A special edition of the Friday newsletter! Featuring two people I admire who share their genius travel tips. Plus: I'm sharing the best joy-bringing recommendations from Downtime readers.
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A special edition of the Friday newsletter! Featuring two people I admire who share their genius travel tips. Plus: I'm sharing the best joy-bringing recommendations from Downtime readers.
We’re just a week or so away from the official start of summer, and I couldn't be more excited to switch things up and bring you a series of fun issues focused on travel. (Ironically, I’m not doing much traveling myself this summer but I can’t wait to live vicariously through Downtime readers. Tell me where you are going!)
I've shared my personal recs and notes at the bottom of the newsletter this week. Until next time! x Alisha
P.S. It was lovely to meet readers IRL at the Big Night event in D.C. this week! Thank you x1000 if you came out.
Talking Travel Uniforms and Favorites With Cool People in the Know
Trips are fun; packing for them is not. I imagine many of you are jetting off to new places soon. With this in mind, I’m asking a few savvy and stylish friends and people I admire about their best packing tips and travel favorites.
Ohhh, we are in for a treat. Anna is one of my favorite follows on the internet and I’m thrilled she’s agreed to be interviewed! Anna Newton is a UK-based style and beauty creator, capsule wardrobe enthusiast, and mom to a toddler. She writes a fantastic newsletter *packed* with style ideas called The Wardrobe Editand has a popular channel on YouTube, where she shares all things beauty and style (and it’s where I first discovered her excellent taste many years ago).
Anna on a recent trip to Mallorca. (Photos used with permission via The Wardrobe Edit)
The travel uniform she swears by…
If it’s less than four hours, I’ll just wear whatever I want to be wearing when I get there—jeans on a plane! I know! If it’s any longer than that, then I’ll go for something comfier—leggings and the fluffiest knit I own. I like to have the cool air blasting in my face whilst being wrapped in lots of layers.
The things she never steps onto a plane without…
I always travel with a water bottle and a little squash’d pouch to make the water flavored because I am a child, and it’s the only way I get my allotted water intake down.
A multi-plug cube is a MUST because how often is there only one plug next to the bed and you need like, three? I adore the Coola SPF Spray in Piña Colada. It smells so good. Just don’t apply it next to your friends or else everyone will be using it and you’ll be out of it in a day! I’ve converted so many people to it.
Chic chic chic - don’t miss Anna’s packing lists she shares in her newsletter.
Her most genius packing tips…
I just got back from a four-day trip to Mallorca, where I challenged myself to pack just 10 items of clothing. I couldn’t recommend it enough. Only once did I have to give a top a rinse in the bathroom basin, and it just took away all the dilly-dallying that can sometimes happen when you’re getting ready in the morning. Plus, minimal washing on your return is a huge bonus.
Three things I found helpful:
Taking just one top per day you’re away. It’s highly doubtful you’ll need more than that, especially if you’re taking a dress or a jumpsuit with you.
Finding a bag that worked for everything. I took one bag from Dragon Diffusion and it worked well for everything; from fancy dinners to city wandering. [Editor’s note from Alisha: I invested in this brand of bag last year and I agree that it’s 100% an all-season go-to for me that feels polished and great with everything!]
If you’ve got a pair of comfy strap sandals, you probably just need to take those. I ended up throwing in some flip-flops for the pool, but hold yourself back with shoes. Two pairs will sort you out.
Next month, we’re going to Amsterdam and taking our toddler with us, so I’m going to try the same thing and pack as little as possible, although the brief is a little more relaxed, and white items won’t feature as highly!
Dreamy scenes in Mallorca; photo by Anna.
The book she’s packing in her summer tote…
I tend to find my book recommendations through Instagram and Substacks, so I have to go on a bit of hunt whenever I’ve come to the end of a book. I’m not so good at keeping lists! But I’ve just read The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, and it was the funniest book I’ve read in a long time. It would make for the perfect summer holiday read. I gobbled it up in a matter of days.
Laura Saur’s Top Travel Tips
Laura is a Charleston-based professional photographer for top beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands. She has impeccable taste and sells prints of her gorgeous photos from her travels online. She also writes a newsletter, I'M JUST A GIRL... , covering topics like her dating life as a thirty-something (an hot topic as of late), photography behind the scenes, and her style picks. You can follow Laura on IG @lcs_studio.
Laura in Florence, Italy
The travel outfit she swears by…
I love a jogger, especially in a lightweight material like these or these. If it's a warm or cold weather destination, you won't be sweating OR freezing when you land; the joggers are breathable in any climate. As a bonus, it's good to have pants that cinch at the ankles for when you go to the airport restroom and can avoid the hem of your pants hitting the bathroom floor! Yuck.
I'm headed back to Italy this July for a friend's wedding in Tuscany! I am so excited. I went to Italy for the first time back in September 2022 for two and a half weeks and managed to ONLY pack a carry-on and personal item. I honestly impressed myself. But it was easy to do since, for most of the trip, I was solo and could mix and match and re-wear with zero cares.
I travel a lot and always try to stick to carry-on only; however, since this time around is for a wedding, there will be a few days of wedding-related festivities before the main event, and I need to pack dresses and a couple of different shoes for options. When I booked my flight, I chose one with a checked bag included in the ticket. The only reason I'm not worried about losing my luggage for this is because it's a non-stop flight. If I had one or two short layovers, I wouldn't take a chance and stick with just a carry-on.
Linen anything and everything is at the top of my list for an easy capsule travel wardrobe. I also always have a white linen button-down with me to wear for sun protection while exploring all day.
Cinque Terre, shot by Laura Saur.
The book she’s packing in her summer tote…
So, I'm really into self-help, wellness, and mindfulness books. One I've been wanting to read is Yung Pueblo's latest book, The Way Forward. I read his previous one, Clarity & Connection, and took a lot of value from it. I travel solo a lot which leads to a lot of time to myself to reflect.
Sidenote: does flying in airplanes ever make you emotional? And I don't mean in the fear of flying way but the emotional release kind of way. I don't sob on every flight, haha, but sometimes it's during takeoff and usually only in a window seat...
Anyway, I'm a very (silent) emotional person. I love to read Yung Pueblo's books and look inward to see what comes up for me as I read through the entries. I use them as daily prompts to journal my thoughts and reflections. It's a very grounding practice for me to do, especially before I travel to a new or favorite destination. It helps me clear my head so I can approach a new experience with fresh eyes.
Thank you, Anna and Laura! Part two is coming next week with more special guests. What are your travel uniforms and must haves?
There were SO many fun things readers are really into from last week’s comments section. If you need a boost of joyful inspo, check it out. Here are a few of my favorite reader comments…
“I'm into romantasy fan art of all things. As soon as I finish a fantasy book I'm looking up the fan art. It’s a nice way to keep the fantasy world alive after the book is over.” - Cameron
“Really into: fully embracing the joy and freedom of single life and all the hobbies/activities - without worrying about how I'm "supposed" to do things or how others might do them. I've never been good at sticking to *one* thing, and I've finally realized that I can embrace that, because who says I have to?! Lately I've gotten a little into running, pickleball, tennis, and rediscovered my love of rowing - and those are just the ~athletic pursuits. Just out here trying to live my best life!!” - Nadia
“I’m really into needlepoint lately! It forces me to put my phone down before bedtime and focus on a task. So satisfying to see my progress on a project.” - Lucia
“At the moment, I’m very into treating myself with odd little snacks that bring me joy. The latest combination has been Ollie Pop colas and Bjorn Qorn spicy popcorn.” - Brittany
“I’m into playing golf after nearly five years of not picking up my clubs - at the moment I’m mostly hitting tiny yellow whiffle balls on the lawn as a way to wind down after work (there may be a glass of white wine on the chair next to me). But it works!” - Hannah
“I just saw the movie "Am I Ok?" on Max and I loved it! Such a great way to open Pride month. Dakota Johnson is a delight and Tig Notaro (co-director) also makes a hilarious cameo as the leader of a hammock-based wellness retreat.” - Katie
“Currently very into taking naps on my lunch break! Though this hack only works if you work remotely (or maybe not?)” - Maggie
“Lately I've been into trying to fit small novelties into my week such as bringing my kids to a different park that we haven't been to before or trying a different drink at the coffee shop. It brightens my mood to do something different than my typical routine I get stuck in.” - Molly
“I took Fridays off from work last year to take day trips with my mom and it became a core memory. I'm doing it again this year and I'm really looking forward to our adventures.” - Megan B.
Thanks to everyone who shared a comment, and congrats to the five readers who won the ROZ collection. :)
Okay, now for just two of my personal recs below and a bit of a ramble on motherhood...
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