I’ve known Cynthia Samanian a LONG time.
As in, the first day in college. In a random seminar on Iranian architecture.
Cynthia and I have seen each other through the death of our pre-medicine dreams, big corporate jobs, navigating scrappy startups, and now entrepreneurship (her business Confetti Kitchen just launched!).
And just like everything else she does, her packing and travel tips are excellent. As is her guide of kitchen essentials – snag it here.
Cynthia Samanian
Founder, Confetti Kitchen
When it comes to packing, I’m definitely a minimalist and almost always carry on. Checking a bag adds so much extra hassle and airport time, so I try to avoid it whenever possible.
I’m big into writing lists (checking things off feels so darn good!) so whenever I go on a trip, be it two days or two weeks, I always make a list. I really like using Evernote because it’s easy to access on my phone and I’m usually on-the-go when I’m reminded of that one thing I just can’t forget. My list includes everything I need from clothing to beauty products to tech accessories. I reference these lists for future trips so I don’t have to start from scratch every time I travel.
I don’t start packing until about an hour before it’s time to leave for the airport. Ideally I’d pack the night before, but the reality is that I’m probably working late on a photo shoot or busy getting content ready for the next day. But because I have my handy list, packing goes pretty quickly and smoothly.
I subscribe to the flat packing camp, and find that it keeps everything wrinkle free and organized. When traveling, especially for work, I go for solid blouses and skirts as well as denim that I accessorize with colorful scarves or jewelry. I love pops of color in my wardrobe as well as mixing and matching pieces — in a way, my personal style has definitely influenced the Confetti Kitchen brand. It’s colorful while still clean and minimalist. I’ll bring one bright statement dress that I can just throw on and walk out the door. Over the years I’ve moved away from packing “outfits†to packing separates that work in multiple styles, dressed up or down.
Ever since getting Global Entry, the airport has been no-stress at all. It’s basically the same as TSA pre-check when flying domestically, and is an even bigger time saver when travelling internationally because you can speed past customs. I usually arrive an hour before my flight, mainly because I hate rushing and like a pre-flight bite or drink before. Boarding a flight hungry is my worst nightmare.
No, it really is.
I usually fly out of Oakland (OAK) or San Francisco (SFO), and each airport has its pros and cons. And of course, I’ve spent probably too much time evaluating them! If I fly Southwest, which is great for entrepreneurs with ever-changing schedules, then I’ll fly out of Oakland. The airport is really small, so getting to the gate quickly is no problem. There’s also better weather there, so flight delays are pretty uncommon compared to SFO. BUT, the food options are totally lacking. No bueno.
When I’m flying out of SFO, I love flying Virgin America. Their terminal among the best in terms of food quality and lounging space. I usually grab a bottled water, Americano, and a healthy-ish snack from The Plant. I balance that all out with a trip to Natalie’s Candy Jar. I’m a sucker for any kind of gummy candy, so it’s a no-brainer, must-have stop. After grabbing my treats, I head to the gate which to recharge my phone and laptop, and start filling up on my caffeine. I used to get sucked into those Hudson News shops and stock up on magazines, but that has definitely changed since running a company. There’s no time for Us Weekly when you’ve got Google Analytics to review! When flying to JFK, I always make sure to indulge in Shake Shack at the airport. In fact, I bake in extra time into my travel schedule for this mandatory stop. We don’t have it in SF so it’s a real treat!
I’m all about the window seat which most people find odd considering my height (I’m 5’11â€). I prefer the window I love looking at aerial views of cities — I’m usually glued to the window during takeoff and landing. Once we’re above the clouds, I switch gears and pull out my laptop. I usually know if the flight has wi-fi beforehand and if so, sign me up. I love being connected and find that I can get into a really good flow when working on a flight. Specifically, I enjoy editing food photos for Confetti Kitchen and listening to some good music on Spotify (always offline sync your playlists!)
Back when I was working at GE, I used to travel quite a bit for work. At the time, I was working in finance, so in flight work meant burying my head in Excel — lots and lots of Excel. I would usually put on my big noise-reducing headphones and work on financial models. I rarely ever connected to wi-fi, especially since most flights back then didn’t have guaranteed internet access. When I was in business school, travel was definitely more play than work. But on the rare occasion I had to prep cases for class, it was all about a highlighter to mark up the case (printouts) and my MacBook to prepare my answers. During business school, I made the switch from PC to Mac, and haven’t looked back since! While working at Path, I always had my laptop (11†MacBook Air, so light, so amazing!) charged up and ready for flights. 100% of my job required my computer and the majority of the time I would be writing product specs and creating presentations. I rarely took a flight without connecting to WiFi, especially so I could use team collaboration tools such as Quip, Trello, and Google Docs. And I always kept a to-do list in Evernote.
A few years ago, I had one of the worst travel experiences and learned a very important lesson: always pack a pair of pants, no matter where you go! I was traveling from a vacation in Puerto Rico back home to San Francisco. My connecting flight in Chicago was cancelled due to weather. This was right after New Year’s Eve and it was 20 degrees in the Windy City. I had to spend the night in the freezing cold O’Hare airport wearing a summer dress and flip flops. I had my carry-on but didn’t have anything warmer to throw on and all of the airport shops were closed until the morning. I literally was holding a cup of hot water from Starbucks to stay warm. Traumatizing.
My travel essentials are:
- Rebecca Minkoff backpack – it fits my 13†Macbook Pro perfectly along with my wallet, notebook, cosmetic bag, and other small accessories
- Boscia masks – I especially like to use this one after a flight to rehydrate skin
- Shiseido eye cream – I apply this before the flight
- L’Occitane shea butter hand cream – I always have this in my bag!
- Grid-It organizer – This keeps all of my chargers, cables, and earbuds organized in one place and takes up no space in my bag.
- Pashmina – Roll it up as a pillow, wrap it around as a blanket, or lay it across your lap if you’re traveling in a dress or skirt. Keeps me warm on a chilly flight! I have one dedicated just for travel.
- Superga Sneakers – I have two pairs of these super comfy kicks and absolutely love them. The side zippers are not only stylish but also really functional if you have to slip them on and off quickly (not with pre-check though!) I get compliments on these shoes more than anything else I own — from both men and women!
- Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine – I’ve used this product for years and it’s one of the best styling creams because it’s not greasy. I apply it to my ends after a flight and it just helps smooth out whatever style I have going on (usually beachy waves.)
- 13†MacBook Pro – Sometimes I’ll bring my MacBook Air instead, but the performance benefits of the Pro makes it worth the extra weight.
- Benefit Hoola – I’ve been using this bronzer for years and I just love how it gives your skin a golden tint without all the glitter and shine. I usually brush a little of this on before landing and it just makes me feel a bit more polished for wherever I’m off to next!
SHOP CYNTHIA’S ESSENTIALS
Still hungry for more? See how fellow foodie Joy Bauer travels.
images courtesy of Cynthia Samanian
