Some people move through airports with ease—bags packed perfectly, stress-free, and somehow able to sleep through an overnight flight like it’s a nap in their own bed. That’s Sylvia Klinger: a registered dietitian, world traveler, and master packer who can fit two weeks of outfits into a single carry-on. She’s logged hundreds of thousands of miles (she flies 200k miles a year!), from business trips to beach escapes, and she does it all without the chaos most of us associate with travel days.
I invited Sylvia back on Mixtape Travels (you might remember our first chat about Japan) to talk about one of my favorite travel struggles: how to pack and fly like a pro. From capsule wardrobes to pre-flight rituals, Sylvia’s approach is practical, thoughtful, and a little bit genius. Let’s just say, after hearing her tricks, I’ll never travel—packing or flying—the same way again. And you probably won’t either.
🎧 Click on the above link to watch & listen to our video interview or listen on “Mixtape Travels” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Highlights from our conversation include:
🧳 Pack Early. Like, Really Early.
Sylvia’s number one rule: start packing early. Not the night before—two weeks before. She keeps a suitcase “semi-packed” at all times with duplicates of chargers, toiletries, and essentials. Every few days she’ll top it off or swap something out. Her secret? “I always check if my toothpaste is running low. If it is, I replace it right away.”
Her motto: “If you pack last minute, you’re guaranteed to forget something.”
💄Go Mini or Go Home
Sylvia is a minimalist at heart. She never checks a bag (“I don’t even own one of those big luggages!”). Instead, she lives by the rule of carry-on only—even for two-week trips.
Her essentials:
Refillable leakproof Nalgene containers from The Container Store
Mini makeup and toiletry kits—one for beach trips, one for work trips
A mini first aid kit stocked with Advil, Pepto-Bismol, and a 5-day course of antibiotics from her doctor “just in case”
A Tide-to-Go stick and cooling oil from Aveda (“trust me, you’ll thank yourself mid-flight”)
Packing cubes for organization and a separate cube for dirty clothes
Her rule of thumb: everything small, everything light. “You don’t need your full-size shampoo. If you love it, decant it.”
👗 Dress Smart: Capsule Wardrobe, Travel Uniform, and Two Pairs of Shoes
Sylvia swears by a capsule wardrobe: simple, mix-and-match pieces that can be dressed up or down. Her uniform is a long, comfy dress paired with a wrap (“works as a blanket on the plane!”).
She travels with just two pairs of shoes—one walking pair and one dressier pair—and slips hotel shower caps over the soles to keep her clothes clean.
Her other musts:
Compression socks (“non-negotiable, especially for long flights or anyone over 40”)
A lightweight wrap or pashmina
Slippers or flip-flops for the hotel
A tiny travel umbrella (“mine’s from Samsonite—strong and small”)
👜The Carry-On Command Center
Sylvia keeps her “personal item” as a command center for survival:
A fanny pack or crossbody with easy access to meds, lip balm, and sanitizer
Neck pillow with a hood that goes over your face (or this one without a hood is her husband and kid’s favorite)
Ear plugs made of wax (“they mold perfectly to your ears and actually block noise”)
Eye mask with space for your lashes (no smudged mascara here!)
Snacks: homemade trail mix (nuts + dried fruit + pretzels), granola bars, and reusable water bottle
💤Sleep Like You Mean It
Sylvia has mastered the impossible: sleeping on planes. Her secret formula:
Wake up very early the day of travel so you’re tired by boarding time.
Eat your last meal at least four hours before the flight.
No alcohol. Ever. (“Have all the wine you want when you land.”)
Hydrate—but stop drinking water a couple hours before takeoff to avoid bathroom trips so you can sleep soundly.
Take two capsules of ZzzQuil, put on your eye mask, wax earplugs, neck pillow and let the magic happen.
She treats boarding like bedtime: “I brush my teeth before getting on the plane. It tells my brain it’s time to sleep.”
She skips airplane meals and entertainment (“Turn off the movie and go to sleep!”), then wakes up just before landing for breakfast and coffee. “When I land in Europe, I’m ready to go teach. No jet lag, no crankiness.”
🧘♀️Airport Zen
Sylvia arrives four hours early—yes, four. “That’s when I get my work done, eat, and relax in the lounge.” Her logic? Starting your trip calm sets the tone for everything that follows.
Her other airport wisdom:
Enroll in TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and Global Entry.
Bring a “tushy cushion” (a foldable gel seat pad) for long flights.
Choose bulkhead or emergency exit seats for more legroom.
Always wear your heaviest shoes or coat to save luggage weight.
And her favorite airport in the world? Tokyo Narita. “They have free massage chairs and great sushi. Heaven!”
✨Final Words from Sylvia
“Pack early. Pack light. Stay hydrated. Don’t drink on planes. Sleep. And please—bring your own snacks.”
My Takeaway
Sylvia’s approach isn’t about fancy travel hacks—it’s about thoughtful habits that make travel smoother, healthier, and way less stressful. Her philosophy is proof that when you plan ahead, you actually relax more.
So here’s the challenge: Try one (or more!) of Sylvia’s tips before your next trip. Start packing a week or two early, swap your liquids into minis, stop eating 4 hours before sleeping, or skip that in-flight wine. Your future, well-rested self will thank you.
Meet Sylvia Klinger
Dr. Sylvia Klinger is an award-winning global nutrition expert, author, speaker, and the powerhouse behind Hispanic & Multicultural Nutrition Communications. With over four decades of experience, Sylvia has inspired communities around the world through her culturally rich approach to health and wellness. A bilingual registered dietitian, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies and contributed to countless publications.
Born in Puerto Rico to adventurous missionary parents, Sylvia developed a deep love for travel and culture early in life. She lived in Mexico for ten years before meeting her Irish-descendant husband in California. Today, they reside in Chicago near their two adult children. Her passion for food, culture, and global connection has taken her around the world, and with her insatiable curiosity and zest for discovery, there are still many more places she dreams of exploring.
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