Family Travel Fun!
Between family reunions, road trips, international adventures, and everyday travel, The Clever Crew has learned a thing or two about packing smart. Some of these finds came from our own trial and error, some were discovered through our son — a traveling tradesman who lives out of a suitcase and knows exactly what holds up on the road — and one was born out of a hard lesson learned when my sister got sick at the start of an international flight and we had absolutely nothing on hand to help. Every single item on this list has earned its place in our travel routine.
Whether you are a frequent flyer, an occasional vacationer, or a grandparent heading to a family reunion with a 5-year-old in tow, these are the travel must-haves we genuinely reach for every single time we leave home. Pepper stays behind but these go with us always!
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SwissGear 7366 Signature Hardside Expandable Luggage 27″
♥ What I Love
Our son is a traveling tradesman who lives out of a suitcase traveling by both car and air — so when he showed up to our family reunion raving about this SwissGear as the best luggage he has ever owned, we paid attention. The hardside expandable shell protects everything inside, the spinner wheels glide effortlessly in every direction, and the integrated TSA lock means no worrying about security. The space is impressive for a 27 inch bag and the durability has held up through the kind of heavy use most of us could never match. When a man who travels for a living calls it the best, that is a recommendation worth taking seriously.
Samsonite Free-Form Hardside Carry-On Luggage
♥ What I Love
When you want to travel lighter or need to skip checked baggage altogether, this Samsonite carry-on is the answer. The lightweight expandable hardshell gives you the protection of hard-sided luggage without the weight penalty, and the spinner wheels make navigating airports completely effortless. It is perfectly sized for overhead bins and ideal for short trips, weekend getaways, or business travel when every minute at baggage claim is a minute wasted. Samsonite quality at a carry-on price point — this one earns its spot on every trip.
Wireless Earbuds with Ear Clips
♥ What I Love
I bought these specifically for travel because I did not want to risk losing my expensive AirPod Pros on the road — and they have become my mainstay for listening both at home and on every trip since. The ear clips are a game changer for comfort, staying secure through hours of wear without any discomfort. The sound quality is genuinely impressive for entertainment and calls, touch controls on each ear make adjusting volume and answering calls effortless, and the waterproof design means no worrying about sweat or rain. Long battery life, seamless setup, and perfect for any occasion. I get asked about these constantly.
Apple AirTag
♥ What I Love
We have tried other brands to save money and always come back to the AirTag — because it simply works. It has helped us locate family members’ wallets and car keys more times than we can count, and we now tuck one in every piece of checked luggage. We have had luggage not arrive on time in the past and that experience alone made this a permanent part of our travel routine. We thankfully did not need it on our last trip — but knowing it was there gave us complete peace of mind from the moment our bags left our hands. That peace of mind is worth every penny.
Travel Backpacks — Two Great Options
A great travel backpack is essential whether you are carrying tech gear on a work trip or packing light for a day of exploring. We have two favorites depending on your needs and budget — pick the one that fits your travel style!
Matein Travel Backpack — Best Value
♥ What I Love
An economical quality travel backpack that punches well above its price point. It fits all your tech essentials and everyday gear, has an integrated USB charging port so your devices stay charged on the go, and two elasticized side pockets keep water bottles secure and accessible. A smart, practical choice for everyday travelers who want quality without overspending.
SwissGear 1900 ScanSmart TSA Backpack — Heavy Duty
♥ What I Love
This is the backpack our son the traveling tradesman relies on and it is built for serious use. It fits a 17 inch laptop and has a dedicated padded section for a tablet — keeping your devices protected and organized separately. The ScanSmart design means it lies flat through TSA security without unpacking your laptop. Heavy duty construction that handles the kind of daily punishment most bags simply cannot survive. When you need a backpack that works as hard as you do, this is it.
Plug Adapters — One for International, One for Domestic
Keeping all your devices charged while traveling is non-negotiable. Whether you are heading abroad or just crossing state lines, we have the perfect charging solution for every trip.
EPICKA TA-105 Universal Travel Adapter — International
♥ What I Love
A must have for any international travel. This safety certified 6-in-1 adapter works in countries around the world and comes with high speed USB-A and USB-C ports so you can charge multiple devices at once from a single outlet. No more hunting for compatible outlets or worrying about frying your devices overseas. Pack this and keep everything fully charged no matter where in the world you land.
Anker 3-in-1 Cube Wireless Charger — Domestic & Apple Ecosystem
♥ What I Love
If you are fully in the Apple ecosystem like we are, this little cube is an absolute dream for domestic travel. It wirelessly charges your iPhone with MagSafe, your Apple Watch, and your AirPods simultaneously — and it folds down into a compact cube that barely takes up any space in your bag. No tangled cables, no searching for multiple chargers — just set it up on the nightstand and wake up to everything fully charged. We are not sure if it works with non-Apple products but for Apple users it is genuinely perfect.
Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale with Tape Measure
♥ What I Love
Nobody wants to find out at the check-in counter that their bag is overweight — especially when the airline fee makes you wish you had just shipped everything ahead. This compact Samsonite luggage scale with built-in tape measure takes all the guesswork out of packing. Weigh your bag at home, check the dimensions, and arrive at the airport knowing exactly where you stand. Small enough to tuck in any bag and inexpensive enough that paying for it once saves you from paying overweight fees every trip. A travel essential that pays for itself immediately.
Travel Medical Kit — TSA Approved
♥ What I Love
I started buying these after my sister got sick at the very start of an international flight and we had absolutely nothing on hand that could help. It was a helpless feeling we never wanted to experience again. This TSA approved disposable travel medical kit contains a variety of medications covering the most common travel ailments — sinus decongestant, antacid, headache relief, cough and cold, diarrhea, upset stomach and more. Compact enough to tuck into any bag and affordable enough that there is no reason not to have one. You may never need it — but the one time you do, you will be so grateful it is there. This is a non-negotiable on every trip we take now.
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