This year, Here Magazine asked some incredible people across multiple industries how they travel, and we accumulated a ton of great tips along the way. Below, some of the best travel advice we gleaned over the past year—from the lead singer of St. Lucia’s creativity on-the-go to a KLM pilot’s in-flight beauty routine—so that we all might travel a little bit better in 2019.
How to stay healthy:
Tennille Murphy, corporate flight attendant: “I drink wheatgrass powder every day. I take it on the road, to every city. I call it a beauty product because skincare is amazing, makeup is amazing, but none of it is going to give you anything that you’re looking for if you’re not taking care of your body. And my wheatgrass powder is like liquid sunshine for my body.”
Christa Kloosman, KLM pilot: “Hydration is the number one priority. Jet lag is insane, so you really have to take care of yourself by hydrating and taking vitamins and eating good food.”
Wheatgrass powder is like liquid sunshine for my body. —Tennille Murphy
Krissy Jones and Chloe Kernaghan, Sky Ting Yoga Founders: This pair packs their running shoes, Moon Juice snacks, and Marie Veronique probiotic mist.
Erin Breen, co-founder of Mirth Caftans: “Vitamins: Herbalore catalyst gold, magnesium, probiotics, and activated charcoal. Charcoal is a must to soak up toxins–I swear it can stave off food poisoning. Or a hangover.”
Katie McClure, co-founder of Mirth Caftans: “I start downing lots of green juices a day or two before [I travel] and often bake these chocolate-quinoa-banana muffins as a healthy-ish plane snack.”
How to stay fresh:
Christa Kloosman: “I use Labello for dry lips and Vichy Minéral 89 Daily Moisturizer and Clarins Nightcreme for my face… I love my BioSilk Therapy Oil for in my hair to prevent it from drying out.”
Miceala Erlanger, stylist: “It’s all about moisturizing. I have Kiehl’s, which I love, and then I use La Prairie across the board: face cream, the eye/lip compact, and the Cellular Cream Blush, which I also use on my lips. I keep a hairbrush and Neutrogena wipes with me just for a quick refresh and I have a little mini flat iron from DryBar if I need to touch up my hair for any reason”
Tennille Murphy: “I use this product called Bee Yummy, and it’s by Live Live Organic. I’ve been using it for a few years, and I find that it is the most restorative moisturizer.”
Leon Bridges, musician: Bridges travels with the Wahl trimmer: “Right now I’m rocking finger waves. I don’t ever really use it as a razor but I use it to fade.”
Feeling clean and fresh somehow makes you feel a little better during a long trip. —Katie McClure
Katie McClure: “I got [my co-founder] Erin hooked on showering and hair-washing just before leaving for the airport. Feeling clean and fresh somehow makes you feel a little better during a long trip.”
Lucy Williams, fashion influencer: “I always put my hair up in a loose top knot to stop it getting greasy and use Nars Multiple in Alice to add a bit of color to my cheeks and lips just before I get off if I’m looking super tired.”
How to pack light:
Jean-Philip Grobler, lead singer of St. Lucia: “When you go on tour, you’re very limited with what you can take, so I’ve come up with this very neutral outfit, where everything works together and is interchangeable, like a few good pairs of jeans from A.P.C. or Levi’s, then white, black, and graphic T-shirts (my favorites are H&M), and a couple of good jackets that work with everything.”
Christa Kloosman: “Really think twice about what to pack and what not to pack. I love the feeling of not taking too much space and not wasting more than is necessary because we are already wasting so much. It’s a precious world, especially when you see it from above.”
How to survive long flights:
Erin Breen: “I have the most ridiculous ritual when we get on an international flight. I come equipped with a “bed in a bag” that fits perfectly in the large carry-on by Away: a large pillow, super soft large blanket, foot sling (the best), eye pillow and lavender oil. Right when we get on the plane we cover the seat with the airplane blanket (buying this next time), then unpack the suitcase and set up shop while others stare and laugh.”
I come equipped with a “bed in a bag.” —Erin Breen
Lucy Williams: “I find that plane rides are a good time to unwind. I don’t leave for any trip without my eye mask and ear plugs—even though I’m a bad sleeper at the best of times, these help me at least zone out on planes and in hotels. I’ve gotten into downloading Netflix series onto my iPad and binging. If I want to sleep, I’ll put on a podcast and drift off after a couple of episodes. I’m one of those true crime obsessives/weirdos and recently have been into Dirty John and My Favorite Murder.”
How to stay comfortable:
Miceala Erlanger: “Everlane makes really amazing cashmere track pants with matching sweaters. I currently just got a ton of athletic gear from Aerie, which actually has the softest stuff I’ve worn and it’s super comfortable.”
Tennille Murphy: “Sometimes hotels can be less than comforting. I always have slippers, and it’s because I have hotel-room-floor-phobia, so my feet can never touch carpet or tile or anything!”
How to stay creative:
Jean-Philip Grobler: “The best creative stuff comes out of moments when you’re not focusing on being creative. For me it’s always hardest when it’s like, ‘Right now, we’re not touring, we’re making the album, and I’m meant to be writing songs.’ When you’re on tour, you’re in an environment that is not at all conducive to doing that kind of thing, but somehow that frees me up because I’m not trying to be perfect.”
I always get my best ideas on planes. —Misha Nonoo
Kelly Zutrau, lead singer of Wet: “I bring my autoharp or the mini keyboard. That really helps to keep that writing process going, which makes me feel excited and creative on tour and like I’m getting stuff done… I’ll be jotting down words and phrases and then when a melody comes to me, I’ll record a voice note on my phone, and then when I get back to the hotel and if I have time, I’ll sketch out a demo with my mini keyboard… I always have Master & Dynamic headphones.”
Misha Nonoo, fashion designer: “I try to sleep on the plane, but when I’m not, I gather my thoughts in a diary. I always get my best ideas on planes—it’s very romantic for me to be on a plane by myself, to look out the window and to really think about what this crazy world means.”
How to stay zen:
Chloe Kernaghan: “I love doing yoga wherever I go, a lot of times in different languages. I was just in Japan and I took the most amazing yoga class. I was so surprised by it… It’s always fun to see what other people are doing in the world.”
I travel with six chargers, and I have Global Entry—thank goodness for that. —Micaela Erlanger
Micaela Erlanger: “I travel with six chargers, and I have Global Entry—thank goodness for that.”
Kelly Zutrau: “I definitely have a nighttime routine on tour that I try to stick to, like washing my face, as simple as it is… Beauty-care stuff does make me feel in control. I usually bring tea bags, too, like stress tea. I don’t know if it does anything, but if I can get it together to have a cup of tea at the end of the night that makes me feel in control and kind of calm.”
Katie McClure: “I also always put in headphones just before landing until I get my bags. It makes the whole landing and deplaning experience so much more pleasant.”
Lucy Williams: “I’ve really learned the positive side of saying “no.” That sounds really negative, but I’ve realized that saying no can open the door to more stuff you want to say yes to. Learning what needs turning down is really valuable. It’s not easy all the time but it’s definitely great a lot of the time.”
How to make the most of a place:
Christa Kloosman: “If it’s a new city, I always go to the highest point first—the highest tower or a church or a little mountain or something just to have the overview… Be sure to read about the culture and the etiquette first so you know the basics before you go out and about. I mean, Tel Aviv is a bit different than Stavanger, right? It’s a good idea to learn a couple of words in the language—it opens the world for you.”
If it’s a new city, I always go to the highest point first. —Christa Kloosman
Lucy Williams: “When I am traveling, I actually tend to avoid regular shopping but I love going to markets and local boutiques to find stuff I can’t find anywhere else that’s synonymous with where I am.”
Erin Breen: “Interactions with the people [where you’re going] are the most special… They’re authentic and genuine and full of laughs, and you make forever friends so quickly (especially now with the ease of What’s App).