Family Travel Favorites: Gear We Actually Use
Updated October 5, 2025
After thousands of miles and countless memories…
From our NYC-to-Florida road trip to six theme parks, two cruises, airline flights, and a ride on Amtrak — we’ve put our travel gear to the ultimate test this year.
These are the items that actually earned their spot in our bags — the things that made travel smoother, lighter, and more enjoyable for our family.
🔹 New: Look for the ⭐ 2025 MVP tag beside the top performers.
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Theme Park Essentials
Collapsible Water Bottle ⭐ 2025 MVP
A collapsible water bottle for those hot and humid them park days
For Motion Sickness ⭐ 2025 MVP
A new pair of motion sick bands for our little guy.
Theme Park Skort ⭐ 2025 MVP
Trying out a new brand and style of shorts for those hot theme park days
Waterproof Phone Pouch
Keep your phone dry at the pool or beach.
Theme Park Pants
New lightweight breathable cargo pants for the theme park visits and touring.
Ear Holders ⭐ 2025 MVP
For when I want to give myself a break from my ears.
UV Umbrella ⭐ 2025 MVP
It’s all about protection from the rain and sun.
Tech Essentials
These tech tools have saved us on flights, in parks, and at hotels with too few outlets. We never leave home without them.
Apple AirTags ⭐ 2025 MVP
We drop one in every suitcase—game changer for airport peace of mind.
Apple AirPods ⭐ 2025 MVP
Perfect for keeping the peace on loud flights or quiet breaks anywhere.
Anker Quick Charger ⭐ 2025 MVP
This pocket-size charger powered us through long Disney days.
Anker USB-C Wall Charger ⭐ 2025 MVP
Small but mighty—charges everything fast and is just what you need particularly in older cruise cabins.
Anker USB to USB-C Cable
Reliable, fast, and long enough for moments when the charger isn’t right beside you.
AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth Adapter ⭐ 2025 MVP
Lets us use our AirPods with in-flight entertainment—no more cheap earbuds.
Electronics Travel Case
No more tangled cords or lost adapters. Everything’s in one spot.
Luggage & Packing Organization
The bags and organizers that keep us sane on multi-stop trips—from road to resort to cruise.
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L ⭐ 2025 MVP
Rugged, roomy, and sleek—I love this for short getaways or as my personal item on flights.
Cotopaxi Kapai 3L Hip Pack ⭐ 2025 MVP
My go to bag on the weekends and while touring.
Cotopaxi Accessory Bag ⭐ 2025 MVP
Keeps the little things tidy inside our bigger bags.
Samsonite Spinner Luggage ⭐ 2025 MVP
Smooth wheels + durable shell = airport win.
Packing Cubes
We drop these right into hotel or cabin drawer, makes unpacking a breeze.
Compression Cubes ⭐ 2025 MVP
Perfect when we need to squeeze more in.
Travel Hangers
So useful on cruises or hotels without enough hangers.
Car Trunk Organizer
A road trip must—everything stays put and accessible.
Travel Trash Can
A place for your trash in between stops.
Kick Seat Covers
Protect your car seats from the littles in the back seat and give them a place to store their travel items.
Passport Wallet ⭐ 2025 MVP
Keep all of your passports and important documents in one place.
Cruise Essentials
We learned these the hard way—tiny cabins and power needs demand smart packing.
European Plug Adapter
Works for cruise ship outlets.
Cruise Lanyards
Hands-free key card access—our son loves his too.
Magnetic Cabin Hooks ⭐ 2025 MVP
Cruise walls are metal—these help hang everything from towels to hats.
Princess Luggage Tag Holders
No ripped tags, no last-minute taping required.
For Our Little Traveler
These kid-tested items help keep the peace—and keep him entertained.
Kids’ Noise-Canceling Headphones
Quiet time on planes, trains, and anywhere he’s using his device..
Disney Themed Luggage ⭐ 2025 MVP
We love a Disney moment and this luggage hits the spot. Different versions of this Star Wars and other Disney themed carry-ons are available.
Creator Tools We Use
If you’re making family travel content too, or just want great vacation videos—this gear works for us.
Hollyland Lark M2 Wireless Mic ⭐ 2025 MVP
Lightweight and easy to use—great for any adventure..
Shure MV88+ Mic ⭐ 2025 MVP
Plug and play audio boost for iPhone creators and it’s great for voice overs.
Tripod
Portable and stable enough for long days out.
Insta360 Creator Kit
For immersive shots + smooth walking footage.
External Hard Drive ⭐ 2025 MVP
Because phone storage disappears fast on vacation and it’s great for storing your memories after the trip.
Lighting Kit
For better video quality in hotel rooms or at night.
Rode Wireless Mic
Another solid mic option we’ve used for interviews or group videos.
This list evolves with every trip—so check back as we find new favorites or test out different gear. And if something helped you too, I’d love to hear about it!
Until next time, enjoy the journey!