Katie Godfrey is a successful multi-hyphenate, balancing roles as an author, business strategist, and podcast host. After overcoming significant debt in early adulthood to build a seven-figure beauty brand, Katie founded a network of salons, UK-based training academies, and an international product line. Today, she is a seasoned voice across the beauty, hair, and aesthetics sectors.
Beyond her commercial work and professional achievements and through her mentorship, Katie focuses on supporting women in building sustainable businesses that balance professional progress with a fulfilling personal life. Her approach focuses on practical business strategies and mindset development to help clients scale their ventures and achieve financial independence. This transition is the central theme of her best-selling book, Get Off the Tools, and her podcast, The Life of KG, which explores business growth.
Always on the move, Katie is dedicated to helping others build sustainable, purpose-driven ventures that balance professional success with personal fulfilment. Between her various roles and travel commitments, these are the essential items she never leaves home without.
These are my 10 Travel Essentials
I travel a lot.
Retreats, masterminds, events, speaking engagements, I am constantly on the move, whether that is across the UAE, GCC or flying long-haul to the other side of the world. Over the years I have got my packing down to a fine art, and there are certain things that have become completely non-negotiable for me. This is not just a list of nice-to-haves. These are the items that genuinely make my travel days smoother, more enjoyable, and a lot more luxurious, because if you are going to be in the air for hours at a time, you might as well do it well.
Mulberry Silk Eye Mask
Sleep on a plane is not always easy, but a proper silk eye mask makes a world of difference. I will not travel with a cheap foam eye mask, it never fits properly, it pulls at your skin, and you arrive looking worse than when you started. A 100% mulberry silk eye mask is gentle on the delicate eye area, blocks out light completely, and feels genuinely luxurious against your skin. When you have an early morning meeting or an event the moment you land, you want to arrive looking refreshed, and a silk eye mask is one of the easiest ways to make that happen.
From US$56
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reMarkable Paper Pro
This is one of my favourite pieces of kit and I genuinely love it. The reMarkable Paper Pro is a paper-like writing tablet that is completely distraction-free, no apps, no notifications, no temptation to scroll Instagram. It is purely for writing, sketching, and capturing ideas. Some of my best business ideas have come to me mid-flight, and the reMarkable means I can capture and organise them all in one beautiful device. It feels like writing on paper but saves everything digitally. For anyone who runs a business and wants to make the most of their travel time, this is a game-changer.
From SAR 2699
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Elemis Skincare Travel Set
Long-haul flights do absolutely nothing for your skin, and I refuse to arrive at a destination looking anything less than fresh. The Elemis Pro-Collagen range is my skin staple, the cleansing balm, the marine cream, and the resurfacing pads. Everything you need in perfectly sized travel minis that keep your skin hydrated, glowing, and looked after no matter how many time zones you have crossed. It is the kind of skincare that feels genuinely luxurious to use, which makes even a red-eye flight feel a little more special.
SAR 389
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Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow
Sleep is non-negotiable when you travel as much as I do. Arriving somewhere important exhausted is never a good look and never a good feeling. A proper ergonomic travel pillow, not the cheap U-shaped foam ones, is worth every penny. I use a memory foam design that actually supports your neck properly so you wake up without that stiff, aching neck that usually comes from dozing off on a plane. Pair it with your silk eye mask and you are set. Sleep is productive. Rest is how you arrive ready.
Prices from US$69
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Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
If I have one signature travel scent, this is it. There is something about Baccarat Rouge 540 that just feels like arriving somewhere incredible. I travel with the travel-size vials so I do not need to worry about breakage and they are perfectly airport-friendly. A fragrance is more than just how you smell; it is how you make people feel when you walk into a room, and this one never lets me down.
From SAR 895 for the travel size (35ml) and from SAR 1375 (70ml)
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Raylee H Stole Hermes
Airports and planes are either freezing or boiling and there is no in between. A large, soft cashmere or cashmere-blend travel wrap is the one item that solves both problems. I use mine as a blanket on the plane, a shawl in a cold airport, and even a scarf when I land somewhere with a breeze. It also doubles as a stylish layer for when you step off the plane and want to look put together rather than like you have been travelling for 12 hours. Invest in a quality one and you will have it for years.
From SAR 6840
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AirPods Pro 3
These are completely non-negotiable for me. I listen to podcasts constantly, on the plane, in the taxi, walking through airports, it is genuinely how I learn and stay inspired on the go. The noise cancellation on AirPods Pro is incredible for long flights, the sound quality is brilliant, and they are small enough to live in my bag without taking up any space. Whether I am listening to a business podcast, catching up on an interview, or just needing to block out the world for a few hours, my AirPods are always with me.
From SAR 1049
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KG Lash & Brow Serum
I genuinely never travel without this. As someone who created it, I obviously believe in it, but hand on heart it is the one product I miss immediately if I forget to pack it. A single swipe per day gives you longer, thicker lashes and fuller brows. It is lightweight, fits perfectly in your wash bag, and works while you sleep. For someone always on the go, that is exactly the kind of low-maintenance beauty routine I need. Every woman should have this in her bathroom cabinet, let alone her suitcase.
From £14
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Mulberry Passport Cover
When you travel as much as I do, the last thing you want to be doing is rummaging through your bag at security. A structured, well-designed leather passport cover keeps everything accessible and organised, and it just feels polished when you are pulling it out at check-in. There is something about having the right accessories that puts you in the right mindset, confident, prepared, ready. Invest in a beautiful travel wallet and you will use it forever.
From US$245
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Diptyque Small Candle
The first thing I do when I arrive in a hotel room is light a small travel candle, and immediately the space feels like mine. It changes the atmosphere of the room instantly, helps me wind down after a long travel day, and creates that sense of home-from-home comfort that makes a real difference when you are away a lot. I always choose a scent I love, something warm and grounding, and keep a couple of travel-size candles in my case at all times. It is such a small thing but it makes such a big difference.
Visit Diptyque at Riyadh Park
Prices from SAR 305
