Preparing for Riya On the Road
I’m back on the road this summer. It’s been a while, and I’m making up for it in a big way. I’m traveling for the next twelve weeks and visiting about 13 different states/places in that time. I need to prepare.
I start by writing down all of my travel on paper, my phone, and my email calendars. Reinforcing the schedule helps ensure that I know where I’m going and when. My itineraries are intense but fairly organized.
Most of my travel is for work and my itineraries are planned by the minute. When I can, I prioritize meals and look for restaurants and coffee shops to hit during my trip. I love coffee and it’s an easy way to build in breaks during the trip and a way to support local coffee shops and baristas. I typically use yelp or google to determine where I want to go (I look for things above 4.3 stars, because I just do okay). I also like to visit state capitols. If I’m close to one, I use my down time to walk and explore the capitol and learn a little about the history of the state I’m in. Lastly, I rely on recommendations from people on the ground. I’ll never know a place better than the people that live there, so I take recommendations from colleagues, hotel staff, or even baristas (it takes one to know one).
Packing:
I’ve been traveling with my Away Carry-On since 2018 and I swap sizes depending on the length of my trip: 4 or less days with the smaller carry-on and 5 or more days with the bigger carry-on.
What’s in my suitcase for a Four-Day trip:
· 2 bottoms because I need to mix and match pieces, so I’m not wearing the same thing two days in a row
· 1 sleep set
· Tops:
1 long sleeve tshirt for field attire depending on weather
1 short sleeve tshirt for field attire depending on weather
1 blouse or dress for a nicer outing
· Undergarments (too many tbh)
· 1 reusable water bottle because I’m eco-friendly
· Skincare and Makeup because I’m hot
· 1 pillow because I can’t sleep on other pillows
· 1 sleeping bag liner because I can’t sleep on other sheets and don’t trust hotels
· 1 pair of back-up shoes (usually birkenstocks) because sneakers don’t go with everything
What’s in my personal bag:
· 1-2 cameras (canon m50, papershoot and/or DJI Osmo Pocket)
· Glasses and Sunglasses because I have eyes
· Extra Masks because it’s still a pandemic
· Hand Sanitizer because planes are gross
· Lysol Wipes because planes are gross
· Lens Cleaner Wipes because glasses and screens can get gross fast
· Nail File because I’ve broken too many nails while traveling and better safe than sorry
· Comb or Brush because I have hair
· Aspirin, Cough Drops, Allergy Meds, and spare Bandaids because my body may fail me
· Lip Balm because planes are particularly drying
· Headphones because I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts
· Laptop so I can work until I die
· Assorted Chargers and Spare Battery so my electronics can work and don’t have to die
· Journal so I can write and remember where I’ve been and what I’ve done
What I’m wearing on the plane:
· 1 pair of jeans because they are hard to pack but easy to wear
· 1 shirt depending on the weather
· 1 sweater or jacket because planes can get cold
· 1 pair of compression socks because vascular health is important
· 1 baseball hat to look unapproachable, so fellow passengers won’t talk to me
· Latex gloves because planes are gross
· N95 mask because we’re in a pandemic
· Sneakers because I need arch support
This may seem like an excessive list, but every item has a purpose and a justification for why they are included. I’ve curated this list over the last 6 years, so dude, trust me. During a busy season, my suitcases are always packed and I swap items as needed. My goal is to avoid checking a bag at all costs and to move through security as quickly as possible.
