Top Travel Cribs for Globe-Trotting Tots
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
There are many moving parts for families to consider when it comes to the logistics of travel, from the right stroller (or double stroller), whether or not to take your own car seat, which luggage to use, etc. With that in mind, the idea of adding another large item to your checked luggage — like a travel crib — can be off-putting. (But, don't forget that you can at least lighten the load and skip baggage claim and have your checked bags delivered to your destination.)
While nearly any sizable hotel (and many small ones, too) and most rental houses and apartments often have some Pack 'n Plays or cribs for guest use, you can't always count on a crib at a hotel. So, bringing along your own travel crib often makes sense, especially when it comes to having a safe, comfortable and portable place to keep your baby contained. This is especially true if you are traveling somewhere that doesn't have a healthy baby gear rental market.
During a recent trip to Cuba — where island-wide shortages on virtually everything naturally extend to baby accessories, even at hotels — I was so relieved to have paid the extra baggage fee to bring along our BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light. Although there were always family members around offering to hold my baby during the day, I was glad I didn’t have to build a pillow fortress around her when it was time to sleep at night.
Read on for our top picks on the best travel cribs that tick all the boxes by being lightweight, easy to bring along in a car or plane and — best of all — simple to set up.
BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light
Designed as a handy portable sleeping solution for newborns through kids up to 3-years-old, the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light couldn’t be more convenient to set up. I’ve even managed to set this crib up in total darkness when arriving late to a shared hotel room when I didn’t want to disturb everyone else. You simply pull out the four legs from their folded position in the frame, position the crib to standing, pop the mattress down and voilà — it’s bedtime for baby.
The mattress is several inches thick and nice and firm. Since it’s supported on the floor, there’s no weight limit to what it can hold. The whole thing packs down to flat into the handy carrying bag, tipping the scales at just 13 total pounds. Because the legs come out at a tent-like supportive angle, the crib is also surprisingly stable. Even kids that like to pull up on the sides probably can't topple this one over.
Guava Lotus Everywhere Travel Crib
Also weighing in at 13 pounds, this travel crib by Guava is another traveling-parent favorite. It’s quite similar to the BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light in that the mattress is supported by the floor and the legs come out at an angle for excellent stability. The side-zipper door can be left open to allow your child to come in and out during supervised play time.
The side door is also a handy way to access baby if you happen to be, say, breastfeeding in a tent (raises hand!) or otherwise sleeping on the floor beside your baby. You can crawl right inside and lay your head next to your little one to comfort them. The Lotus Everywhere folds up into a convenient backpack, which you can take on an airplane as a carry-on, or otherwise haul around on your back on the go.
Graco Pack 'n Play Jetsetter Playard
This is another travel crib that packs down into a convenient backpack so you can easily tote it along with you on a flight or road trip. The Graco Pack ’n Play Jetsetter Playard is a bit heftier than the other two options, weighing in at just over 17 pounds. But there are extra features to this crib, too, including a removable bassinet with a canopy (the latter is stored on the outside of the backpack when the crib is packed away) and a diaper changing pad that you can choose to take with you or leave at home.
The bassinet has a soothing, built-in vibration feature that might help newborns sleep more soundly on the road (key word: might). And while setup isn’t quite as quick as with the BabyBjorn, this crib feels more like a proper Pack 'n Play and has wheels and feet that fold down to help keep it compact. To break it down, you simply push the buttons on the side of the top rails and fold it back into the backpack.
Bottom Line
Any of these cribs could be a sanity saver on your next family vacation. Do you take along a travel crib on vacations or simply rely on hotel equipment or a makeshift pillow fort? We'd love to hear about your experiences.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.