, and wrap all through the trip. Fashionable enough to dress up a basic travel day outfit, warm enough to keep away a chill on a cooler night, and light enough to pack away small into a bag or tie around a purse strap. I can't say enough great things! I am buying these as gifts for everyone I know who travels." —Jenn

Get it from Amazon for $48+ (available in nine colors).

15. A hanging toiletry bag with a handy dandy hook on the top so you can hang all your toiletries and save precious counter space. Reviewers love it for how much room it has! 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I love how it kept all my toiletries organized and in plain sight when hanging. It's very sturdy and great quality. I ordered this before I went on a two-week trip to Europe and was so happy that I did. This travel bag exceeded my expectations!" —Jackie Cooney

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes and in seven colors).

16. A 16-piece travel toiletries set if you're tired of wasting money on travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, and body wash when you could just make your own. Plus, these are reusable, so they help reduce plastic waste. Friendly to your wallet and the planet? Yes, please.

www.amazon.com

The set comes with four bottles, two jars, two spray bottles, two scoopers (to help transfer creams), one funnel (to help transfer liquids), one cleaning brush, a page of labels, and a bag that everything fits in.

Promising review: "I used this for a two-week international trip. I did two mini trips to other locations. The squeeze bottles did not leak, held enough product for the trip, and are cute. The spray bottles worked well for hair products. I wish there were a couple more bottles instead of the jar containers, but that’s the set. The zippered bag worked fine, though I probably only opened/closed it about 10 times." —Jan

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in eight color packs).

17. A packing cube with built-in shelves because digging through your suitcase to find that onnnnnnnne top can be particularly anxiety-inducing when you're trying get out the door. All you gotta do is hang it up in the closet, and you'll have easy access to all your 'fits! 

www.amazon.com

Plus, it has a zipper compartment at the bottom where you can put all your dirty clothes, so they don't get mixed together and you end up just washing everything when you get home (because that's usually what happens to me).

Promising review: "I used these while traveling around Europe with four children and then later on a cruise. They were super helpful in both cases." —Tucker Sw

Get it from Amazon for $27.98+ (available in two sizes and six colors).

18. A portable white-noise machine so you can get your much-needed rest to make the most of your vacation. This will help block out ambient noise and have you sleeping like a baby (a baby that sleeps very well). 

Amazon

Promising review: "We got this for international travel, and it was one of the most important things we brought. We used it for every nap time and every night. Easy to charge, easily lasts all night plus nap time (12+ hours without failing), and the quality of noise was nice for everyone as we slept in the same room. It's compact with light but solid construction, so it doesn't feel cheap, and the rope makes it easy to hang on anything within reach. It's one of our favorite things to take with us when we're going to be away from his sound machine at home." —Jessie W.

Get it from Amazon for $25.58+ (also available in two- and three-packs).

19. An international power and voltage converter in case your travels take you across the pond (or anywhere else in the world that doesn't take US outlets), so you're not in a pickle when you're abroad. 

www.amazon.com

Not talking from experience...not at all. 😬

Promising review: "I was traveling to several places in Europe and needed a travel charger that can easily fit in the electrical outlets overseas and safely recharge my US rated appliances without frying. And along came this voltage converter that did the job very effectively while traveling in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, and Spain. Although the item is a bit bulky from my own carrying convenience point of view, it's quite manageable nonetheless. I've been very happy using this as a voltage converter while traveling the continent. It's a keeper for me for any future travel." —Expatriot

Get it from Amazon for $39.98.

20. A pack of reusable bottle bags so you can travel with wine bottles, fancy liquor, and even perfume without worrying about any spill-related fiascos.

Amazon

JetBag is a small business specializing in creating bags to protect your wine and your stuff. It's designed with absorbent padding on the inside, so in the event that the bottle breaks, it won't get everywhere in your luggage.

Promising review: "I love these bags. I frequently travel overseas and always want to bring olive oil, wine, or the like back. These bags are perfect for protecting my finds, and I am comfortable that they will absorb the liquid if it does get broken. My husband actually put a bottle of cracked-open wine in the bag to test it, laid the bag on its side, and it absorbed the liquid!" —JHN

Get a set of three from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four colors).

21. A stroller that you can, wait for it... FIT IN AN OVERHEAD BIN!!! Gone are the days of waiting forever to get your big clunky stroller you had to gate check before boarding. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

It folds up so small that it was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2014 for the most compact stroller. It can hold kids who weigh up to 55 pounds and only weighs 9.5 pounds.

Promising review: "This thing is amazing for international travel where you do not get your stroller right away with a gate check. No more walking a mile with bags and a baby. Fits on the plane and even up and down the aisles. It's also great for tourist attractions and shops with tight squeezes and little-to-no handicap access." —Porchies

Get it from Amazon for $219.99 (available in three styles and two colors).

22. A travel pouch that attaches to your bra for you to keep all your essentials like ID, cash, credit card, vaccine card, etc. Looks like thieves have picked their last pocket! 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "I would recommend this for international travel. I wore it attached to my bra strap on my back. I usually carry a backpack when I travel, so it hid this well. A light jacket or sweater will keep it hidden. The fabric is very soft, so I would forget I was wearing it. Not good if you are wearing tight clothing. But I would put my money, credit cards, and paper copies of my passport in it. It's much more comfortable for me than a belt." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $18.40+ (available in three colors).

23. Or a PocketCor belt with one zippered pocket and four elastic pockets that remain closed and against the body while wearing. All you have to do is load it up with your must-needs and enjoy your day (without anxiety about being mugged). 

Alina Sol

Alina Sol is a woman-owned small business that launched its first product in October 2021 after founder Alissa Farina couldn't find leggings that had enough pockets to fit her phone, keys, wallet, and headphones. She designed the PocketCor to solve that problem in a waistband and also created shorts and leggings. And while the PocketCor is great for traveling, many long-distance runners also find it useful.

Promising review: "I purchased for travel. It was easy to put my money, phone, and passport in the pockets at the airport! I wore it over a dress while shopping/doing lunch in Italy and put my money, phone, and hotel key in my pockets. I felt secure and comfortable with it the whole day! I'd like more colors!" —Kristina

Get it from Alina Sol for $48 (available in women's sizes XXS-4XL and men's sizes XL-XXL).

24. A waterproof satin-lined Hairbrella hat because there is nothing more frustrating than spending way too long on the perfect hairstyle just for it to be destroyed by some out-of-the-blue rain. 

www.amazon.com, Hairbrella / Via www.youtube.com

Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that has been creating fashionable hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather since 2016.

Promising review: "I traveled to London last month with a raincoat that did not have a hood, and I wanted something that would protect my head/hair/blowout without lugging an umbrella. This definitely did the trick. Two of the three days were rainy (some quite heavy), and my hair stayed totally dry. It stows nicely, too." —Miss Information

Get it from Amazon for $44 (available in nine colors).

25. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit filled with practical items you might need so you don't have to go all the way back to your hotel for any minor inconveniences. 

Anne Cate

Anne Cate is a woman-owned small business based in Cleveland, Ohio that handmakes minimalist keepsakes with a skyline from more than 100 cities and colleges around the world!

The kit includes a hair tie, lip balm, two floss pics, a sewing kit, bandages, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, a makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, a deodorant wipe, a Shout wipe, a tampon, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol.

BuzzFeed Shopping writer Danielle Healy says: "I, your resident forgetful person, bought the NYC skyline version of this at the start of COVID-19 to keep in my work tote. Unfortunately, I haven't touched my work tote in months because...*gestures at the world around*...but it's a really handy kit I know will save me a ton whenever I regularly leave the house again. Everything from Anne Cate is super high-quality. The wallet on its own is adorable and could be used for a million different things."

Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 96 skylines).

26. A set of space-saver bags because, let's be real, if you're going to Europe, you are almost certainly going to do some serious shopping and you're gonna need all the extra space you can get to bring all your goodies home.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These were lifesavers! We took a 10-day trip to Europe and were able to pack only in a carry-on using these! I used two mediums in my carry-on, and my husband used three in his carry-on. I packed all my undergarments, five dresses, four jeans, a number of blouses, three pairs of shorts, and a few other pieces of clothing. And still had room for my shoes. These will definitely be used each time we travel now. Well worth it." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $19+ (also available in four other size packs).

27. An Airfly wireless transmitter so you can connect your wireless Bluetooth headphones, like AirPods, to the airplane TV and binge hours of your favorite show without having to use the lower-quality ones they hand out on the plane.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual.

Twelve South is a small business that has been creating innovative tech accessories since 2009.

Promising review: "Someone sitting next to me on a flight had this product, so I asked them about it, and it was highly recommended, so I bought it. I love being able to use my Bluetooth Bose noise-canceling headphones with the movies on board. The sound quality is 100 times better than the plug headphones that are required if you don’t have this product. I would definitely buy it again!!" —Monica Buterbaugh

Get it from Amazon for $54.95.

28. And finally, a portable door lock to help alleviate any anxiety about your safety — especially if you're traveling by yourself. It's easy to set up, fits right in a carry-on or suitcase, and will help you feel a little more safe if you're staying in a hotel room on your own. 

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "My apartment door has a deadbolt but no lock on the door handle. The latch is also misplaced, so if it’s not deadbolted, anyone can just push my door open. It took a few tries to get this right, but it makes me feel much more secure, and it’s easy to use when you get the hang of it! I also take this with me when traveling as it fits almost all doors. Definitely recommend." —Anna

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

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