10 things to make your next trip a little easier

This time of year many folks are traveling. Whether it's for business, vacation or a holiday trip to see the relatives, being sure you have everything you need to make the experience a bit better or even tolerable makes all the difference in the world.

I'll tell you that I've traveled quite a bit. Long trips, short trips, first class, business class and coach. Whatever the means to get anywhere I simply must have these 10 things with me along for the ride.

Before I begin I should say that most of the things I travel with became "must haves" after a particular business trip I was on years ago. One early morning I was traveling from Dallas to Chicago - a relatively short flight - in order to be back in my office for another meeting that afternoon. Several colleagues and I were at the airport happy and smiling, ready to board the plane. To my amazement, my seat had been upgraded to first class, a corporate bonanza first thing in the morning.  Then an airport loud speaker broke the mood. Our flight was canceled and no information was available on when we would be leaving. Great. Fortunately, we were able to leave about two hours later. Not too bad.

Of course, the story doesn't end there. As we neared Chicago we discovered that we were circling O'Hare airport. It seemed that there was no where for us to land. We circled so long that we had to redirect to Detriot. What? We later landed there for refueling. No one was allowed to get off the plane. By this time the plane was out of toilet paper, paper towels, water and everything else for that matter. It was 4pm. As we sat in the gate, my colleagues and I feverishly texted each other to see if anyone had any food or beverages. One gal had some Altoids, which actually began to look pretty good. Did I mention that I, of course, had lost my upgraded seat and was now in a middle seat between two business travelers who insisted on talking to each other, literally over me, the entire trip about their sales meeting and how great they were. I asked if one of them would like to switch with me so they could chat more easily but they wouldn't.  And, of course, I was coming down with a major cold and was sneezing, hacking and blowing my nose in the few tissues I had in my briefcase. We landed in Chicago at 9pm, more than 12 hours after our trip had begun. This list was created after this trip to ensure that never again would I be left unprepared in the event of what has become an all to regular occurrence - a delay or change in plans beyond my control. Some of the items may be optional to you but for me they are all essential. Here are my top ten essentials, in no particular order of importance.

1.  Water - See story above. You may think it's going to be a short trip but you never really know, do you? Airline travel inherently makes you dehydrated so you'll want to have your own supply on hand, just in case. Take the size bottle that fits your trip. If your trip is 8 hours or more take a large bottle or several.  The worse scenario is that you have a bottle of water when you land which is also a good thing.

2.  Snacks - Again see story above.  After that experience, I always made sure everyone on my team traveled with water and snacks. Now keep in mind this doesn't need to be airport junk. Fresh fruit, protein bars and the like are great things to keep in your briefcase or backpack. However, a well placed candy bar is always a welcome treat.

3.  Headphones - I'm a fan of Bose sound-canceling headphones. They sound great with whatever media player you have and minimize the plane noise and any nearby annoying chatterboxes or crying children. Some folks prefer ear plugs - they are indeed easier to pack.  Even the standard issue headsets that come with your devices will fill this bill. If all else fails, you can take the ones the airlines give you and hope they won't be charging you two bucks.

4.  eReader - Pick your own poison on this one. I have an iTouch which I use for my eReader, music, podcasts and videos. I hate carrying things (literally anything) so anything that can limit items in my bag is my friend. You need something to do on the plane and reading is always a great way to pass the time. The choices in this area are now quite overwhelming so do a little on-line research and you'll be able to find the right one just for your needs.

5. Music/Video/Media player - (See above) My iTouch covers me on this one as well. But if you need other devices, make sure they have anything that may keep you busy for many hours. Be sure to charge all these devices in advance because unless you're in first class you won't be able to do this on the plane. My iTouch died about 1 hour before arriving home from a long trip from Dubai (see next entry). Not fun. Always download enough material based on the length of your journey plus some extra.

6. Paperback Book - As I've mentioned, sometimes technology just fails. If you have a standard issue paperback book you still have something to keep you occupied. Some of us travel a lot and have seen all the movies the airline offers. A book is often also a great backup if you're just tired of looking at a screen. On my last trip home from Germany I read an Anne Rice book that I thoroughly enjoyed and finished. If you bring a puzzle book or notebook be sure you have a pen handy as well. A pen also comes in handy for any customs paperwork you may need to complete on the plane.

7. Eye Mask - Especially on an overnight flight, this accessory doesn't take up a lot of room and is quite useful if your seat-mate just has to have the window shade open to see the sunshine even when it's the middle of the night in the destination to which you're traveling. It's also a great, easy way to quiet someone who wants to talk your ear off. 

8. Chapstick - Because the air is so dry in the plane, sometimes no amount of water will keep your lips from drying out. Again, a small item that makes a world of difference.

9. Hand Lotion/Hand Sanitizer - Keeping away from germs is a must-do when traveling. Nothing ruins a business meeting or vacation more than a cold or flu.   Gold Bond has a great combination product that comes in a 1 oz. tube, which is perfect for travel. You might want to also carry a few sanitizer wipes to clean off the germy tray table before you use it for work or dining.

10. Last but not least Cold Advil - I, like many travelers, often have trouble with my ears getting plugged when the pilot decides to ascend or descend a little quicker than my ears would like. Taking Cold Advil, or any other decongestant may help with this problem. It's also a sure fire remedy for sinus headaches, which I sometimes find coming on in the middle of a flight. I have found no over the counter remedy that works better. You may also want to bring a small packet of tissues. Chewing gum is also helpful.

The good news is that most of these items can be carried in a small bag you can fit underneath the seat in front of you. If you've had the opportunity to travel in first or business class, many airlines give you a little bag with some of these things and more. Repurposing that bag is ideal. You don't want to put any of these items in the overhead compartment and not have access to them during the flight. If you have these items with you, your trip should be just a little more pleasant. They will help you control the things that you can even when your schedule's turned upside down.

Happy and safe travels to everyone!

Sue Reddel