a blue piece of luggage sitting on top of a wooden floor — Photo by American Green Travel on Unsplash

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My post-menopause travel essentials list is growing. Chalk it up to being a homebody at heart. Don’t get me wrong - I do love to travel. But I do love my comforts, so when I travel, I do what I can to bring at least a few of them along for the ride.

Does that mean I need to shun a carry-on for a larger, checked bag?

Well…yes. But that also means I stay happy and don’t get grumpy because I haven’t slept well, I’m dehydrated, my feet hurt, or I’m too hot, too cold, or otherwise uncomfortable.

And I’ve also learned this: that the things that keep me comfy when I travel are not necessarily the same things I packed twenty - or even ten - years ago. (No more bikinis for me:)

My body has changed since menopause. And, so has the way I travel.

These days, it’s more about proving how little I can pack and more about arriving - and staying - rested, comfortable and ready to enjoy wherever I am.

So, yes, I check the bag. And here’s some of the things in it.

SLEEP WELL 😴

Even though my night sweats have gone away post-menopause, I’m what’s known as a “hot sleeper:” feeling uncomfortably warm and overheating while I sleep. And because of that, I’m always struggling with the covers - on, off, on off - all night. I recently discovered the pajama brand, Cool Jams - and I’m loving them. The moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating fabric actually wicks moisture away from your skin and moves it back to the fabric’s surface, where it evaporates quickly. The fabrics are so soft and lightweight, and my sleep has never been better. These will definitely be packed in my suitcase for my next - and every - trip.

Another must-travel-with item - but one that is ultra-challenging - is my own pillow. I can’t help being ultra-attached to it, and any hotel pillow I’ve tried is never right; thus, more tossing and turning. I’ve tried “travel pillows” but they’re usually too small and too uncomfortable to earn a place in bed. The Cushion Lab sent me their Deep Sleep Travel Pillow and I’m sold…I’ve finally discovered the solution to my pillow dilemma. A full-sized pillow that rolls up down to a quarter its size, it has just the right amount of neck and face support, which is important for me (a notorious side-sleeper). Sweet dreams.

WASH, RINSE, REPEAT 🧼🫧🧺

I’ve finally figured out some of the secrets to packing lighter: Pack things you can wash. And so, my deep research for socks and underwear that are quick-drying yet durable yielded two brands: Tommy John and Wrightsock. I’m anxious to try them both. They both arrive in a couple of days; I hope to be delighted and happy with my experiments.

Speaking of hand-washing: Can you believe there are pants that you can wash out in the sink? And they dry quickly, without a trace of wrinkling? I’ve been a fan of the clothing brand Anatomie for years, and quite love how good they look and fit. They can be a bit pricey, but they’ve held up for me forever, plus, they often have sales.

Is there anything worse than trying to wash something out in a hotel bathroom sink whose stopper doesn’t plug up properly? I’ve had this frustrating experience in hotels one too many times, which led me to discover this simple solution: A drain stopper, like this one.

When I hand-wash, I do like to use this product called, simply, Soak; partly because you don’t have to rinse, partly because of the different fragrance names, like Celebration.

BRING YOUR OWN SHADE 😎🧢

My fashionable dear late Aunt Regina was a huge fan of hats; she never showed up without one adorning her head (her collection was epic). I seem to have taken after her in my older age. One reason, to protect my hair color; another, to protect my sensitive skin from the sun. But none of my hats are exactly packable. My search has turned up the Wallaroo Hat Company as having a good selection of UPF, packable hats. I haven’t quite taken the plunge - just yet and need help deciding on which style to choose for my rather-large head.

And since you never know how strong and hot the sun will be at any given time, I always pack sun screen, especially for my face, and at least two pairs of sunglasses (in case I lose one or one gets broken). I’m a big fan of Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer, which has an SPF and can double as a foundation. As for sunglasses, I have so many that it’s tough to narrow it down to just one or two recos. But I do feel confident that my Maui Jims will be making the next cut.

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What I Pack For Travel Comfort