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Amazon Prime Day is here! I love shopping Prime Day because you really can get the best deals of the summer. If you’re wondering what the Amazon Prime Day best buys for families actually are, you’re not alone.
If you’ve been here a while, you know I don’t recommend anything I wouldn’t tell my sister to buy. In fact, I’ve even been known to de-influence from time to time. Prime Day can feel like a firehose of deals, but it’s only worth it if you’re buying things that truly make family life easier.
If you are using Amazon Prime Day as a great time to meet that minimum spend but aren’t sure quite how to go about it, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Travel Rewards to make sure your spending is earning you points for those family vacations.
Travel
1. The Shibumi Shade
This shade isn’t the cheapest on the market, but you get what you pay for. The ability to pack shade big enough for my entire family right is a lifesaver. I loved this because it allowed us to ease into all day sun on beach days and provided shade for the few that and didn’t apply their sunscreen well enough. I’ve already friends ask to borrow this, and they’ve all had rave reviews. It’s really easy to set up, very light, and small enough to just throw in the beach bag.
2. Apple AirTags
As someone who considers herself well traveled, I only recently started using these. I throw one in my checked bag (saved us more than once with lost luggage), put one on my keys, and make my kids wear them on a watch at the resort so they feel like they have a little freedom. These are so versatile and only go on sale a couple of times per year.
3. My Favorite Travel Pillow
Have you been personally victimized by a travel pillow that was absolutely worthless? I’m here to tell you there is help for that. I was pretty skeptical about this pillow given that it was under $20, but as long as the plane has a headrest to strap it to, this is the pillow for you. Although my previous pillow saved my neck, it did not save my shoulders. This saves both, and it’s cheap!
4. Roll-Up Makeup Bag
I love this bag for all the essentials from home. I’m not a huge make up person, especially on vacation, so I actually use this to carry all of the essentials for hygiene. This allows me to carry everything, and my kids only have to worry about their clothes. It comes with detachable individual compartments, which comes in handy if I don’t need to take the entire thing. I used to use Ziploc bags for all my stuff, and this is so much more organized! I love being able to pull it out, unroll it on the bathroom counter, and then roll it back up.
5. Electronics Organizer
This is my beloved electronics organizer. I didn’t think something so cheap would pack such a big punch. This one organizing tool has helped me never forget a charger again. I always have the right cords with spares, and they all live in this bag. You really can’t go wrong.
Daily
6. Lip Sleeping Mask
When I first saw this product I thought, it’s lip balm, how is it so popular? Here’s the thing though, there is a reason you see it all over the internet. I don’t think all flavors are created equal, but this one is universally gorgeous on everyone. It’s a sleeping mask, but you can even use it during the day for a beautiful lip gloss. It’s subtle and incredibly moisturizing. I’ve bought other recommended lip balms and glosses, and they’re always sticky or taste disgusting. However, this gloss is one of my most frequently bought things in my Amazon orders.
7. $10 Planner
I paid over $100 for a planner for 10 years! It was a lot. When a friend recommended this to me, I figured for $10 I might as well give it a shot. Since then, I’ve never bought one of the expensive planners. I love that it’s big and does everything I need. It even has more space for lists and miscellaneous things, but I think the best part is how functional it is for the price.
8. Fruit Styling Cream
If you love the smell of the volcano candle, you will want to buy this. This earns a spot in my travel size toiletries because it’s a great product, and it smells so good! My hair always ends up frizzy when I change from a dry to a humid climate, so this cream saves me. And the smell totally makes it worth the price.
9. Weighted Vest
I’m pushing 40, and this weighted vest has been an awesome addition to my exercise routine. If you walk for 30 minutes the weight of the vest helps with bone density as you age. I know these have been really trendy, but they are trendy for a reason.
10. Acne Pimple Patches
Who knew I’d have more pimples in my late 30s than when I was in high school? My skin tends to freak out when I’m traveling and going to a different climate, and these help so much. My dermatologist said at my last appointment, “ Wow, your skin looks amazing! Keep doing what you’re doing.” These patches are a huge part of what I’m doing, and I bought them for my teenager as well.
Budget Airlines
11. Fire Tablet
Most budget airlines don’t have entertainment in the back of the seat headrests. These Amazon Fire tablets were an amazing alternative. When we got them, I made it clear: they live in the travel backpacks. That alone made the tablets feel like a big deal to the kids. I customized them by dragging all the Amazon preloaded apps into a folder, then downloaded Netflix, Disney+, and tons of movies for offline viewing. On airlines like Southwest, they could even stream free movies through the browser, and they were thrilled to have their very own tablets to do it.
12. Headphones
One of my nonnegotiables is compact kids’ headphones. These foldable headphones are the best I’ve found. They don’t take up much space, they’re kid-friendly, and they last. I also bring a headphone splitter so two of the kids can watch the same show on one tablet without fighting over whose turn it is. This tiny piece of tech has saved my sanity.
13. Snack Trays
Another one of our favorites? These snack boxes. Grandma usually fills them up before a trip with fun treats and snacks (which makes it extra exciting). It feels like a mini present every time they open them up, and we get non-stop compliments we get from flight attendants and other passengers. It’s the easiest way to make a budget flight feel special.
14. Packing Cubes
If you’ve ever had your toddler digging through the suitcase to find their favorite jammies (only to leave behind a tornado of chaos), you’re going to love this travel hack. Packing cubes keep your family organized, reduce stress, and actually make packing fun. Read the article I wrote about them.
15. Portable Charger
This charger has saved me more than once. It comes with multiple cords, a power percentage indicator, and plugs right into the wall. Its super streamlined design makes it perfect for packing.
Summer
16. Turkish Towels
These towels are AMAZING. They are lightweight, have great coverage for their size, and dry quickly. The thing that blew my mind the most was that sand DOES NOT stick to them. You shake it off and the sand falls right off. I will never do a beach vacation without these towels again.
17. Best Camp Chair Ever
I consider myself an expert in the chair department. I have a few kids in competitive sports and spend a lot of time in this chair. After being in a chair all day long during two different tournaments, I realized I really needed to invest in something that was good for my back. I read so many reviews and took weeks to decide on the right chair. I even bought and returned seven very expensive and highly rated chairs. This one is, by far, the winner. The back support is great. It’s extra wide so when my kids climb onto my lap during games, there’s still room for both of us. If I have a big blanket or need lots of layers, I don’t feel squished. If my house was on fire, I would probably take this chair with me.
18. Keen Shoes
Summer and travel brings lots of adventure, and nothing can ruin a trip faster than slicing open a toe. These shoes been sturdy enough to hike in as well as swim in the ocean while simultaneously protecting their toes from coral. They are the ultimate do it all shoe for the summer, and I think they’re worth every penny.
19. Diving Toys
I love these little toys because they are compact enough to pack, and I don’t have to re-buy pool toys every time we go on a trip. The amount of fun and variety of imaginative games my kids can play with these is truly impressive, and at $10 (full price) they are much cheaper than any resort option toy.
20. Inflatable Pool Floats
We do not, and have not ever had a pool. We stumbled upon these pool floats when someone left them for us when they checked out of the Grand Hyatt Kauai. Everyone was asking where we got them because they were so much better than the tubes sold at the hotel. Next time we will be taking these with us. The last full price I saw on these was $26, which considering it includes two pool floats is a great deal. Take these to the rec center at home and pack them with you when you’re going to a resort with killer pools.
Reads You’ll Love
- How We Flew Our Family to Hawaii With Points
- How to Afford a Vacation Anywhere
- Why the Capital One Venture X is One of My Favorite Cards
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