Carryon 101

I purposefully avoided travel during the holiday season and for good reason; February is going to be quite the travelling month for me and it helps to avoid crowds. What also helps during a hectic travel schedule (or even just a simple flight) is a well packed carry on bag.

In my late teens and early twenties, comfort meant very little to me and so I would board a fourteen hour flight with nothing more than one good book and walkman. I could sleep easily, entertain myself with the in-flight movie and never once worry about getting sick or having jet lag.

Those days are over.

Shortly, I'll depart for Provence which involves one ten hour flight, followed by a two hour flight, followed by a two hour train excursion. A few weeks later I'll fly to Paris, and then back to Seattle. Home for a day I'll be travelling by bus several hours north to Vancouver and back again. The straight after that I will take two planes to fly to Dallas TX and back again. With so much travelling, comfort means of a lot.

Although I take my luggage on the plane (I pack light), I make sure to pack a second, smaller yet stylish tote for the essentials. Things that will help me to feel as comfortable as can be in my 13" of space.

These things are:

• A separate zipped organiser wallet for my tickets, passport, boarding pass and any other pertinent travel information I'll need so that I don't have to look through every nook and cranny for it. This is especially important when trying to get through all the security check points and when changing planes.


• Large Bottled Water (don't rely on the plane's tap water)


• Lavender Complexion Mist to combat dry skin and smelly seats. (Also doubles as a room freshner for hotel rooms)


• Crossword Puzzle book


• Favourite Reading Book


• Bucky Eye Shades to help rest my eyes and block out 100% of light. Those freebies on the plane just don't cut it.


• Snacks such as an apple, orange (peeling an orange in flight is a true aromatic experience!) or a Zone Bar.


• Cashmere Wrap or any other large scarf or blanket. Even if travelling during the summer, airplanes can get a little chilly and it's always nice to have something stylish and comforting to wrap around you.


• Pen and stationary for jotting down notes or catching up on mail.


• If you check your luggage, I suggest also carrying on your toiletries, just in case something happens.