Host Linda Cooper of “Travel Time with Linda” shares with us a few of her “must-have” essentials

As a travel host on television I have a plethora of “tricks of the trade” that I don’t leave home without when filming on location—and this packing list goes way beyond bug spray! For me, being on camera in these tropical climates it’s always about keeping my makeup from melting off, and my hair from turning into a frizzy mess.

I feature “Caribbean Dreaming” destinations on “Travel Time with Linda” in season one, and the majority of the locations are very humid. In an effort to create a constant breeze to prevent drippy makeup malfunctions, I travel with a mini-fan that plugs into my cell phone and carry it with me pretty much non-stop. In fact, it’s quite the conversation piece as most people want one as soon as they see it in action, so I buy them in bulk and give them out as “hostess gifts” throughout all my shoots. You can purchase them on Amazon in a 6-pack that comes in a variety of fun colors.

Another “must have” is the Sarah Potempa Beachwaver rotating curling iron. This is my glam squad MVP—and, guess what? I am the glam squad doing my own hair and makeup on location, so it’s got to be foolproof! This styling tool definitely is, as it basically curls your hair for you with very little skill required and comes in several sizes- my favorites are the 1 inch S1 for tighter curls and the 1 ¼ inch S125 for looser, beach waves.  I realized just how dependent I was on this hair gem when on a family trip to Australia I accidentally fried my Beachwaver using an incorrect voltage converter. The rest of the trip I wore my hair straight and very unstylish. Now I travel with two Beachwavers—if one has a mishap, I always have a backup.

On the subject of hair, I pack a lot of hats, which act as an instant cover-up for the inevitable bad hair day. My favorite brand is the Wallaroo Hat Company that offer a variety of stylish options that are collapsible for easy packing, have an internal drawstring that provides the perfect fit and are UPF 50+ for amazing sun protection. It’s the ultimate headgear accessory to fit every mood from glam to adventure seeker.

I look for hair accessories that can easily change up my look from drab to fab in a flash and headbands are definitely my favorite go-to. (Another plus, they take up very little packing room.) Pasha offers a beautiful selection of “jewelry for your hair” options. In addition, Pasha has gorgeous sandals in an array of designs.

 When it comes to resort wear I look for beautiful designs that are flattering, colorful and exude glamour. My favorite designer Shahida Parides meets all of these requirements. In fact, for the majority of the show’s episodes, my opening shot on camera is wearing her designs as they just scream “jet-set resort”. Many of her designs also are can be worn in several different styles in one to create multiple looks which is also quite handy for packing.

Linda Cooper is the television host, Executive Producer and creator of “Travel Time with Linda”. Tune in to watch as she takes us vicariously “Caribbean Dreaming” to exotic bucket list destinations every Saturday morning on AXS TV Network, 8am EST/7am CST nationwide. “Travel Time with Linda” is also available on Amazon Prime Video.