Travel essentials: Rath reveals what you always have with you as a hotel tester when traveling

Of course, I enjoy mint tea in Morocco and masala chai in India. But sometimes I just have to have afternoon tea from the traditional Frankfurt brand Ronnefeldt; it's like a sip of home in every cup. That's why my current favorite tea comes in my suitcase as a practical tea bag. The topic of luggage, by the way, would be worth a separate post, but I can tell you this much from my long experience as a frequent flyer: At the end of the day, only the Tumi brand delivers on its promises for me.

Editor's tip: e.g. "Darjeeling Summer Gold" from the "Joy of Tea" product line by Ronnefeldt, ronnefeldt.com .

Speaking of tea: For hot drinks, I always carry a sweetener of my choice with me, ideally packaged in convenient single servings. This way, I don't have to rely on local supplies and have a healthy alternative to industrial sugar on board.

Editor's tip: e.g., “Stevia Sweet Sticks” from Borchers, 40 pieces; borchers-bff.de .

Whenever my schedule allows, I try to play a tennis match at the hotel I'm in. Whether it's in Munich or Manila, Zurich or Delhi, I keep a softball for warming up and to avoid elbow problems in my carry-on, just like my passport.

Editor's tip: e.g., the "T090" foam ball from Volley made of elastic cold foam; volley-sportartikel.de .

A professional ankle brace for stabilization has also become a faithful companion. It protects me from twisting my ankle, especially when playing tennis on an unfamiliar court, and prevents painful sprains.

Editor's tip: e.g., the ankle support "The Better Guard 1.0" from BetterGuards, specifically for tennis players; betterguards.de .

A well-fitting headband is also indispensable so that you don't lose track of things during physical exertion - on the tennis court or in the gym - and always look reasonably neat.

Editor's tip: e.g., the Lacoste headband made of stretch bouclette jersey with a silicone crocodile emblem; lacoste.com .

Of course, nothing is possible without sunglasses with a timeless, classic design. Whether disembarking from a plane at a destination under blazing sun or on my excursions into the surroundings of the respective test hotel for the Capital column "Rath Checks In."

Editor's tip: e.g., the limited-edition "Aviator Max" model from Ray-Ban with an adapted design and thicker frame; ray-ban.com .

If a hotel doesn't have a gym, I use a stretchy exercise band that's easy to take with me. It allows for numerous effective exercises and can even be used at the gate if boarding is delayed.

Editor's tip: e.g., the "Loop Bands" or "Power Bands" from Technogym; technogym.com .

After every workout, at home or on the go, I take a magnesium capsule to protect myself from cramps and support other important bodily functions. After all, frequent travel around the globe is a physical and mental challenge. My motto is: prevention rather than (forced) rest."

Editor's tip: e.g., "Magnesium Complex 11 Ultra" from Sunday Natural with a broad spectrum of mineral forms; sunday.de .

Things don't always go according to plan on my travels. Sometimes my flight is delayed by three hours, the tour guide is sick, a meeting is canceled at short notice, or my suitcase ends up on another continent. In such situations, a good book helps me bridge the unforeseen wait and clear my mind. This works best with a nonfiction book that's light, clever, and inspiring at the same time—and fits in any pocket or jacket pocket and suits any mood of the day.

Editor's tip: e.g., "Why does misfortune have more imagination than happiness? Life in 800 questions" by Sven Michaelsen, published by Residenz Verlag, residenzverlag.com .

Noise-cancelling headphones have become a lifesaver for me these days. Whether for team meetings in noisy environments or for moments when I need to concentrate on my work and need an acoustic retreat, even in the midst of airport noise.

Editor's tip: e.g., the WH-1000XM6 model from Sony with noise cancellation thanks to the new next-gen chip; sony.de .

Why does almost every country have its own type of power outlet? Instead of an answer, I at least have a solution in my luggage: a USB multi-charger with a global plug. This ensures a reliable power supply for my technical equipment, whether in London, Berlin, Shanghai, or Bali. This way, I can relax and wait for a global standard."

Editor's tip: for example, the "Pro World" travel plug from Skross for over 205 travel countries ( skross.com ) and the "Prime" charger from Anker with six USB-C ports of 100 watts each ( anker.com ).

Of course, almost any communication device is pretty useless if the internet connection abroad is weak or nonexistent. Most hotels have solid Wi-Fi, but that's a different story on a four-hour drive through the Thar Desert in northern India, or on a boat ride to a resort in the Maldives. In situations like these, I'm glad to have a mobile satellite hotspot with me and stay connected."

Editor's tip: e.g., the compact "Starlink Mini" kit for download speeds of up to 100 MB; starlink.com .

Almost all of my travels throughout the year are for business purposes. Even in the most beautiful and remote locations, I have to compose emails, coordinate appointments, and write columns. To ensure constant communication with colleagues and business contacts, I always carry a second, fully operational smartphone with me. Like a safety net for a tightrope walker, without which I would be completely lost. Only less risky.

Editor's tip: e.g., Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max, made of titanium with a Super Retina XDR display and greatly simplified camera controls; apple.com .

The Apple Pencil has become a lifesaver for me in many meetings at work, allowing me to quickly take notes and do much more – and it's incredibly intuitive. However, experience has shown that the first pencil usually gets lost, so I always pack a spare for my iPad.

Editor's tip: e.g., Apple Pencil Pro with new gyro sensor and free engraving option; apple.com .

Maintaining certain routines while on the go is important, but anything but easy. For me, in addition to exercise, this includes daily skincare with products from the La Biosthétique brand, which I've been using for years. A welcome constant, rather than having to get used to new cosmetic products every two nights.

e.g., shaving gel and aftershave care from the "Homme" range and "Dermosthétique Ocean Plant Refining Hydro Serum" and "Sun Care Cream Sensitive SPF 50+," both from La Biosthétique; labiosthetique.de .

You lie in your bed as you make your bed. This old saying is nowhere more true than when traveling. Yes, many luxury hotels even offer pillow menus. But nothing beats the feather-light, ultra-comfortable travel set of pillow and duvet from Mühldorfer, which is filled with eiderdown.

Editor's tip: e.g., "Premium Special" down pillow in the format 60 x 80 cm from Mühldorfer; muehldorfer.com .