This travel resources page is your one‑stop toolkit for smarter, safer, and more affordable travel. These are the products, services, and planning tools we personally use on every trip. Whether you’re packing for a weekend getaway or planning your dream international vacation, you’ll find trusted recommendations here.
The Best Suitcases & Bags
Finding the right luggage can make or break a trip. Whether you’re a weekend getaway traveler, a frequent flyer, or a family packing for Florida adventures, these bags are durable, stylish, and flight-approved. We’ve personally selected these options for different travel styles.
1️⃣ LUGGEX Checked Suitcase with Spinner Wheels
- Why we love it: Smooth 360° spinner wheels make navigating airports effortless, and the hard-shell design protects your belongings.
- Best for: Checked luggage for family trips or extended vacations.
2️⃣ Vacuum Backpack Travel with Pump – Personal Item Travel Bag
- Why we love it: Save space with the built-in vacuum system—perfect for overpackers! Flight-approved personal item, fits under the seat.
- Best for: Solo travelers or anyone needing extra packing space without checking a bag.
3️⃣ Ponhong Travel Backpack Carry-On Convertible Duffle Bag
- Why we love it: Convertible design for backpack or duffel use, with dedicated shoe compartment. Flight-approved for carry-on use.
- Best for: Weekend trips, adventure travelers, or gym-to-airport convenience.
4️⃣ Ytonet Garment Bags for Travel
- Why we love it: Keeps suits, dresses, and workwear wrinkle-free. Ideal for business trips or formal travel.
- Best for: Business travelers or anyone needing wrinkle-free packing.
5️⃣ Wogarl Weekender Large Canas Overnight Bags
- Why we love it: Stylish, roomy, and durable. Perfect for short weekend trips.
- Best for: Weekend getaways or overnight trips where you want a chic, lightweight bag.
6️⃣ Narway Foldable Personal Travel Duffel Bag
- Why we love it: Compact, foldable, and perfectly sized for Spirit Airlines personal item rules. Lightweight yet spacious.
- Best for: Budget airline travelers or anyone needing a compact carry-on tote.
✅ Pro Tips for Luggage & Bags
- Check airline restrictions before flying — some budget carriers have strict size limits.
- Use packing cubes or vacuum bags (like our Vacuum Backpack) to maximize space.
- Pick a bag with durable handles and wheels if you’ll be walking through airports or city streets frequently.
Packing Tools & Travel Essentials
1️⃣ Packing Cubes & Organizers
- Why we love them: Keep clothes neat, maximize luggage space, and easily separate outfits.
- Best for: Families, long trips, and anyone who wants stress-free unpacking.
2️⃣ Travel Toiletry Bags / Hanging Toiletry Kits
- Why we love them: Compact, organized, and easy to hang in hotel bathrooms or Airbnb.
- Best for: Everyone! Great for flights and road trips.
3️⃣ Compression / Vacuum Bags
- Why we love them: Save space by compressing bulky clothes, jackets, or blankets.
- Best for: Winter trips, long vacations, or overpacking tendencies.
4️⃣ Travel Safety & Organization Essentials
- Why we love them: Protect your valuables and keep travel stress-free.
- Best for: Families, solo travelers, or anyone who wants to stay organized and secure.
5️⃣ Reusable Water Bottles & Snacks Containers
- Why we love them: Stay hydrated and save money while traveling.
- Best for: Road trips, flights, and theme park day.
✅ Pro Tips for Packing Tools & Travel Essentials
- Always measure luggage and carry-ons before packing.
- Use packing cubes + compression bags together for maximum space.
- Keep essentials accessible in your personal item bag for easy retrieval at airports.
Travel Luxuries
1️⃣ Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Why we love them: Block out airplane noise or hotel sounds for a more peaceful trip.
- Best for: Long flights, theme park downtime, or relaxing beach days.
2️⃣ Portable Neck Pillow
- Why we love it: Relieves stiffness after long flights or road trips.
- Best for: Frequent travelers and anyone who wants spa-level comfort on the go.
3️⃣ Travel Blanket & Pillow Set
- Why we love it: Stay cozy and rested whether you’re on a plane or a long car ride.
- Best for: Families traveling with kids or anyone who struggles to sleep while traveling.
4️⃣ Luxury Skincare Travel Sets
- Why we love them: Keep your skincare routine intact without overpacking.
- Best for: Anyone who wants to look refreshed and camera-ready while traveling.
5️⃣ Travel Utensils Set
- Why we love it: Eco-friendly, compact, and reusable — no more relying on flimsy plastic cutlery when you’re on the go. Most sets come with a fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks, straw, and a convenient carrying case that fits perfectly in your backpack or carry-on.
- Best for: Road trips, camping, and plane travel
6️⃣ E-Reader or Compact Tablet
- Why we love it: Save space and enjoy books, movies, and guides all in one device.
- Best for: Flights, beach lounging, or quiet evenings.
✅ Pro Tips for Travel Luxuries
- Invest in one or two luxuries that solve your biggest pain points — comfort and rest often matter most.
- Prioritize compact items that fit carry-on rules and actually make travel easier, not heavier.
- Combine luxury with practicality: comfort doesn’t need to be bulky or expensive.
Tech and Gear
Whether you’re planning a Florida road trip or flying across the world, the right tech can make every trip smoother and more enjoyable. These are our must-have travel gadgets and gear that we personally use and recommend.
1️⃣ Portable Power Bank / Charger
- Why we love it: Keeps your phone, camera, and tablet charged on the go — no more fighting over outlets in airports or parks.
- Best for: Long sightseeing days, flights, or theme park visits.
2️⃣ Universal Travel Adapter with USB Ports
- Why we love it: Works in over 150 countries and includes multiple USB slots. A must-have for international travel.
- Best for: Anyone traveling outside the U.S. or on cruises.
3️⃣ Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot / SIM-Free Router
- Why we love it: Stay connected without relying on hotel Wi-Fi or expensive roaming.
- Best for: Digital nomads, international travelers, or those needing GPS and streaming access.
4️⃣ Travel Adapter Power Strip
- Why we love it: Combines multiple outlets and USB ports in one compact device, so you can charge all your gadgets at once — no more fighting over outlets in hotel rooms or airports. Many include surge protection and universal plug adapters, making them perfect for international trips.
- Best for: Families, digital nomads, and international travelers who carry multiple devices like phones, cameras, and laptops.
5️⃣ Electronic Cord Organizer Travel Case
- Why we love it: Keeps all your charging cables, adapters, SD cards, and small electronics neatly organized in one place. No more digging through your bag for tangled cords or missing chargers — everything stays protected and easy to find.
- Best for: Frequent travelers, content creators, and anyone who travels with multiple devices like phones, cameras, and tablets.
6️⃣ Cable Cord Ties
- Why we love it: Simple but game-changing — these reusable ties keep charging cables, headphones, and camera cords neatly bundled and tangle-free. They save space in your tech case and make unpacking so much easier.
- Best for: Anyone traveling with multiple cords or gadgets — especially digital nomads, photographers, and families who share devices.
✅ Pro Tips for Travel Tech & Gear
- Always carry tech in your personal item, not checked baggage.
- Use cable organizers to prevent tangled cords and lost chargers.
- For theme parks or tropical trips, invest in waterproof storage for electronics.
- Don’t forget backup memory cards and charging cords for cameras or phones.
Our Most Popular Packing Posts
These are some of our most popular posts that talk about packing for various kind of trips and items we personally use to make our trips even better:
🌎 Our Travel Packing Checklist ✈️
Planning and Booking Tools
Planning a trip doesn’t have to be stressful — these trusted websites and services make it easy to book flights, hotels, tours, and transportation all in one place. These are the exact tools we use for every vacation, from weekend Florida getaways to international adventures.
1️⃣ Flights – Find the Best Airfare
✈️ Skyscanner
- Why we love it: Compares hundreds of airlines and booking sites so you always find the cheapest deals.
- Pro Tip: Use “Flexible Dates” to find hidden fare discounts
✈️ Google Flights
- Why we love it: Fast, simple, and accurate — great for visualizing price trends and best travel dates.
2️⃣ Hotels & Lodging
🏨 Booking.com
- Why we love it: Huge selection, easy cancellations, and exclusive mobile app discounts.
- Best for: Families, couples, and solo travelers alike.
🏨 Vrbo
- Why we love it: Perfect for unique stays and family-style accommodations.
- Best for: Longer trips, road trips, and group vacations.
3️⃣ Car Rentals & Transportation
🚗 Discover Cars
- Why we love it: Compares rental companies in one search so you get the best price — no hidden fees.
- Pro Tip: Filter by “Full Coverage” to avoid surprises at pickup.
🚙 Turo
- Why we love it: Rent cars directly from local hosts — great for exploring Florida or cities where traditional rentals are pricey.
4️⃣ Tours, Tickets & Attractions
🎟️ Viator
- Why we love it: Book skip-the-line tours, day trips, and experiences directly from your phone.
- Best for: Florida theme parks, ghost tours, and guided activities.
🚶 GetYourGuide
- Why we love it: Great for flexible cancellation and local experiences worldwide.
- Best for: Last-minute bookings or spontaneous day trips.
🎟️ Klook
- Why we love it:
- Best for:
5️⃣ Travel Insurance & Protection
🧳 SafetyWing
- Why we love it: Affordable and flexible coverage for families and long-term travelers.
- Pro Tip: You can buy a plan even after your trip has started.
🧳 World Nomads
- Why we love it: Designed for adventurous travelers, with coverage for activities like hiking or scuba diving.
✅ Pro Tips for Travel Planning & Booking
- Book flights first, then hotels and tours — this ensures flexibility for itinerary changes.
- Compare rental car sites before booking directly through airports — you’ll often save 20–40%.
- Bundle bookings (flight + hotel) when possible for package discounts.
- Always read cancellation policies before checkout — plans can change!
Travel Money & Rewards
Smart travelers don’t just plan trips — they plan how to pay for them. Whether you want to earn points for future adventures, avoid foreign transaction fees, or keep your money safe abroad, these are the tools and financial tips we personally use for stress-free travel.
1️⃣ Travel Credit Cards
💳 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Why we love it: One of the best beginner travel cards — earn points on flights, hotels, and dining, plus flexible redemption through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Best for: Anyone who wants free flights and hotel stays with everyday purchases.
💳 Capital One Venture Rewards Card
- Why we love it: Simple 2x miles on every purchase and easy redemption options for flights, hotels, and rental cars.
- Best for: Travelers who want straightforward rewards with no category restrictions.
💳 American Express
- Why we love it:
- Best for:
Earning Skymiles
Starbucks Rewards Program – If you love Starbucks, you got to link your Starbucks rewards app to your Delta account. For every dollar you spend you get a mile! Just another reason to go treat yourself to those delicious refreshers!
2️⃣ Travel-Friendly Banking & Cards
🏦 Charles Schwab Bank Debit Card
- Why we love it: No ATM fees worldwide — it even refunds international withdrawal fees.
- Best for: International travelers who need cash on the go.
🏦 Wise (formerly TransferWise)
- Why we love it: Hold and spend money in multiple currencies with real exchange rates and low fees.
- Best for: Digital nomads or anyone paying abroad without foreign transaction fees.
3️⃣ Earning Travel Points & Miles
✈️ Rakuten (Cashback + Miles)
- Why we love it: Earn cash back or convert to travel points when shopping online through Rakuten’s portal.
- Best for: Everyday shoppers who want to turn purchases into free travel.
✈️ Airline Loyalty Programs
- Why we love them: Most are free to join and let you earn miles even on discounted fares.
- Best for: Frequent flyers — join your main carrier’s loyalty program (e.g., Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus).
4️⃣ Budgeting & Expense Tracking Tools
💰 TravelSpend App
- Why we love it: Tracks expenses in real time and splits costs between travelers.
- Best for: Families or group trips on a budget.
💰 Trail Wallet (iOS)
- Why we love it: Simple interface and custom currency tracking for international trips.
- Best for: iPhone users who want an easy, visual way to manage trip budgets.
✅ Pro Tips for Managing Travel Money
- Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees to save on international purchases.
- Always carry a backup debit card in case one is lost or stolen.
- Use ATM withdrawals in larger amounts to avoid frequent transaction fees.
- Consider sign-up bonuses — some cards offer enough points for a free round-trip flight right away.