I have become the person who reaches the airport early, settles in with a coffee, finds a comfortable corner and prepares for the long stretch ahead. After spending a lot of time on flights and some very long layovers, I have learnt that the right things in my handbag can make a surprisingly big difference. I do not like carrying a giant handbag stuffed with things I might need someday. I prefer a small collection of things I know I will actually use. Some make flying more comfortable, some save me during layovers, and a few have quietly become part of my regular holiday kit too.
I always carry an insulated coffee mug, and my current favourite is the one from Cello. I am a big coffee person, especially at airports, and having my own mug makes it easier to carry a drink around without constantly worrying about spills. Also, it’s more sustainable if you travel as much as I do and want to reduce your carbon footprint. It is also useful once I reach my destination. Road trips, hotel rooms, early morning airport runs, and lazy balcony coffees all get better when I have my own cup with me. Hand cream is one of those things I never think I need until I forget it. Between airport sanitiser, cabin air and washing my hands repeatedly, my hands can get ridiculously dry during travel. So I keep a small hand cream in my handbag and use it throughout the flight and during layovers. It takes up almost no space and saves me from that uncomfortable dry feeling.
I cannot use face masks in public. I have tried, but sitting at an airport with a sheet mask on is simply not happening for me. So I have my own little flight hack instead. I use my Laneige Water Bank moisturiser and apply a nice thick layer to my face before take-off. Cabin air can leave my skin feeling dry, so this gives me that extra dose of hydration without making me look like I am about to film a skincare reel in the middle of an aircraft. It is basically my low-key version of an in-flight facial. This little addition is entirely thanks to Voie Sage. They sent me a gorgeous mini comb in a package, and I have not stopped carrying it since. It is tiny, takes up almost no space and is now permanently in my handbag. I have also reached the stage where I carry it around even when I am not flying. Hair looking slightly chaotic after a nap on a flight? Comb. Windy airport transfer? Getting ready quickly before heading out? You guessed it. A dead phone at an airport is my idea of unnecessary stress.
Destination Buzz: Planning a Switzerland train holiday in 2026? Because my earbuds cancelled it all out while I listened to Beethoven and enjoyed a very peaceful nap, i would not know anything about that particular experience. My recent favourite addition is the Motobuds, which I got as a gift. The noise cancellation is so, so good. Imagine sitting on a flight next to a toddler listening to Cocomelon on loop. That, to me, is enough of a review. Here’s what to know about the Grand Train Tour
