Have you ever wondered about the airline pillow you're snuggling up to while in flight? Who slept on it last? How many people have slept on it since the pillow case was changed?...or the pillow sanitized? Did they have a cold, the flu...or something worse?

Many articles and blog entries have been written about the unsanitary pillow someone experienced while traveling and contracting things from head lice to the flu and worse. A contour travel pillow could be in your future, especially since some of the airlines no longer furnish in-flight pillows.

It's not my purpose to bash the airlines or to scare you, but I've heard it directly from a few airline stewards and stewardesses that they don't change the pillows or pillow cases unless it's requested by a passenger.

I don't know how that makes you feel, but it grosses me out. Not to mention that it obviously increases your chance of arriving on your vacation or business trip with a new case of the flu...or who knows what.

Since hearing that, I carry a contour travel pillow with me and it's been great.

Carrying your own contour travel pillow has many advantages over using a community pillow that's been around the world a few times without any attention from a cleaning crew.

The advantages:

you won't have to wait for one to be brought to you

Some airlines no longer carry pillows on board

you have it with you before and after the flight for use in cabs, buses, hotels, etc.

you control the frequency of changing pillow cases or cleaning the pillow

you know who slept on it last...you!

There are several types of travel pillows available from blow up pillows to buckwheat pillows to memory foam pillows.

My favorite pillow for travel is a contour travel pillow made from memory foam.

It has many advantages over the airline pillow besides the issues with cleanliness:

There is a soft, velour and micro-suede cover to keep your pillow clean

It's attached with velcro so you can roll the pillow into a very small size for easy tucking into a carry on or fastening around your luggage tote handle.

The removable cover can easily be washed, dried and fresh for the next day

The cover is anti-microbial and anti fungal

The contour shape of the pillow keeps your neck properly supported to eliminate neck aches

I can roll it up for a change of feel

It makes a great lumbar support while in flight

It's great for backpacking, camping, cruise ship, or any other time you need a pillow

The memory foam always comes back to it's shape no matter how it's crushed, folded or rolled

A better contour pillow will range in the $79.00 to $99.00 range but I feel it's one of the best investments I've made in my travel enjoyment.