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While many Americans still have to deal with rising inflation, they aren’t letting it stop them from having fun. According to a survey conducted by Forbes Advisor, 87% of Americans plan to travel this year at least as much as last year and 49% plan to travel more.
“It’s safe to say that a lot of people aren’t staying home this year,” says USA TODAY travel reporter Nathan Diller. Diller notes that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) controlled its highest number of passengers ever recordedover the 4th of July weekend and there was a surge in demand for international travel.
As always, traveling to any destination can be an ordeal, with flight delays, crowded terminals and car hassles. With ticket and gas prices on the rise, we want you to enjoy your trip, so we’ve put together this list of travel essentials to help you get the most out of your trip even with rising costs.
Checked Baggage
If you’re looking for a new suitcase for your trip, we recommend the TravelPro Platinum Elite 29″ Expandable Spinner, which we’ve named the best checked luggage after extensive testing. This spinner has excellent maneuverability and easy front access for a convenient way to carry your stuff on your trip.
Learn more: Best travel insurance
$399 from Amazon
A handbag
For something a little smaller, check out our favorite carry-on, the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45. Made from high-quality materials, this bag can be customized to your exact needs, as it offers multiple carrying options and can be expanded to fit more inside.
$330 at Tom Bihn
Packing Cubes
Having trouble organizing your luggage? Consider getting a packing cube to help you store everything inside. We recommend the Eagle Creek Pack-It Insulated Cube Set. This set comes with three cubes and although they can store up to 22 litres, they are very light. In addition to being lightweight, these cubes are durable and coated with an antimicrobial treatment to discourage the growth of bacteria.
$45 from Amazon
A luggage scale
Too many of us have been told that a carry-on bag is too heavy and can’t fly with us, or a bag is too heavy and you’ll have to pay extra. With a digital scale, you can eliminate the headache of guessing the weight of your bag. We tested Dr. Meter’s digital luggage scale and love its LCD display, high-quality construction, and light weight.
$9 from Amazon
A tracker
By using a tracker such as an Apple AirTag or one from Tile, you’ll never be caught off guard if your bag goes missing. AirTag and Tile both have their individual strengths, such as Tile having better cross-platform integration and AirTags having better software. That said, you’ll gain peace of mind no matter what you choose.
$29 from Amazon $25 from Amazon
A travel pillow
Depending on how long your flight (or layover) is, you might want to grab a few Zs. Sleeping while traveling can often be uncomfortable, but you can put that worry to bed with a quality travel pillow. The Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow is our pick for the best travel pillow overall because it offers incredible support, is durable, and comes with an adjustable clasp. If you sleep on your side, we recommend the J-Pillow travel pillow. Its innovative design is perfect for side sleepers and it is made of a soft material.
$30 from Amazon $43 from Amazon
Listeners
What’s a long plane or train ride without your favorite tunes to accompany you? The Sony WH-1000XM4 are an amazing pair of headphones that are useful even when you’re not listening to music thanks to their superb noise cancellation – noisy airports and train stations will be a thing of the past once you pick up this pair. The audio quality is excellent and they are comfortable to wear all day.
$348 from Amazon
Audible
Another way to ease the doldrums of travel to your destination is to listen to an audiobook to pass the time. With Audible, you’ll be able to listen to thousands of great books in a variety of genres, whether you’re driving to your destination or taking a ride. We tried Audible and loved how convenient it was to listen to books. It’s available on many different devices, and it’s easy to find and trade audiobooks.
Join Audible
Disinfectant
Since so many people pass through airports, train stations and rest areas, they can be hotbeds of germs. To prevent illness from spoiling your summer getaway, we recommend that you disinfect your hands or the areas you will need to touch. We recommend using travel bottles for hand sanitizer, as they are convenient to carry, and disinfectant wipes to clean the space around you.
$13 from Amazon $6 from Amazon
Solar cream
Wherever you go this season, you’ll want to protect yourself from harmful rays. To protect your skin from sunburn and/or ultraviolet rays, be sure to lather up some sunscreen. We tested several mineral sunscreens and found the Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Skin Nourishing Milk Sunscreen SPF 50 to be the best. It is light enough not to leave a white plaster when you use it and also has a good smell.
$14 from Amazon
A dog travel bowl
If you’re bringing your adorable pooch with you for the ride, we recommend getting him some portable food and water bowls for the trip. We tried the simple Dexas Popware elevated loader. This bowl contracts for easy storage and has extendable legs to make it comfortable to use no matter the size of your dog. Best of all, it’ll be easy to clean when you get home because it’s dishwasher safe.
$18 from Amazon
All terrain tires
If you plan to take an off-road trip or if your journey to your destination takes you on unpaved roads, consider changing your tires for the occasion, even temporarily. Trust us, your car (and your nerves) will thank you later. When it comes to off-road tires, it’s hard to go wrong with the Falken Wildpeak off-road tires. Designed for light trucks, SUVs and Jeeps, these tires are high quality, quiet tires that will last you a long time with their long tread life.
$205 from Walmart
A car battery charger
The only thing worse than having your car broken down is having your car broken down when you’re away from home. Fortunately, a car battery charger can alleviate this problem. There are many car chargers to choose from, one of the best being the Schumacher SC1281 which comes with a quick start to get your car up and running quickly.
$90 from Amazon
A water bottle
Make sure you have plenty of water wherever your travels take you with our favorite water bottle, the Brita BB11 Premium Filter Water Bottle. It features a filter that removes odors and taste from water, insulation that keeps water fresh for 24 hours, and a design that allows it to be opened with one hand.
$30 from Amazon
A portable battery
No matter how or where you travel, it’s a good idea to keep your phone charged; if not for entertainment while you wait at your terminal, then for emergencies when you’re on the road or camping. A portable power bank, such as the Mophie Powerstation PD, can keep your phone charged for hours or days depending on how much you use it.
$35 from Amazon
Reusable lunch bags
There is no hunger like road hunger. To hold back your growling stomach until you reach the next rest stop, the airport, or your destination, we recommend keeping snacks handy. To pack yours, use a sandwich bag like the best in class, Lunchskins. Not only are they cute, but they’re reusable, dishwasher safe, insulated, and the perfect size for sandwiches.
$10 on Amazon
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published, but may change over time.