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I Spent a Week in Greece—These 20 Travel Accessories Made the Trip a Breeze
From makeup bags to tech organizers.
Byrdie
If you’re anything like me, you get just as excited about deciding what to purchase for your upcoming vacation as you are about the actual trip itself. It’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a new outfit, those travel accessories you’ve had your eye on, new chic luggage, or perhaps some travel-sized beauty products you’ve been dying to try.
I recently went on an island-hopping trip in Greece, and I can confidently say I finally packed just right (well, OK, I may have brought one too many outfits)—I thought of every travel essential I might need to make the trip a breeze, and they delivered. So, I pulled together a list of my favorite accessories that I’d recommend to anyone planning a vacation, no matter where you’re going. Keep reading for the best travel accessories worth your money, from in-flight saviors and travel beauty kits to tech organizers and airport outfits.
Top Picks
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Bagail Packing Cubes at Amazon$25$17
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BAGSMART Electronics Organizer Travel Case at Amazon$14$9
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Carry On
Quince Italian Leather Triple Compartment Shopper Tote
For my personal item, I prefer to bring a lightweight tote bag that organizes and fits all the essentials and can easily be stowed under my seat. Enter: this genuine Italian leather tote from Quince, just $150 (a steal for an Italian leather bag as roomy as this). I felt like no matter how much I stuffed in this, it never felt heavy on my shoulder. Plus, the dividers inside (there’s a middle divider that has a zipper, along with multiple pockets throughout the interior) made it effortless to retrieve my passport, boarding pass, phone, wallet, etc., without excessive digging.
Packing Accessories
Bagail Packing Cubes
Available for less than $20 on Amazon, these packing cubes were a game-changer for fitting all of the outfits I wanted to bring (which was many). The eight-piece set comes with a laundry bag, zipper pouch, shoe packing cubes, toiletry bag, and four packing cubes of various sizes. And with multiple colors to choose from, you’re sure to find one that complements your luggage.
BAGSMART Electronics Organizer Travel Case
A tech organizer is something I didn’t know I was missing until I had it. We all know how annoying it is to have to dig through your bag, untangling multiple cords to find the charger you’re looking for. With an electronics organizer like this one (available for less than $15 on Amazon), you can keep all of your tech and cords handy and easily accessible.
Calpak Medium Clear Cosmetic Case
If you’re looking to upgrade your makeup bag, you can’t go wrong with this viral, award-winning pick from Calpak. I like that it’s clear, so it’s easy to spot exactly what product I’m looking for, and I also appreciate that it comes in multiple sizes (I found the medium size was perfect—the large felt a bit too clunky and took up too much space in my suitcase). It unzips to reveal two opposite sides that lay flat, with a smaller zipper compartment on one side. I like that it’s dual-sided because I can keep my makeup in one end and my skincare in the other.
Flight Accessories
Dagsmejan Black-out Sleep Mask
If I want any chance at falling asleep during a flight, I need a sleep mask. While there may be more affordable options to choose from, I went with this pick because it’s a blackout sleep mask, meaning no light from your seat-mate’s reading light or a lifted window shade will be able to get through and keep you awake. I also appreciate that the eye cups and Velcro strap are fully adjustable, ensuring a perfect fit. And, the deep eye cups didn’t damage or uncomfortably rub my lashes (great if you have eyelash extensions).
Ulta Glass Skin Ginseng Collagen Mask
If you prefer a sheet mask, I highly recommend this collagen mask from Peach & Lily. You may have heard of these viral collagen masks circling the internet that you can leave on overnight (or less if you prefer); I love this pick in particular because it contains one full-size, 1.41-ounce serum bottle per mask (!!)—for just $8. You’ll be left with glowing, glass skin post-flight. I didn’t experience any dryness in my skin during and after my long travel day, which is thanks to this mask.
TJ Maxx Bliss 2pk Neck Pillow And Eye Mask Set
While some travel accessories may be worth splurging on, you don’t need to spend a lot on them all. One of my absolute favorite places to shop for them is TJ Maxx, which is where I found this neck pillow and eye mask set by Bliss. (But they also carry tons of other travel accessories, like luggage tags, suitcases, travel bottles, and more.) It’s just $13, and comes in the most adorable blue color.
Sephora YSE Beauty Brightening & Depuffing Eye Masks
Under-eye masks are amazing for depuffing and hydrating the under-eye area on a long flight. While I’ve tested many under-eye patches, these viral no-slip ones from YSE Beauty are a standout. The no-slip design makes application and wear ultra-comfortable, but they’re also cooling and feel oh-so-hydrating.
Haven Well Haven Well Cashmere Travel Slipper
If you’re like me, you’re constantly shivering on flights. I found myself reaching for these cashmere travel slippers on my flight there and back, and was so thankful I decided to pack them. They instantly warmed my cold feet up, and I appreciated that they come in a handy drawstring travel bag to keep them clean and protected. They’re super lightweight, too, and not bulky at all (read: they don’t take up much room in your bag).
Beauty Accessories
Sephora Sol de Janeiro Jet Set
One of my all-time favorite scents is Sol de Janeiro’s Bom Dia Bright Cheirosa 40, a warm, fruity, floral scent. I was ecstatic when I saw that it comes in the brand’s Jet Set travel kits, which include a travel-size body wash, body mist, and body cream, everything you need for moisturized, delicious-smelling skin on your vacation.
Colleen Rothschild Colleen Rothschild Travel Hair Essentials Set
Everything you need to keep your hair luscious, shiny, and detangled on vacation comes in this travel set by Colleen Rothschild. The shampoo and conditioner lasted me through a week-long trip (with some leftover), and the hair mask was excellent at restoring and nourishing my strands after salt water and chlorine dried them out. It also comes with a scalp massager for a deeper clean, a hair serum, and a styling cream—not to mention the cute travel case it’s packaged in.
Prequel Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray
We all know how many germs and bacteria you can accumulate while traveling, so I always make sure I have this mini hypochlorous acid spray with me. Hypochlorous acid helps to immediately kill bacteria on the skin, which I find to be especially helpful in preventing breakouts. I spray it on my hands and face anytime I need a clean refresh. Plus, I love that Prequel has such an affordable price point and that I can easily find it at Target. In addition to the hypochlorous acid, I packed the Travel Gleanser, a gentle, glycerin cleanser.
Sleepy Tie Sleepy Tie Shower Cap
Washing your hair on vacation can be a pain—with a shower cap, you can prolong your style and prevent it from getting wet. I love this pick by Sleepy Tie because it fully covered my entire head of hair—and I just don’t think it could be any cuter.
Sephora Rhode Pocket Blush
For makeup, the one essential I kept reaching for during my trip was the viral Rhode Pocket Blush. I can confirm: it truly is worth the hype. Its small size makes it super easy to pack and bring on the go, and the formula is one of the best I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried many). It blends out beautifully and has 10 gorgeous shades to choose from.
InnBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow
I love having that sun-kissed, glowy complexion on vacation, which is why I always make sure to pack the InnBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow Sunscreen. It has a subtle shimmer, but doesn’t make your face look glittery, and it’s tinted to provide just a bit of bronziness. Bonus: it has vitamin C and peptides, so my skin feels well taken care of while wearing, and it has SPF 43 for adequate sun protection. I also like that it’s a mineral sunscreen, which I find to be a more gentle option for my skin.
Vacation Classic Whip SPF 30
There’s a good chance you’ve seen this whipped sunscreen by nostalgic sun protection brand Vacation all over your TikTok fyp. The whipped formula makes it so fun to apply (I know, you probably didn’t think applying sunscreen could be fun), and it smells incredible. Bonus points: Choose from an SPF 30 or SPF 50 option.
Ulta Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil
For your shaving needs, try this mini shave oil by Tree Hut. It leaves skin hydrated and soft, rather than stripped, and makes your razor glide effortlessly over all the trouble spots. Plus, its travel size is carry-on friendly.
Fashion Accessories
Quince Leather Jewelry Travel Case
Keep necklaces and other jewelry tangle-free with a travel jewelry case, like this one from Quince. The quality is incredible (it’s leather with a micro-suede interior), and it includes four necklace hooks with a pocket, six earring holes, and a strap for bracelets.
Madewell Madewell Raffia Hat
Shield your face from the sun (and look stylish while doing so) with this Madewell wide-brim hat. The raffia material screams vacation while looking ultrachic and elevated.
Monday Monday Swimwear Bag
If you’re looking for a beach bag to bring on your next vacation, you’ll want to look for one that’s easy to pack and not so structured that it’s hard to fit in your suitcase. On that note, I love this one from Monday Swimwear, which flattens nicely but is also large enough to easily fit my towel, swimsuit, cover-up, sunglasses, and any other beach or pool essentials.
Coach Coach Tortoise Sunglasses
While choosing a pair of sunglasses ultimately comes down to personal preference, I find tortoise shell frames are a great choice for making a statement while simultaneously pairing well with almost any outfit. I love this pair from Coach if you’re looking to splurge.
Alyssa Kaplan
Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/best-travel-accessories-11812256