I arrived in Geneva late last Monday for work. After audibly gasping upon seeing the taxi fare total from the airport to my hotel (why is Switzerland so expensive?) and successfully checking into my room, I went through my routine of unpacking my bags and finding homes for everything I’d brought along for the week.
Outfits I’d already tried on and confirmed were comfortable were hung up with the appropriate undergarments in the closet. Toiletries went on the bathroom sink and in the shower, lined up in the order I’d use them in. Y’know. The usual.
But as I started to lay out my before-bed supplies on the nightstand—silk pillowcase, retainer, lip mask, cuticle oil, Kindle, sleep mask—I realized that “the usual” for me is not necessarily “the usual” for everyone else. That over the course of my travel writing career, I’ve learned how to pack in support of my own sensory needs, and that maybe it would be useful for other neurodivergent travelers to see what that looks like, too.
I’ve already shared the general packing checklist I use for every trip I take and everything I bring in my personal item to make flying suck less. Now, here are the things I pack to accommodate my sensory issues and make traveling more comfortable for myself as an AuDHDer and professional travel writer.
Comfortable walking shoes, because if I get blisters I will absolutely lose my sh*t.
Shower wipes, in case I can’t handle the idea of actually showering but still need to clean my body.
A shower cap, in case showering feels like it might be doable as long as I don’t get my hair wet.
A microfiber hair towel, in case washing my hair does, in fact, feel doable (and is perhaps necessary) but having my wet hair touching my neck and back would wreck me.
A cozy robe, to wrap around myself for comfort (and to help me speed up the uncomfortable transition from wet to dry).
A set of comfortable pajamas in a sensory-friendly fabric. My favorite is silk.
Slippers, so my feet never have to touch the gross hotel room floor.
My meds in a daily container, so I can stay on top of taking them every day while I’m away.
Safe foods and drinks to start and end my day. I like protein bars for the mornings and sleepy tea for the evenings.
A mini aromatherapy diffuser with essential oils in a comforting scent, in case the room smells weird.
My supplements in their own little daily packs. (Side note: I could do a whole separate post on what a lifesaver the auto-delivery on that subscription has turned out to be for the ADHD side of my brain.)
A mini Bluetooth speaker so I can play chill background music to cover up the sounds of other people and play white noise while I sleep.
A silk pillowcase to put over the hotel pillowcase, for comfort but also for my skin and because it helps me not have to do my hair as often while traveling. It’s also nice to be able to put my hair towel and robe in here at the end of the trip, like an extra little laundry bag.
The same before-bed routine I do at home, to signal to my brain that it’s time to wind down. For me: retainer, lip mask, cuticle oil, hand cream, silk scrunchie.
More water than I think I need, because travel dehydrates me—and especially water by my bedside in case I wake up thirsty in the middle of the night.
A light-blocking sleep mask, because duh.
My Kindle, loaded up with feel-good fiction that won’t freak me out while traveling alone, to read until I’m ready to fall asleep.
Pre-tested outfits that I know will be comfortable and look decent together because I tried them on before I left home for this trip, hung up in the order I’ll wear them and with the appropriate undergarments.
A jewelry uniform including rings and necklaces that I know won’t bother me throughout the day (and that I can use for fidgeting).
A laundry bag where I can keep all of the dirty clothes away from all the maybe-they-can-be-worn-again clothes when I pack things up to head back home.
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How do you make travel more comfortable for yourself?
Neurodivergent or not, the actual logistics of going on trips can be pretty uncomfy. How do you keep yourself comfortable when you’re away? I’m always looking for ways to make traveling a more pleasurable experience for myself, so if you have any recommendations, I’m all ears.
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