In a new series, we’re flipping the script on travel and hospitality PR pros to see where they’re headed and what they’re taking with them. This week, we spoke with IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Faith Yi and Park Hyatt New York’s Patricia Galas to discover their favorite places to visit and what they don’t leave home without. 

Faith Yi, Director, News Bureau for IHG Hotels & Resorts

I know better, but I tend to jam pack my vacations and city/country hop to make the most of the time. This past month, I went on a whirlwind trip to three countries in a little over a week! My modus operandi is to roughly sketch how to get from point A to point B, know where I’m staying and have at least one pre-planned activity or wish list for the day. The rest of the day can go with the flow because if I happen to stumble across a beautiful little cliffside restaurant, that’s where I’m parking myself. When I traipsed around Petra, Jordan (be still my Indiana Jones-loving heart) and the island of Cyprus, these were my top five travel staples. What’s next? Hopefully, visiting new IHG hotels in Osaka, Japan and Porto, Portugal.

Packing List:

• Waterproof sandals that can flex with casual outfits – If you’re going to be by water, I swear by these Teva Hurricane Drift Sandals that took me miles and miles across beaches and city streets. The birch color goes with everything from dresses to jean shorts. I love the grippy sole and that it weighs almost nothing. They’re also super easy to clean with a quick wipe.
• Portable hand sanitizer – I never leave home without it. I recently picked up a variety pack of sanitizers from Noshinku. The slim design is easy to slip into a pocket and features hydrating oils so your hands don’t dry out. Plus, you can use their refillable bottles and enjoy beautiful barely there scents like bergamot and eucalyptus instead of straight alcohol. They’re almost too pretty to use.
• A Kindle Paperwhite – There’s no way I’m packing any paperbacks when I’m traveling. I always download at least 2-3 good reads and the Paperwhite has a soft matte screen that doesn’t strain the eyes or require additional light.
• Packable sun hat – Vitamin D is important, but I try not to bake in the sun. On top of SPF, nothing beats a good wide brim sun hat that you can roll up and tuck into any bag. Get the kind with a chin strap––it’s not dorky when it gets windy.
• Magnetic travel capsules – These ones by Cadence are awesome because you can decant whatever you need, whether it’s liquids, creams or medicine, so there’s just enough for your trip. They’re TSA-friendly, snap together, come in gorgeous colors with various lid icons and are designed to not roll away from you if you drop them.

Patricia Galas, Senior Director of Marketing Communications, Park Hyatt New York 

Sunseeker Resorts

I’m getting married in December, and while I don’t have many travels coming up, I am going to Greenport in August and Tulum in November for my bachelorette party. I also have a weekend trip to Florida in October for a new resort opening called Sunseeker Resorts.  They are having a grand opening party – my BFF is the VP of Marketing there.

For all three destinations that are warm and sunny, I am packing:

• My favorite travel sneakers – Stan Smiths 
• Honest lavender wipes – they are the only wipes that make my hands feel super clean while traveling.
• Chanel sunglasses
• My Louis Vuitton card holder – perfect for my ID and CCs, plus I can keep some cash in it. Fits in any purse!
• My Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag – just for the airport/airplane; it is so handy for your wallet, phone, headphones, and lip gloss.
• Brazilian Bum Bum Cream – keeps my skin hydrated, firm and the smell is incredible. Warning, this product is highly addictive!
• Straw beach tote
• My favorite sunscreen – La Roche Posay Anthelios Cooling Water Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30. I not only apply it to my face but also to the top of my hands, for anti-aging purposes.
• A straw sun hat is a must!
• For Tulum, I am packing a few head scarves and lots of gold jewelry. All of my outfits will be white.
• Blowfish for hangovers/acid reflux (lol!)
• When I’ve had a little too much sun, this is the only aloe lotion that soothes me:
• My new fave $7 Maybelline lip gloss in ICE 

I also always have my phone charger on me and my little pillow that my grandma made for me – I can’t travel without it. Lastly, I only use my AMEX when I travel – they have the best safeguards against fraud.