The best trip planner apps can help you answer those questions. I’ve found several that will help you discover the right places to go and organize your day-by-day itinerary in one handy place. Download these apps, and you can pitch your endless spreadsheets and Word docs into the recycle bin.

All of the following trip planner apps are free unless otherwise noted.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor (iOS | Android) is the granddaddy of trip planner apps. Unlike other apps that feature only major cities, TripAdvisor offers listings of both top attractions and hidden gems in just about every corner of the globe, along with restaurants, hotels, and vacation rentals. You can create customized itineraries by saving the places you’re interested in to the app’s new Trips feature. (Trips can be kept private or shared publicly.)

When you search for a city in the app, you’ll see a feed of other users’ trips, photos, videos, reviews, and articles about that destination, all offering ideas and inspiration. For more trip planning help, you can post your questions in the TripAdvisor forums, where destination experts offer in-depth advice.

Visit a City

Visit a City (iOS | Android) helps solve two common trip planning challenges: figuring out how long you need to spend at each place, and maximizing your vacation time by grouping nearby attractions together. When you select a destination, the app offers recommended sightseeing guides based on the number of days you plan to spend. For example, I put in that I was going to Paris, for three days and was given several itinerary options, including Top Attractions, Landmarks for Kids, Parks & Museums, Easy Going, and more. The app automatically puts nearby attractions together and lets you know how far apart they are (for instance, “three minutes by walking”). It also includes the estimated time that you’ll spend at each place.

You can edit the itinerary by changing the day you visit a place, revising the amount of time you spend there, or deleting the attraction altogether. (You’ll almost certainly have to do some editing, as the itineraries don’t include lunch or coffee breaks.) You can also book tours through the app and get general travel information about the destination, such as the best time of year to visit or tips for saving money.

CityMaps2Go

CityMaps2Go (iOS | Android) offers a handy offline maps that you can customize with personal points of interest. Even better, the app displays your location on the map whether you’re connected to data or Wi-Fi. The app includes thousands of offline maps from just about anywhere on Earth, which means it’s useful for travelers who don’t want to pay international data charges when heading overseas. 

You can create different lists for your trip (for example, separate lists for dining, bars, attractions, etc.), and the locations you add to the list will show up on your map. Info cards for each place include a review score, nearby accommodations, some basic information, and the ability to add notes of your own.

Rome2rio

The fun part of trip planning is imagining all the cool places you’ll go. What’s not so fun? Figuring out the logistics of getting there. Fortunately, Rome2rio (iOS | Android) can help solve that problem. The app searches just about every mode of transportation—plane, train, subway, bus, ferry, taxi, Uber—to recommend the best way to get from point A to point B.

You can enter either two destinations within a given city or two points farther apart, and the app will display your options, including the time it’ll take to travel and the approximate cost. Note that the listings are for planning purposes only, and you can’t actually book your flights or tickets through the app.

TripIt

TripIt (iOS | Android) is a fixture on “best travel apps” lists, and for good reason. It turns an inbox full of scattered booking confirmations and restaurant reservations into a single master itinerary that you can access offline, sync with your phone’s calendar, and share with loved ones. You simply forward each confirmation email to plans@tripit.com and let the app do the rest.

Upgrade to TripIt Pro ($49/year) for other useful features such as real-time flight alerts, rewards program tracking, and the ability to locate alternate flights if your original plans are disrupted.

Culture Trip

The app arm of Culture Trip (iOS | Android) aims to bring travelers a little bit out of the mainstream (tagline: “For curious travelers”) by highlighting unique, off-the-beaten-path options in popular destinations. With recommendations for more than 200 destinations around the world, it’s a great way to bring more local perspective to your trip planning. 

The Culture Trip app uses the publication’s content as a starting point; say, an article on the Top 9 Dessert Spots in Amsterdam. While reading the article, you can save individual places to lists that you create and view their location on maps. You can also explore their curated “Culture Trips”—pre-made itineraries for small group travel bookable within the app.

TripScout

TripScout (iOS) combines articles and videos from well-known travel publishers and local experts to form what it calls “a personalized, always up-to-date travel guide” for destinations around the world. Every point of interest mentioned in the content is mapped, so you can build a customized itinerary showing your intended destinations on a map.

TripScout can also personalize recommendations based on your travel dates, budget, interests, and even the number of people in your travel group. And like some of the other apps on this list, TripScout works entirely offline, potentially saving you from paying international data fees. The only downside? Android users are left out; TripScout is iOS only.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2019, and has been updated to reflect the most current information. SmarterTravel’s Carl Unger contributed to this story.

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

The post The 7 Best Trip Planner Apps for Travelers appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Short-term luggage storage site LuggageHero analyzed data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the period of January to June 2023 to determine the best and worst airlines for luggage handling. 

According to the study, American Airlines mishandled or lost the most bags in the first six months of 2023, with 0.80 percent of bags going missing or arriving late/damaged. American Airlines, United, and Envoy were the worst U.S. airlines overall for handling luggage. 

If you must check a bag, try to fly on Allegiant, Endeavor Air, or Southwest, which LuggageHero named the best U.S. airlines for handling luggage. Allegiant Airline lost or mishandled just 0.16 percent of bags.

Tips for Preventing Lost Luggage

Reduce the chances of lost luggage by following these tips:

1. Pack an Apple Air Tag or other tracking device inside your luggage
2. Remove any old airline stickers or baggage tags before checking your bag
3. Clearly label your luggage with your current contact information
4. Avoid booking connecting flights
5. Lock your suitcase with a TSA-approved lock

The post The Best and Worst U.S. Airlines for Checked Bags appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Embarrassing Travel Gadgets That Work

Though they might cost you a bit of dignity, the following items are geared to make life a little easier for travelers.

Sunany Female Urination Device

This is a female urination device (let’s be honest—it’s a funnel) that allows women to pee standing up. Why on Earth would you waste time looking for the nearest bathroom when you can cower behind a bush while using a hot-pink silicone funnel to pee?

Tush Wipe

Unlike its sister moist-towelette products like Wet Ones, Tush Wipes didn’t get the memo about delicate subtlety. If your conspicuously labeled packet of butt cleaner falls out of your purse, best deny ownership.

Claspies

You’ve fallen into the airplane toilet again. Blame traditional underwear. Fortunately for you, there are Claspies, underwear with clasps on its sides that allow you to quickly escape from your skivvies without picking up your feet and tumbling into the bowl. According to the product website, “While traveling, there is nothing better than putting on a fresh pair of panties in the middle of a long journey! Thank you, Claspies.” There is also nothing better than not falling into the toilet. Thanks again! Buy a pair for $14.95 from Claspies.

Ostrich Pillow

For a stylish in-flight nap experience, choose the Ostrich Pillow. This pod-like pillow allows tired travelers to sleep in a variety of positions with a convenient nose and mouth window for easy breathing (or snoring). With two additional openings on the sides for your hands and arms, you can cozy up in your own cocoon until you reach your destination.

Jetsetgo Airplane Seat Cover 

Create a barrier between you and the petri dish that is an airplane seat with Jetsetgo Airplane Seat Covers. The kit comes with a seat cover, armrest covers, a tray table cover, and four sanitary wipes to keep you from picking up inflight germs.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2012. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post 5 Embarrassing Travel Gadgets That Actually Work appeared first on SmarterTravel.

So, it’s clear you can’t count on the TSA to reimburse you for such losses; the agency denied more than half of the claims. Are luggage locks the answer?

The Benefits of Luggage Locks

Locking your suitcase doesn’t just make it more difficult for opportunistic baggage handlers or security officers to root through your stuff at the airport. A lock can also help hold your bag’s zippers together so they don’t work their way open while in transit, leaking socks and underwear all over the baggage carousel.

You might also want to lock your bag if you’re staying in a hostel with strangers, or while traveling on a crowded bus or train. Some travelers even lock their suitcases during the day at hotels to deter theft by housekeepers.

The Limitations of Luggage Locks

Putting a lock on your suitcase isn’t a guarantee that your stuff will be safe. Do a quick search on YouTube, and you’ll find a trove of videos explaining how to open a combination lock without the code or how to break into a locked suitcase with nothing but a ballpoint pen. Nor is it difficult to slice through a soft-sided bag. Locks discourage casual thieves, who will move on to easier targets, but they’re flimsy protection against those who are truly determined to get into your bag.

That’s why you should always keep any valuables in your carry-on, not your checked luggage. As noted above, the TSA is unlikely to pay you back if something is stolen from your checked bag, and airlines typically don’t accept liability for the loss of expensive items such as jewelry, electronic equipment, or fragile souvenirs.

TSA-Approved Locks

If you do decide to secure your suitcase, choose one of the many TSA-approved locks available, such as these combination locks from Master Lock or TravelMore. You can also buy keyed luggage locks such as these from Lewis N. Clark, though it’s worth considering how likely you might be to lose track of a tiny key while traveling. You can even purchase suitcases with built-in TSA-approved locks.

The TSA has master keys that allow agents to open all TSA-approved locks, if they determine that your bag needs extra screening. If you use a non-TSA lock, they’ll simply cut it off your bag. Note that not all security officers outside the U.S. have the same master keys, so even a TSA-approved lock could be cut off if you’re traveling internationally.

Alternatives to Luggage Locks

Another way to lock your suitcase is to use zip ties, which are cheap enough that you won’t mind if the TSA has to slice them off. Just remember to pack a small pair of scissors in an outside pocket of your suitcase.

Some travelers prefer to wrap their suitcases in plastic, which makes bags harder to break into, protects their exteriors from dings, and keeps them from bursting open if a zipper fails. This bagging service is offered at select airports by companies such as Seal & Go and Secure Wrap. Though security agents will cut off the plastic if they need to inspect your luggage more closely, some wrapping services offer a complimentary rewrap post-security. One disadvantage to this method: By generating so much plastic, it’s the least environmentally friendly way to protect your bag.

Looking for Luggage With a Lock?

“Sold separately” isn’t statement when it comes to the carry-on from Away. While including a TSA-approved lock in its design, this bag also comes with 360° spinning wheels, and a super hard exterior shell—this bag is built to be your last.

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Luggage Locks: Should I Lock My Suitcase When I Fly? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Websites to Help You Take Your Own Passport Photo

• The U.S. State Department: Bureaucracy has moved into the 21st century, and even the State Department wants to help you take your own passport photo by offering a free photo cropping tool that will size your photo correctly so that you can print it yourself.
• iVisa: If you don’t want to deal with printing your own passport pictures, or if you need a passport or visa photo for another country (which may be a different size than the U.S. passport photo), iVisa does everything for those who want to take a passport photo at home, including printing and mailing your photos directly to your house. You can also pay extra to have your photos checked to make sure that they will be approved.
• Passport Photo Booth: For those wondering, “Can I take my own passport photo?” there’s an app for that. Passport Photo Booth (available for iOS) helps you with the photo composition needed for passport photos, showing you exactly where to pose within the frame. You can e-mail or save the image for free, or pay extra to have your passport pictures printed.

Key Passport Photo Requirements

If you’re planning to take a passport photo at home, make sure that it will meet all of the State Department’s passport photo requirements:

• Passport pictures must be in color, not black and white.
• No filters are allowed, no matter how good they make you look.
• Passport photos must be “2” x 2″ (51 x 51 mm) with the head centered and sized between 1″ and 1.4″ (25 and 35 mm).” (Click here for a passport photo composition template.)
• Remove any face coverings or masks for the photo.
• Passport photos must be “taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.”
• Passport photos must be “taken in front of a plain white or off-white background.”
• Passport photos must be “taken in full-face view directly facing the camera.”
• When taking your own passport photo, make sure that you have a “neutral facial expression and both eyes open.”
• Your passport picture should be “taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis.”
• “Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.”
• When taking your own passport photo, “do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.”
• “Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.”
• “Eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except in rare circumstances when eyeglasses cannot be removed for medical reasons.”

To inform how to take your own passport photo, the State Department provides some examples of passport pictures that are and are not accepted. Check them out here.

How to Take Your Own Passport Photo

• When taking passport pictures, get a neutral background. If you don’t have plain white walls to pose in front of at home, tape a piece of plain white poster board behind you to create a clean backdrop.
• It’s important, when you take your own passport photo, to check the lighting. You can’t have any shadows in your passport photo, so taking it in natural daylight on a sunny day works best.
• Get help: Selfies won’t be accepted as passport pictures, so you’ll either need to use a tripod if you want to take your own passport photo or ask a friend to snap your picture.

Caroline Morse Teel has more travel tips than how to take your own passport photos. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for advice and inspiration.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2018. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post How to Take Your Own Passport Photo appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The excursions, tours, performances, and other activities you experience on your travels can make or break a trip. No one wants to be disappointed when an activity booking doesn’t work out or turns out not to be what you though it was—so you’ll want to be able to search offerings, and preferably to compare ratings of them. Plus, it’s essential to make sure you’re booking with reputable ticket websites offering reasonable prices. 

The Best Excursion Ticket Websites for Travelers

Here are seven ticket websites and providers that won’t let you down. Click to read more.

Viator
GetYourGuide
Tripadvisor
StubHub
Airbnb Experiences
Atlas Obscura
Tiqets
Groupon

Viator

Owned by TripAdvisor, Viator is a vast activity and excursion ticket website; one of the largest out there. Travelers can book anything from airport shuttle service, to guided tours, to skip-the-line admission at attractions all over the world. And because it’s similar to TripAdvisor, travelers can also browse reviews of the activity they’re eyeing. Most listings include comprehensive details about the tour and a generous cancellation policy (usually 24-hours prior to the activity with no penalty).

Viator does not operate the tours it sells. Rather, it’s a search engine of things to do. As such, its offerings tend to focus on cities and better-known travel destinations, although that includes excursions out of those places into the surrounding areas; like tours from Boston to New Hampshire’s White Mountains, tours of the Dutch countryside from a departure point in Amsterdam, etc. This makes Viator a great option for travelers who want to headquarter themselves in one hotspot but still experience the broader region. 

GetYourGuide

Another day-tour-heavy option, GetYourGuide overlaps somewhat with Viator, but is focused more solely on experiences and tours (Viator includes services such as airport and in-town transportation services). Functionally, the sites aren’t very different; both offer an opportunity to compare tours and prices. And on that last note, it can be worth checking both: I found the exact same Niagara Falls day tour from Toronto on both sites. GetYourGuide allowed guests to book the base tour without the optional lunch and boat cruise for just $79, while Viator required guests to book the entire package for $138.

Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor leverages its massive inventory of user generated content to roll the research and booking process into one. Users can access all the standard tour information—such as age range, duration, start time, and language—while also browsing reviews and real-life photos from travelers who have actually booked the activity. The experience pages also feature what percentage of travelers would recommend a given activity, based on the “percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher.” The authenticity of the one-to-one style recommendations and opinions of fellow travelers can help give users the confidence to book.

Travelers without a specific landmark or tour in mind can also search for activities organized into top destinations like Las Vegas, Miami, and Washington D.C.

StubHub

For more event-focused resale ticket website StubHub is a useful last-minute option for verified tickets to everything from sports and concerts to comedy shows and theater seats. For the uninitiated, StubHub is a resale marketplace for ticket holders (and, let’s be honest, scalpers) to unload tickets they can’t use. This means shopping on StubHub is a double-edged sword: You’ll likely pay well above face value for high-demand or sold out events, but you can also find great deals at the last minute if the opposite is true. In the former case, StubHub (or similar initial-sale and resale option Ticketmaster) may be your only viable option. And in the latter case, StubHub can be a savvy way to save or even make some money; keep that in mind if you’ve ever bought some event tickets and then couldn’t attend.

Airbnb Experiences

Airbnb is all about living like a local, and Airbnb Experiences is no different. The emphasis here is on small or even private tours led by locals rather than tour companies, with an eye toward unique experiences rather than traditional sightseeing. Sometimes these experiences can be tailored to your interests: I booked a private bicycle tour of Berlin through Airbnb Experiences a few years back, and the guide all but ditched his preset itinerary and improvised based on my interests. As a result I got to see parts of the city I might never have found on my own. 

One important consideration to remember: These are often regular folks, not full-time professional guides or tour operators, so it’s a good idea to bring a go-with-the-flow attitude on your excursion. Your experience may not be as polished or precise as a traditional tour, even if the host has been doing this for a while. Of course, the point of these experiences is to forgo those cookie cutter tours in favor of something different. AirBnB includes reviews and makes it easy to communicate with the experience host beforehand, so don’t hesitate to ask questions prior to booking.

Atlas Obscura

Speaking of forgoing the cookie cutter experience, Atlas Obscura focuses, as its name implies, on all things obscure: The bizarre, forgotten, and hard-to-reach corners of a given city or destination that you wouldn’t normally find on excursion ticket websites. While nowhere near as robust as the other entries on this list, Atlas Obscura also offers a curated selection of tours and experiences. It’s currently in a half dozen U.S. cities, with more to come. Think: A guided wine-and-bug (yes, insects) pairing experience in Los Angeles, or a trip inside a holographer (maker of holograms) laboratory in New York. The tours are offered through Atlas Obscura, but AirBnB handles the booking. After all, anyone can visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame, right? So why not be different and check out a … Sewage Garden? 

Tiqets

Launched in 2014, Amsterdam-based company Tiqets is a comparatively newer ticketing platform that emphasizes flexibility and convenience. Optional free cancellation polices are available on all bookings, allowing travelers to cancel tickets up to 11:59PM the night before the event. Tiqets also offers last minute deals on activities and events like palace tours, broadway shows, and city sightseeing tours. Browse by location or get inspired by their list of Most Popular Places to Visit. Tickets can be managed through their app (iOS | Android).

Groupon

With a broader focus than the other sites on this list, Groupon can find great deals on everything from guided tours to restaurants at your destination. To search specifically for event tickets and travel activities, enter your destination in the search bar and browse their Things to Do category, which includes subcategories like Kids’ Activities, Nightlife, and Sports & Outdoors. From there, travelers can filter by price range, distance from the main destination, rating, and season.

Users can also browse via their Hotels & Travel section to book an entire trip via Groupon Getaways.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

The post The 8 Best Ticket Websites for Booking Day Tours and Travel Activities appeared first on SmarterTravel.

These hot travel gadgets can help you do just that—and more. Pack these travel tech toys on your next trip for an even smoother journey.

Ray-Ban Stories Sunglasses

Smart glasses have frequently been portrayed in movies as a futuristic technology, but the real-world innovation hasn’t quite caught up yet—until Ray-Ban and Meta launched their new Stories Sunglasses.

The Ray-Ban Stories look like the brand’s normal iconic sunglasses (available in classic frame shapes including the Wayfarer, Round, and Meteor styles) but hide dual 5 MP cameras in the corners of the frames. Equipped with voice control, these sunglasses let you snap a photo or record a video hands-free. 

Hidden speakers let you listen to music or take calls, all without pulling out your phone. The Ray-Ban Stories’ battery lasts up to six hours, and when you need to top up the battery, the glasses case doubles as a charger. 

Smartish Crown Joule Charging Cable

Tired of packing separate chargers for your phone, tablet, and headphones? Smartish’s Crown Joule Charging Cable helps you streamline things with three built-in chargers that will fit Micro-USB, USB-C, and Lightning ports. 

The cable is a lengthy 6 feet long, which comes in handy for hotels that don’t have outlets near the bed or airports where you have to sit far from a charging port.

Google Pixel Fold

Want to work, read, scroll, and stream all on one device when you travel? You might want to upgrade to Google’s new Pixel Fold, a new gadget that can be used as a phone with a 5.8” screen when folded, or unfolded to be used as a tablet with a huge 7.6” display. 

The 10.8 MP ultrawide rear lens is great for snapping travel photos without a tripod—simply fold the phone to act as its own stand, pose, and say, “Hey Google, take a picture.”

Apple Air Tag

This summer has been a record-breaking season for air travel, and there are plenty of nightmare stories about lost luggage. Keep an eye on your bag from afar with an Apple Air Tag. Slip it in your suitcase, and you can see where it is at all times using Apple’s Find My app.

GoPro Hero 11 Mini

When you’re on an extreme adventure, you don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy camera, pack the new GoPro Hero 11 Mini. This tiny camera takes the powerful technology found in the Hero 11 and makes it smaller, lighter, and easier to use. 

Although the downsized Hero 11 Mini weighs just 5.4 ounces, it’s still extremely durable. It’s waterproof and even features a battery designed to hold up in below-freezing temperatures. 

Portable Apple Watch Charger / Power Bank

The batteries in Apple Watches die notoriously quickly, so if you’re relying on yours for a long travel day, keep it charged with this portable watch charger and power bank combination.

This multi-functional charger can power up a watch or phone and has a built-in iPhone charging cable to keep things easy. The powerful battery can charge an Apple Watch up to 20 times and a phone up to two times so you never have to scramble for an outlet again. 

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

The post The Hottest Travel Tech for Summer 2023 appeared first on SmarterTravel.

With a timeless, understated style, these quiet luxury travel items will look classy no matter what country you’re in.

Randolph Aviator Sunglasses

American-made eye wear brand Randolph’s sunglasses are designed to last for a lifetime—and look stylish no matter the decade—thanks to the timeless styles. It takes over 6 weeks and 200 individual steps for every Randolph frame to be handcrafted, and then they’re topped off with durable lenses that have been used by military pilots for decades. 

The brand’s Aviators are particularly iconic and can be customized with a range of sizes, polarization, or even a hidden engraving. 

Unbound Merino Men’s Polo

A polo shirt that will hold its shape and not become threadbare after washing can be hard to find, but Unbound Merino’s Polo will last through years of wearing. Made from a durable Merino wool and Polyester blend, the polo features just the right amount of stretch while still delivering the benefits of Merino wool—anti-odor, anti-wrinkle, and temperature-controlling.

Pack this polo and wear it for days on end—you’ll still look pulled together.

Carl Friedrik Palissy Weekend Bag

Spotted on the shows that sparked the quiet luxury trend, Succession and The White Lotus, Carl Friedrik’s Palissy Weekend Bag is the most elegant way to pack for a short trip. The surprisingly spacious main compartment can fit enough outfits for a weekend getaway, and three open fabric pockets help keep everything organized.

A unique curved design and upright construction helps the bag keep its shape through numerous trips (and makes it easy to pack).

Made from Vachetta leather, the Palissy is painstakingly assembled by hand in Italy, where no detail is too small to be overlooked. Every tooth in the zip, for example, is individually polished before added to the bag. 

Gobi Cashmere Dress

A classic black dress never goes out of style, and a 100 percent cashmere fabric elevates Gobi’s V-Neck Tunic Dress to quiet luxury status. This dress can be styled a number of different ways so you can wear it multiple times on a trip—with tights, cinched in by a belt, or with sleeves rolled up.

Made from the finest cashmere, Gobi’s clothing will resist the pilling and fading that can be a common problem with cheaper fabrics. 

Urbanista Phoenix Earphones

Even first-class flyers aren’t always near a power outlet. Fortunately, you can still drown out loud passengers around you with Urbanista’s Phoenix Earphones. These solar-powered earphones come with a streamlined charging case that continually recharges when exposed to light (even artificial light).

Available in a sleek black or pretty rose color, the earphones feature active noise-canceling technology that will help you block out any sounds you don’t want to hear.

Unbound Merino Travel Dress

We’ve finally found the perfect travel outfit. Unbound Merino’s Travel Dress is made from an ultra-soft and stretchy Merino wool/nylon/spandex blend that’s comfortable, anti-wrinkle, odor-resistant, temperature regulating, and fast-drying.

Available in classic quiet luxury colors like camel and black, this dress features a high scoop neckline and midi-length that’s appropriate for practically any occasion.

The post The 6 Best Quiet Luxury Pieces for Travelers appeared first on SmarterTravel.

In case you’re unaware, here’s what Prime Members get for free year-round:

• Fast, free two-day shipping
• Same-day shipping (in eligible zip codes)
• Unlimited movie and TV streaming
• Unlimited, ad-free music streaming and offline access to playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos
• Access to Prime Gaming
• Early access to flash sales
• Free monthly book download with Prime Reading
• Get two free audio books when you sign up for a 30-day free trial of Audible
• Ability to purchase subscriptions to premium cable networks like STARZ and Showtime
• Prime Now deliveries (free two-hour delivery or scheduled delivery on select items)
• Free grocery delivery through Amazon Fresh (over a certain order threshold)
• In-store discounts at Whole Foods

Amazon will be having prime-member exclusive sales leading up to July 11th, as well as big sales on the day. So is it worth it to sign up now? Well, if you’re not already a Prime Member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial now to get all of the deals. Travelers can start shopping now for deals on everything from SmartTVs from just $64.99 to up to 60% off various other Amazon devices.

As a prime subscriber and frequent traveler, I think that a Prime membership is worth it for travelers. I love being able to order a last-minute item right before a trip and having it arrive in time. And the offline access of movies/shows/music/books really sets Amazon Prime apart from most other media subscriptions.

The post Is Amazon Prime Day Worth it for Travelers? appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Filtered water bottles can be a little more expensive than regular reusable bottles and may involve a little more maintenance, but they’re worth it for the peace of mind you’ll have with every sip. Here are some of my favorite water bottles with filters for traveling.

LARQ

If you’re the kind of person who would buy a filtered water bottle but never get around to changing the filters, a LARQ could be the bottle for you. Instead of filters, this bottle purifies water using a UV-LED light hidden in the cap. The light is powerful enough to kill germs, and the same kind of light is even used in hospitals to disinfect surfaces. The best part? It’s as easy to charge as your phone, with a universal charging port that will plug into any USB port.

Brita Filter Bottle

Fans of Brita, rejoice: You can take the 36387 Premium Water Filter Bottle on the road. The 26-ounce bottle is sleek enough to slip easily into car drink holders. The BPA-free hard plastic bottle has a carrying loop and an enclosed straw for ease of use. The chlorine-reducing filter improves the taste of tap water, and the filters are easy to replace.

The Escape

Glass isn’t necessarily travel-friendly, but at the same time, every drink tastes better when you’re drinking it from a glass. Why else would airlines go the extra mile to use them when serving their first-class customers? If you like glass but are worried about it breaking, check out The Escape, a glass water bottle that is protected by a silicone sleeve and uses a multi-stage filtration process to keep your water clean and tasting good.

GRAYL UltraPress Water Purifier

If you will be spending time outdoors and might need to drink from a fresh water source, consider the GRAYL UltraPress Water Purifier. With its press-down filter design, this travel water bottle can filter particulates as well as chemicals and waterborne pathogens without leaving an aftertaste.

LifeStraw Go

LifeStraw is one of the most trusted brands for water filters. Its LifeStraw Go bottle has a heavy-duty filter built-in, making it super easy to filter your water on the go. It is also available with a one- or two-stage filter, so you can choose the one that fits best for the trip you’re planning.

The Outback

If you have an affinity for Nalgene water bottles, The Outbacks’ collaboration with the company might be the best choice for you. This is a sturdy water bottle with a filter that will last, and it has a 100% money-back guarantee.

Jamie Ditaranto is a writer and photographer always looking for her next adventure. Find her on Instagram @jamieditaranto.

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