Just back from my third trip in the last five weekends. I used to travel extensively for my job, but being in a hotel room in Raleigh, NC when the 9/11 attacks happened led to a series of life changes, including taking a job where I wouldn’t be on the road nearly every week.
But the fact is that I like to travel, even for simple little trips like driving to see my daughter who is a college junior. That is what I just did.
There are really things that make travel just a little easier, and they are different for each person. It is important to identify just what makes you feel a little happier, a little more secure, a little more like you are at home.
Some of these things are simple and may appear to be stupid and unnecessary to anyone but yourself. Don’t worry, this isn’t about anyone else other than you.
For me, there are two things that fall into this category. One is my Macbook Pro laptop, which is pretty much my “Swiss Army Knife” for information, entertainment, and heck–it will even charge my iPhone in a pinch.
The other is having a separate set of toiletries ready to go at all times. Having a separate toothbrush, razor, toothpaste, dental floss and so forth–makes a huge difference about packing at the last minute (which I am a bit prone to do.)
One person I know (I can’t name names here) always travels with their favorite pillow. I don’t know how they manage getting a full-sized pillow in their luggage, but if it helps you sleep better in a strange hotel room…
Bottom line: Don’t ever underestimate having some “comforts of home” when you are on the road. Take my word for it.