14 of the Best Vacation Essentials You Can Buy at Target

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel

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When it comes to vacation essentials, we’ve found some great deals available at Target.

Best Vacation Essentials

When you need travel supplies in a pinch, sometimes it’s easier to grab some luggage while you’re shopping for paper towels. Big super stores like Target are great for picking up some last-minute trip items (and they have free shipping and returns to make it easy). This post isn’t sponsored by Target (we just truly love their travel gear), but we may make an affiliate commission at no charge to you if you buy something through these links.

Packing Cubes

If you want to be able to actually find anything in your suitcase, packing cubes are a must. The RuMe Garment Travel Organizer takes packing cubes to the next level. It’s a two-sided bag that zips open on one side to hang suits and dresses, and then on the other side has packing cubes attached for organizing folded items.

Luggage

Stylish carry-on luggage doesn’t have to be expensive. You can get name-brand spinner suitcases starting at $27.49 at Target. Fear the gate check? Opt for a roomy carry-on that will still fit under the seat, like this inexpensive one from Skyline.

Toiletry Kits

Toiletries are vacation essentials and to make it easy for both you and the TSA, keep them all together with a toiletry kit. I love this stylish Travel Valet from French Toast, which has an eye-catching design, and a hanging hook to keep it off of wet bathroom counters.

Refillable Bottles

If you’re staying at a vacation rental or simply don’t like most hotel toiletries, you’ll want to bring your own with you when you travel. These travel toiletry containers make it easy to bring along 3-1-1 size compliant amounts of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and more. This kit has multiple sizes and types of bottles (including one with a spray top) and comes in a clear, reusable 1 quart pouch to contain any leaks.

Security Items

travelon-rfid-blocking-card-sleeve — Target

These vacation essentials are designed to keep your stuff safe. Travelon’s RFID-blocking card sleeve slips over any ID card or credit card to prevent identity theft. Or, protect your money and your identity with Travelon’s RFID Neck Wallet, which has RFID-blocking built-in. Don’t forget a good travel lock, which secures your suitcase from opportunistic thieves but allows the TSA to access it without cutting it off. My favorite is this one from Lewis N. Clark, which can be used to lock your bag to a table or chair.

Adapters

If you’re headed overseas, adapters are absolute vacation essentials. I prefer nested sets like this one by Conair, which allows you to separate the plugs only travel with the adapters that you need (instead of a bulkier universal adapter). This set also wins points for having a USB plug, which cuts down on the number of plugs you have to bring.

Pillows & Eye Masks

Whether you’re looking for a Wonder Woman eye mask, a pillow that converts from lumbar support to a neck rest, or a packable travel blanket, you’ll find all the sleep essentials you could possibly need here.

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Caroline Morse Teel would love to hear what vacation essentials you buy at Target. Follow Caroline on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for photos from around the world.

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