Stress Free Travel
So, allow me to share with you some of my best tips for dealing with issues associated with long travel such as jet lag ..
The following is a list of my notes made over many years and many diverse experiences. I have split them into 2 categories. Comfort and Stress Free. Comfort helps make the journey easier on your body and Stress Free makes it easier on your mind which in turn will reflect on your body. Get it right and you’ll give yourself a better chance at enjoying the experience.
COMFORT
- Take a small first aid box with plasters, headache tablets, muscle pain relief, allergy tablets and of course diarrhoea tablets. It does not take much room and will make a world of difference if and when required.
- Don't drink alcohol. Yes, I know it’s tempting, it’s free, it’s bottomless but it also seriously dehydrates you at a time when that process is already accelerated due to being in a pressurised cabin - so don’t.
- Drink water or healthy drinks such as orange juice. Caffeine and very sugary do not qualify as healthy here
- As soon as you board the plane, change your watch to your destination time. This tricks your mind into thinking you have arrived already. Also remember to change your smartphone and tablet at the same time
- Change the time on your laptop before you travel so when you start it for the time on arrival, it is already showing the correct time and it feels like a normal working day
- Choose your seat carefully. My favourite is an aisle seat in the middle row as opposed to being near windows . This way I can attach my legs and at most, only 1 person could ask me to move to get out.
- Take warm clothing. Airlines purposely keep the temperature on board at 18c to reduce jet lag so even if it’s hot when you board, it’s not going to stay that way for long.
- Only Carry the Luggage you need
- Wear Glasses instead of Contact Lenses
- Don’t over eat before and during the flight. So easy to overdo it but remember, you will be seated for a long period, so you won’t be able to digest quickly
- Just as important, avoid spicy foods for all the same reasons
- Take your shoes off and ensure you wear loose comfortable clothing
- Take regular walk or exercise your muscles from your seat. From my chosen seat (see above), I can take a walk anytime without having to ask anyone to move.
- Wear compression socks if you feel they will help you
- Not one I use myself I must confess but a good consideration nonetheless. Use a moisturiser as your skin does go dry in the plane
- Take Wet Wipes and keep them on hand easily accessible at all times. A wonder of the modern world. Individually wrapped for freshness and a guaranteed way to clean your hands, refresh your face, clean a spill on your t-shirt, etc any time of day or night. You will be wondering how we used to manage before. Well we didn’t.
- Add a hand sanitiser to your hand luggage together with your toothbrush and toothpaste. Mouthwash always makes you feel extra fresh too.
- Good entertainment helps make time go by. It’s not by accident that the best airlines have the best inflight entertainment. They know.
- Once landed and at your destination, no matter how hard it is, do not be tempted to take a snooze during the day. Best to plan for an early night instead.
STRESS FREE
- Plan your packing carefully well in advance. I’m a list kind of guy. Lists help you pack both at home and at the hotel to ensure you leave nothing behind
- Always have spare clean clothes available in your hand luggage. Whatever happens to your luggage or trip you will be able to shower and change into clean clothes
- Check the likely local weather, it will help you pack the correct clothes to suit your destination.
- If you go to certain countries, print your itinerary and tickets in advance and always carry them or else you won’t even get inside the terminal to collect your boarding pass. Whilst many happily accept electronic ones, many more still do not. In those cases, allow more time than normal to check in
- If the writing of the language is very different, take the details of the hotel with you printed in the local language. This will facilitate any potential taxi ride.
- Enquire as to the local electricity sockets. You will need to charge your phone, laptop, etc. Don’t leave it chance. I do find though that US Standard pins will get you almost anywhere
- Going through security is still a lottery these days with different standards across the world so it’s best to plan for the worst. Don’t wear belts or anything that will cause a delay such as steel items. Keep everything packed (including your phone and your watch) and wear easily removable shoes. This will greatly speed up your passage as well as make it much smoother and you can always change afterwards if need be. Keep liquids to a minimum as per guidelines and have them within easy reach already pre-packaged. Don’t even think about taking scissors or anything similar. Plastic body and metal blade nail cutters are ok as well as (strangely enough) tweezers (I kid you not)
- Have a copy of your passport, driving license, credit cards, visa securely stored on your phone available at all times
- Have a pen in your hand luggage and have on your phone the full details of your first night stay (Name of hotel, Address, Phone No.). You will need all that to fill your arrival form on the plane.
Finally, nothing written in this blog cost money nor is it bulky to carry so it is really in your hands to be as ready as can be. I hope you’ve been able to pick up a few tricks
Enjoy your travels
Jean-Marie
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