4 days ago
Pack Like—Actor And Entrepreneur Neil Patrick Harris
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. Next time you're headed on an adventure, look no further for ideas and inspiration.
When actor and jack of all trades Neil Patrick Harris isn't on the screen or stage, you can often find him at the airport jetting off on his next adventure. In the last year alone, Harris has traveled to London, Fiji, Croatia, Greece, Scotland, and most recently, Tanzania and Kenya, for his first safari, alongside husband, David Burtka, and children Harper and Gideon.
'It was a massive bucket list item that did not disappoint,' says Harris, calling the family trip to Africa life-altering, world-affirming and all-around fantastic. 'I'm a big proponent of immersive experiences and placing yourself in new and unfamiliar environments. It's the best way to learn and grow, plus create searing memories that you'll remember forever.'
Growing up, Harris vacationed often with his family, mostly to Disneyland, which, in part, laid the groundwork for his own whimsical spirit and sense of creativity. 'It may sound corporate and inauthentic, but I found Walt Disney's attention to detail amazing. I was fully immersed in his world and I hope to be able to provide that for others in my life.'
This summer, Harris will attempt to do just that—albeit on a slightly smaller scale—hosting a Murder Mystery Weekend at Palm Island Resort & Spa in the Florida Keys. The three-day event, which is a cardholder-only Capital One Dining Experience, will start July 22 and combine a Harris-led live action murder mystery performance with world-class dining and accommodations. 'It should be terribly exciting; three days and two nights on a remote island, filled with activities and puzzles to solve,' he says. 'We've created an entire storyline, so the attending guests will have to acquaint themselves with performers, the environment and each other. Will there be murder? Perhaps. Will there be intrigue? Absolutely. It's looking to be very White Lotus .'
Though Harris has been planning the getaway for months, packing for the trip will be a breeze. For long weekends away, he relies on a few sleek-yet-steady travel accessories, like an expandable carry-on and multi-purpose backpack that help him move through the world with ease. 'I look for bags with lots of compartments, so you know where everything goes—it makes the locating and the repacking easier too,' he says. While on the plane, he also always brings a few essentials to make himself more comfortable like noise-canceling headphones and a hydrating face oil, plus practical wellness items like Afrin and Neosporin. He adds, 'Two squirts of Afrin opens up your sinuses, which helps with cabin pressure, and rubbing a bit of Neosporin inside each nostril keeps illness and germs from settling in your head.'
While Harris, who has four dogs, won't be traveling with any pets this time around, in his spare time he has also been thinking around new ways to make the experience more seamless for furry friends, too. The actor recently took to TikTok Shop to exclusively launch Tayl, a new company that will design thoughtful and stylish pet products to help pups live their best lives. 'We love our dogs unconditionally. We also are treating them as proper members of our family, and as such, feel like they deserve an element of quality when it sometimes doesn't exist,' says Harris. 'Tayl will create elevated pet products that both dogs and owners will be proud to wear or use. There's a lot coming up, so stay tuned.'
Below, shop all of Harris' top travel picks, including his favorite portable charger, travel sneakers and more. Neil Patrick Harris' Travel Essentials
An Expandable Carry-On For Under $60
'This is my go-to carry-on,' says Harris, who often uses the hardside roller bag for long weekends away. 'It's $54, durable, expandable by 25%, comes in various colors and did I mention it's $54?' Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Carry-On Luggage $54 A Multi-Purpose Pack With Tons Of Pockets
'The Nomatic Travel Pack has a brilliant design, allows you to open it from any position and access whatever you need and has more spaces, pockets and pouches that you'd ever know what to do with. It's fantastic.' Nomatic Travel Pack $350 Noise-Canceling Earbuds For The Plane
'The AirPod Pros fit perfectly in my ears, they cancel out any unwanted noise and they've got a low profile. This may not be a hot take, per se, but come on…Apple for the win.' Apple AirPods Pro 2 $19 A Small Speaker That Packs Big Sound
'I was just in Scotland, filming a movie called Sunny Dancer [in theaters next year]. Bella Ramsey is the lead, and they had this amazing speaker on set—it provides a remarkable amount of sound in a truly tiny package. Almost like a magic trick. I have no idea how it accomplishes what it does.' JBL Go 4 Portable Speaker $50 An In-Flight Cocktail To Take The Edge Off
'If it's before noon, I'm partial to a bloody Mary on a plane. It makes me feel like I'm on vacation, taking the edge off and somehow being healthy. I realize I'm not, but the savory and spicy flavors try to convince me otherwise. If it's after lunch, I'm all about a gin and tonic. Clean, crisp and makes bingeing downloaded content that much more enjoyable,' says Harris, who is also releasing a paired cocktails and mocktails book, Both Sides Of The Glass , with Burtka in September. Filthy Bloody Mary Kit $40 AND UP
An On-The-Go Escape Room Game
'I love escape rooms, and tabletop versions can be equally exciting. Curious Correspondence provides an escape room experience contained within specially crafted envelopes. They are wildly inventive and satisfying—you won't believe what they can do with paper products!—and I always have at least two in my backpack for an emergency good time.' Curious Correspondence Escape Games $140 Shop At Mysterious Package A Face Oil That Works Wonders
'My great friend and groomer, Amy Komorowski, created this nourishing face oil that can be applied whenever you need a dermal assist. It's remarkable—one dropper full leaves your face refined, plump and hydrated. It's kind of my secret sauce.' Circa 1970 Face Oil $110 A Light, Yet Hydrating Conditioner
'Amy also got me hooked on this leave-in conditioner that is perfect for travel. After a long flight, just add a dollop of this crème and your locks look nourished and soft, without being weighed down.' Hårklinikken Hair Hydrating Crème $56 Cool Sneakers That'll Keep You Comfy
'I always wear a grey henley shirt when I fly (it's kinda dressy, kinda sexy and kinda pajamas), and I tend to pair it with classic grey Sambas. They're crazy comfortable, and easy to slip on and off if a TSA agent barks at me to remove my kicks.' Adidas Men's Samba OG Shoes $100 $100 At Dick's Sporting Goods A Travel Charger That Won't Let You Down
'When you're traveling, you can never be sure which cord will work with which plane. After I found this Anker charger, I needn't worry. It allows for three cables of different persuasions. I also love it at a hotel—plug this into the outlet next to the bed, and you can charge all of your devices at once.' Anker USB-C And USB-A Charger $40 A Face Mask To Fly Under The Radar
'This mask protects me from potential ails, and allows me to go incognito,' says Harris, who calls a disposable mask the number one travel item he can't live without. Keangs KN95 Black Face Masks $30
