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Today’s question about traveling for business comes from Nancy P…
I’d love a post on tips for traveling for business. (Thought of this last week when I was going to Chicago for a deposition and security took away my spray wax, because apparently it was an aerosol not allowed by the TSA. How am I supposed to sit through 2 days of deposition without hair product?!) Tips for packing? Good travel-sized products?
My (rather obvious) tips:
-Pack in the same color range — black, brown, navy — so you only have to bring one pair of dress shoes
-Bring a nice soft sweater to wear on the way home. I love changing out of a suit jacket to a cashmere sweater on the way home.
-Never bring shampoo/conditioner if you can help it — as long as you stay in decent enough hotels, you’ll have good products.
This is a great question, and we’re hoping our readers will be a wealth of information. For our $.02 — Almost everything can either be bought in a small size (see, e.g., Minimus) or converted to a small size (we like the travel supplies at The Container Store, but most any place has them). You can also ship anything that the TSA might confiscate, or just purchase a new item when you arrive. (The concierge is almost always helpful in directing you to a local drugstore — you may also want to see whether your arrival airport has any stores for beauty purchases, such as an Aveda or Sephora store.)
These are some of the Corporette readers’ favorite items for business travel…
We would advise to save your packing space for things that you truly need large quantities of — for example, if your eye-makeup remover comes in a huge bottle, change it to a much smaller package that holds the quantity you need for your time away. (We’ve actually used stacking pill containers to keep things like eye makeup remover, facial moisturizer with SPF (a little bit goes a long way!), and more serious SPF (on the off chance we go for a run outside or something).)
In terms of clothing, we agree with the reader’s advice that the same color range can be helpful for the shoe/accessory reason. We would also suggest bringing a wrap (helpful for sweater/pillow purposes on the plane) and, if you’re bringing workout clothes, bringing nice enough clothes that can do double-duty — for example, if you prefer to fly in comfortable clothes, wear your yoga pants (before you’ve, you know, sweated in them). You may also want to pack a pair of flip flops — not only are they incredibly lightweight, but they can be worn around your hotel room as slippers, and will be handy if you visit the hotel pool or spa.
Some of our favorite office pashminas as of 2023: black / green / gray (lighter weight) / lavender ($20!!). If you’re looking for more of a ruana jacket, I highly recommend the Brooks Brothers’ ones!
We might also suggest bringing along a spray bottle filled with vodka, and using it to spray on your suit as a deodorizer when you’re done wearing it for the day. Hang up everything as soon as you’re done with it, and use steam from your shower to help straighten it out even more. Many hotels will bring you an iron (or blowdryer or small coffee machine) if you ask nicely.
Finally — before traveling, be sure to check how many bags your airline allows. It seems as though everyone has changed the rules, and you don’t want to be caught paying a hefty fine and/or being forced to check your bag anyway.
Readers, what are your top tips for surviving business travel?
Originally pictured (2010): Broken suitcases, originally uploaded to Flickr by toyohara. All current pictures via Stencil (2018 update).
ASH
My advice: Keep a ready-to-go toiletry and make-up bag on hand.
I have two bags I always keep packed. One is a zip-loc with travel sizes of all my liquid toiletry essentials (face wash, moisturizer, toothpaste etc.), the other is an airplane friendly (i.e. no liquids) make-up bag.
For the toiletries, I bought small bottles I can refill with my at-home products. Whenever I get unpack from a trip, any bottles that need it get refilled and the bag goes back in the drawer. For the make-up bag, I use a compact foundation and gel eyeliner instead of my usual liquids and also keep an extra of my favorite lipstick, blush, etc. in this bag. I know it may seem redundant to have two of each of these things, but too often when I was traveling, I was forgetting something basic like lipstick or deodorant becuase I couldn’t pack those until right before the trip because I needed them to get ready, or I would return from the trip and need them the next morning, but hadn’t had time to unpack yet. Now when I travel, I can pack my clothes the night before, throw in these two bags (each of which can be carried onboard) and know I will have everything I need.
Melissa
Second!
After my first year of traveling and forgetting things because I needed them the morning of travel, I finally just created 2 separate stashes of all my goodies. Makeup, liquids, etc. If you travel every week – it’s just worth the extra expense to save the hassle.
I love my hardside Dash by Brookstone. It’s pink so I know when someone moves it in the bin, etc. At 5’2″, I appreciate those that help me place my bag overhead (some bins are just enough higher that it is tough to reach without a huge SWING up).
Alka-Seltzer cold medicine is a great preventative med in the winter when traveling often. On days you are going to be in airports and cooped up in planes all day, just pop one of the fizz tablets in your morning water! I haven’t been sick for 2 years…
Lawchic
I second the Dash recommendation. My husband and I both have one and we love them. So light, fits into every overhead bin (even the smallest regional planes), doesn’t get damaged and really protects your stuff.
For those who want to maximize your “personal item” carryon, I also recommend the Longchamp Le Pliage bag (I have the largest one, with the long handles). It fits SO MUCH and zips up at the top so your stuff won’t go sliding out while you rest your feet on it underneath the seat. It’s virtually indestructible and doesn’t get dirty.
Nita
To further guard against toiletry spills in the suitcase, I use plastic pencil boxes instead of fabric/soft vinyl cosmetics bags. I use one pencil box for makeup only, one for shower stuff, and one for facial cleansers and toothbrush and paste. This is especially convenient if you have limited space in the bathroom, as the boxes can be stacked.
No need to contaminate contact lens cases with goop. Crafts stores have all manner of small storage cases, especially in the paints and jewelry departments, able to hold a quarter ounce of moisturizer, foundation, other liquid or cream makeup, etc.
When an eye or lip pencil gets down to about 4 inches long, I convert it to travel use. Ditto for deodorant applicators – save the last 1/2 inch of product and use it on your next short trip.
The Container Store and similar places sell pill containers with multiple divided sections. I fill one container with 5 or 6 pills each of pain relievers, antihistamine, decongestant, acid reducer, etc.
Keep tickets, itinerary, receipts, contact list, and similar documents in a plastic see-through envelope – ideally one that fits in a convenient outside pocket of your bag. The plastic envelope is easy to locate among paper folders, and you can arrange your documents inside it so the information you need is visible without having to open the envelope.
MelM
wow so many good suggestions – but can you really fit as much in a hard-side as a soft-side carry-on? and do I have to use GOOD vodka for the clothes?!
couple of other things I remembered:
tiny cordless mouse for my laptop (when I take it) – I HATE the laptop mouse; just makes life easier and takes up little space.
my assistant does a little “travel folder” for me for every trip (yes, I am spoiled). the front page is a summary w/ my itinerary, flight info, hotel address, rental car info, AND the weather in the city I’m going to. Then after individual tabs behind the cover page are confirmations for flight, hotel, rental car; there’s a tab w/ directions if I’m driving (multiple if going to different places); and a tab w/ a clear plastic sleeve for receipts. If I’m going for a depo or hearing, there’s a tab for that notice too. it’s so easy to put in the front of my tote bag, and I can pull it out easily to check info!
Anon
Tell your assistant that I think she rocks :)
newassociate
my assistant does this too. she totally, totally rocks.
caesia
I’ve been struggling with the three bag conundrum for years… roller, laptop bag, and purse and how to get down to two so I can carryon. I finally found the perfect clutch purse that slides into my laptop bag cleanly, yet still has room for the basics and keeps everything secure. Here it is (from Talbot’s) – http://tiny.cc/Xmrkq
Delta Sierra
Emergency mouthwash that’s easy to keep in your handbag: travel-sized toothpaste. Little dab in your mouth, sip of water, swish it around. Useful also to perk yourself up a bit, if you’re tired and energy is sagging.
April
Dramamine. I can’t believe I haven’t seen it here yet. On overnight flights, it keeps me from feeling ill, I can stomach airplane food, and it will knock me out enough that I get some sleep. On domestic, I take the non-drowsy. Either way, I arrive feeling fresh instead of green in the cheeks.
Another tip for eliminating/ reducing liquids. For makeup remover, I soak a few cottons pads (one for each day I’m traveling) and stick them in a Ziplock. No leak, no mess, and one less thing I have to pack.
et
Tips that are not about packing!
– When offered a beverage on the plane, select someting clear (water, clear soda, white wine) so if you spill or drip, it doesn’t leave a stain.
– If you’re on a flight that serves food (I’m showing my age here, I know, as regards most domestic flights these days), request the vegetarian or a special diet meal – if you feel you must eat, that is.
– If I’ve parked my car at the airport, I jot down the location & lot # on the parking stub as a reminder.