Amazon Prime Day Picks: Travel Must-Haves from Parks on Rec
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EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE:
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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It’s the most wonderful time of the (shopping) year: Amazon Prime Day—aka the Black Friday of summer, aka the reason my cart currently looks like I’m preparing for both a vacation and the apocalypse. 😅
If you're anything like us, your brain is permanently toggling between “book the flight” and “wait, do I have a carry-on that actually fits in the overhead bin?” Which is why we’re bringing you our Parks on Rec Amazon Picks—the travel-tested, airport-approved, “I can’t believe I didn’t buy this sooner” kind of products that make your next trip smoother, comfier, and dare I say… ✨aesthetic✨?
This isn’t just a random roundup of travel gear. These are the exact items we’ve paid for, own, and consistently use —plus a few we’re eyeing harder than that lie-flat seat in business class.
So grab a coffee, cancel your “doomscrolling” plans, and let’s get into the goods.
🧳 Packing Essentials
Let’s be honest—packing cubes changed our lives. IYKYK.
1. BAGSMART Compression Packing Cubes
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you do not need to pack 11 tops for a 5-day trip. (It’s me. I need to hear this.) But if you insist, these cubes give you the space without the judgment.
When I tell you I take these on EVERY. 👏 SINGLE. 👏 TRIP. 👏 Brad too has finally understood the power of these packing cubes and asks me to borrow any of my leftovers. I’ll be buying Brad his OWN set this Prime Day.
2. Electronics Travel Organizer
Now, I know this is not a NEED. I know that you can totally wrap your cords around your hand, make it into a little circle, and then shove it in your backpack somewhere… but hear me out:
We lived that way for many years. But then we FINALLY spent $10 on this silly little organizer and SUDDENLY I know where every charger and cable is at all times. No more digging in my backpack & searching every pocket only to find the wrong charger.
3. Portable Luggage Scale
You haven't known fear until you've stood at a check-in counter, whisper-praying your suitcase isn’t 53 lbs.
We learned the hard way when we had to unpack (and repack) both of our suitcases at the check-in counter before our trip to Greece. 😅 Immediately upon returning home, this little gadget was purchased and now has saved us from overage fees more times than we can count.
4. Foldable Duffel Bag
Listen. Even if this is NOT an option for Prime Day… it’s less than $10, okay?! And it is well worth it. Folds ups small and flat, expands into a roomy weekend bag. Even counts as a Spirit Air personal item.
We brought this exact duffle with us to Italy (stored away flat in our carry-on). As we collected wine, Christmas ornaments, and parmesan cheese during the trip, we stored it away in this bag for the ride home.
✈️ Flight Comfort + Airport Gear
If your neck has ever tried to sue you after an economy red-eye to London, this section is for you.
5. Trtl Travel Pillow
It wraps like a scarf but supports like a neck brace (in a "just got rear-ended" way, but it’s totally worth it). Game-changer for side sleepers, like myself.
You probably have seen this in our Instagram stories whenever we’re fighting for our lives in economy. This little neck pillow makes sleep less elusive.
6. Blackout Silk Sleep Mask
We don’t know about you, but when we sleep it needs to be dark. Not just any kind of dark— BLACKOUT! So once again this started as a “Victoria purchase” that turned into a “Brad keeps stealing purchase”, therefore we now have two.
The silk feels better on the skin. The velcro makes it easily adjustable so a strap isn’t digging into the back of your head. Plus it is WAY cheaper than the name-brand version that sells for $80! 🤭
7. No Jet Lag Homeopathic Chewable Tablets
Okay, so we don’t know WHAT kind of sorcery is in these little tablets— or whether or not it’s a total placebo effect— but what we DO know is that when we take them, we feel a whole lot better changing time zones then when we don’t take them.
Do what you will with that information. 🤷♀️
🔌 Tech We Travel With
Because if your phone dies and you can’t take photos of you in front of the Eiffel Tower… did the trip even happen?
8. Portable iPhone Self Stick & Tripod
We loveeeee this thing. We’ve gotten many a DM saying, “wait— how did you guys get that photo?” and THIS is the answer. 📸
This bad boy has been to Greece, Italy, London, and Mexico all so we can “get the shot”. We’re definitely not professional photographers. We just have this tripod.
9. Clutch Portable Charger
We bring this everywhere—and we each have our own. It’s so slim, which makes sense since it’s “The World’s Thinnest Magnetic Portable Phone Charger”.
It’s a TSA-compliant power bank and one charge has enough juice to power your phone for well over one day, even with heavy use! (And you all KNOW I’m taking 10,000 videos a day on vacation.)
10. International Plug Adapter
LOVE LOVE LOVE this. One adapter. Four USBs. And a USC-C. Charges everything from a curling iron to your Kindle. We each have one and take it on every international trip.
It also comes with a little case, which makes me feel extra organized. 💁♀️
11. AirTag (4-pack)
Tracking your checked luggage like a pro. Because “delayed bag” is not on our itinerary, thank you very much.
There’s one in my carry-on and my checked bag. One in Brad’s carry-on and HIS checked bag. We also keep them in our Lululemon fanny packs. And our backpacks. Basically anytime they’re on sale I just buy a pack. You simply can never have too many AirTags, IMO.
12. Mini White Noise Sound Machine
Gone are the days where we can just sleep anywhere at anytime. Nowadays we need a 68-degree temp, full-speed fan, just the right pillow, and of course… white noise.
This little mini gets the job done when we’re traveling. Plus, we have the faux wood-grain colorway so it feels extra aesthetic. 😂
💄 Personal Care Musts
Hotel lighting? Questionable. TSA liquid rules? Annoying. But we adapt. We overcome. We moisturize.
13. Dr. Scholl's Women's Time Off Sneaker
We’re not ones for TikTok trends, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to hop on this one. If you take a close look at my feet everytime we travel (not in like a weird way, you guys…) you WILL see these shoes on my feet.
These have taken me across many a European city at 15k+ steps a day without a single blister in sight. I am possibly snagging another pair 👀 due to the miles I’ve already put into my current ones.
Side Note: Brad did try the men’s version of this shoe and didn’t have as much luck. Sorry, guys! Girls only.
14. Silicone Makeup Brush Holder
This thing is so simple and does exactly what I need it to. Makes me feel like I’m adulting a little better than when I was previously using a Ziploc bag. 🙈
No shame to Ziploc bag users, though. But maybe it’s time to upgrade?
15. Refillable TSA Bottles (Leakproof!)
When we finally bought refillable toiletry bottles, it felt like we did something good for the planet, ya know? Plus, I love anything that comes with stick-on labels.
TECHNICALLY we now only own half of these bottles because as of our last trip to Italy, I may or may not have left two of the bottles in the shower at our hotel in Milan. 🤦♀️ To which Brad immediately said, “So you’re gonna buy it again, right?”
16. Mini Refillable Perfume Bottles
How cute are these?! And since there are multiple in a pack, you could bring multiple of your favorite scents— or you can also give one to your hubby for his cologne, or fill it up with hand sanitizer spray, or even facial mist (I’ve done all of these things.)
It’s one of those things that I didn’t think of ever needing, but now that I have it I bring it on every trip!
17. Travel Steamer
Because wrinkled clothes make us feel like we gave up before the trip even started. This one heats up in 15 seconds and folds flat.
We didn’t bring it on our last trip, so we were strapped to using the hotel iron. (And if you’re reading this… be sure to ask Brad how the iron went on his pair of Lululemon shorts. 🤭 We’ll never forget the steamer again.)
👀 Our Amazon Wishlist
Stuff that I will be moving from “save for later” into my cart ASAP. The chokehold that travel gear has on me is not to be underestimated. My favorite tip? If you get an extra of whatever you’re buying for your significant other, they’re less likely to be mad at you for overspending. 👀🤣
17. LARQ Self-Cleaning Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Do we NEED another water bottle? Absolutely not. But do any of our current water bottles have innovative non-toxic, mercury-free, UV-C LED technology to sanitize water?!?!? No, they do not!
I have had my eyes on this for a literal YEAR. I think it’s so perfect for travel. Will this finally be the time I buy it?!
18. Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle
THIS IS JUST HERE IN CASE MY HUSBAND READS THIS POST. 👀 👀 👀
19. Airplane Foot Hammock
Because we’re about to travel to Paris in economy, and after just flying business class on our last trip, I think this is as close as we will get to feeling like we’re back to lying flat.
Now that I’m thinking about it… maybe we should get a 2-pack? Do NOT be surprised if you see this in our Instagram stories coming this September. 😂
Bottom Line
As you know, Prime Day deals move fast, so if something caught your eye—grab it while you can!
We’ll be updating this post throughout Prime Day (Week?) with more finds and real-time steals, so check back often or follow us on @parksonrec on Instagram for day-of drops we share in our Stories!
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.