Travel pillow and other travel musts

elpgal

On a recent cross-country flight, I realized I could not no longer be blasé about travel discomfort like I was in my 20s and early 30s.

What are some of your travel essentials? I have a pashmina and noise-cancelling headphones but am looking to add to my arsenal.

Looking for travel pillow and eye mask recommendations from veteran travellers.

7 years ago

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very seasoned traveller reporting with her two cents:

Unless you are traveling with Emirates - a bag FULL of yummy snacks.
You need a CASHMERE wrap instead of a pashmina. Acts like a blanket.
Disinfectant wipes.
Glasses case in case you take off specs.
Noise cancelling head phones - which I see you have covered.
Hand cream.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Very VERY important feature in neckpillow: flat back! Otherwise your head is pushed forward...

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7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

My neck pillow is inflatable.

Instead of a pashmina or cashmere wrap, I take a Patagonia nanopuff jacket. It fits in its own pocket when not in use.

Noise cancelling headphones are wonderful.

Reusable water bottle to fill at airport. I never have enough water to drink on a plane. (Or buy bottled water if you’re somewhere where the water is not potable.)

7 years ago

Anonymous

i can't do air travel without Earplanes, ear plugs that keep the ear canal pressure even and no more pain. They also reduce noise if worn on the flight. I combine them with a big wad of chewing gum for takeoffs and landings to equalize ear pressure.I get my EarPlanes at Target and you may have to ask the pharmacist for them. I also wash them carefully and reuse with no problems.

I use an old nylon backpack as a carry on and put it under the seat in front of me to put my feet up on during the flight. Yes, snacks, especially protein bars. Airline dietitians are clueless about special diets.

7 years ago

Christina F.

Veteran

Just a head's up on snacks: the TSA is going to start looking more closely at people’s snacks. They will want people to put them in the bins separately. I've seen multiple news items about it, and found it happened to me on my way home from New Orleans a few months ago.

7 years ago

Minnie

Active Member

I travel to Germany every three months and luckily I don't have to go in economy, so I don't worry about pillows and blankets as they are provided.

I do take my own hand cream, lip balm and a fascial hydration spray
(Beautycounter makes a nice, all natural one)
I also take my own eye-mask.
I really like this eye-mask.
It's "bug-eyed" so you will not smear your mascara (if you use mascara) and it's comfortable.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/pr.....#038;psc=1

Deodorant wipes are very handy to quickly refresh without synthetic fragrance.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/pr.....#038;psc=1

7 years ago

Joha

Active Member

For long haul flights I really like to use a water spray for the face, a moisturizing face cream and saltwater nose spray from the drugstore. Basically everything for added moisture as cabin air is sooo dry. And I second the empty water bottle. Especially handy for longer waits. Be careful with the inflatable pillow as most guidebooks, blogs etc are very cautious in this regard. The reasoning is that they react to changing air pressure and could explode when the pressure drops suddenly.
And an accu pack for your cell phone. Just in case. We once had a 12 hour flight without inflight entertainment (technical problems) - so NOT fun.
And as a frequent flyer I'm curious about the community wisdom. thanks everyone for the good tips

7 years ago

salt-sea

Active Member

Disinfectant wipes - I like the Herban Essentials ones in the lemon or lavender. I ask seatmates if they mind if I use it since it's scented. I offer one to them and thus far over many dozens of flights everyone's been fine. I have an alcohol wipe in my bag should anyone ever ask that I don't use the scented wipe. I wipe down the armrest, seatbelt latch, remote control for the TV if I'm going to use it, and the tray table as soon as I get to my seat. When I first started doing this I had mild concern that I looked a bit germophobic, but so many airlines are trying to shave off turnaround time that the planes are not well cleaned and usually the tray tables are quite disgustingly dirty. My seatmates usually take one for their own use.

I have tried many travel pillows and take overnight flights often. After a lot of trial and error, I bring the Igloo travel neck wrap now. It's not inflated but a memory foam type wrap that secures around your neck and supports your head better than any other pillow I've tried. They look a little crazy but it's better than a wrenched neck or a sleepless flight. It comes with other accessories - an eye mask, a lumbar cushion, and a storage sack that can also be used to support your arms. The storage sack is the only other thing I use other than the neck wrap. I have trouble with my arms falling asleep on long flights and the arm support helps. This is the igloo product: https://igloo4travel.com/

Also after trial and error, I use the Bucky 40 blinks eye mask, which is the most comfortable and blocks light the best. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M6NSLBE

I also bring single use eye drops, a packet of tissues, and lip balm.
Sometimes I bring an travel-sized evian mister (you can get them at sephora), but not always, as half the time I don't use it and it takes up precious space in my quart sized bag. I fly with carryon only and have optimized my cosmetics & toiletries.

I have noise canceling headphones which I wear for most of the flight but also bring a pair of ear plugs which I sometimes wear for longer flights or sleeping if the plane is fairly quiet.

I have several playlists of ambient sounds, 'music for sleeping', and ocean surf which I cue up when I am trying to sleep on a plane.

I bring a charged up kindle (paperwhite) and also at least one magazine or book in hardcopy.

7 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Excellent advice. Only thing I’d add is fluffy socks with grippies on the bottom once the plane reaches cruising altitude l like to take my shoes off...they go over my socks And keep my feet warm and clean

7 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

Such a wealth of advice! Thank you, all.

7 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

uniqlo packable down jacket, long cashmere cocoon sweater and cashmere wrap --worn all at once.

ambien.

7 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

http://travelitepillows.com
I bought one of their down pillows eons ago, bonus it works when hotel pillows are crap
ETA apparently they don’t have down anymore

7 years ago

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Depending on the length of flight I always take fresh clean socks to put on at then end. Makes standing in immigration/custom queues more pleasant if you are feeling fresh.

7 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I always wear smartwool socks because somehow they seem less icky for standing in the security line with my shoes off. And they survive the long sweaty flight better than cotton socks. But fresh socks to change into is another great idea.

Now that more planes have power outlets and WiFi, I always make sure to have my charger cables close at hand.

7 years ago

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