What To Pack For International Travel 2026

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A blackout eye mask is essential for sleeping well on flights and in hotel rooms. This one has a contoured, ergonomic design that doesn’t put too much pressure on your eyes. “It blocks out all the light for a true blackout experience,” says luxury travel advisor and content creator Olivia Ferney. “It makes it so much easier to fall asleep and stay asleep, even when you’re traveling during the day.”

From check-in to customs, you’ll pull out your passport multiple times. Why not make it look more stylish? “I really like my sleek Tarmac passport holder,” says Jesse Ashlock, travel editor and journalist. “It’s elevated and I can tuck claim tickets and other small but important papers inside.” The calfskin leather will develop a patina over time and the palladium-plated corner snap won’t tarnish, scratch or wear.

“Long flights, changing climates and hours spent exploring new destinations leave me feeling tired and dehydrated,” says Lucie Kittel, founder of Domino Travel, who always keeps a face mist in her bag. This pick is infused with grape extract, rosemary and peppermint to refresh your complexion and it layers well over makeup, too. “A quick spritz by the pool, in the middle of a tour or before heading out to dinner helps me feel put together, even after a long day,” says Kittel. 

Weighing just 4.6 grams per earbud, this wireless set from Sony is featherlight and rich in audio features. “The earbuds have excellent battery life, great sound quality and are one of the best values I’ve found for frequent travel,” says Ferney. A single charge gives you 11 hours of playing time and the charging case provides an additional 11 hours—that’s 22 hours of battery life. And in a pinch, a quick five-minute charge gives you an hour of playback.

“I always bring this valet tray with me to keep my nightstand in my hotel room organized,” says Kristen Shirley, founder of La Patiala, a luxury lifestyle site. “It corrals my jewelry, my watch, eye mask, earplugs and lip gloss. I’ve nearly lost earrings before when they’ve been knocked off a nightstand, so it’s a non-negotiable travel essential for me.” This one is crafted from 100% finely-grained leather and unsnaps to lie flat, so it takes up almost no room in your suitcase.

Forbes Vetted deputy editor Jane Sung has packed this water-resistant light—which recharges via solar power or USB and lasts for up to 14 hours—on many international family trips. “It’s one of those small items that ends up being surprisingly useful, for bedtime reading, adding extra light to dim rooms or taking outside as a makeshift lantern.” It has a flexible 14-inch silicone arm so you can hang the light from almost anywhere and direct the beam where you need it. 

Not every hotel provides a robe, so packing your own ensures you’ll always have something comfortable to relax in. “This one is silky smooth, but not bulky, so it doesn’t take up too much space in my suitcase,” says Shirley, who always packs a robe if she isn’t staying at a 5-star hotel. This style is cut from lightweight, machine-washable fabric and finished with a luxurious shawl collar.   

If you pack multiple types of glasses, a sturdy case keeps everything sorted and protected. “A glasses organizer holds several pairs in one compact case, so I can easily switch between readers, computer glasses and progressives without adding bulk to my bag,” says Carey Kyler, AARP’s senior director of research and insights. Away’s slim, polycarbonate hard shell has a durable zip closure and padded microsuede interior with internal dividers to prevent scratches on the go. 

Finding a safe booster seat in a taxi or ride share is a challenge in the U.S., let alone overseas. Instead of scrambling to buy one at her destination, Sung packs this inflatable seat, which folds down small enough to slip into a tote or backpack. “People stop us on the street to ask about this booster,” she says. “It’s incredibly easy to bring along for taxis, rental cars and rides with friends or family.” The seat installs quickly with a metal loop that’s compatible with all three-point seat-belt harnesses and is designed for children who meet the minimum weight (40 to 110 pounds) and age (4 to 11 years) requirements.

Dagne Dover’s Roma cubes are made from lightweight, flexible mesh and compress easily into your luggage while keeping all your items organized. Available in four sizes, from small to extra large, the cubes can accommodate bulkier clothing like sweaters, jackets and shoes (up to men’s size 15 and women’s size 16), as well as hair tools, toiletries and chargers. “I was completely anti-packing-cubes until I tried these two years ago and they have truly changed my life,” says Forbes Vetted features director Kimberly Peiffer. “Now I can’t travel without them.”

This wrap-around travel pillow’s internal support brace aligns your neck and spine while preventing your head from falling forward as you sleep upright in your seat. The breathable material also helps regulate temperature throughout your flight. “The cooling fabric is super comfortable for long flights,” says Ferney. “The way it wraps around your neck stops your head from bobbing forward, which is great for economy seats. It has dramatically improved my ability to sleep on planes.”

“I travel so often that small but important things like checking the outlet types in my destination sometimes slip my mind,” says travel creator and journalist Nicole Phillip. “So I always keep this adapter in my suitcase.” This all-in-one international adapter works in over 150 countries with four different plug configurations (EU, UK, AUS and US) and built-in USB-A and USB-C ports. The retractable plugs unlock with a button slider and the compact design means this takes up minimal space in your carry-on. 

These mini moisturizing stones are TSA-friendly and perfectly sized for travel, so you can pack them in your carry-on without worrying about any mess. “I’ve had way too many mishaps with leaky products over the decades,” says Peiffer. “I switched from traditional lotion to these amazing body stones that never leak in my bag.” Made with cocoa butter, almond oil and apricot kernel oil, the formula comes in four scents—floral, herbal, earthy and woodsy—or a fragrance-free version. 

“I always pack this portable sound machine in case I’m staying somewhere over-the-top noisy or my sleep earbuds run out of battery,” says Peiffer. This small but mighty rechargeable sound machine drowns out everything from hotel hallway chatter to late-night street noise with multiple sound options and also streams music via Bluetooth. And it lasts 24 hours on a single charge.