Business travelers that are on the road a lot should always carry their own travel pillow. A good travel pillow can serve many purposes. It can be a pillow, a neck pillow, a back pillow, something to keep the light out of your eyes, and much more.
It's also a good idea to have your own travel pillow for sanitary reasons. Airlines disinfect their pillows, but there is still a good chance that dust mites or other things could be living inside. I don't know about you, but that is gross to me. Yuck!
When you have your own cushion that is soft and clean and has not been used by a thousand other people that week, you will be much more relaxed. And, as an added bonus, you will sleep more soundly on your pillow.
When you are buying a travel pillow for yourself or a loved one look for a pillow that has a flexible stuffing, so that it can be reshaped and used as a neck pillow or padding, if need be. It should also have a removable cover that can be taken off and washed. A small pillow should be able to be wadded up and shoved into a pocket or purse because you might not always be able to get to your carry on bag easily to get your pillow.
If you are crafty you can make your travel pillow or make a pillow for someone you love. Choose a soft but easily washable fabric for the cover and put a zipper or a snap on it so you can take the cover off for cleaning. If you want to make the pillow more relaxing, put some fresh herbs like Lavender flowers or some Chamomile or Peppermint in a sachet and tuck that inside the pillow.
When the herbs get stale you can just take that sachet out and put in a new one. Be careful that the herbs you use are not too strong though or the rest of the other people on the plane might object to you using the pillow.
Along with your travel pillow you should also carry a travel blanket. A light travel blanket will make it easier to sleep on the plane and it will give you a little extra warmth on the airplane and in the hotel if you need it. A cashmere shawl or large scarf can do double duty as a light but warm travel blanket that you can easily carry with you.
So, next time you boss sends you off another trip across country, don't forget your handy dandy travel pillow. Here's to your rest, so you can have a great meeting.