Pandemic Travel Tips: What to Pack & What to Leave Behind
Have our packing strategies changed much in these 2021 times? I would argue yes, but not to an overwhelming degree. Having recently taken a trip to Greece, I can safely say there were a handful of essential things I was glad to have packed. And a few things I wish I left behind along the way. Here are all of those things:
What to bring:
Hand Sanitizer, duh. But not just any old kind of hand sanitizer. Bring a tropical sanitizer, the type that makes you excited to spritz it on your hands instead of dreading the alcohol gloop. This hand sanitizer by Everyone smells like a vacation in a bottle and doesn’t break the 3.4 oz liquid limit. Stash it in your carry-on bag pocket, and keep a few backups in a plastic bag in your main suitcase.
Vinyl Protector + Folder. Lest your vaccine card end up illegible for being jostled around your bag sans covering, let me direct you to this vinyl protector. I recommend nestling it closely to your passport in a passport case. And while we’re on the topic of passports, make sure yours is valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip, which is required in some countries. Now for the folder business. Best to keep those antigen tests slotted in a folder, for quick and easy access at the airport. Now you can feel like those uber prepared parents who show up to the airport 3 hours early with a literal filing cabinet of travel docs.
Extra Masks. Bring five to six hospital masks in your carry on, and stash them in a Stashers bag, plastic bag, whatever you got! Travel can be a sweaty/dirty/stress-inducing affair, so you’ll be swapping out those masks more frequently than at home. Also, it doesn’t hurt to pack ten to fifteen more disposable masks in your main suitcase. These take up a sliver of space, so the more the merrier.
Extra sweaters & scarves. Or whatever shawl-like wraparound fabric swath that keeps you warm and chic. Since we’re spending more time outdoors dining al fresco, I get to be your mom and tell you to bring a sweater for those chilly nights. I’ve been rocking cardigans since 8th grade, and these are an excellent way to stay warm yet show off whatever floaty floral item you’re wearing underneath. Scarves work too. You could also pack a multi-tasking shawl that works as a blanket on the plane and also wear as a chic blanket poncho thingamajig for dinner.
Anti-Fog Spray. To prevent your sunglasses from fogging up due to the simple act of breathing through your mask, keep some anti-fog spray handy. You won’t regret it.
Simple, versatile Clothes. The fewer items you pack for your trip, the better. Since we’ve all been wearing sweatsuits for the past year and a half, you might find yourself reaching for some new duds while abroad. And there’s nothing wrong with that! Just make sure there’s enough room in your suitcase, so you’re not left throwing out your literal belongings into a trash can to meet the weight limit (true story, my sister saw a couple doing this at the airport in Italy. You’d probably never find yourself in that situation, but..strange times!).
Breath mints/cough drops. If you’re traveling on a long flight, things can get stale fast in the mouth region. Not to sound like a Listerine ad, but keep things minty fresh with some Altoids, or another mint of your choice. My go-to breath freshener is the Ricola Cough Drop (the classic version), which I guess makes me a grandmother (or my 3rd grade history teacher).
What to leave behind:
Your nice pairs of earrings. No need to pack your nicest diamond hoop earrings, as they might fall off when you remove your mask. Seems random, but earring backings can easily get tangled up with your mask straps. No one wants to spend their vacation looking for diamonds in the sand! Unless this is a buried treasure vacation expedition, in which case, sign me up!
Lipstick/lip products. Sure you can bring all those liquid lipsticks, but know that they’ll just get smeared onto the inside of your mask instead of staying put for your selfie moment. Plus, wearing lipstick or lip gloss only accelerates the mask swapping process, so my recommendation is just to keep all the lip goop at home. Instead, why not keep it simple with a slick of Aquaphor.
The Pair of Leggings You’ve Been Living in for the past 6 months. Treat this vacation like a reset button for your style and emotional wellbeing. No need to tote along those leggings that have been glued to your legs for too long. You’ll be energized by the fact that you have a vibrant, wearable wardrobe at your disposal, and this will do wonders for your overall sense of vitality. As safe and comfortable as it is, you’ll be happy you kept them at home.