Samantha Browntravels for a living as a veteran T.V.
host and the creator of “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love” on PBS.
Travel + Leisurecaught Brown as she prepared for one of her more challenging packing trips.
Credit: Mariah Tyler
event running from Oct. 17-19 at 8 p.m. Travel + Leisure:Do you have a packing system for these big trips?
What do you use?
“I do have a system.
And I’ve tried everything.
It compresses your clothes and it is awesome!
I can’t believe it has taken me this long to use them.
The technology really works, especially if you are packing for a winter destination.
If you get hot, just take it off and it becomes your roll neck pillow.
The biggest bummer is wearing your boots because you don’t want to take them off.
It’s like that game when you were young and would put on all the clothes.”
What are three or four pieces of clothing you always pack in your carry-on bag?
“I like a nicecashmere crewneck sweater, a thin one.
So much spandex is going to work against you on a flight because we all bloat a little.
I wear loose-fitting clothes.
I love cotton and I always bring fuzzy socks with me to keep me warm.
What other items do you consider an essential for your carry-on bag and why?
“I start off strong with doing work and then resort to looking atUs WeeklyandPeople.
I can sleep really well on a plane.
I can be near the toilet and in the middle seat and I can sleep.
I always travel with peanut butter.
If I go to Asia, I bring a whole jar.
If I’m not hungry I can handle the thing that travel throws at me at the last minute.
So Ialways bring food.
I do always travel with a teacup.
Just starting my morning with coffee in my teacup, it makes me feel like me.
When you travel, you sort of lose who you are.”
I do that again when I return.
It is like methodically taking caffeine so I get the strongest punch.”
What brand and make/size is your go-to carry-on bag?
“I carry a bagfrom my own line of suitcases!
Why did you love your luggage line?
Women don’t need that.
So I started designing it for how women need luggage and I started incorporating a lot more color.
For years bags were only black and aubergine was about as colorful as it got.
My bags are extremely colorful and stylish and the pocket configuration is more suited to how women travel.”
“Everything is very color coordinated.
I have a dress up outfit, but then I know that top can go into my day rotation.
Everything I wear I should be able to wear at least twice.
Why are you looking forward to “AutumnWatch?”
“It’s going to be live with a few pre-taped segments.
I grew up in New Hampshire and I haven’t been for autumn in 30 years.
I’m always in Cambodia or something and now I get to go home.
This is the time of year, and maybe I’m projecting, that everyone loves.
The live aspect as Autumn is something that should be consumed while it lasts.
These days we want television on demand, we binge-watch everything two months later, but this is live.
Autumn can’t be binge-watched or on demand.
It is a great time of year to just slow down because winter is coming.”
What was the best trip you have been on recently?
“I love going to Asia.
When I shot my series in Hong Kong and Korea this year I got to bring my kids.
They are 5-year-old twins and we had such a great time.
