15 Packing Tips From a Travel Agent

After graduating college and living abroad in Rome and London, I began my career in the travel industry as a travel agent. I was inspired by my own travels and wanted to help others take their dream trips off their bucket lists and into the real world. I was a travel consultant for five years, planning flights, hotel stays, cruises, and tours. Now that I’m an editor at Travel + Leisure, I look back on my time as a travel agent, using those experiences to help readers plan and pack for the trip of their dreams, too.

A lesson I’ve learned from travel consulting is that every traveler is different, each with their own unique needs and wants. For example, some families don’t travel very often and therefore get nervous about all the little details leading up to a vacation, like how much their bags need to weigh, or how they would be able to fit everything they’d need inside a carry-on (psst: that’s where luggage scales and packing cubes come in handy). Other travelers are seasoned jet-setters who already know tried-and-true tips and tricks of using noise-canceling headphones on a crowded flight or bringing an extra packable backpack for shopping trips through local marketplaces.

Suffice it to say that I’ve learned plenty of tips from my travel agent days, and now, I’m here to share my favorite hacks with you ahead of your next trip. From how to pack like a pro to making flights more comfortable, here are my favorite 15 Amazon products to help any trip run smoother. 

Bagsmart 6-set Compression Packing Cubes

Whether you need to fit everything in a compact carry-on or just want to keep your belongings organized in a jumbo-sized checked suitcase, compression packing cubes can help. Whereas regular packing cubes help you separate your clothing into individual pouches, compression packing cubes help you save space by zipping down tightly and removing excess air from each pouch, allowing you to fit more inside your luggage. I’ve traveled with this exact six-piece set on multiple trips and love it for the variety of sizes — you can even use them to separate shoes and dirty clothing.

Hibag 10-pack Vacuum Storage Bags 

You can take your compression one step further with vacuum storage bags. Some people use these at home to store household goods, like towels and comforters or seasonal items, but they’re just as useful to pack bulky apparel down tightly inside a suitcase. Travelers would often ask me how to vacuum-seal the bag shut on their return journey, but it’s simple thanks to all-in-one sets like this one from Hibag; it comes with a travel-friendly air pump to easily flatten the bags in minutes or less. I love this set because it comes with 10 bags in five different sizes, so you can take along whichever sizes are most convenient for any given trip.

Paravel Fold Up Travel Backpack 

Back in my travel agent era, clients would often get nervous about buying too much stuff on their trip and not being able to fit it all in their bags on their return journey. There’s a straightforward solution: bring along an empty bag to fill up on the way home. This lightweight Paravel backpack folds into a wallet-sized pouch that you can pack into your suitcase or carry-on and opens up when you need an extra bag after a shopping trip. You can also use it as your personal item bag or as your day bag at your destination. On top of being spacious yet packable, this Paravel foldable backpack gets bonus points for being on sale for 20 percent off.

Anker Nano 3-in-1 Portable Charger 

Trust me: a portable charger should be at the top of your packing list. This way, you’ll never have to worry about your phone dying if you happen to miss your flight or get stranded in an airport and need to call a travel agent for help — but it’ll also come in handy when you’re spending all day outside sightseeing or exploring a new city. This Anker portable charger is my favorite because it has a built-in folding plug so you won’t have to pack the wall unit separately (though, if you’re traveling outside of North America, you’ll need a travel adapter). It has two charging ports, including an attached USB-C cable, to charge multiple devices at once. Plus, you can see the charger’s remaining battery percentage on the side, meaning you’ll never have to second-guess how much juice it has left. 

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Noise-canceling Headphones 

Some people get discouraged by long flights, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting your dream destination. Many of my tech-savvy clientele would recommend noise-canceling headphones to me during my travel agent days since they can help block out the roar of the plane engine, noisy seatmates, and crying babies. I use this Bowers & Wilkins pair on flights, and it has helped me sleep better, hear the audio of the in-flight movies, and concentrate when I want to read a book — thus keeping me busy for the duration of my flight. You can also switch between active noise-canceling mode and transparency mode if you don’t want to miss any announcements. Though they’re a bit pricey, now is the best time to get these because they’re on major sale; you can save as much as $149 depending on select colors.

Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow 

Another way to make long flights more comfortable is with a decent travel pillow. This Ostrichpillow Go neck pillow is lightweight and adjustable, and it comes with a carrying case. It features compressible memory foam to support your neck and hopefully allow you to get some sleep, even if you get stuck in the middle seat. Plus, the removable pillow cover is machine-washable, so you can sanitize it when you get back home.

SB Sox Compression Socks 

Once again, comfort is key while flying and will help you start your trip on a positive note. Get yourself a pair of compression socks and wear them on your next flight to help with blood circulation and swelling after sitting for long periods of time. This can also help you avoid jetlag since your legs and feet won’t feel as fatigued, allowing you to hit the ground running once you get to your destination. 

Apple AirTag 4-pack 

I’ve spent many hours on the phone with airlines on behalf of clients trying to track down lost luggage. Apple AirTags are a must for keeping tabs on your checked bags. These increasingly popular GPS tracking discs deliver real-time location updates directly to your iPhone’s Find My app. In fact, Apple AirTags have become so popular for travel that, now, several suitcases have built-in AirTag holders so you can place these handy luggage trackers inside. If your luggage doesn’t make it to the baggage claim, at least you can see if it made it to your destination or if it’s stuck in a different location, giving you some peace of mind and helping you hunt it down. A pack of four is 26 percent off at the moment, so you can put them in your purse or backpack, too.

Tile by Life360 Slim Bluetooth Tracker 

An even bigger problem than lost luggage is a lost passport or wallet because there’s no greater hassle than getting stranded in another country without your ID or credit cards. This Tile tracker has a unique flat design that you can place inside the card slots of a wallet or passport holder to track their locations. You can also set it up to send an alert to your Life360 Circle in unsafe situations, which is great for solo travel. It’s compatible with iOS and Androids and it’s currently on sale for 20 percent off.

Pascacoo Passport Holder With Luggage Tag 

I can’t stress enough how important it is to keep track of your passport, especially when you’re traveling internationally. Your passport is your ticket back home, and without it, you can get stranded in a foreign country. I’ve also seen people get stuck at Customs due to damaged passports, which can happen due to wear and tear or getting your passport wet, so I’d advise protecting your important documents with a passport holder. For under $20, this Amazon find comes with a matching luggage tag, a money pocket, and a pen so you can get a head start filling out custom forms on the plane.

Travel Inspira Luggage Scale 

A common question I used to get as a travel agent was about luggage weight limits since everyone hates getting hit with overweight baggage fees at airport check-in. Though weight limits vary based on airline status and class of service, a luggage scale will help you be prepared ahead of time. All you have to do is attach it to the handle of your suitcase and lift it to see how much it weighs while you’re still at home or in your hotel so you can rearrange items beforehand without having to pay surprise fees. In the grand scheme of things, $10 is a small price to pay to save yourself from future hassles.

Columbia Women’s Switchback IV Jacket 

Believe it or not, I’ve experienced a few instances of less-than-thrilled travelers who wanted their money back because it rained at their destination and ruined their trip (FYI, they did not get those refunds). My advice is to always check the weather forecast beforehand and prepare your packing list accordingly so that a little rain doesn’t put a damper on your whole vacation. An easy way to do that is to pack a light rain jacket — it won’t take up much space at all, and you can still go out and explore without having to carry an umbrella. This Columbia pick comes in nine colors to match any outfit, and some colors and sizes are up to 40 percent off right now.

Pelican Marine IP68 Waterproof Phone Pouch 

Whether rain is in the forecast or you have some water activities booked, you’re going to want to protect your phone (and all of those exciting vacation photos on it). Get yourself a waterproof phone case — this Pelican Marine phone pouch even floats in water, so it won’t sink to the bottom of the sea while you’re snorkeling.

Maliton Waterproof Toiletry Bag 

If you’re in the camp of “I don’t need a fancy hotel room, I’ll only use it to sleep in,” you can maximize your limited bathroom space with a hanging toiletry bag like this on-sale one. Instead of monopolizing precious counter space by spreading your toiletries out far and wide, you can keep them neatly lined up in this waterproof case that attaches to a towel rack, shower rod, or doorknob.

Electrolux Portable Steamer

Another question that came up a lot while I was a travel agent was whether the hotel had an iron in the room. Instead of relying on mystery hotel closet irons from the turn of the century, it’s easier to just play it safe by packing your own reliable travel steamer. From a spacious water tank to an 8-foot-long cord, this steamer strikes a balance between convenience and performance. It’s compact, has multiple steam settings, and is versatile enough to use at home, too. Plus, it’s on sale for 25 percent off at Amazon, so strike while the iron (or steamer, I suppose) is hot!

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.