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Around 6 a.m. in the Dublin Airport, I’m awakened by the sound of clinking pint glasses.
I poke my head up from the plastic restaurant booth where I’ve spent the night, squinting in the bright fluorescents. At the tables around me, Irish travelers are downing foamy Guinness, guzzling down one last pint of gat (as they say) before their early flights.
Bleary, a little culture-shocked but very impressed, I gather my luggage and headed for the gate. After nine long hours, it’s almost time for my 8:45 a.m. flight to Singapore.
My overnight layover at DUB wasn’t the best night of sleep I’ve gotten while traveling — but it also wasn’t the worst. From jetlag to redeyes to snoring hostel dormmates, snoozing while traveling is notoriously fraught with challenges.
My love for travel is eclipsed by few things — but one of them is my need for eight to nine hours of sleep. After years of sleeping in airports, on airplanes, buses, trains, ferries and in all manner of hostels, hotels and Airbnbs, I’ve picked up a few sleep essentials that help maximize z’s. Ahead, here are my 6 essentials to pack for good (or at least tolerable) sleep while traveling.
1. The Right Neck Pillow
In a previous post, I hailed the stuffable neck pillow as a space-saving packing hack. The pillow fits about three days’ worth of clothes, making it a solid solution for anyone who wants to maximize carry-on space. That said, a lumpy, clothing-packed neck pillow isn’t the most comfortable thing to sleep on, so if you can afford to, I’d suggest investing in a separate airplane pillow specifically for the purpose of in-flight snoozing. I recommend the nifty Trtl pillow, which features a shoulder support that keeps your head and neck in an upright position. No need to worry about taking up too much precious luggage space: the Trtl’s lightweight design attaches to the outside of your backpack.
Price: $64.99 at Amazon
2. An Eye Mask
I once dated a fellow traveler who had trouble sleeping, and he swore by his light-blocking, wrap-around cotton sleep mask. I prefer a similarly designed version made of silk, which helps protect the sensitive area around your eyes from friction damage. It’s a worthy choice for catching naps in airports and on planes, trains and buses, though wearing it all night tends to get sweaty.
Price: $19.99 at Amazon
3. A Thick Pair of Socks
One thing airports, airplanes and buses tend to have in common? They love to blast air conditioning to a chilly 68 degrees. When you’re sleeping in overly A.C.-ed environments, socks can make a huge difference in regulating your temperature. Cold feet can send increased heat and blood flow to your core body, according to science. I have gone through many, many pairs of these thick socks from Amazon, which I wear regularly around my apartment as well as while traveling.
Price: $14.99 at Amazon
4. A Travel Towel
A towel might seem out of place on a list of travel essentials — but hear me out. When traveling on those frosty, A.C.-blasted night bus or ferry I mentioned that last paragraph, an extra blanket is worth its weight in gold. If you’re packing light, you might not have the space to spare for a luxury like a blanket — but even the most overstuffed of backpacks can spare room for this travel towel. The PackTowl Personal is soft and lightweight, and can be packed down into a tiny zippered pouch or wrapped around you when your teeth are chattering away on an overnight bus.
Price: $52.95 at Amazon
5. A Travel Footrest
Bust out this inflatable footrest on your next flight, and you’re guaranteed to be the envy of your entire row. The handy footrest can be inflated to different heights using your breath, and folds up small enough to squeeze onto a carryon. If you’re traveling with little ones, it can even double as a toddler-size airplane bed.
Price: $24.95 at Amazon
6. Ear Plugs
Earplugs are essential when sleeping in city center Airbnbs and hostel dorms (as I learned the hard way after overhearing one too many hostel bunkmates copulating in the next bed over.) Invest in a reliable pair, like the Loop Quiet Ear Plugs, which come with a soft, exterior loop that prevents them from dislodging. The buds come in a small plastic carrying case that attaches to your keychain, making them a breeze to pack and locate.
Price: $29.95 at Amazon
The post What I Pack In My Travel Sleep Kit for Maximum Z’s appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
