How a Photographer Who Travels 300 Days a Year Makes a Hotel Feel Like Home
Snacks are key.
Photographer Lauren Bath travels so much for work that "home" is pretty much wherever her suitcase is (no joke: She took over 130 flights last year). Sure, it sounds glamorous, but being out of your own space isn't always conducive to being productive or happy. To make it work, she's developed a packing list and processes that help a sterile hotel room feel homier.
Bath never messes with minis, including full-size options in her checked luggage instead. Case in point: She always brings her regular face wash and her go-to contact solution, CLEAR CARE® PLUS. Fishing around in a toiletry bag for your toothpaste is a time suck that screams, Hey, you're in a temporary space, so Bath lays everything out just as it's organized at home, even packing small nesting cups that can house her toothbrush and makeup brushes.
To avoid the temptation that comes with mini bars and quick-fix spots, Bath always brings her own healthy snacks and supplements with fruit that she can buy locally. As a native Australian, she's a huge fan of Vegemite—if yeast paste isn't your cup of tea, pack your preferred brands and mixes.
Hotels have desks for a reason, so get that laptop off your pillow. A fully functional work setup keeps Bath productive while on the road: It sends a signal to you brain that you're clocked in and working (plus, it's way more comfortable than hunching over a computer while propped up with pillows on the bed).
Living out of your suitcase is the surest way to feel transient. Unpack bulky items (whether camera equipment or your body weight in shoes that you use frequently so they're easy to see all at once. Hang clothes or utilize dresser drawers too. It'll help keep things from wrinkling and make getting dressed easier.
It's tempting to go wild when it's just you and a room service menu, but Bath likes to choose healthier options that she'd normally make for herself at home. One too many "breakfast burgers" can leave you feeling sluggish.
Bath skips the hotel gym ("I hate them!") in favor of an in-room workout, so she can stay consistent with her usual routine. Pack a few portable exercise essentials, find a fitness app you love, and set up a station in your room.
For apartment-dwellers, a full-size tub is a treat. Take advantage of the hotel's and really do it, bringing in a glass of wine and including a bath bomb or travel-sized essential oil in your carry-on.
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