2026 Men’s Journal Travel Awards: Best Vacations, Hotels, and Luggage

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Consider the 2026  Men's Journal Travel Awards your one-stop shop before embarking on your next bucket-list adventure . Our well-traveled writers and editors singled out the best hotels, tour operators, airlines, and travel insurance, as well as tested the best new luggage, travel accessories , travel gadgets, and toiletry bag essentials in an effort to enhance your journey, near or far.

This is the culmination of months of research, first-hand product testing, and many years of collective travel experience by our team.

Below you'll find everything you need to plan a family vacation to America's greatest  mountain towns , tee off at a world-class  golf course , or plan an epic  bachelor party . All you need to do is figure out where to go first.

Best Luggage

Investing in a flawless new suitcase, bag, or duffel can change the whole experience of getting from point A to point B. Our list of the best luggage  proves there’s no end to the level of sophistication and innovation the best luggage brands provide. If it’s time to finally retire that old workhorse on noisy wheels with the moody zipper, these pieces (think carry-on, checked luggage , weekender bag, and more) fit the bill.

Best Luggage at a Glance

• Best Carry-On: July Carry On With CaseSafe

• Best Checked Luggage: Carl Friedrik Large Check-In

• Best Hardside Luggage: Antler Icon Stripe Expandable Carry-On

• Best Softside Luggage: Samsonite UpLIFT Softside Carry-On Spinner

• Best Affordable Luggage: Bagsmart Getaway 20" Carry-On

• Best Travel Backpack: Wandrd Transit Travel Backpack 35L

• Best Weekender Bag: Peak Design Travel Duffel 35L

• Best Ski Pack: Osprey Packs Mountain Bound Ski & Snowboard Boot Backpack Plus

• Best Convertible Bag: Knack Convertible Duffel

• Best Travel Diaper Bag: No Reception Club The Getaway Bag

• Best Personal-Item Bag: Dagne Dover Large Dakota Neoprene Backpack

• Best Laptop Bag: Stuart & Lau The Cary Briefcase

• Best Garment Bag: Halfday Travel Carry-On Garment Roller

• Best Cross-Body: Paravel Fold-Up Belt Bag

• Best Adventure Travel Pack: Yeti Ranchero

Best Travel Accessories 

The rigors of travel are hard to shake, but the best travel accessories  boost comfort and convenience. In this select lineup, you’ll find the best neck pillow, eye mask, and noise-canceling headphones. If you’ve forgotten just how clutch it is to have the right travel essentials on a brutally long flight, let us steward you.

Winners at a Glance

• Best Sleep Mask: Therabody SleepMask

• Best Neck Pillow: Cabeau's TNE S3

• Best Toiletry Kit: Peak Design Wash Pouch

• Best Travel Steamer: Conair Power Steam Worldwide Travel Garment Steamer with Dual Voltage

• Best Portable Espresso Machine: AeroPress's Go Plus Coffee Maker

• Best Travel Wallet: Bosca Zip Passport Wallet

• Best Antibacterial Phone Case: OtterBox Defender Pro Series Phone Cases

• Best Waterproof Phone Pouch: Case-Mate Silver Chrome Waterproof Floating Pouch

• Best Travel Water Bottle: Owala FreeSip

• Best Travel Headphones: Bowers & Wikins Px8 S2 McLaren Edition

• Best Travel Hotspot: TravlFi JourneyGo Mobile Hotspot

• Best Travel Organizer: Osprey Daylite™ Packing Cube Set

• Best Travel E-Reader: Amazon Kindle

• Best Travel Laptop: ASUS Zenbook A14 Powered by Snapdragon X 14”

• Best Travel Camera: Camp Snap CS-PRO

• Best Adapter: Epicka TA-105 Universal Travel Adapter

• Best Power Bank: NOCO XGrid XDP3 3‑in‑1 Wireless Charging Pad

• Best Travel Towel: Sea to Summit Large AirLite Towel

Best Travel Gadgets

Our relationship with travel technology has evolved from luxury to necessity. Each device must justify its weight, space, and battery consumption. Forget coveting the shiniest toys. This list of travel gadgets is about selecting tools that solve real travel problems: dead batteries in remote locations, poor connectivity during deadlines, and maintaining creative capabilities.

Winners at a Glance

• Best Travel Tech Overall: Flighty Pro

• Best Travel Laptop: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4

• Best Portable Monitor: ViewSonic VX1655-4K-OLED 15.6 Inch Portable Monitor

• Best Tablet: Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M4

• Best E-Reader: Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft

• Best Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM6

• Best Earbuds: Apple AirPods Pro 3

• Best Travel Camera: Fujifilm X100VI

• Best Power Bank: Anker Nano Power Bank 30W (10,000mAh)

• Best Bluetooth Tracker: Apple AirTag 2

• Best Waterproof Phone Pouch: Pelican Marine Waterproof Floating Pouch XL

Best Dopp Kit Essentials

The best toiletry bag essentials need to earn their place through relentless trial and error—surviving everything from red-eye flights to impromptu client dinners. We ruthlessly eliminated anything that leaks, breaks, or fails to perform across multiple climate zones. What remains are multitasking products for anyone living out of a suitcase who refuses to compromise on self-care.

Winners at a Glance

• Best Dopp Kit Essential Overall: Moon Juice Acid Potion

• Best Deodorant: Carpe Underarm Stick

• Best Dopp Kit: WaterField Designs Hanging Toiletry Bag

• Best Travel Cologne: D.S. & Durga Italian Citrus

• Best Solid Cologne: Fulton & Roark Palmetto

• Best Travel Shave Kit: Henson AL 13 Safety Razor

• Best Beard Trimmer: Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer 9000 Prestige

• Best Pomade: Firsthand Supply Clay Pomade

• Best Sunscreen Stick: EltaMD UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+

• Best Travel Sunscreen: Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50

• Best Beard Brush: Cremo Beard Brush

• Best Nail Kit: Seki Edge Craftsman Luxury 6-Piece Grooming Kit

• Best Travel Electric Toothbrush: Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige

• Best Mini Massager: Therabody Theragun Mini (3rd Gen)

Best Hotels in the U.S.

More than any single travel factor, accommodations define the trip—so it pays to choose wisely. The best hotels  cast a wide net. The lineup includes our favorite urban respite hotel, remote ranch hideaway, golf resort, and more.

Winners at a Glance

• Best Hotel Overall: Twin Farms

• Best All-Inclusive Hotel: Mii Amo

• Best Golf Resort: Sea Island

• Best Adventure Hotel: Yellowstone Peaks Hotel

• Best Eco-Conscious Hotel: Inn by the Sea

• Best Urban Hotel: Aman New York

• Best Splurge Hotel: Sensei Lanai

• Best Design Hotel: The Chloe

• Best Historic Hotel: The Waldorf Astoria New York

• Best Ski-In, Ski-Out Hotel: The Little Nell

• Best Affordable Hotel: Under Canvas Yosemite

• Best Beach Hotel: Gurney’s Montauk

• Best Luxury Hotel: Post Ranch Inn

Best Tour Operators

After scouring the landscape, consulting seasoned globetrotters, and experiencing them for ourselves, we narrowed down the best tour companies no matter what kind of adventure you’re chasing. Some cater to adrenaline junkies, while others specialize in slow, immersive experiences.

Winners at a Glance

• Best Tour Operator Overall: G Adventures

• Best Luxury Tour Operator: Artisans of Leisure

• Best Bespoke Itineraries: Black Tomato

• Best for Adventure: MT Sobek

• Best for Safaris: Singita

• Best for Sustainable Adventure Cruises: Lindblad Expeditions

• Best Value: Trafalgar

Best Travel Insurance

We searched high and low to cut through the clutter and find the best travel insurance providers for all types of globetrotters. Whether you’re looking to plan a last-minute road trip or embark on a multi-day expedition into the unknown, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re covered. After analyzing consumer reviews, policy offerings, and expert recommendations, we’ve whittled it down to the best of the best.

Winners at a Glance

• Best Overall: Trawick International

• Best for Last-Minute Trips: Allianz Global Assistance

• Best for Adventure Travel: Global Rescue

• Best for International Travel: Tin Leg

• Best for 24-Hour Support/Customer Service: Travel Guard

Best Airlines

If your only criteria for selecting an airline is the cheapest bottom line, you're missing out on some incredible benefits. Some consistently rank among the best for consistency and customer satisfaction, while others provide a more robust range of flights to get to far-flung locales. Here are the best airlines for every preference.

Winners at a Glance

• Best Airline Overall: Qatar Airways

• Best Airline for Adventure Travel: Emirates

• Best Airline for Affordable Flights: Allegiant Air

• Best Top-Rated Airline: Delta

• Best Airline for Comfort and Amenities: Singapore Airlines

How We Chose Our 2026 Travel Award Winners

Our 2026  Men's Journal Travel Awards winners are selected using our adventure-obsessed editors and writers' first-hand testing, customer reviews, and consultations with brand reps and industry experts.

Product choices were selected from hundreds of customer reviews, fellow traveler polls, and consultations with brand reps and industry experts before being put to our own tests and reviews. Our best luggage lists span an assortment of sizes and uses, while our top travel accessories cover a broad range of categories, including health, fitness, tech, and leisure.

In the case of destinations, we consider geographic range, design and architecture, reputation, cost and value, overall atmosphere, and authenticity. And for insurance, airlines, and tour companies, we relied on our individual experiences, in addition to guidance from trusted industry experts and local outfitters.

If there’s one overriding question guiding our top picks it's this: Would we feel good recommending to friends and family? The answer has to be an emphatic, “Yes!”, to make the cut.

Why You Should Trust Us

Every year, the travel industry is saturated with a fresh stock of new products to buy and places to see. While sifting through this glut can be overwhelming, it happens to be our favorite playground. Travel and adventure have been at the core of Men’s Journal since our inception over 30 years ago. There’s nothing our writers and editors enjoy more than culling the best travel products and vacation destinations.

Collectively, we’ve traipsed across countless countries. As industry insiders, we’re tapped into the newest travel product releases every year, road testing them ourselves for dependable, first-hand reviews. For the following roundups, we consulted with travel industry pros, top outfitters, and local experts to help us select the best of the best. As a result, the Men’s Journal Travel Awards offer authoritative, trustworthy, and savvy travel intel that will steer you to the the top travel products and best vacation destinations out there.

2026 Travel Awards Contributors

• Ian Centrone

• Paul Jebara

• Austa Somvichian-Clausen

• Perri Ormont Blumberg

Related: 2026 Men's Journal Tech Awards: 100 Innovations That Will Enhance Your Life — Indoors and Out

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 4, 2024, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.