You choose your travel buddies carefully for a reason—there’s a special balance that needs to happen, planners and go-with-the-flow-ers coming together in the same landscape. The same goes for the people you gather around for a game of cards (or backgammon, or dominoes, or Mahjong). Over the past year, a group of friends and I have toted a beloved Mahjong set across New York City, gathering in each other’s homes to learn the ropes of this age-old game—proof that travel sets can have a life outside of airplane trays and Airbnb dining tables. There’s something glamorous about investing in a beautifully crafted backgammon board, a lacquered chess set, or a leather-wrapped deck of cards; something that’ll look just as at home on a coffee table as it does tucked into a weekender.
So whether you’re waiting out a delayed flight in an airport lounge, lingering over aperitivo hour on a vine-covered villa terrace, or packing up for a long day at the beach, a thoughtfully designed game set can make even the smallest vacation moments memorable. Ahead, we gathered some of our favorite luxury travel sets worth the space in your luggage.
Vogue’s Favorite Travel Game Sets:
The Investment Card Set
F. Hammann leather playing cards set
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This vibrant design from The Mahjong House makes a very compelling case for upgrading your tiles. Illustrations of peacocks, butterflies, and florals turn each acrylic tile into a miniature work of art, while the colorful palette feels perfectly suited for a poolside picnic table. The 160-piece American Mahjong set includes everything you’ll need to play, making it an easy choice for group getaways where afternoons naturally drift into game night.
The Mahjong House
