43 Travel Essentials Everyone Needs In 2023 (And Beyond), According To Travel Experts

If the last few years has taught you anything, it's that hand sanitizer is a necessity in public places. Allison Kobasky, co-owner of Over The Moon vacations, recommends these handy-dandy wipes (sorry, had to!) for all your travel needs. Yes, they're perfect for your palms, but Kobasky uses them to "wipe down the seats and any high-touch items like armrests and tray tables," too.

If airplane entertainment isn't your thing (I get it), the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is a travel must. With an 8" HD display and 2 gigabytes of RAM, this lightweight tablet offers 13 hours of access to social media, games, books, and all your favorite streaming services.

Not sure if it's worth the purchase? Just take it from this rave review: "The kindle fire HD8 is the absolute best for my e-books. The clarity is excellent, the battery life is far superior to my fire7, and my games are faster. I think it is excellent value for the money spent."

"That is fantastic to travel with for keeping your lips hydrated," says Mary Jo Palmer, a travel advisor at Travel Edge. Need she say more?

Bite's toothpaste bits are perfect for extended travel plans. Instead of lugging around a whole big tube, all you need is your toothbrush, water, and just one of these tablets. The bites come in mint, berry twist, and mint charcoal flavors. Plus, it's not only a convenient, on-the-go options, but a more sustainable one, too.

"Love that I can pop these in my purse and have clean teeth whenever and wherever," says one user. "Love the glass bottle and the focus on quality. Tastes great and great gift idea too!"

A travel pillow can only do so much when your neck is craned toward your lap for hours on end. This hands-free smartphone holder attaches to the back of your airplane tray table so your device is right in your line of vision.

Need another reason to *add to cart*? Just read this rave review: "With this gadget I can place my phone in it and hook it onto the top edge of the tray table in its upright position, all while everyone is still boarding. When I flip the tray table down for beverage service, I change the gadget into a stand without needing to remove the phone. It takes up little room in my bag, and it is sturdy as proven on my last flight with extremely rough air."

If you're a die-hard fan of classic hand sani gel, opt for a travel-sized container you can pop into the same clear plastic bag holding the rest of your carry-on liquids. These one-ounce bottles even come with jelly wraps to attach to your purse, backpack, key chain, etc. (Pro tip: When buying any hand sanitizer, check the label to make sure it contains at least 60-percent alcohol content for proper germ protection, says Bernstein.)

Channel your inner Lisa Rinna, and go on a clean freak spree from plane to rental car to hotel room and beyond! "We recommend disinfecting wipes because you can use them to quickly get rid of any surface germs," says Bernstein. "I like the Clorox travel pack, but anything that says it kills 99.9 percent of germs is definitely good."

Just to hammer this home: There's no such thing as "too much" hydration when your skin is jetsetting. Bernstein recommends this water-based facial spray from Evian to "always look and feel fresh on the go." (Brb, buying these in bulk.)

Perfect for the traveler who can never get comfortable, "this one is more unique and versatile than your standard travel pillow," says Bernstein. "I just like the idea that it wraps around your neck so no matter how you fall asleep, your neck's not gonna hurt when you wake up." Jet lag, who?

As your skin dries out, your hair greases up—sigh. Whether you're on a long road trip or flight, stashing a mini-sized dry shampoo in your bag ensures "you can keep adventuring without having to constantly wash and style your hair," says Kobasky. A quick spritz will give you that instant refresh everyone needs while traveling.

ICYDK, air travel dries out your skin, thanks to the low humidity environment created by a plane's filtration system."I've personally been packing a super moisturizing facial and hand cream—my favorite being Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream with SPF," says Kobasky. Add 'maskne' (a.k.a. mask acne) on to run-of-the-mill dryness and travel-minded skincare is key. "Same goes for your hands," she notes. "As washing constantly and using hand sanitizer tends to dry them out."

The last thing you want while traveling is to get to your destination and realize you don't have an adapter. Luckily, this device will allow you to charge multiple items at once without overheating.

"Used this for a trip to Morocco where it performed well all week. [It was] plugged in constantly, running all four USB ports, and at least three of the sockets at the same time. It makes a very low-level hum and did not generate any heat," wrote one user.

"These are amazing to reduce the puffiness and just overall darkness underneath your eyes, but they're also hydrating, which you need when you're on a plane," says Bernstein. Bonus: They're totally face mask-friendly and an indulgent way to practice self-care in the skies.

If you don't have an Apple phone or simply want to connect to another device, make sure to choose a USB cord that's compatible with that charging/connection outlet. Many use a micro USB, so it's best to have both cable options at the ready.

The most underrated travel essential? SLEEP. After all, you can't tackle your adventure agenda if you're dozing off. To ensure your best shot at shuteye on a plane or in a hotel room, opt for an opaque eye mask, says Bernstein.

"Even with the blind shut on the plane, you can still kind of see the light [coming through], so you'll want to make sure your mask is obviously light-blocking," she explains. An eye mask is always a safe bet, and this one made of pure silk will help keep your skin smooth and retain its moisture.

If you have sensitive skin like Palmer, she recommends these collagen-infused eye patches to hydrate and brighten while traveling.

Because Palmer's skin gets irritated by regular makeup remover wipes (a travel essential for many!), she started using this balm from Yves Saint Laurent instead. Now, she swears by it as a more sustainable option since you're not going through a ton of wipes and just chucking them in the trash every night.

Another crucial item for travel? A standard USB cord. You've probably already put charging cords on your packing list, but pack an extra or two for the rental car. "This allows us to play our own music on long trips and also connect to Google Maps or Waze if the car has Apple Carplay," says Kobasky.