Why Tracee Ellis Ross Packs Two Undies On Vacation
Tracee Ellis Ross revealed an interesting hot take about why she only travels with two pairs of underwear, and I realized I'm doing it all wrong.
According to People, the Black-ish star spoke at the 2025 Travel + Leisure World's Best Summit in New York on July 15, to speak about the benefits of solo traveling.
Tracee was on the cover of Travel + Leisure's The Best in Class Issue in 2023, and she has a new travel show coming out on July 25 called Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross on Roku. It's fair to say the Golden Globe winner knows her stuff.
When packing for a vacation, Tracee said, "There's always one bathing suit, a flip flop and one little dress I can roll up. And there's always two undies."
When Travel + Leisure's Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford followed up on the "two undies" of it all, Tracee apparently explained that she uses a bar of soap, a hotel sink, and shower gel to wash the underwear. Then, she rises off the soap and dries the undies on a towel rack.
"If I'm gone for a month on this trip, you can't pack a month's worth of underwear," Tracee said, according to the publication. "How do you do that? They take up a lot of space."
I think Tracee just unlocked some new information for me because I most definitely would've attempted to pack 30 pairs of underwear in one suitcase for a month-long trip. I'm house-sitting my goddog for a week, and I packed eight pairs of underwear, so I know how I roll.
Solo traveling is an acquired taste and not for everybody, but Tracee's tiny tidbit just opened up a door for me, because I never thought about a mini (very affordable) laundry session in my hotel sink.
I need more travel tips! It's your turn. What are your travel hacks and secrets, whether you're a solo traveler, a group excursion type of pal, or always on adventures with your family? Share in the comments or use the anonymous form, and let's change lives with our responses.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2Ftal-amazon-roundup-travel-mistakes-how-not-to-make-them-former-travel-agent-tout-ab7322f6d48b4270ad62c050a31d47d0.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
3 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
I'm a Former Travel Agent, and Here Are 10 Things You Won't Need for a Europe Trip and What to Bring Instead
Before I became a Travel + Leisure editor, I worked as a travel agent for five years. Along with planning dream vacations, I would also offer packing advice to clients who were unsure about what to bring along on their European getaways. Summer is high season in Europe—in fact, I just returned from a trip to Paris myself. As an overpacker, I know the struggle of packing light, but it's better to curate your suitcase space ahead of time to avoid wasting space on things you won't use. I've thought about what my clients used to ask me as we planned every step of their journey, from what size baggage they would need on their international flight to voltage standards abroad to how to dress in different European cities. Here are some tips from a former travel agent on what to pack for your next trip to Europe, along with what to leave behind, all available at Amazon from $8. Small flights between European cities or on budget airlines often have more limited overhead bin space for carry-ons. Airlines will sometimes even measure your bag to enforce the size restrictions. I've had many clients who try to avoid checking a bag at all costs, so I would recommend getting a compact, malleable bag like this Osprey hybrid, which you can wear as a duffel or a backpack. I personally find it easier to wear a backpack when traveling to Europe to avoid lugging heavy suitcases onto trains or over bumpy cobblestone alleyways. Even if you carry a brick of a wallet at home, it's best to pare it down to just the essentials when traveling, and get a slim travel wallet to slip into your purse or front pocket. I think the minimalistic design of this pouch is perfect for holding a few credit cards, cash, and even coins. If your hotel has a physical key, you can attach it to the key ring or use that to secure it to a key leash inside a travel bag to keep it secure. The fabric is also waterproof and has RFID protection. It comes in more than 40 colors; I personally love a bright color, so you can find it quickly inside your bag. I'll admit I usually prefer a hard copy of a book over an e-reader, but there have been many times when I've regretted packing multiple books. I never know exactly how many I'll need, and they end up getting ripped and bent in my luggage. Plus, I hate to be that person on a plane who has their overhead light on when everyone else is trying to sleep. It's much more convenient to bring a Kindle while traveling because of the slim design, adjustable light settings, and access to a library full of books. My clients traveling abroad for the first time would ask me about what to wear in major European cities like Paris or Rome, and I would recommend leaving the short shorts or frumpy sweatpants at home, as locals tend to dress a bit more formally. There's no need to buy a whole new wardrobe, but it's worth it to stock up on a few versatile pieces. You can't go wrong with this easy-to-wear dress that will keep you cool but still covers your knees and shoulders in case you plan to visit any old churches. While you may not think twice about using an open-top bag at home, you should be more cautious about traveling with this type of purse in any big city because it's too risky for potential thieves to reach right into your bag in crowded spaces. Instead, opt for a more secure purse like this anti-theft messenger bag, which has a zipper at the top, locking compartments, slash-resistant material, and RFID-blocking panels. I also love the mesh water bottle pockets so you can stay hydrated while on the go. Many European cities have cobblestone streets, which are charming and beautiful but also difficult to walk on. Any time I pack heels, I never wear them, and I always wish I had flats instead. Stilettos are going to slow you down, and they're inevitably going to get stuck in the street cracks, so look for a pair of versatile flats that you can walk for miles in and then wear to dinner at the end of the day. These chic Vivaia flats are made from a breathable knit material, and they have an adjustable strap. They come in more than a dozen colors, and they're machine washable. As much as I love my emotional support water bottle, it's way too big to travel with and would probably garner some stares if I carried it with me around Europe. Leave the Stanleys at home, and opt for a collapsible water bottle that you can compress when not in use. This LifeStraw bottle is a game-changer because it has a built-in water filter for added protection against bacteria, parasites, and other miscellaneous objects that no one wants to find floating around inside their water. The screw-top helps prevent spills, and there's a side loop that you can attach to a carabiner if you want to hook the bottle onto a bag or backpack. Most travel steamers in the U.S. won't work in Europe because of the different voltage standards. You could consider investing in a universal adapter and voltage converter, or you could leave the heavy steamer at home in favor of a fabric wrinkle-release spray like this two-pack from Downy. At 3 fluid ounces each, they're much easier to pack, and all you have to do is spray onto your clothing and tug to see the wrinkles vanish while giving the fabric a fresh scent. Like travel steamers, if you plug in your hair dryer with mismatched voltage, it's possible to ruin your device or even start a fire. Go the safer route with easy heatless curlers like this affordable set from Kitsch. Simply wrap your hair around the flexible rod, go to sleep, and wake up with a head full of curls without wasting time getting ready. The curling rod is made from satin to reduce frizz, and the set also includes two satin scrunchies. As a travel agent, I used to get questions about whether you can bring disinfecting wipes on a plane or if that qualifies as a liquid, since the large containers have a fair amount of liquid at the bottom. You can totally bring them—I fly with them all the time. However, instead of wasting space with a cylindrical tube, I'd recommend a more manageable two-pack that you can use to wipe down not only your airplane seat, but also rental cars, hotel rooms, or your suitcase. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
9 Pa. state parks named among best in the US for 2025 — and one ranks No. 1
Nine Pennsylvania state parks are among the best value stays in the nation, including one in the southwestern region of the state that's ranked in the No. 1 spot. The analysis comes from vacation rental company HomeToGo, which released its 2025 State Park Index July 31. Topping the list of 100 state parks across the U.S. was Ohiopyle State Park. 'Waterfalls roar and trails wind through rugged gorges in this slice of the Alleghenies,' HomeToGo said of its No. 1 pick. 'Known for its natural waterslides and scenic Youghiogheny River, 2025's top state park is a veritable playground for hikers, rafters, and travelers chasing untamed landscapes.' Located in Fayette County, Ohiopyle State Park encompasses around 20,500 acres and offers hiking and multi-use trails, horseback and snowmobile riding, picnicking, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing and more. HomeToGo highlighted the park's waterfalls and trails, calling the destination 'a playground for hikers, rafters and nature seekers.' The 2025 index ranked state parks on a number of metrics, including accommodation price and affordability, size, scenic nature, trails, wildlife and a 'hidden gem' score. That measurement accounted for the volume of vacation rental stays in the area. A perfect total score is 60 and Ohiopyle took the top spot at 53.11. Pennsylvania was well represented in the great value analysis, with eight other state parks in the commonwealth joining Ohiopyle in the top 100. Among them were Centre County's Bald Eagle State Park and Black Moshannon State Park. The nearly 6,000-acre Bald Eagle State Park in central Pennsylvania offers swimming, fishing, boating, camping and other recreational opportunities in Howard. The park opened a new camping loop earlier this year. Bald Eagle ranked at No. 45 in the HomeToGo index with high marks for size and hidden gem score. Black Moshannon, in Rush Township, is a bit smaller at around 3,400 acres and includes a 250-acre lake of the same name and wetlands. It is surrounded by Moshannon State Forest. Like Bald Eagle, Moshannon performed best in the HomeToGo ranking when it came to size and hidden gem score, with an overall score of 47.49 of 60. In a post acknowledging Pennsylvania's performance in the index, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said initiatives to support the commonwealth's 124 parks offer 'affordable, accessible, and unforgettable outdoor experiences for everyone.' In addition to state parks, Pennsylvania also has several National Park Service holdings offering recreational opportunities. Pennsylvania's 2025 great value state parks Here's how Pennsylvania's state parks fared in the 2025 HomeToGo State Park Index. The commonwealth tied with Texas and Florida for states with the most parks featured on the ranking. Ohiopyle State Park, ranked No. 1 Caledonia State Park, ranked No. 19 Black Moshannon State Park, ranked No. 24 Cook Forest State Park, No. 26 Worlds End State Park, ranked No. 30 Presque Isle State Park, No. 39 Bald Eagle State Park, No. 45 Parker Dam State Park, No. 56 Cherry Springs State Park, No. 95 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Susquehanna Lifts PT on Booking Holdings (BKNG) to $6,500 From $6,000
Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) is one of the best stocks to invest in for beginners. On August 1, Susquehanna raised the firm's price target on Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) to $6,500 from $6,000, keeping a positive rating on the shares. A fast-paced travel agent making a bookings for a family vacation package. The firm told investors that Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) delivered a strong Q2 with gross bookings, room nights, and revenue all surpassing expectations. Management added that travel demand has been steady so far in Q3. However, it stated that concerns such as macro and geopolitical uncertainty may affect performance, especially as Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) laps tougher comps in August and September. Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) provides online travel and related solutions, such as accommodation reservations. The company offers its services through various brands, including Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK, and OpenTable. While we acknowledge the potential of BKNG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
