Travel Shop

We’re a fan of soft-sided suitcases. They tend to be lighter and they also expand, so there’s room for all those extras you pick up along the way.

The Travelpro Maxlite 5 ticks the boxes for what we want in a reliable suitcase – durable, lightweight and reasonably priced.

You can get the checked bag in Medium (25 inches) or Large (29 inches), and it comes in a variety of colors.

This 29-inch version has four smooth-rolling spinner wheels for easy maneuvering. (And unlike with carry-ons, we don’t mind spinners on checked bags, as space isn’t an issue here.)

This 20-inch TravelPro Maxlite 5 rollaboard is our go-to carry-on. It’s sturdy, super light at 5.4 lbs, holds a ton (and expands) and rolls easily through airports, train stations and city streets.

For carry-on luggage, we prefer this 2-wheel design over 4-wheel spinners – the wheels don’t eat up interior space, so you get more packing room in the same 20-inch size. And the tapered shape keeps it from tipping over.

This bag has fit into the overhead bins on our flights with EVA Air, Vietnamese Airlines (within Vietnam), Air Canada, WestJet, Lufthansa (to Porto) and other airlines – without every being flagged for gate-check.

No more rummaging through your whole suitcase to find what you’re looking for! Packing cubes keep everything neat and organized.

We love these ultra-lightweight compression ones from TRIPPED. Their double-zipper system squeezes out air and flattens your clothes, so you can fit more without the bulk.

This set is designed to fit perfectly in your carry-on bag.

Our only gripe? We wish they came with a mesh panel to easily see what’s inside.

Still, they’re the lightest and strongest packing cubes we’ve found – and as we try to travel carry-on only (especially on beach vacations), we’ll take all the help we can get!

For longer trips, this large set (also from TRIPPED) is made for checked bags.

And it fixes our one complaint. Each cube has a mesh panel so you can easily spot what’s inside. Underwear? T-shirts? Pants? These packing cubes are smartly designed and super practical.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 20L (20-liter size) is a top pick for an airplane “personal item” – compact, well-organized and built to last.

It features three handles, a “suitcase-style” opening, water bottle pocket, padded straps for comfort and an internal sleeve for a tablet or small laptop. You can easily fit your laptop, Kindle, glasses, passport, travel documents, wallet, phone and snacks – with room to spare for other accessories.

It fits neatly under an airplane seat and is ideal for most airlines with strict “personal item” rules.

Want a slightly larger size? The 28L version still meets most North American airlines’ personal item dimensions.

The Dreamsoft Travel Scarf is designed as your cozy in-flight layer – but it’s stylish enough for everyday wear.

It’s irresistibly soft, lightweight and made from organic cotton. Versatile and machine washable, it doubles as a shawl, scarf or blanket during travel.

We also love that it’s a high-quality piece at a reasonable price, which looks effortlessly elegant.

Isn’t this Furtalk wide-brimmed Panama Fedora straw hat adorable? It’s foldable, so it won’t get crushed in your suitcase. And it comes in different neutral colors – like black, coffee brown, khaki, ivory and new beige.

Ladies, do you know the Miraclesuit brand? These are super-quality swimsuits that tuck you in where you want some tucking. You’ll look 10 lbs slimmer. Really! And they come in a host of cute styles.

Going swimming or snorkeling where little things in the water could bite? Want all-over protection from the sun? This full-body sports skin can help. We used full-length skins in Bocas del Toro, Panama, to protect against stinging sea lice.

The Bellroy Lite day pack is lightweight, durable and packs flat in your suitcase, so it’s perfect for travel.

The contoured shoulder straps and breathable mesh back make it comfy for all-day wear. And it’s the “just right” size for hiking, city exploration or going to the beach. Plus, it looks cute too!

You can get it in an ash, black or red color. And if you’re not a fan of the chest strap, snip it off – we do.

We like this stylish and practical UV-protection sun hat for hiking, kayaking and other outdoor adventures.

These Ray-Bans offer 100% UV protection. They’re lightweight, so they’re comfortable to wear. And they sport a cool classic look.

There’s nothing more frustrating than going snorkeling and having the mask that you’ve rented leak or fog up. If you’re planning to snorkel more than once or twice on your beach vacay, it’s worth packing your own gear.

This Cressi set (a top Italian brand) gets rave reviews. It includes ultra-clear lenses for better underwater views, a snorkel with splash-guard and short fins that fit easily in your suitcase.

A waterproof phone cover is a must-have when kayaking, sailing or hitting the beach. You want one that not only keeps your phone dry – but also floats. We’ve found Pelican makes the best.

Opt for the XL size (depending on your phone) so you don’t have to remove the case.

So go ahead, take your phone for a swim! You can snap pics of sea turtles and fish through the clear window, and the photo quality is surprisingly sharp.

When swimming, protect your eyes from chlorine or saltwater with these swim goggles that fit your face. They’re also pretty good at not fogging up! (Speedo has an excellent reputation.)

You’ll need your sunscreen, water bottle, books and perhaps even a towel or two for the beach and pool. Here’s a roomy and good-looking beach bag to carry all your stuff in.

Don’t forget to take a universal travel adapter, so you can plug in and recharge your electronics, no matter where in the world you’re traveling.

The Ceptics World Travel Adapter comes with six interchangeable plugs that work in North America, the U.K., most of Europe, Australia, Japan, the Middle East, Asia and China.

It features two AC outlets, two USB-A ports and a built-in USB-C cable, making it easy to charge multiple devices at once – phones, laptops, cameras and more.

It’s also ultra-compact and lightweight, so it tucks neatly into any corner of your luggage without taking up precious space.

A portable charger can be a lifesaver – whether you’re road-tripping and relying on your phone for navigation, glamping off-grid or snapping endless photos while sightseeing.

The Belkin Boost Charge 10K is a travel favorite.

It only weighs about half a pound, has rounded edges for easy pocketing and comes with built-in USB-C and Lightning cables – so you can charge two devices at once without extra cords.

It holds enough juice to fully charge most smartphones up to three times. And it can even pass power to your device while recharging from a wall outlet.

We don’t need to say much about these wireless buds – they fit and sound great! They offer up to 4.5 hours of time listening to music, three ear-tip options and active noise cancellation. And they come with their own portable charging case too.

With all the tech you’re bringing – chargers, cables and more – you’ll want a way to keep it all sorted. This electronics storage bag makes it easy.

It has two zippered mesh pockets for bulkier items like a portable hard drive, six mesh pouches with elastic loops for thumb drives and power banks, plus loops for cords and chargers. Three SD card slots keep your cards safe and easy to find.

Compact and well-made, it slides easily into a backpack, handbag or laptop case – travel clutter conquered!

Cool! You can get a waterproof Kindle! Read by the pool or beach without worrying about getting it wet.

The thinnest and lightest Kindle Paperwhite yet, the 12th Generation Kindle Paperwhite has a big 7-inch glare-free display and tons of storage (16 GB). Charge it up and it will last for weeks.

Now you need a case to fit your new Kindle Paperwhite perfectly.

This one opens up like a book and it’s comfortable to hold. Closing the cover puts your Kindle to sleep.

And the magnetic attachment will keep the cover securely closed when tossing your Kindle in your backpack or purse.

A mini hair-straightening iron is essential to control the frizzies. It won’t take up much space in your luggage.

The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium flat iron has received almost 7,000 top reviews on Amazon (4.3 out 5). The titanium plates heat up quickly, and the dual voltage is built in, meaning you can use it in Europe, the U.S. and most other destinations, without carrying a converter.

It comes with a thermal travel pouch too.

Uh oh, don’t you hate it when you’re traveling and it’s time to get your hair done again? L’Oreal Magic Root Cover-Up spray hides those grey roots, tiding you over until you get back.

Just spray it on your roots (about 6 inches away). It lasts until you next wash your hair.

You can get the root spray in Blonde, Light Brown and other colors. We’ve used a few of them, and they all do the job.

Sometimes you just can’t cleanse your face thoroughly. Enter these Burt’s Bees facial wipes with aloe vera.

Dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested, the gentle 3-in-1 cleansing towelettes wipe away pore-clogging makeup, dirt and oil. Specially formulated for sensitive skin, they’re made from 99.1% natural ingredients.

The 3-pack of 30 wipes (10 per pack) is budget-friendly, and each pack can be resealed easily.

Even if you’re not trying to get a tan, it’s important to protect your skin from sun damage, especially your face. We like the award-winning La Roche-Posay sunscreen because it’s lightweight and hypoallergenic, and it doesn’t clog pores. Of course, it provides SPF 50 protection (UVA/UVB).

This tinted mineral face sunscreen is our choice for ladies, as it’s like wearing a touch of sheer make-up. (You don’t have to add make-up on top.)

After showering and getting ready to go out in the evening, we really don’t like putting on strong bug spray. We learned years ago that AVON Skin So Soft body oil works well as a light insect repellent. And it smells nice too :-).

We bought a large size of Skin So Soft and pour some into a smaller travel bottle to pack when traveling to tropical places. Or you can get a smaller 5 oz. bath oil spray with a pump.

When the nail polish starts to chip, say hello to these convenient TSA-friendly nail polish remover wipes. The Karma wipes are organic too, free of alcohol which can dry out your nails.

Some sunscreens are heavy and sticky. The non-greasy ultra-light La Roche-Posay body lotion spray isn’t.

With an SPF of 60, it provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It’s water resistant so it protects you even when working up a sweat kayaking or hiking. It even works upside-down.

For those times when you can’t wash your hair, dry shampoo can save the day.

This organic dry shampoo from Beauty by Earth uses only natural organic ingredients. It preserves your hair’s natural oils, adds volume at the roots, makes your hair feel soft (not sticky) and smells lovely too.

Get it in either “light” or “dark,” depending on the color of your hair.

We love our trusty mirrorless Sony camera (we have the older Sony a6000). We switched from a bulkier Canon DSLR – lugging it around just got tiring.

The Sony is much smaller and lighter – but still takes awesome pictures and videos – making it a favorite among travel photographers and YouTubers alike.

The new Sony a6700 is rated highly. With a vari-angle screen, fast autofocus and crisp 4K video, it’s great for taking both stills and video.

We’ve picked the option with the 16 to 50mm lens, but you can swap in other lenses.

For epic action video and underwater photo fun, you’ll want the waterproof GoPro HERO 13!

(We still love our GoPro HERO 8! It’s our grab-and-go camera when generally mucking about – kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, etc.)

But the new HERO 13 model is the cat’s meow. Think 5.3K video with 91% more resolution than 4K, longer battery life and rock-solid stabilization. Rugged and waterproof to 33 ft (10 m), it’s built to handle just about anything you throw at it.

This bundle includes a 64 GB SanDisk MicroSD card, carrying case and more.