01 May Power Trip: Tired of the Travel Grind?
Savvy travel pros share their recommendations on products that can ease the way
By Carrie Kirby
Robin Wilson-Beattie, a sexuality and disability educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area, took 45 trips by air last year. Since she has a disability that prevents her from walking long distances, Wilson-Beattie carefully choreographs her journeys.
“I have a system,” she says.
It all starts with good pockets. Because she usually receives wheelchair assistance to the gate, Wilson-Beattie needs to be able to access her most important items without reaching into a bag, which might be behind her or underneath her seat.
“Those pockets not only hold my boarding pass, but I can also put a charger in there,” she says. With the addition of a cross-body wallet/phone case, Wilson-Beattie has all her most essential items attached to her body.
For women, “traveling can be both exhilarating and daunting,” says Bindhu Bhatia, global head of customer lifecycle optimization for Minneapolis travel management company CWT. With tips on everything from the perfect travel fit to the right bags, comfort items, sleep setup, and personal care products, Bhatia, Wilson-Beattie, and other frequent business travelers share their tried-and-true items for feeling at home on the road.
Clothing
Bhatia keeps safety top of mind while traveling. That extends to the clothing she chooses: “I would recommend dressing comfortably—this helps mitigate risk, as you’ll be able to move around easier.”
Our experts have a few favorites that are both comfortable and ideal for work trips:
It has pockets! Deep side pockets and a hidden hip pocket make Shapermint Essentials High-Waisted Active Shaping Leggings one of Wilson-Beattie’s go-to airport choices. She also loves the Amazon Essentials Women’s Organic Cotton Fit and Flare Dress, which not only has deep pockets but also proves that great travel clothing doesn’t have to be expensive.
Packable dresses. Carole Barrow, who travels once a month in her role as senior director of public relations and content for San Francisco PR and marketing firm Bospar, loves AFRM and Fuzzi dresses. “They never wrinkle, and they roll into compact parcels that take up very little space in my luggage.”
Luggage
From the one-night carry-on to the artfully crammed checked bag, your luggage choice depends on both your taste and the demands of the journey. Most road warriors keep multiple pieces to choose from.
Clever carry-ons. Kelly Soprych, an independent clinical research associate in the pharmaceutical industry, spent 156 nights in hotels last year. For one-night trips from her Chicago-area home, she avoids the struggle for overhead bin space by sticking to a bag that fits under the seat. A favorite: The Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Women’s Convertible Tote, which she can use as a backpack, a cross-body bag, or a handled tote. The bag’s stylish appearance makes it even more versatile.
“I don’t need to take an extra purse if I want to go out at night,” Soprych says. Wilson-Beattie’s every-trip carry-on, the MOMUVO Travel Backpack, also fits under the seat.
Barrow favors the eye-catching Leather & Kilim Duffle from Made Leather Co.
Stand out. Anyone who has ever stood at the baggage claim squinting at dozens of black suitcases can understand why Wilson-Beattie prefers “suitcases with colors that pop.” She loves the charming pattern of her Lily Bloom suitcase as well as her cherry red NZBZ vintage-look bag.
Soprych owns Travelpro Platinum Elite suitcases in a range of sizes because of their quality. “The wheels are wonderful. The hand grip is wonderful,” she raves.
Bags within bags. To keep their bags organized, the travelers use specialized sub-bags.
“I like my tech,” Wilson-Beattie says. She keeps most of her gadgets and chargers in a MATEIN Electronics Organizer Travel Case. A LAVIEVERT Toiletry Bag keeps her personal items in order.
To help her fit more days’ worth of clothing into a compact bag, Soprych relies on Tripped compression packing cubes. While some compression bags need a device to suck out the air, these rely on the zipper to squash the contents down..
Cozy in flight
Unless you’re flying first class, “cozy” might be too much to ask for on today’s airplanes. But a few items can make the hours pass more bearably.
“Take a big scarf that can double as a blanket,” Bhatia advises. “(It’s) perfect for staying warm on those chilly red-eyes.”
Soprych recently started using an Ostrichpillow—not the original that covers your entire head but the Go Neck Pillow. “It’s supportive in each direction.”
Barrow loves the versatility of the Dot & Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow. “It can be used for neck, chin, lumbar, and leg support, which is wonderful on long-haul flights or train rides,” she explains.
Tech gadgets
While we all rely on them to get work done, electronics can also contribute to comfort and—crucially—a good night’s sleep.
Shhh. Bhatia’s essential piece of sleep technology? Hands down, her noise-canceling headphones.
Soprych takes sleep silence a step further, relying on Lightimetunnel Sleep Headphones, which use Bluetooth to connect to a white noise app on her phone and double as an eye mask to block out light. “I don’t mind sleeping next to the elevator because I don’t hear any dinging. I don’t hear door slams,” Soprych says.
Another device that helps Soprych sleep: her Gaiatop folding, rechargeable fan.
Rise and shine. Despite being a light packer, Soprych brings along a kettle and a French press. “I love my coffee in the mornings, and the coffee in hotel rooms is horrible,” she says. So she was thrilled when she discovered a collapsible silicone electric kettle, which she powers up before stepping into the shower. By the time she’s out, the water is hot and ready for her BruTrek Steel Toe Travel Coffee Press. “This has made a world of difference in my life,” she says.
Back to work. Both Soprych and Wilson-Beattie carry travel power strips with extension cords, which come in handy when working in a variety of environments. Soprych, who finds herself needing to plug in her laptop while working in exam rooms, conference rooms, and other irregular environments, prefers the compact Travel Essentials BEVA power strip. Wilson-Beattie likes the HOPOW Retractable Travel Power Strip.
Personal care
Fighting the dry. Whether it’s attacking your skin, hair, or general well-being, dryness is a common enemy of the traveler.
Barrow depends on Kenya Moore Growth Serum to protect her hair from drying and breakage on the road and on LC Botanicals Rescue Balm to keep her skin feeling soft. Soprych uses Ponaris Nasal Emollient, a botanical oil blend, to prevent the nosebleeds that dry environments can bring.
Refreshing on the go. Why does Wilson-Beattie love Lume’s Whole Body Deodorant? “It actually works!” she says. And it comes in a carry–on friendly half-ounce squeeze tube.
Soprych always brings two items that can help her freshen up in an airport bathroom or the hotel: her Quip Electric Toothbrush, powered by an AAA battery, and ARCH&M Exfoliating Washcloths. “They’re just so light, and they dry almost immediately.” DW
