Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Viktorija Strelciunaite

Travel Horror Stories? Not With These 26 Problem-Solving Finds

For everyone who's ever shown up to the airport looking like they packed during an earthquake or realized mid-flight that sleeping upright is actually torture – we've got you. These 26 travel fixes transform you from chaotic tourist to seasoned pro faster than you can say "where's my passport?" Between power banks that prevent dead-phone panic attacks and airplane window organizers that turn your tiny seat space into command central, each item helps you dodge those classic travel fails that end up as cautionary tales on Reddit.

Let's be real: traveling brings out our most unhinged selves. But with the right tools, you can fake having it together remarkably well. Picture yourself gracefully dozing in a foot hammock while others struggle with basic circulation, or whipping out a travel manicure set to fix that nail you absolutely destroyed on your luggage zipper. From plug adapters that save you from staring helplessly at foreign outlets to packing checklists that prevent those "forgot my underwear" moments, these finds handle everything from basic survival to those oddly specific situations that only seem to happen when you're thousands of miles from home.

#1 No More Exploding Shampoo Bottles! These Silicone Bottle Covers Are Your Luggage's Best Friend

Review: "I love this product! It gives you extra assurance to add on top of your bottles especially when you are traveling and check in your luggage. This will help to prevent leaked! Great buy!! This gadget also fit the entire 3oz better for even better coverage!" - Shakema C.

This might be our new favorite find, especially for those tiny leak-prone carry-on bottles. Check out 23 more carry-on hacks that will help you deal with the tiny-bag blues.

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#2 On The Go Deodorant Wipes Are A Pocket-Sized Pampering You Need On Those Long Travel Days

Review: "The mint sent is very fresh. The wipes are large enough to freshen up. They are individually, packaged, and easy to carry with you. The only word on the package is Mint. I love these!" - Geri Deller

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#3 Your Ears Deserve A Vacation Too! Treat Them To A Pair Of Earplugs For Pressure Relief

Review: "Absolutely love this product. I was recently on a 5 hour flight and I wore them the whole time. I could still hear through my over the ear headphones perfectly fine but not the kid screaming a couple rows away. I have bad ears and the pressure from flights have always been bad for me but I wore these and it was life changing." - Cierra Marie

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#4 Wrinkle-Free Clothes, No Matter Where You Go, With These Portable Folding Clothes Hangers

Review: "These fold up and are so easy to pack—take up very little room in your suitcase, and you don’t have to worry about not having enough hangers. Love the pretty colors, too!" - Jean H.

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#5 Stay Hydrated On-The-Go Without The Bulk! Collapsible Water Bottle Is A Genius Solution For Travelers Who Want To Reduce Waste And Save Space In Their Luggage

Review: "Great for saving space, lighter weight, excellent choice for hiking!" - Marisol Miranda

Buy Now: amazon.com

#6 Stay Organized And Entertained At 30,000 Feet With Airplane Window Organization Station ! This Clever Accessory Keeps Your Phone, Tablet, And Other Essentials Within Reach, Making Your Flight A Whole Lot More Enjoyable

Review: "I generally do not have high hopes for travel gadgets, so I was shocked when this actually fit into the window AND held my drinks easily. It was very sturdy, too! My kiddo kept grabbing one of the drinks out of it and it didn’t wobble or spill the other drink. Very impressed! I put gum in the middle part for most of the flight, but tried my phone in later and it worked as well. Highly recommend!" - Gabbs

Buy Now: amazon.com

#7 Be Prepared For Any Boo-Boos On The Go With Portable Mini First Aid Pouch ! This Tiny But Mighty Kit Packs All The Essentials For Minor Mishaps, So You Can Focus On Having A Blast, Not Bandaging A Cut

Review: "I knew it would be small, but I was pretty surprised at the size when I saw it! However, it fits everything I need! It's the perfect travel first aid bag to fit in your bag or suitcase. Love it!" - Troy and Sarah Egri

Buy Now: amazon.com

#8 Sip, Stroll, And Stay Stress-Free With Strap On Luggage Cup Holder ! This Clever Contraption Attaches To Your Luggage, Keeping Your Drink Within Easy Reach, So You Can Navigate Airports And Train Stations With Both Hands Free. Genius!

Review: "Got compliments on its first travel day! So easy to use and sturdy. I use one side for drinks, the other side for sandwiches, and the small pocket for receipts, napkins, or utensils. Made traveling easy." - J. Livingston

Buy Now: amazon.com

#9 Forgetful Packer? No Worries! This Packing List Notepad Has Got Your Back[pack]

Review: "This is a perfect list, and I love that there are extra blank lines for you to personalize additional items. Paper quality is good! The list everyone needs!" - Sassy

Buy Now: Amazon.com

Smart traveling means anticipating disasters before they strike, and our next batch of solutions tackles those particularly painful lessons learned the hard way. From tech emergencies to comfort crises, these finds transform potential travel fails into smooth sailing, proving that sometimes the best adventures are the ones where nothing goes horrifically wrong.

#10 Portable Door Lock: The Must-Have For Airbnb Stays And Hotel Hopping

Review: "After someone walked into my last AirBNB unannounced, I decided it was time to go the extra mile to be safe. Since I travel alot, this easily slides into my carry on and then into my hotel room. It's worth feeling safe. Easy to use and worth the sense of peace." - Richard

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#11 Ditch The Discomfort Of Long-Haul Flights With Airplane Foot Hammock ! This Clever Contraption Lets You Elevate Your Feet And Find Some Sweet Relief, Making Even The Longest Flights Feel Like A Breeze

Review: "This is so comfortable that I had to submit a review as I’m currently using it for the first time on this flight. I saw a woman use it for our GA to WA flight a month ago. It seemed comfortable so I decided to buy one for myself. I’m 5’2 for any who are curious. My husband said he didn’t need it. But I had him try it and he didn’t want to give it back. We didn’t even have to adjust the length from how I had it set. He is 5’10. Buy it. You’ll enjoy your flight more if you fly economy like we do. And more so in any upper class I’m sure." - Kenia Figueroa

Buy Now: amazon.com

#12 Sleep Tight On Your Next Flight With Inflatable Travel Air Pillow ! This Genius Pillow Provides The Ultimate Comfort And Support, So You Can Arrive At Your Destination Feeling Refreshed And Ready To Roll

Review: "Easy to inflate, easy to disinflate and carry. Used it for a 5hr flight and it was best sleep I had in a airplane. It was super comfortable. I also used to stuff my feet it in it when it got too cold on the flight." - rubi

Buy Now: amazon.com

#13 Don't Let Hairy Situations Ruin Your Travels! Venus-On-The-Go Razor Is A Compact, Convenient, And Super-Cute Solution For Staying Smooth On-The-Go. It's The Perfect Travel Buddy For Any Beauty Emergency

Review: "I purchased this razor for a recent trip to Europe, and it was absolutely perfect! Its compact size made it easy to pack in my carry-on without taking up too much space. Despite being travel-friendly, it provided a close and smooth shave every time. Lightweight, convenient, and efficient—exactly what I needed for traveling. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a reliable travel razor!" - Amazon Customer

Buy Now: amazon.com

#14 Freshen Up On The Fly With Disposable Mini Toothbrushes ! These Tiny Toothbrushes Are Perfect For A Quick Clean Between Meals Or After A Long Flight, Because A Clean Smile Is The Best Travel Accessory

Review: "These are fabulous. Carry in your car, purse etc. while these are a one use item they are fabulous. Eat a meal, quick brush your teeth. Not too hard. Easy on gums. The burst of toothpaste makes your mouth fresh." - nancy beyer

Buy Now: amazon.com

#15 No More Tangled Cords Or Waterlogged Gadgets With This Waterproof Electronics Accessories Case!

Review: "I often travel with multiple devices and I pack this with any chords I need, especially ones I may use on the plane ride, right in my carry-on. It allows me to find my earbuds and phone charger easily and I can store them away neatly. I'm so happy I purchased this product." - Jennifer Rivera

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#16 Stash These Flushable Toilet Seat Covers In Your Bag For A Worry-Free Bathroom Break

Review: "These are perfect for traveling but now I keep them in my bag for local errands . Incase I need to use the restroom and need seat protection, these are there !!" - Charvese Williams

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#17 Cool Down And Feel Better Fast With Cooling Patches

Review: "Just love this product - especially in Summer heat - just put it across the back of my neck and I have six to 8 hours of cooling relief - keep a box in my car and also always a few in my purse - a true BLESSING 🌴🌴🌴" - KD

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#18 Shrink Your Clothes, Not Your Vacation Style, With These Travel Compression Bags

Review: "These bags made packing for a multi month trip so easy. So bags are rolled to vacuum out the air and others use the blue pump to remove it. A lot of my clothes were barely wrinkled afterwards or only need to be hung for the wrinkles to release. No bad plastic smell to the bags as well." - Kate

Buy Now: Amazon.com

Experience meets innovation as we explore more ways to dodge common travel pitfalls. Our following picks showcase how proper preparation prevents those embarrassing moments that turn vacation stories into warnings. Whether dealing with beauty emergencies or tech troubles, each item serves as insurance against ending up as someone else's "you won't believe what I saw at the airport" story.

#19 No More Adapter Anxiety! Universal Travel Adapter Is Your Go-To Sidekick For International Adventures, Keeping Your Devices Charged And Ready To Roll In Any Country, Anytime

Review: "This adapter is very handy for the occasional travel - looks almost identical to other high-end brands. The similarity does not stop there - it also comes with a fuse. The fusebox can be conveniently opened with a male USB-C adapter (or a flathead, obviously) - the fuses it uses are the same as the other adapters that I have - so it is interchangeable." - TechPerspective

Buy Now: amazon.com

#20 Get A Grip On Grooming On The Go With Travel Mini Manicure Set ! This Teeny-Tiny Kit Contains Everything You Need For A Quick Nail Rescue, Because Who Says You Can't Have Great Nails On Vacation?

Review: "Bought this for my daughter and she loves it! Great hard cases and items inside easy carry." - shannen scott

Buy Now: amazon.com

#21 Stay Powered Up On The Move With High Speed Portable Charging Bank ! This Speedy Sidekick Can Charge Your Devices In A Flash, So You Can Stay Connected, Capture Memories, And Navigate Unfamiliar Streets Without Worrying About Running Out Of Juice

Review: "This little device is perfect. It charges quickly when I recharge it and it charges up my phone quickly as well." - Leann

Buy Now: amazon.com

#22 Tame Tangles And Frizz On The Fly With Mini Flat Iron ! This Pint-Sized Powerhouse Lets You Smooth Out Your Locks Anywhere, Anytime, Because Bad Hair Days Shouldn't Ruin Your Travels

Review: "This is the perfect travel size and works great! Very easy to use." - Jules

Buy Now: amazon.com

#23 Keep Your Treasures Tidy On The Go With Small Jewelry Box ! This Tiny Treasure Chest Is Perfect For Stashing Your Favorite Pieces, So You Can Travel In Style Without The Worry Of Tangled Necklaces Or Lost Earrings

Review: "Used to put my jewelry in ziplock bags which left my necklaces and bracelets in a tangled mess. I saw these travel jewelry boxes on tiktok and was wondering if these would help when I'd be traveling. I had been using this on a two week trip and never once found my jewelry in a mess! There's a lot of storage for my most favorite items, in which I can keep them all organized and my bigger pieces safe in the upper pocket. This is an amazing purchase if you're a huge traveler and want to keep your jewelry safe and untangled!" - Haley Newman

When it comes to gifts for an avid traveler, this one is pretty high on the list. But we have 13 other excellent gifts for the high-flyer in your life.

Buy Now: amazon.com

#24 Silicone Cord Organizer Straps: Because A Tidy Tech Life Is A Happy Tech Life

Review: "This is the second order of this item for me, I am obsessed with keeping my cords tied up and these ties really help you to keep things together and organized. Easy to use. I recommend them" - Carrie Cyphert

Buy Now: Amazon.com

Source: Atrioc

#25 Travel With Confidence, Knowing Your Luggage Is Secure With A TSA Approved Travel Lock

Review: "What I like on this lock that I did not have on others, was that you could tell if TSA went through your luggage, because there is a button that will pop up if they do. I would recommend this 100%." - Lawry

Buy Now: Amazon.com

#26 No More Fumbling At Check-In: Stay Organized With This Sleek Passport & Vaccine Card Holder

Review: "This passport book is a cute way to travel with your passport anywhere! It also has options to hold vaccine records, cards etc which is so helpful when traveling. Great quality. A must have." - Ashtin Stutts

Buy Now: Amazon.com

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.