Pack Like is a column in which Forbes Vetted asks some of the most well-traveled personalities about the essential items they reach for when they’re on the go. On the hunt for packing inspo? Look no further.
As co-anchors of the Today show, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb are used to jetting off at a moment’s notice to cover breaking news across the globe. But this month, the TV duo is traveling abroad for the long haul to report live from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which kick off on Friday, July 26 at 1:30 p.m. EST on NBC. “We love the Olympics wherever they’re held because it’s easy to get swept up in the athletes’ stories and the competition, but it does not hurt that they’re in such a beautiful city like Paris this year,” says Guthrie.
‘Today’ show co-anchors Hoda Kotb (left) and Savannah Guthrie share their go-to travel essentials … [+] for the Paris Olympics.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: JENNIFER GRAYLOCK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY IMAGES
From the opening ceremony, which will involve a flotilla of almost 100 boats carrying over 10,000 athletes along the Seine, to the games themselves, which will be spread out across the City of Light at iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées, Guthrie and Kotb will be in the thick of it all. “Imagine going to a beach volleyball game, looking up, seeing the Eiffel Tower, walking over to the Today show plaza and saying ‘Hi’ to your mom back home,” says Kotb. “It’s going to be magic.”
Before the famous torch is lit, however, Guthrie and Kotb have one more small thing to conquer stateside: packing. “I’m going to be in Paris for about 10 days and Hoda will probably stay for 14, but we’ll both be ashamed if we bring more than one giant bag,” laughs Guthrie. “I try to count how many outfits I’ll need for the opening ceremony, for our shows and for events, so I can plug and play. And then I always triple the amount of underwear I think I’ll need—it just makes me feel more prepared!”
Kotb, a self-proclaimed overpacker, is prioritizing only the items that will hold up to her busy days on and off the screen. “I want to bring clothes that don’t wrinkle because I’m super-duper lazy when it comes to that stuff,” she says. “So I’m going to pack things that I can throw in my bag, and they’ll still come out looking nice. Other than that, I just need my favorite Stan Smith sneakers and comfy flip-flops and I’m not worrying about all the rest. Done and done!”
For more of Guthrie and Kotb’s Olympics travel essentials, including their favorite luggage, in-flight snacks and go-to patriotic gear, read on below.
Savannah Guthrie’s Travel Essentials
Guthrie’s travel favorites include colorful luggage, instant coffee and a portable speaker for hotel … [+] dance parties.
PHOTO: ROY ROCHLIN VIA GETTY IMAGES
“I use Away luggage and I really like it,” says Guthrie. “My suitcase is pink, so I love that I can spot it easily at baggage claim. Whenever I’m waiting and waiting for my bag to come out and stressing about why it hasn’t shown up yet, I also always think maybe I should get one of those Apple AirTags.”
“One thing that I do really focus on is packing a tote bag to carry on the flight. I always bring a big black bag and then I put a little crossbody purse inside it to hold my passport, boarding pass, wallet, lipstick and phone, so all of those things that I’m going to need are right there. In the tote, I also store my iPad, plus I pack separate little baggies that have medicine, snacks, makeup and moisturizer.”
“When I travel, I always bring a Nutz Over Chocolate Luna Bar because it tastes like a candy bar, but I tell myself it isn’t. I try to eat it before I get on the plane, so I can sleep every bit of the trip because once we land we usually have to go straight to work.”
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“On the plane, I like to take my makeup off, do a little facial spray to moisturize and stay refreshed and then call it a day. Night night, see you in Paris.”
“I always bring my iPad and AirPods for the flight, but the one thing I absolutely cannot get on an airplane without are my swimmer’s earplugs. They cut out every sound. Have a flight attendant who’s chatty? Doesn’t bother you. Baby crying right next to you? Nope, not as far as you know! And I’m not talking about those foam ones that you can buy at Hudson News—those don’t work. You need the ones that you could be on an F-16 and not hear anything. They’re waxy and they might get stuck in your ear, but it’s worth it for the sleep.”
“I like to bring instant coffee when I travel because you just never know. You might be in a bind and need a jolt of caffeine. My favorite is the classic Starbucks Instant Coffee and sometimes I’ll bring a powdered creamer like Coffee Mate, too.”
“I’m really into loungewear, so when I get to my hotel room, I’m like, ‘Let’s put on the elastic pants.’ I always have a cozy T-shirt and a hoodie too, but ones that aren’t pajamas because you don’t want to sit in jammies if it’s two o’clock in the afternoon, especially with jet lag. I like comfy athleisure sets that are nice enough that you can still run down to the lobby if you need to.”
“I always bring a portable speaker in my checked bag because I like to set a vibe once I get there and have some good music going,” says Guthrie. “I have a little JBL speaker that has nice sound quality and packs really well so I bring it on every trip.” Adds Kotb: “Savannah knows how to throw a good dance party when we travel!”
“I’m really excited for this Olympics trip because they gave Hoda and I these little white polo dresses to wear that are really cute. I’m going to wear mine on the first day we’re in Paris.”
Hoda Kotb’s Travel Essentials
Kotb’s travel faves include comfy sneakers, a backpack with tons of pockets and a classic Hershey’s … [+] chocolate bar for the plane.
PHOTO: JOHN NACION VIA GETTY IMAGES
“I love Stan Smith sneakers so much that I have three pairs of them, so I’ll definitely be wearing them to Paris because they’re so comfy and light and easy to walk around in,” says Kotb. “I have a great cleaning hack, too: Whenever they get dirty, I take the shoes with the shoelaces on and throw them in the washing machine with some towels. They go through the wash cycle and the dryer and they come out looking brand new every time.”
“To carry all of my things on the plane, I’m a backpack person. I like one with lots of pockets and in there somewhere is all of my stuff—I just have to keep digging to find it!”
“I love coconut oil. I put it on my face, on my body, everywhere. I always bring little coconut oil packets for the plane or I pack the bigger tub of it in my checked bag.”
“During the flight, I always bring a good book. I also don’t often have time to watch many of those cool new shows, so I try to download a couple of episodes to watch. Right now, I’m really into Presumed Innocent [on Apple TV+]. I also like to listen to music and then try to get some sleep, so I can be fresh when we land.”
“My go-to travel snack are those big Hershey’s bars that they sell at Hudson News—not the skinny ones; the thick block ones. I snap those pieces off and they melt in your mouth and then it makes me fall asleep. I love them!”
“On our first day in Paris, I’m going to wear a super cute and comfy red USA zip-up jacket with white jeans. I love Americana style and that kind of stuff is so fun to wear over there. And by the way, red, white and blue are also France’s colors!”
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