Sixteen years ago I was an exchange student in England. I’d never been out of the country before. Though I checked two large suitcases I had to sit on to close which included things like high heels for “going out”, there were so many things I wished I had brought that I didn’t, like cozy pajamas, to make me feel comfy and at home.

One night, soon after I arrived, I was particularly cold, jet-lagged and feeling down. I went to the kitchen and my host-mother offered me a cup of tea. Once she sensed my mood, she also offered me something else: “would you like a hot-water-bottle dear?”.

Then she left the kitchen and reappeared with a hot water bottle in a little knitted sweater with its stopper hanging from an old piece of red yarn. She filled it up from the kettle and sent me off to bed.

I’ve never been without one since.

Now, when packing, I always make sure to add my hot water bottle in my suitcase.

While super toasty houses are the norm for a lot of Americans, the thermostat can be different in other places. Friends often comment when visiting Italy during winter/spring that it’s colder than they expected. A lot of houses here are built from old stone and can be drafty. Plus, it’s humid. In a lot of apartment buildings, individual units can’t control their temperature and in some regions, there are rules regarding when heat can be used. My hot water bottle has saved me on numerous occasions when the place im staying feels cold, but I know I can crawl into a warm bed.

Besides keeping me warm while in new places, I reach for the HWB when i’m having a headache, when my back or shoulders hurt from walking all day, when im having menstrual cramps, and I’ve even found it to be helpful for jet-lag. I’ve also been known to pull it out during long-haul flights when im trying to get comfy and fall asleep.

If you find yourself traveling during the off-season or just want something that can add a sense of comfort and groundedness I totally recommend tossing one of these into your suitcase.