This blog post was originally a transcript from a podcast recording. Listen to the full episode below. Subscribe today!

My 10 Jet Set Life Travel Rules

“There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

— Nelson Mandela

Hands down, travel is my favorite thing to do. There’s something so exciting about stepping onto a cross-country train in Europe, getting settled in and watching the European countryside whiz by.

Over the past 14 years, I’ve spent a lot of time in trains, planes, and cars in pursuit of exploration and pleasure mixed with business. And let me tell you - I’ve learned quite a bit of things you should do and not do when traveling.

When I first started traveling, I made lots of travel faux pas - like missing my train stop, overpacking, leaving things behind at TSA. And I’d like to say that I never experience things like this now, but I’m human and sometimes these things still happen to me from time to time. But I’ve definitely become a much more proficient traveler in my time now and it’s really a reflection of how I choose to live my life - with flexibility, organization, and intention.

Mastering the art of travel certainly takes practice, and over the years I’ve learned some simple rules that allow me to travel with less stress and more enjoyment.

Rule #1: Plan to appear well-rested.

Put together a little refresher kit in your carry-on that can go safely through TSA. In mine, I have Evian facial mist, floss, a small toothbrush and toothpaste, a small tube of moisturizer, a makeup wipe remover, lip balm, and something to de-puff my eyes - either a rollerball or some under-eye patches.

My go-to’s for eye patches are Peter Thomas Roth, Patchology, and Wander Beauty.

Another must is water. Drink lots of water throughout your travels, especially if you like to have wine with your dinner, like me ;)

Finally, a little thing that made a big difference in the quality of my sleep on a plane was a sleep mask. Sometimes, on long flights, the airlines will provide you with one, but in case they don’t, I like to bring one just in case. In general, I don’t really care for eye masks when I’m normally sleeping, but it really helps to wear them on planes so that you can block out light and other distractions that planes bring. Using this has helped me go through completely sleepless flights that left me super jet lagged, to having a few good hours of sleep that helped me feel more rested when I arrived at my final destination.

If you’re looking for a high quality sleep mask, Lunya makes a really nice washable silk sleep mask that comes in multiple colors. They are larger than average but feel super soft and light. They are also designed larger to cover your ears too for extra noise blocking.

Rule #2: Skip the last meal on a long flight.

As I started flying more internationally for work, I started realizing that I would feel really poorly after I landed having had a full dinner, snack, and breakfast. I know it can be tempting to eat all the food on the plane in order to make your ticket cost “worth it,” but honestly, it’s not worth the sluggish, lethargic feeling that follows. So when I do long-haul flights, I only have the dinner, then I decline meals that follow.

I’m usually already jet lagged and somewhat sleep deprived when I land anyway, so not having that extra feeling of being bloated and heavy really helps me to stay more alert and active when I get off the plane.

Rule #3: Dress like a true jet setter.

I’ve definitely had my days where I dressed purely for comfort on a plane, but slippers and pajamas are always a no. For long flights, it’s definitely important to consider comfort, however a true jet setter never looks like she just rolled out of bed.

I’m not saying you need to wear a dress and heels for a 9-hour flight, but I do think that you should put some effort into your outfit - you’ll feel more confident and more excited about your trip that way.

You can still be stylish in leggings and looser fitting clothing without wearing sweatpants.

Rule #4: Pre-arrange a driver.

After a long flight, the last thing I want to do is worry about waiting in a taxi line or trying to hail a cab. I especially don’t like doing this when I’ve just landed in a foreign country that doesn’t speak much English. So for that reason, I like to pre-arrange a driver to be ready to pick me up when I land. Yes, it’s an added expense, but it makes a huge difference after you’re jet lagged and disoriented from a long-haul flight.

For those of you who have landed in a place like Cancun, it can be super overwhelming leaving the airport - there are usually huge crowds of people trying to get you to ride in their cab. It can be hard to know if the service is legit or if you’re getting ripped off on price.

That’s why I always like to pre-arrange whenever possible, so there are no surprises or added stressors.

Always check with your hotel to see if they offer complimentary shuttle service. If not, they usually offer a private car service (which may be more pricey) or you can look into the local taxi services.

Rule #5: Always pack these items.

I never leave for a plane trip without the following items: my Bose noise-cancelling headphones, Herban Essentials towelettes, Evian facial mist, a travel pillow, and my cashmere wrap. Obviously a passport and my wallet are musts but that’s a given.

In my opinion, every jet setter needs a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Yes, they are an investment, but I’ve truly gotten so much use out of them. I recently got a new pair of them but my previous pair lasted for 10 years of travel thanks to its high quality and hard case that it comes in. I even use them when I’m not traveling just to listen to music while I work or have good sound quality when I’m watching something on my phone or iPad. It’s a game-changer on flights, and it’s my number one travel item to have with me.

The next thing I like to keep with me are a couple individually wrapped essential oil antibacterial towelettes in my luggage and in my purse. First of all, they smell amazing and have different scents including Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lavender, Orange, and Peppermint. I also like to use different ones to help me feel certain ways - I use the Eucalyptus for when I’m feeling congested or if I need to cool a sun burn, I use lemon to feel uplifted, lavender to get calm and relaxed, orange to feel energized, and peppermint to feel alert and relieve nausea. My favorite is probably the Lavender, but I really love them all. I like to wipe down my seat area with this when I get settled - it not only cleans the germy surfaces but it also leaves a nice scent to calm you. These are also really nice to clean your hands with before and after a meal.

Next up is my travel-sized bottle of Evian facial mist. I carry this around in my purse whether I’m traveling or not. I love to give my face a cool refreshing mist throughout the day, especially when I’ve been in a dehydrating plane for a long time. And while I’m talking about travel-sized things - check it all your favorite brands have mini travel-sized versions. Not only are they cute but they can really help you save space when packing light.

I also like to take a travel pillow with me. I’ve gone through several travel pillows over the years and honestly I don’t really feel like there’s one holy grail neck pillow because frankly, none of them really make me feel rested like when I’m sleeping on a flat bed in business or first, but here’s the features I’d look for when you’re getting a travel pillow -

Try to get a pillow that comes in a travel case - that way your pillow won’t get dirty as you’re on-the-go.
Make sure that case has some sort of clasp so that you can easily attach it to your bag and not lose it.
Consider using a lumbar style pillow that can be used both around your neck or as a long straight pillow for lumbar support - this style gives you more options for use as opposed to the traditional neck pillow.

My final travel essential is my cashmere wrap. I always get cold in planes so I love having a wrap that I can use to keep warm. I love that I can use it as a scarf, wrap, blanket, or even as a pillow.

Rule #6: Learn the art of packing.

Ah the art of packing. When possible, I really try to travel with just a carry-on but sometimes I have a checked bag as well. If you haven’t started doing this already yet, get packing cubes. At first when I saw them, I thought they were useless and silly but they really do help if you use them correctly. I am able to fit more clothing into the small sized packing cubes than if I put them directly into my suitcase. Steer clear of the large and extra large sizes for packing cubes because they defeat the purpose. You want to get mostly small cubes with maybe a medium and an extra small. With the smaller size, it will automatically help to compress your clothing. I also really like using packing cubes for organizing my clothing. I’ll use one for my undergarments and swimsuits, one for larger items like dresses or jeans, and one for blouses.

It’s also important to note that mastering the art of packing also has to do with selecting clothing items that work well together, almost like a capsule wardrobe. For this reason, I try to stick with more neutrals when I’m traveling as they have a greater chance of better mixing and matching.

Finally, don’t forget to roll your clothes! Not only will it take up less space in your suitcase but it will also help decrease the likelihood of wrinkled clothing!

Rule #7: Have a plan.

I totally get that some people just like to show up in a new place and immerse themselves without any plans or reservations set upon arrival. And for some vacations, you can totally do that. But in my experience, coming prepared with a loose plan is a much better approach to get the most out of your trip. At the very least, have a plan for how you will get from the airport to your hotel or airbnb so that you can regroup after you’ve landed.

This is especially important if you only have 2 or 3 days in a particular location. You’ll want to maximize your experience as much as possible, otherwise you’ll risk staying in your bedroom the entire time.

Rule #8: Invest in good luggage.

When I first started traveling, I got some hand-me-down luggage from my parents. It was a great start, but as I started traveling more for work and pleasure, the 2-wheeled luggage just wouldn’t do anymore. So then I upgraded to 4-wheel luggage, which is a must.

But not all 4-wheel luggage is made equal. A couple years with this new piece, and the wheels kept getting stuck as I was rolling through the airport - which was a huge nuisance because this big bag would completely stop me in my tracks every time one of the wheels got stuck. So you can imagine this awkward stop and go nonsense that I was dealing with as I rolled through the airport to my gate.

If you’re traveling more regularly, I highly recommend investing in a high quality piece of luggage, starting with a carry-on case first and then a large checked bag - both with 4 wheels. It doesn’t have to be designer - in fact, I don’t really recommend getting a checked designer bag unless you only fly private because those conveyor belts will put your luggage through the wringer. But if you have a carry on, you may choose to go designer since you’ll have the luggage in your possession the whole time.

Personally, I haul my luggage around too roughly to invest in a designer piece so far, but in the future this is on my list to upgrade. Lately I’ve been eyeing a Louis Vuitton weekender bag for those quick trips that need a style upgrade!

Either way, invest in a high quality piece of luggage that allows you to stroll through the airport with ease - it’s so much more elegant and enjoyable to use than dragging and struggling with your bags. It truly makes traveling SO much easier, so this is a jet set travel must.

Rule #9: Stay aware.

The times that I’ve made my biggest travel mistakes have all been when I got too comfortable and lost my sense of awareness. I’m not saying that you can’t be comfortable while traveling - in fact, I encourage it! But you do need to maintain a certain level of attention to your surroundings when you’re out and about.

Here are a few things that you should keep aware of when traveling:

Your phone battery life (Bring a power bank and charger!)
Your wifi connection (Anticipate areas where you may lose connection.)
Your current location and destination (Know which bus/train stop is yours!)
Your purse and personal belongings (We don’t want any pick-pocketing!)
Your travel companions (Don’t lose your friends - especially on a night out.)
Potential scams (Be on the lookout for deals that seem too good to be true - they probably are. Trust your gut.)

I’m not saying that you have to be a stoic watchdog on your entire trip - you can let your guard down and still have fun. Just do it in a smart and safe way.

Rule #10: Maintain a jet set attitude.

Finally, rule 10 - maintain a jet set attitude. Living a jet set life is more about your mindset and your attitude than anything else. Feelings of worry, overwhelm, anxiety, and frustration can ruin the best of travel experiences.

Be confident and have an open mind to adventure - things may not go exactly the way you planned, but roll with the experience and let life happen.

Have courage to try new things. Have grace to roll with the unexpected travel experiences. Go with the flow - there’s beauty in the unexpected.

Choose to be adventurous and open to new experiences - that’s what being a jet setter is all about.

Cheers jet setters,