I’ve tried my share of airplane pillows over the years and most often have just carried a camping pillow half-inflated because that can also double as a seat cushion elsewhere. I don’t like the typical airport ones because they’re bulky and push your head forward instead of supporting your chin. I purchased this inflatable Modern Age one to take to Patagonia and back and liked it though, so it’s currently in use as this newsletter goes out while I fly across the Atlantic. You can wear it multiple ways and it solves the chin problem if you flip it over and around. Plus while I thought the included hood was kind of silly, I used it instead of an eye mask when one flight got really frigid and the vents were blasting cold air.

My Pre-packed Toiletry Kit

I always feel a little stressed when packing the day before a morning flight’s departure, but it’s gotten a little easier since I realized I could just buy two of everything and have a toiletry kit that’s packed and ready to go each time. It has a smaller electric toothbrush than I use at home (mentioned earlier here) and second versions of floss, toothpaste, face cream, comb, nail clipper, etc. in TSA-friendly sizes. The only thing I add/remove is a larger sunscreen bottle if I’m checking a bag and headed to a beach.

Data-backed Trends in Travel

Expedia and a few of its partner companies released their annual travel trends report recently and since this one is backed by search and booking data, it’s worth paying attention to for what’s really happening. The destinations seeing the biggest increase in searches are a mixed bunch: the top 5 were Big Sky, Okinawa, Sardinia, Phu Quoc (Vietnam), and Savoie (France). Other trends they highlight included “salvaged stays” in repurposed buildings, “hotel hops” of staying in different places, and “set jetting” — exploring places where movies were set or filmed.

Top Asian Countries for Expats

When more than 10,000 expats gave their opinions in the most recent International Expat Survey, 5 of the top 10 destinations were in Asia. Latin America still wins the medals with the top 3, but Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, and Indonesia all made the top 10. No surprise since you’ll run into hundreds of expats in Chiang Mai, Da Nang, or Penang, but it’s interesting to see China showing up so highly. “Convenience is a recurring theme, with expats across China raving about fast public transportation to efficient online shopping.” See the full story here, with a link to the source material.

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.