Travel Essentials for a Safer, More Comfortable Journey
Good travel gear can make your journey much smoother, and a small essential item could even save your life and the lives of your family. Other items can help turn a burdensome request to carry your child into a relaxing and sweet journey, assist you in getting peaceful sleep on an airplane seat, prevent toiletries from leaking, enable you to make dietary requests in any language, plan the perfect national park adventure, and even diffuse awkward situations like a child vomiting in your in-laws’ newly renovated guest room.
When heading out, it is essential to bring along a carbon monoxide detector. This affordable, easily portable plug-in device can detect the colorless, odorless, yet deadly gas. In recent years, there have been numerous reports of unnecessary deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning in accommodation establishments in places like Costa Rica, Belize, the Dominican Republic, and others.
One should not assume that hotels or rental accommodations are automatically equipped with such detectors, especially since regulations vary. Some states mandate alarm installation while others do not, and international regulations are even more complex. Even in places where combustion appliances are not installed, fatal accidents have occurred due to ventilation system failures leading to the inhalation of gas from neighboring rooms without detectors. I usually place a detector in my hotel room and place one in each bedroom, kitchen, and near the stove in vacation homes.
Traveling with children is fun, but carrying a child around can be challenging. Tired children often demand to be carried constantly. Using a baby hip carrier can alleviate the strain on your hips and lower back from carrying your child. Konny’s double hip support carrier not only cradles the child’s hips but also supports their back, providing additional protection and comfort. While adults still need to support the child with their arms, the double support design offers more stability, making it easier on the adult’s shoulders and back. Suitable for infants over six months old and weighing up to 44 pounds (about 20 kilograms).
After a brief nap on a plane, my head often jolts back and forth, abruptly waking me up. However, when I use Cabeau’s Evolution X travel pillow, this no longer happens. It has three features that allow the pillow to fit perfectly around my neck: adjustable straps for changing the circumference, soft and movable side supports that cradle the head at the right angle, and a front clip that leaves room for comfort. While wearing this neck pillow, I may look like a person with a neck injury, but I don’t mind because I am sleeping soundly.
To prevent shampoos, lotions, and other potentially leaky liquids from getting on your clothes, you can use LeakLocks toiletry bottle protectors. Eating allergenic foods could lead to another type of unexpected incident, where SelectWisely comes in handy. Years ago, during my travels in China, I bought cards from this company explaining our dairy allergy in Chinese. SelectWisely’s cards come in over sixty language versions, including medication allergies and explanations of emergency health conditions.
Children can also vomit when they are sick. As Vommat says, “Vomiting happens.” Simply placing a 16 square foot (about 1.5 square meters) non-plastic, highly absorbent, biodegradable mat on the bed can avoid the hassle of cleaning up. If a child—or even an adult—vomits, just discard the mess along with the mat.
Planning a national park trip should never be left for the last minute, as accommodations usually require booking several months in advance. The “Passport to Your National Parks” series of books builds excitement for the next adventure for both children and adults. With five versions, from basic to explorer editions, they include maps, park facts, photos, and blank pages for stamping with each park’s official seal. The Junior Ranger edition also includes stickers and story content.
How to carry all these travel items? Of course, with a good backpack. I particularly like the Knack Bags Series 2 Medium Expandable Knack Pack. Lightweight, waterproof, and with multiple internal pockets, one of which can fit a 16-inch laptop. Additionally, its flip-cover design makes it easy to separate clothing from other items.
Have a pleasant journey.
These products are available for purchase at local stores, as well as through Amazon.com and other online retailers.
• Carbon Monoxide Detector: $35–$99
• Konny Double Hip Support Carrier: konnybaby.com/collections/baby-carriers, $79.99
• Cabeau Evolution X Travel Pillow: cabeau.com, $50
• LeakLocks Toiletry Bottle Protectors: rinseroo.com, set of four, $12
• SelectWisely Allergy/Diet Cards: selectwisely.com, $16.50
• Vommats Anti-Vomiting Mats: vommat.com, set of five, $45
• “Passport to Your National Parks” Books: shop.americasnationalparks.org/pages/passport-store, $15–$70
• Knack Bags Series 2 Medium Expandable Knack Pack: knackbags.com, $265