Hayden-Harnett Maldives Weekender

by Laura Milligan

Or just a very long one. We at WTW like to think of ourselves as pretty seasoned travelers, but there’s one hiccup that always manages to turn us into sweaty, panicked amateurs the night before a flight: the carry-on. For short flights, there’s the challenge of stuffing everything you need for your whole trip into one single bag (siphoned-out liquids and gels included), but for international flights, you’re most likely going to have a packed bag, too, freeing up more space in your carry-on for snacks and goodies and other delights. So what’s the problem?

Deciding which snacks and goodies you really need to keep you comfortable during an 8-hour flight, and which ones are just going to weigh you down. But before you start making a list, you’ve got to have the right bag. A solid carry-on should include lots of pockets and zippered space inside and out, two handles so that you can carry it like a satchel or swing it over your shoulder, and should be made of a long-lasting, durable material like heavy-duty canvas or leather.

Once you’ve gotten the bag, it’s time for your next challenge: packing (because no matter how many copies of Vogue we want to take with us, we first have to make room for the following):

• Important documents (passport, work papers, itinerary, confirmation numbers, etc). Stick them in a sleek folder if you don’t feel like lugging your whole portfolio around.
• Medication, etc., including aspirin, allergy meds, tissues, band-aids, tampons, Alka-Seltzer, and Emergen-C
• Bottle of water, because sometimes it takes way too long for that first drink cart to swing by.

If you’re traveling during the winter, wear your coat and scarf to leave room in your carry-on for stashing layers if you get hot. Other things you’ll want to stuff inside your carry-on? Jeni Fisher, fashion and style blogger for JeniWren.com and frequent traveler, recommends stocking your bag with travel-sized necessities that will help you look your best upon arrival. “Flights can be tough on you, drying your skin out and making your lips chapped,” she recalls, so “ensure you carry lip salve, moisturizing wipes (a great way to overcome any liquids restrictions), and save space by carrying with you a travel-size hairbrush.” If you wear glasses or contacts, stash contacts in your checked luggage but “rely on glasses so that your eyes are less likely to be dried out and you don’t have the added worry of having your contact lenses solution confiscated at airport security.”

Remember “to pack essentials like mascara, blush and a good concealer to keep you looking fresh” when you land, and Fisher also lists as must-pack items “those that keep boredom at bay: an iPod, a good book or a Nintendo DS can all do their bit to help speed up journey time.”

A chunky scarf or cardigan, soft eye mask, floss, fedora, gum, and a bag of energy-fortifying snacks like dried fruit or granola should polish off your packing list, but don’t forget the camera. As you stretch your legs in the back of the cabin, Fisher points out, “there’s no reason your holiday photos can’t start while your thousands of feet above ground!”

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Hayden-Harnett Toulouse Weekender

Lauren Conrad: Photo Source: The Insider

Mary-Kate Olsen; Photo Source: People.com

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