Enjoy the Journey
Winter is officially upon us, and whether the chill in the air inspires you to escape to an exotic island or to embrace the sparkle of the season on the ski slopes, your destination will be all the more enjoyable if the journey to reach it is a smooth one. When planning your next great getaway, keep the following tips in mind to take the turbulence out of your travel routine.
Before You Hit the Road
Avoid delays, lighten your load, and skip the stress of crowded parking lots with the following pre-travel tips.
- When given the choice between a “direct” and a “nonstop” flight, always opt for the latter. While you won’t have to change planes on a direct flight, your plane may have to touch down at other airports on the way to its ultimate destination. Each time your plane touches the ground during peak travel times, the possibility of a flight delay increases. If a nonstop flight isn’t possible, try to connect through a warm-weather airport, such as Dallas, Houston, or Phoenix, where weather-related delays are less likely in winter. You can also cut down on delays by booking morning flights, which tend to be delayed less often than afternoon departures.
- Lighten your travel load by shipping your baggage to your destination in advance. Companies like The Luggage Club will come to your house and pick up any items you want shipped, which avoids the hassle of lugging your suitcase to and from the airport and waiting at the baggage claim area. Before using a luggage specialist, however, check the prices offered by major express services like FedEx and UPS. The luggage-shipping outfits often send items by way of these services, and you may find that it costs less to cut out the middleman.
- If you do decide to check a bag or two, be sure to pack some essentials in your carry-on luggage, including an ample supply of any medications you use. You never know when your luggage will be delayed or separated from you, and it may take several days before you are reunited with your belongings.
- Parking your car at a busy airport can be an adventure in itself. Take the pain out of parking by securing your spot ahead of time. Most airports have services that allow you to reserve a parking space in advance. Airport Parking Reservations, for example, covers more than 50 U.S. gateways. Depending upon your departure city, the airport may also have valet parking, which costs more than parking your car yourself, but it is certainly less of a hassle. Check the website of your departure airport to find out what services are available.
Are We There Yet?
Whether your flight is two hours or 20, fly in style and comfort with the following traveler-tested tips.
- Enjoy some extra space. If you’re traveling with a companion, try booking the aisle seat and the window seat when you purchase your tickets. If the flight isn’t full, you may have the whole row to yourselves, since most people prefer not to book a middle seat. If you do find that there’s a traveler between you and your flying friend, he or she most likely won’t mind switching to the aisle or window seat.
- Slip into something more comfortable. Your feet swell at high altitudes, so taking your shoes off and putting on some travel slippers will keep your feet in good shape. (Be kind to your fellow travelers by keeping two dryer sheets handy in your carry-on. Slip one into each of your shoes and you won’t feel self-conscious about your sweaty soles.)
- Bring your own blanket. Since airlines don’t launder their blankets between each flight, packing a lightweight blanket in your carry-on might be your best bet for feeling cozy and clean. An inflatable neck pillow also adds to in-flight comfort. In addition to supporting your head and neck, it gives a hint to chatty flight companions that you’re looking for relaxation, not conversation.
- Don’t leave yourself feeling high and dry. The air on planes is so dry that you might quickly notice your mouth and your skin feeling parched. Bring your own bottle of water onto the plane (purchased in the terminal, after you’ve gone through security), since it might be a while before the flight attendants are able to serve you. Pack a small (less than 3 oz.) bottle of moisturizer to give your skin the spa treatment halfway through your flight.
- Whatever the weather, dress in layers. The temperature on a plane changes frequently, so it’s best to wear loose-fitting layers. Regardless of the season, wear short-sleeves as a bottom layer, and have a light jacket or sweater in your carry-on.
Hotel Sweet Hotel
Though it would be nice to routinely recline between the lavish linens of five-star hotels, luxury is not always built into our travel budgets. Even if cost is not an issue, out-of-the-ordinary escapes, such as bed and breakfast tours of Ireland, or convent stays in Italy, offer charming but unpredictable accommodations. Try these travel tips to make your vacation lodging consistently comfortable.
- Light the way. If you get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, it can be difficult to navigate an unfamiliar room in the dark. Pack one or two small nightlights, and you won’t find yourself tripping over suitcases or banging into bedside tables.
- Create a “scent-ual” setting. Pack two travel candles – one for the bathroom and one for the bedroom. Travel candles come in tiny tins that are lightweight and easy to slip into your luggage. Choose your favorite scent to create the desired mood in your room, while covering any lingering smells from room service or cigarettes (common in European hotel rooms).
- Spare your soles and spoil your toes. The same slippers that came in handy for your long flight are an absolute must for your hotel floor. Plush slippers or slipper-socks make your feet feel like they’re on vacation after a long day of touring and exploring. Plus, they create a conveniently clean barrier between you and the countless feet that have walked the hotel floor before you. If your slippers have non-slip bottoms, they’ll also keep you from sliding across the bathroom floor.
- Don’t let the sun beat you out of bed. Vacation is your chance to let your body feel like it’s on a more relaxed schedule. If your hotel room faces east and the sun rises at 5:30, you might as well put an alarm clock next to your bed. To let your body get the sleep it deserves, try packing a couple of clothespins. Clothespins are a quick and easy way to secure the gap that often exists when you close your hotel curtains.
Sleepless in Singapore
Traveling to the other side of the country – or the other side of the world – is undoubtedly an awesome adventure. Still, being a jetsetter can cause major disruption to our bodily rhythms. We often arrive at our destinations unsure as to whether to hit the town or head to bed. Some simple adjustments before, during, and after travel can help us make the most of our vacation time.
- If you’re traveling east, try going to bed one hour earlier each night for a few nights before departure. If you’re traveling west, go to bed one hour later, and sleep one hour later, prior to your trip. If possible, begin to adjust your meal times closer to the times that you’ll be eating at your destination.
- Dehydration worsens the effects of jet lag, so drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate you further. If you feel that you need a coffee to make it through your first vacation day, then be sure to drink strategically. Visit the café early enough in the day that it won’t stop you from falling asleep at night in your new time zone.
- Mentally adjust to the new time zone while you’re traveling. Set your watch to this time as soon as you board the plane. If it’s nighttime at your destination, try to sleep on the plane. If it’s daytime at your destination during the flight, resist the urge to close your eyes for more than a short nap.
- If it’s later in the day when you arrive in your new time zone, try to stay awake until nighttime. If it’s early in the day, take a short nap, but don’t sleep the day away. (Some advice for those who opt to nap: NASA has conducted extensive research suggesting that you either do so for less than 45 minutes, or more than 2 hours. Because of the cycles of sleep, if you wake up between 45 minutes and 2 hours into your rest, you’ve been in a much deeper phase of sleep. It will therefore take you much longer to wake up.)
- If you have a regular exercise routine, you’ll want to continue it during your travels in order to combat jet lag. The Mayo Clinic recommends exercising either in the morning or late afternoon. So, if you’ve traveled east and arrived in the morning, try exercising right after your short nap. If you’ve traveled west and arrived later in the day, hit the gym when you arrive at your hotel.
- Soak in some sunlight as soon as you arrive at your destination, if it’s daytime. If you arrive at night, step out into the sun early the next morning. Exposure to light helps to re-set our body clocks and counteracts the effects of jet lag.
Do you have a favorite travel tip to share? If so, feel free to leave a comment below!