Dobrina Zhekova discovered her passion for travel at age 17 after spending four days in a bus traveling 2,500 miles from her home country of Bulgaria all the way to Lisbon (the bus broke down in the middle of the night in Serbia, but she still enjoyed the trip). She moved to New York City in 2010, and after completing her M.A. in Journalism, she started working at Elle.com. She is now a freelance writer based in Alexandria, VA, and her writing has appeared on InStyle.com, Vogue.com, Departures.com, Elle.com, and Sunset.com among many others. She covers travel, design, architecture, art, and weddings. When she is not learning a new language (her latest obsession is Icelandic), she daydreams about traveling to remote islands.

Hillary Maglin is an associate editor and writer who's been covering travel products since 2018. Before that, she spent three years as a news, entertainment, and lifestyle writer. She has been published in Travel + Leisure, People, InStyle, and more.

Hillary covers travel, luggage, comfortable shoes, stylish travel apparel, beauty, and lifestyle products. She has written hundreds of product roundups for Travel + Leisure, People, Instyle, Real Simple, and Rachael Ray In Season. Prior to joining T+L, she was a freelance writer covering current events, pop culture, fashion, and celebrities.

Experience: Hillary Maglin joined Dotdash Meredith in 2018. She started her career as an editorial intern for Rachael Ray In Season before becoming an assistant editor and then associate editor, covering products and shopping for Travel + Leisure, People, InStyle, and more. While at Travel + Leisure, she also worked on the brand's Webby Award-nominated social media team.

Before finding her niche in product writing, Hillary spent some time on the news and entertainment side of journalism, reporting live on television and covering events like the Tribeca Film Festival, New York Fashion Week, award shows, music festivals, movie premieres, and more.

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Whether your next trip is to discover a country you've never been to, or simply to spend a few days unwinding on a gorgeous beach, there is something to be said about the thrill of packing your bags and heading to a far-off destination.

Unfortunately, before your plane touches down, you'll probably spend a few hours — sometimes days — getting there. And this is when things can get a bit annoying.

Maybe you arrive at the airport and it turns out your carry-on weighs more than your airline allows, or your flight is delayed and your phone/laptop/tablet runs out of battery — and all the outlets at the gate are taken by other passengers. Or you miss your connecting flight and can't stop thinking about whether or not your bag made it to your new aircraft.

Related:The Best Carry-on Luggage

This is where "smart luggage" comes in: Thanks to technology, you no longer have to endure even a second of luggage-related anxiety during any part of your trip. With built-in features like GPS locators, USB ports to charge your devices, solar-powered batteries, and remote lock systems, smart luggage is a game-changer in the travel industry.

And you don't have to sacrifice the look of your suitcase for its efficiency. Sleek design and durable materials make these backpacks and suitcases your stylish companion guaranteed to last for years to come.

Although do note, as per recent regulations from airlines, you'll want to make sure the battery in your suitcase is removable, even if it's a carry-on.

Arlo Skye has created the sleekest, most perfect carry-on. It is lightweight and features a built-in charger, anti-microbial lining, shoe and laundry bags, and no outside zippers. Instead, you can open and close it with code-protected locks that will make sure no one but you can access your valuables.

This carry-on has a sleek yet funky design thanks to its neon-hued oversized wheels that let you navigate even the bumpiest cobblestone streets of your favorite city. The suitcase comes with a portable charging station with two USB ports as well as dual TSA-approved locks. And with multiple compartments and pockets, you can keep your belongings organized even when you're away from home.

As the name suggests, Away's The Bigger Carry-on is slightly roomier than their standard carry-on (by about an inch in every direction). The durable, polycarbonate suitcase comes stocked with an ejectable 37-watt battery that's capable of charging your phone and most other devices.

Travelpro is known for the quality and durability of their suitcases, which if you are a frequent traveler, we're sure you'll appreciate. At only 7 lbs., it's probably one of the lightest carry-on suitcases you'll find on the market that also packs a lot of smart features such as an RFID-blocking interior pocket that prevents identity theft and an exterior USB port.

This suitcase truly looks like it's from the future. And it has equally impressive features — it is entirely made of lightweight aluminum alloy and has an anodized coating for protection and a long-lasting look. The flat top allows you to use it as a table, propping your laptop up to work on it during a long airport layover. Download the Samsara app and you'll receive a notification each time the suitcase is opened out of your sight. The built-in battery can charge your phone up to ten times.

You probably saw this one coming. The Modobag went viral last year and for a very good reason. It's the world's first motorized suitcase which means you can ride it to the terminal and get there much faster. Its tech features include two USB ports, LED light controls, app-controlled tracking and proximity alert, and a riding range of up to eight miles.

This backpack is lightweight and super padded, making it ideal for laptop or tablet transportation. It's the bag for the true adventurer, as it includes a USB port designed to charge cameras and camera batteries in addition to most phones and tablets. But don't just stow it away in your hotel room once you reach your destination — the Voltaic is capable of charging your devices outdoors and on-the-go using SunPower and built-in solar panels.

The Marlon has oversized wheels that are less likely to stumble or get caught when you're racing through the airport. On top of that, its simple, sleek design makes it stylish yet subtle enough for any type of travel. It's also incredibly spacious and features a USB port with a removable battery, making it both user-friendly and TSA-friendly.

This carry-on backpack is easy to use and essential for no-stress travel. It easily converts into a tote bag and is stocked with a 5,200 mAh battery, which will provide up to two full phone charges or 1.5 tablet charges. And don't worry about your devices' cables ever getting lost or tangled, because this bag's got a built-in cable guidance system.