BEST PRACTICES

Only pack a carry on. Moisturize. Be nice. Wear good shoes.

Unexpected things happen while you travel, and if you are well prepared, flexible and open minded you can lean into the experience. These best practices have helped me across the globe. 

PACKING

Remember Curly Sue? 1991, directed by John Hughes. I was nine when it was released, and I connected with Curly Sue in a major way. One of my favorite parts of the whole narrative (I can't even remember what this movie is even about, but I have a feeling Curly Sue learns a valuable life lesson and, in the process, so.do.we.) was the opening credits, when we explored the contents of Sue's suitcase. I loved that suitcase. It was full of knick knacks, crayons, cards, scarves. Ever since that movie, and maybe even before, I have loved the art of packing a bag. Choosing the right bag for your journey (size, straps, durability), laying out all your clothes knowing they will be the familiar in an unfamiliar place, mentally thinking about the activities you have planned and those you don't yet know about, all the travel size products. The journeys I take vary, but there are certain packing practices I follow for every trip.

• Pack light. I promise you this is not impossible. I haven't checked a bag in ten years (excluding the time in Cairo when they randomly forced me to check my bag), and I’m rightfully smug about it. Don’t pack more than you can lift into the overhead compartment yourself.

• Really think about what you will be doing on your trip, and about yourself. Are you going to a fancy dinner? Will you be walking for hours? I don't want to put too much power into clothing, but I know that if I am underdressed, overdressed or just inappropriately dressed in anyway, I feel deeply uncomfortable (and sometimes disrespectful). So, I run scenarios in my brain like: will I be leaving our hotel in the morning, walking all day and then going directly to dinner without a chance to freshen up? If so, cue a pair of black jeans, comfortable boots and a black sweater or blouse that will still look fresh if put some lipstick on before dinner. Like a method actor for packing, I think of times when I have felt underprepared, and worked from there. I remember being in Edinburgh for New Years Eve and it was SO COLD. I had only packed thin socks and thin sweaters and was just miserable because my toes were cold for days (pro-tip: if your toes are cold, buy some socks!). What sucks is, when I think of that trip, I remember how fun it was - but also how cold I was. So, look at your itinerary, look at the weather, and then start dog-earing the items you think would work.

• Do a practice pack. About a week before we leave - while there is still time for errands - I do a practice pack. I put everything I WANT to bring (even stuff I know won't ultimately make the cut) onto the bed and I pack my bag. If there are things that don't fit, I start making decisions, and/or once everything packed, I put the backpack on my back or lift the rolling bag and figure out how heavy it is/if it feels like it is about to explode. Then, I unpack the bag, put everything in a stack on the dresser and then walk away. I PROMISE you, by the time you come back to the stack, you'll feel comfortable and ready to take at least one thing out and be a little lighter for your journey.

• Think about your health. Are you a lady? Do you have health concerns? Will you need to pee in a hole in the ground? ALL THREE OF THESE THINGS DESCRIBE ME AND MY TRAVELS! I tend to get headaches if I don't get FOOD IN MY FACE in a timely fashion, so I always bring some Advil with me (also, I was on a flight once and the twenty-something sitting next to me drank too much wine with dinner and was pretty miserable when she woke up. She asked the flight attendant for Advil - which she didn't have/probably can't legally give to her anyway - and was so dejected. I turned to her and said, "I have Advil!" and she literally clung to me and almost burst into tears. I have a prideful hope that that girl thinks to herself, "Wow, I hope that I can some day be as put together as that woman when I'm in MY mid-thirties!"). Also, get some Pee Pockets. They will make you feel like a superhero every time you use one.

AIR TRAVEL

I like the airport! I like going to Hudson News and getting a Vanity Fair, I like people watching while I wait to board. I don't even mind flying - I'm always pleasantly surprised by the meals offered and I take pride in being a good seat neighbor. That being said, long flights are long flights. There is only so much positive attitude that is going to get you through a fourteen hour flight. After many long-haul flights, I've adopted tricks to make those hours a teensy bit more bearable. 

• Wear comfortable clothing that also looks like you give a damn. I'm not suggesting that you wear a Chanel suit, but you know that feeling when you've been loafing around the house in busted out sweatpants? And you just feel like a piece of human garbage? Well, you look like human garbage too. My argument is that you should dress for the mood you want - a little bit of care can translate to you landing in your destination feeling less like a crumply old paper bag and more like you could conceivably go straight to a museum and not be shoo'd out. For me, this means comfortable black pants and layers on top - a t-shirt covered by a smart sweater and jacket.

• Exhaust yourself before your flight. Clean the whole house, run a few miles, take a spin class. Don’t deprive yourself of sleep, but get your body good and tired so that when you do sit down in your seat, you'll be able to relax and recover.

• Get comfortable and shut everything out with ear plugs, an eye mask, cozy socks, a big scarf and a travel pillow. Outside of the scarf, all of this can fit easily in your carry on. Here is what I do: I eat the meal with a big glass of wine. I KNOW "they" say not to drink while you fly, but I balance this with TONS of water. After the meal, I get one more glass of wine and take a Zzzquil. Then, I BRUSH MY TEETH AND TAKE OUT MY CONTACTS (game changer) and then I stay up for a little bit longer, letting the booze and 'quil do their magic. Then I turn off the movie I'm watching, the podcast I'm listening to, my seat light, etc. I put ear plugs in, blow up my travel pillow, put on my cozy socks, cover my eyes with my eye mask and then wrap my whole head (travel pillow included) up with a big scarf. I'm kind of a little slumber bubble and can, for the most part, then get a few hours of sleep. Or fly business class, if you have the means.