·When choosing an airplane seat, try to pick a middle seat. This way, you have more chances to strike up interesting conversations and gather more information.
——Bob Payne, Website Editor
·When you park your car near the airport, take a picture of your parking spot. It’ll make it much easier to find your car when you return.
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·If you’re traveling abroad, photocopy the front and back of your passport and credit cards before you leave, then scan them and send a copy to your own or a trusted friend or family member’s email.
·Carry two packets of yellow mustard—they can help relieve leg cramps.
·If your hotel room doesn’t have an iron, you can use a hot light bulb to remove wrinkles from your clothes. Be sure to wrap the bulb’s base in a towel to avoid burns.
——Lori Tucker, Company President
·Bring a silk pillowcase—it not only keeps your hair smooth but also helps reduce facial wrinkles and prevents sleep lines.
——Deborah Dunning, Travel Website Reporter
·Apply an eye mask overnight during a flight so you’ll look refreshed when you arrive at your destination.
——Andrea Mistaqu, Website President
·Gentlemen, listen up: don’t lug around heavy shaving cream when you travel. Think about it—what do hotels have that can soften hair and work as shaving cream? Right—conditioner.
——Ed Vizcaino, Website Editor
·Pack an outdoor jacket. These jackets are compact, can be folded into your pocket, weigh almost nothing, and can even be used as a pillow on the plane once folded.
·Bring a reusable water bottle (I personally prefer aluminum ones). That way, after clearing airport security, I can fill it up and drink without waiting for the flight attendant.
·For outdoor adventures, pack lightweight and quick-drying clothes.
——Erin O’Innitz, Travel Journalist
·Prepare some travel-sized toiletries. I’ve survived a whole week with just a few small bottles. Sometimes large containers can’t get through security, and airport travel kits are too expensive.
——Clint Brownfield, Travel Journalist
·I always carry a sketchbook when I travel. I may not have an artist’s talent, but I love sitting down, truly appreciating the beautiful scenery, and capturing it in a deeper way.
——Pam Groot, Travel Journalist
·Bring a small spray bottle while traveling—it’s great for beating the heat.
·Carry a small bottle of air freshener to keep your hotel room smelling fresh.
——Katie Reguez, PR Professional
·On the plane, I keep a ping-pong ball at my feet to roll back and forth to prevent my feet from getting stiff. Sometimes I place it behind my back as a kind of massage. Ping-pong balls are lightweight, portable, and easy to replace.
——Brian Povinelli, Senior Vice President
·When packing clothes, put them in clean plastic bags. That way, even if your suitcase gets rained on, your clothes will stay dry.
·Wear headphones on the plane to block out the noise. For me, the most important thing is to bring the latest issue of a fashion magazine—so even if my flight is delayed or my electronics run out of battery, I can still comfortably pass two hours.
·Before traveling, I download two apps on my phone: one that lets me check my flight status, such as gate numbers and delays, and another that gives me weather updates so I can stay informed about the conditions at my destination.
——Laura Davidson, President of Public Relations
·Make the most of your camera. Handwritten notes taken in a hurry are often hard to read, so I use my camera instead of taking “notes.” I take pictures of my room number because few hotels now engrave them on keys. Sometimes I also photograph restaurant names, menus, business cards, street signs, or destination markers.
——Lynn Hayes, Travel Journalist
·Before every trip, I make a checklist on my phone of everything I need to pack. Of course, the list varies depending on where I’m going, and I might tweak it slightly. Recently, I forgot my sunglasses and added them to the list so I wouldn’t forget next time.
——Rachel Harrison, Chief Marketing Officer
·Bring a roll of transparent tape when traveling to stick small loose items together before packing them in your suitcase—like shampoo, shower gel, perfume, etc. You can also use the tape during the trip to fix torn documents or other small items.
——Heidi Sarna, Travel Journalist
·Pay attention to safety while traveling, especially when you’re alone. If another traveler asks what you do and you’re not sure they’re trustworthy, you can tell them: “I’m a police officer on vacation.” That’s what I say, just to be safe.
——Evelyn Hannon, Website Editor
·Keep a small flashlight in your backpack—it comes in handy when you’re looking for a pen or other small item that’s rolled under something in a corner.
——Steve Lales, Travel Journalist
·Take a photo of your suitcase with your phone. If it gets lost, you can show airline staff the picture rather than trying to describe the bag.
·Carry your business cards with you. You never know who you’ll meet on the road—maybe a valuable opportunity will arise—so having your contact info ready is always a good idea.
——Laura Manske, from Twitter