She studied biology at Vassar, but these days Lisa Kudrow feels more like an amateur historian. As the mastermind behind the genealogy television series “Who Do You Think You Are?”, Kudrow helps celebrities like Allison Janney, Billy Porter and Brooke Shields understand their family backgrounds. Kudrow’s friend Courteney Cox, for example, traced her ancestry to a distant relative, William the Conqueror.
“It was always a passion project,” Kudrow says of the show. “It was always very important to me and I did it on a whim, really.”
The show, now in its 11th season, has featured everyone from Jason Sudeikis to Mandy Moore, Spike Lee and Sarah Jessica Parker. And, if the stars align, this list could also include one of Kudrow’s closest friends and former “Friends” co-star Jennifer Aniston. “She signed up and still really wants to do it,” Kudrow says.
Now that his world has opened up, Kudrow travels again. Between promoting her series and exploring the world, like many of us, she is making up for lost time. Here’s what Kudrow brings on the road with her to travel more comfortably.
$149 $99 on Amazon
The convenience of having something to watch is high on Kudrow’s list. “If I’m going away for a long time, I bring my Apple TV box,” she says. “It’s so easy – it’s not big. And then you only need one cable just in case.”
The fifth-generation Apple TV is a solid investment at under $100 when it’s on sale like it is now. With it, you can take your favorite streaming services on the road in 1080p HD video. Weighing less than 2 pounds, it’s perfect for slipping into your carry-on and settling into when you arrive at your vacation home or hotel.
$229.99 $141.99 on Amazon
Given the recent increase in lost luggage, Kudrow is doubling down on how she packs and what she brings with her. “I like a four-wheeled suitcase with a hard cover,” she says. “No canvas things that could be pierced.” lightweight design.
While Kudrow is a fan of hard-shell trolley bags, she’s also thinking about her next piece of luggage – and it’s all about putting an old trend back in the spotlight. “I think Steam Chests might be the way to go?” she says. “You just have to ship it ahead or put it on a ship and then it will get there. And then you open it and you have your closet. I think maybe we should start going back to that.
$48 at Amazon
Kudrow is all about the concept that less is more, which is why she’s been a longtime fan of By Terry’s understated plumping gloss. “I love By Terry Lip Gloss,” she says. “It’s really good because it doesn’t dry out the lips afterwards.” The cult lip balm has dubbed itself “the Rolls-Royce of lip balms”. Not only does it smooth and repair dry lips—a great fix for dry airplane air—it also has a lovely rose scent.
$13.39 on Amazon
Wherever she goes, Kudrow must have her favorite snack on hand. “I don’t do a lot of short trips, but I [do] have my McVitie’s Digestives cookie,” she said. “It’s my favorite breakfast. Once I was laughed at – I was at a craft serving table and said, “Oh, they have tea”. Oh, I should bring my digestive biscuits.
This three-pack McVitie set is perfect for keeping a set of cookies at home and taking another set – or two – with you on the road. Tasty but not overly sweet, McVitie Digestive Biscuits are great to eat on their own as a dry snack or dunked in tea – they just melt in your mouth.
$26 at LolaVie
Kudrow’s friend, Jennifer Aniston, recently launched a line of hair styling products called LolaVie, and Kudrow says all of the products stand out. “When I style my curly hair and can’t remember to comb it, this one is fantastic,” she says of the detangler. “And then if you dry your hair, I use the leave-in moisturizer.”
$29 $17.68 on Amazon
When it comes to listening to music or taking calls, Kudrow keeps things simple. “I don’t want anything wireless in my head,” she says. “I don’t like noise canceling headphones – I always want to hear what’s going on.”
The original Apple EarPods are a solid wired option for the casual music listener. Don’t expect the noise-canceling abilities of their AirPods Pro cousin, but you can expect a budget headset for all your travels.
Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards of 2022.