The Sleep Kit: travel pillows and accessories

After my last post, many people asked me for more information about travel pillows. I didn’t think this was so interesting, but because I am a “travel pillow lover” I am very happy to be writing this post about the different kinds of pillows I use and some accessories that I always carry with me on long journeys on flights, trains and buses around the world.

So as I stated above, I have 2 different travel pillows, and I am going to show them to you together with a description and their pros and cons. 

The classic U shaped travel pillow

My U shaped travel pillow and scarf

I used to be skeptical about travel pillows, until I tried this one. That changed everything! Since I discovered the magic of this accessory, I can’t travel without one. I remember last time I went to Egypt and I forgot my travel pillow in Italy, I spent the whole night before a 16 hours bus ride looking for one of these, and I finally found one quite late at night. Luckily, pharmacies in Cairo stay open until late, some of them even 24 hours!

This is the most common kind of travel pillow, and I carry the inflatable version so that I can easily pack it. But I know there is also a non inflatable version, usually thicker and probably even more comfortable, but then when you have to pack it doesn’t look so smart anymore. Anyway I find the inflatable version just perfect in these situations:

• Sitting on a non window seat: sometimes you are not so lucky to get the window seat and you are sitting between other people, and you can’t lay your head on anything. This pillow will keep your neck still and you can lay your cheek on the sides of the pillow without getting the painful stiff neck feeling. 

If you don’t like the feel of plastic on your skin, you can cover the pillow with a little scarf or neckerchief, as I do. 

The triangle shaped travel pillow

The triangle shaped travel pillow - front view

I actually bought this one by mistake, while looking for a U shaped travel pillow. The box said “travel pillow” and it was folded so I didn’t check and bought this one. I was so disappointed! But then I realized that I love this one even more than the other. It has been my travel companion for so many miles, and made me sleep like an angel even on the longest journeys! 

From the picture above it doesn’t really look like a triangle, but let me show you something:

The triangle shaped travel pillow

 Here is how this pillow looks when it’s stuck on the glass. Yes because the trick is a suction cap on the back of the pillow, so that you can stick it to the bus/plane window, just above your shoulder, and lay your head on it. As you can see, once the suction cap is on the glass the biggest side of the pillow will be oblique, so you’ll have the perfect angle to lay your head! This pillow is the best in the following situations:

• Window seat – There’s no better pairing than window seat + triangle shaped travel pillow. Just stick the suction cap on the window glass and sweet dreams! 
• Bus/plane seat, other than window seat, with a free seat next to you – You can recline your seat and leave the other one in upright position, then stick the pointy side of the pillow into the gap and you will have a very comfortable spot to lay your head. Bonne nuit!

Accessories

Other than the travel pillow(s), there are a few other accessories that I always carry with me, to ensure I get enough sleep.

My sleep kit: sleep mask and earplugs

Stop thinking that earplugs bother you, you just have to try. Do you prefer to spend hours trying to sleep in vain? I don’t think so! So enjoy the silence (the Depeche Mode were definitely talking about earplugs in this song)!

Another thing that will help you sleep, especially on long haul bus rides where they switch on the lights at every stop, is the sleep mask. This is another thing I used to be skeptical about, but in the end it really helps. Just make sure it’s not too tight and that the fabric is soft enough. 

So these is my “travel sleep kit”, something that I could never leave at home. Did you ever try any of the above items? Are you a “travel pillow lover” too?