What creature comforts do you take on a trip?

I take my neck pillow for the plane. The next time we go to London, my daughter and I have decided we will buy fresh flowers the first day for our room even if we have to stash them in a Coke can.

I also take a neck pillow and find it's useful for dozing on buses and trains and for support when the hotel only gives one mushy pillow.

I carry scented body lotion rather than perfume, especially after my bottle of perfume was broken in my suitcase and the suitcase was permeated with the scent for the entire trip.

My special Fragonard soap travels with me.

My wine kit, coffee kit, and powder bubblebath.

My husband. Good for leaning on in the plane, getting in and out of overhead bins, watching luggage when you need to go to the airport bathroom, wearing a daybag with maps, water, camera, etc., carrying money, holding my hand, snuggling at night, running for coffee in the morning... need I go on?

little laptop computer.

I bring:

inflatable neck pillow & eyemask for the plane ride
ear plugs
definitely slippers - I hate walking bare feet in hotel rooms or apartments!
scented travel candle

for fall/winter/spring, I always pack my wool hat and wool gloves even if I don't need them. I HATE being cold!

Yes to perfume! I don't take slippers but I have this pair of pink fuzzy socks with grips on the soles to wear around inside my hotel room or apartment- I only ever wear them on trips, never at home. I like buying fresh flowers too, and nice bubble bath if I have a tub.

I have a little baby blanket, fleece on one side, satin on the other. On the plane, I ball it up and use as a pillow or around my neck.

In hotels, I put it over the bed pillow. The fleece keeps it from moving around and the satin is nice to sleep on.

For the plane, noise-cancelling headphones and my MP3 player.

MelJ, what are you and your husband doing in the overhead bins?

I brought one of my pillows on the last trip - it was bulky, but light and I was really happy I had it. I left it behind (I need to buy new pillows, anyway.)

I always bring a set of Riedel O glasses to drink wine and water out of. I hate plastic cups.

If space weren't such a premium for me (I travel with carryon only), I'd love to pack this Eddie Bauer Down Travel Pillow & Throw set with me on my trips!
http://tinyurl.com/yen7e2v

Jean: LOL--good catch! And I was an English major...

My favorite shampoo and conditioner. I have long hair and hate the thouught of relying on what might be provided in a hotel or what I could find in a supermarket. It makes traveling carry on only for any length of time difficult but it's well worth it.

Depending on the trip I often take a pair of fleece lounge pants. Perfect for around the hotel room/apartment and then slip them off put on silky jammies for bedtime unless it's frigid. They're great for running to vendo land or the ice machine in the middle of the night.

Oh I like that YK.

Last December when we went to Paris flying from LAX - CDG - I brought my real pillow with me. I was VERY glad I did. We were not in business class and it was so helpful to have for my 12 year old and I to sort of smush between us to sleep on. It was worth the bulk. I knew we were in one apartment for the 10 nights - so lugging it around was not an issue.

I always bring a blanket. I am such a homebody gypsy if there is such a thing. I love to travel and enjoy every aspect of the new people, places, things, but I hate not having my few things, like my pillows, bed... blankets.

I bring those fuzzy socks usually and toss them after the trip because they get sort of gross after a few washes. They work well for dd to wear on the plane as well.

I bring a flameless candle to set on the coffee table in the evenings at whatever RCI condo we're staying at. It makes our living room seem cozy and no flame to worry about if we fall asleep!

MomDD, we actually saw that Down Travel Pillow & Throw set at the Eddie Bauer OUTLET store several weeks ago. The outlet store was selling them for real cheap - I think less than half the regular price! I must admit, it took a huge amount of self-control & restrain NOT to buy it!

MelJ - do you loan out your husband? (Just kidding). My greatest luxury was traveling with my 27 year old son who never got tired of hauling the bags or driving - bliss.

I have a travel pillow that is the in the shape of those countoured foam pillows (which is the kind I use at home)but only about 1/3 as wide. It is like someone cut a regular pillow into thirds. It is covered in velvety fabric, and rolls up to fit inside a leatherette cover, about the size of a large water bottle. The case has a strap, and I can clip it on my carry on luggage, or my purse. It is great on the plane, for sleeping, or as a cushion for sitting, and also helped me survive the slab-like italian pillows we encountered often. I think I ordered it from Travel Smith a few years ago.
I also enjoy a nylon robe - doesn't take up much space but adds a bit of warmth and modesty - better than just lounging at night in a nightgown.

Here is what I am going to add next time: a small battery powered reading light for hotel rooms with inadequate bedside lamps.

I bring my pillow if packing light isn't an issue - staying in one place or renting a car for travelling around, definitely if we are going on a car trip. I love my pillow and I always sleep better with it. We've always done this in my family. First car trip my husband took with us, he laughed when he looked around the van and saw us all with our pillows

I also always bring something to lounge around in - some sort of yoga type pants, comfy tee and good socks.

I bring one of my large, wool shawls (about 24" x 48") which I use as a blanket on the plane (rather then that recycled, linty blanket)and it also doubles as an extra warm layer if needed (for my winter trips)and a handy "throw" when in my room reading/resting. I also bring epsom salt - just a small jar for soaking sore feet (got to use that bidet for something). I bring a beat-up pair of sweat pants for the room and a pair of hotel slippers (weigh next to nothing and can be discarded before coming home). And my CD player with extra batteries and plenty of CD's.

I have started bringing a small silk travel pillow with a removable cover I bought on sale at "Restoration Hardware" a few years ago. It is worth the space it occupies in my luggage. I was beginning to find the foam pillows at B&B's and agriturismos very hard to sleep on. There was a thread about the RH pillow in this forum, so I took the cue from many fodorites! Unfortunately I think the pillow may have been discontinued.

What do you do with your bed-pillows - do you have plastic covers for them or anything? The thing that I don't like is the thought of taking something off my bed and using it, unprotected, on an airplane - and then taking it back home again - gah. I've seen plenty o' people just walking around with wadded up bed pillows and I think, "eek". What if you dropped it on an airport floor?

I'm really only mildly germophobic - I don't use those clean-wipes when I get on an airplane or anything - but I don't use the blanket or pillow the airline provides either - they turn those planes pretty quickly for the next run and I doubt they get cleaned or replaced each time. Airline blanket/pillows become my lumbar support!

ps. good comments by the way - might have some ideas for the next trip now!

"Airline blanket/pillows become my lumbar support!" Me too

I do have an inflatable neck pillow but it sprung a leak on our last trip, I'll have to see about getting another. I leave a corkscrew in my luggage at all times!I don't like the ones they have in hotel rooms.

Since we almost always stay in apartments, I bring along some basic, temporary things, just in case they don't have them, and they usually don't. Yes, all of this stuff is available (well maybe not the Arby's stuff), but maybe I don't want to shop on my first day, but I also find that I forget to buy stuff when there and so lots of this stuff makes it easy.

* Picnic style salt/pepper shakers;

* little packs of ketchup, mayo, mustard, ArbyQ sauce and Arby's Horsey Sauce;

* roll of TP;

* small can-opener;

* some of those Folger's coffee bags and some hot chocolate bags (in case I don't want to go out);

* sugar packs;

* a few of those flavored coffee creamers that come in the little containers;

* a small scrubby sponge and a little container of dish detergent

* paper napkins in a baggie

* a pack of those "little trees" car air-fresheners to hang in the bathroom. Let's face it, sometimes 500 year old plumbing doesn't fully control smells.

* I have a little tool kit that has been used on every trip we have taken.

* a couple of packs of liquid laundry detergent.

dave

On international flights, as long as the waitresses have plenty of those little bottles of Bailey's Irish Cream, I'm set for creature comforts.

I take a lot of the above listed. Ex. Toilet Paper, pillow, laundry detergent, corkscrew, fake sugar and a blanket(Need to spend the night at an airport to appreciate one). Not listed above but I take is a small battery/plug in 10" fan. Comes in very handy in hotel rooms with no AC in summer. I also take an inverter to use with my electric scooter and small laptop.

my own washrag. they dont have them in Europe.

"What creature comforts do you take on a trip?"

My wife.

My iPod with all my favorite music and tv shows on it, my body gel, lip gloss, my cashmere throw, my camera, and my favorite pillow, which only comes out when I reach my final destination.

I used to bring my piggy slippers, but it became too cumbersome for airplanes, so now they only go on road trips.

Oh, and how can I forget, my unlocked quad band cell phone (only for trips of long duration).

Books. I never travel with less than 3. Airports, airplanes, I have to read. Also, wherever I am, I can't go to sleep without reading a few pages.

I understand the pillow thing as I need at least 2, but I never bring one. I've been known to stuff a sofa pillow under my bed pillow when there are not enough on the bed.

A small selection of my own tea and a couple of Folger's coffee bags. It was a good thing I did in Amsterdam as the hotel thought instant coffee was coffee. Silly them.

I also bring a coffee cup, it's a hard plastic mug that is the next best thing to ceramic.

A couple of small tea light candles, a couple of small sticks of incense just in case.

Notebooks, one large 70 sheet spiral and a small notebook to carry around.

Silk undies. Extra book.

If it's a car trip, I bring my pillows.

I take yoga pants - they are SO fabulous to change into after a hectic day of exploring. Even if it's just to wear while I'm recovering from the days outings and getting ready to go out for dinner. The next one is going to seem really silly to some of you, but I take my own hair dryer - i HATE hotel hair dryers - they don't have enough ooomph for my mane.

Adrienne, I love your idea of scented lotion rather than perfume. I always take perfume, but it stays in my hand luggage just to be sure. Your idea is much smarter!!

Melj, if I shove my husband in the overhead locker, does that mean i can have his seat??

I endeavor to bring dual purpose items. My slides, go-the-distance comfortable walking shoes, double as slippers. Silk long underwear doubles for PJ's/lounging. Though, I always pack double knit black slacks for lounging, running a quick errand, wearing home on the plane for comfort. Except in hot weather, I love a polartec jacket with hood - great on the plane (which tends to be chilly, and who wants to use those airplane blankets?) and a fabulous extra layer while out and about that can be stuffed into a tote bag and emerge looking just fine.

I used to never leave home without my blow dryer and curling brush, but now insist on a wash & go cut from my stylist, sometime with a body/wavy perm. It's not so much dragging the appliances as the time it takes to get out the door in the morning.

Over the years, I've collected the perfect tiny containers for all my toiletries (small pump bottles for shower items, etc.), so that I can bring everything I might want/need without excess weight. But, I've learned to bring a minimum of makeup - you just don't need/use all that!

But, best is figuring out versatile clothing that packs nicely, fits comfortable and looks wonderful, everything must match everything else and take you anywhere.

enjoyed reading the posts!
i take a neck pillow - you cant be certain of the pillows you get and i can scrunch this beady one

coffee bags-given up on depending on foreign coffee and would rather have something familiar

candles- OH and i never dine without them

thick socks with soles - to cozy up in after the rain


perfumed handcream for nighttime

two watches---one for local time and one for home time so we can call home without doing the maths

I always take travel TP. I was very fortunate to have it. One August we rented an apartment in Florence. We arrived on Sunday. Sunday in August is brutal to find a store with TP since so many stores are closed for the month and it was Sunday. We actually didn't find one until Tuesday for various reasons. We were so desperate we were going to go to a hotel and ask to borrow a roll from them. I had my travel TP so we used that, but we didn't want to run out. I never go on a trip without it.

Inflatable neck pillow

Victorinox Swiss Army card, the size of a credit card but contains scissors, tooth pick, knife, nail file, tweezers and something that looks like a long nail, which I've never used.

<<Eddie Bauer Down Travel Pillow & Throw set with me on my trips!>>

Is there a separate pillow in this set? Or is pillow the throw stuffed into the pillow case?

It looks too large to me but I've been considering an LLBean down pillow that I saw in their recent catalog. It's about 15 inches long and costs $29.95. It's supposed to flatten out to pack and then puff up.

Has anyone seen the LLBean down pillow?

"versatile clothing that packs nicely, fits comfortable and looks wonderful, everything must match everything else and take you anywhere"..

- hey, what store did you find these clothes in?

Luisah - I think the travel down pillow/throw is what you described: throw stuffed into the case to become a pillow. At least that's what it looked like to me on the website.

As this thread grows, I'm realizing I take more than just my hub I used to take one of those Restoration Hardware down pillow that opens on arrival and you put the bed pillow inside, so you're just sleeping against your own, washable, down-filled pillow cover. but it gradually just kind of fell apart. I just bought a bean-filled neck roll for my Christmas trip to Italy, so we'll see if that works okay.

I always take a pashmina for wrapping up in on the plane. It's also great for chilly apartments/hotel rooms instead of a robe.

Last trip I took a little battery-operated hand fan and it was wonderful!!!! I won't travel without it again (I am a woman of a certain age, ahem).

Why are 95% of the responses to this thread from women?

Genuinely curious to know.

Don't men care about creature comforts, (apart from the flippant references to "wife/ partner")? Or do they not talk about it? Or do they not think of those things as "comforts" but as practical items?

Apart from ear plugs and duty-free booze, the only comforts I demand are:
1. many, many pairs of socks + underwear and
2. moisturizer, sun block, lip-balm, eye-cream and all that stuff women think men don't use*
(*Check out the locker room at the Y someday, if you dare! You'll be amazed at male grooming behaviour)

I make sure to take the following.
1. Lip balm.
2. Reading glasses (something has happened to my eyesight since I turned 40 )
3. MP3 player.
4. Extra socks.
5. Extra thick socks for the plane.
6. Benadryl.

I'm sure there are more, but can't think of them right now.

Prescription sleeping pills.

ipod with several good books on tape already loaded..great for long plane rides.

Great post. My wife always packs extra thick socks, and I like bringing along a good book. For this trip it's Denis Leary's "Why we Suck." Hilarious.

1. Sweat pants
2. Pair of those thick socks that you wear instead of slippers
3. Twin-pack of Whiskey from the duty free shop before departure

Whatever I forget re. toiletries, household items (for apartment rentals), OTC drugs, or similar, I just buy when I get there. After two dozen or so apartment or house rentals, I never had one so far with no toilet paper.
Most bulky stuff that may leak, like sunscreen or shower gel, I get at my destination anyway, or take only small samples to get over the first day/night.

I take an inexpensive pillow, which I leave when it doesn't fit into my suitcase on the way back. It's space can be taken up by things I buy on the trip.
No hotel pillow dustmites, and I'm certain I will always have space for extra shopping.