April 12, 2025
Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to travel pretty extensively for work, across North America, Asia, and Europe. When you're spending a lot of time on planes, in hotel rooms, and jumping between time zones, you start to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
This is what I rely on to stay comfortable, productive, and relaxed while on the move. Here are some things I wished I knew before I started:
Some things never leave my work bag. Whether it's a 48-hour trip or two weeks overseas:
Noise-cancelling headphones – Essential. They’re the one piece of tech I never travel without. Good for the plane, airport lounges, and hotel rooms. My headphones can transport me to a more relaxed place.
Ear plugs – More comfortable to sleep with ear plugs in on a plane, rather than bulky headphones.
E-reader – Lightweight, easy on the eyes, and helps kill time without draining my phone battery.
Notebook – Helps me stay organized on to-do's, meeting notes, and next steps while in transit. Keeping detailed notes during a busy work trip is a must.
Passport holder – Keeps travel documents and cards in one place. I had neglected having a passport holder for the longest time, and now I couldn't see myself without one. Some jurisdictions, like Macau, issue you a paper "Authorized to Stay" document. Document is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, it is a 2 inch by 4 inch piece of paper required to check-in at any hotel. I haven't risked losing this since getting a passport holder.
Compression socks – Especially for long-haul flights... these make such a difference. These don't have to break the bank.
International plug adapter – One that handles multiple countries and has USB ports is ideal. If you're travelling overseas more than once, it's worth getting. It's never fun to arrive somewhere, late at night, phone battery at 2%... and find out that the wall charger is in a shape you've never seen before.
I try to keep things simple. I’m not trying to win a contest. I’m trying to be presentable, pack light, and avoid stress.
For work: Luckily I have five of the exact same work shirts to wear, so that's easy. Black slacks that go with all of the shirts. One pair of shoes that work across daily meetings and dinner.
For casual: Dark tees, simple polos, black or navy chinos/jeans. A couple pairs of sports shorts that I can wear walking and to the gym are always in my bag.
Why dark colors? They hide stains, wrinkles, and can be worn again if needed. When you’re moving quickly from hotel to airport to hotel, the simplicity wins out.
Travel days can feel like write-offs, but I try to build in little pockets of structure.
Airport lounges are underrated. If you’ve never used one, it’s a game-changer — reliable Wi-Fi, outlets, snacks, and a quiet space. A lot of credit cards will get you access, you just need to find one that works for you.
I make Spotify playlists before each trip — one for focus, one for downtime. Building the playlists is something fun to do during downtime as well.
Personally, podcasts > audiobooks. Easier to dip in and out without losing track. Great for hotel gym sessions or waiting around at boarding gates. My favorite are Hard Fork, The Journal and Bloomberg Daybreak.
I don’t use any complicated apps or trackers. As soon as I get on a plane, I switch my phone clock to the local time of landing, and shift mentally to that time zone.
If it’s still daytime when I land: Stay awake, go for a walk, get some sunlight.
If it’s late at night: Go to bed. Melatonin can help a lot with sleeping through the night, but it's easy to rely on it. Make sure to research local laws before you travel. Some places, like Australia, have melatonin as a prescription-only medicine.
A good eye mask and ear plugs make a big difference in unfamiliar hotel rooms.
Some small habits go a long way if you're just starting out on the road:
Always bring a spare shirt in your carry-on. Delays or spills happen.
Get an eSIM or international data plan before you land. Don’t rely on airport Wi-Fi. My favorite is Airlo.
Download Google Maps offline for every city you visit. Total lifesaver.
That’s the basics. Everyone builds their own system over time, but these are the things that have made business travel feel smoother and more manageable for me.