Ben and I are planning our trip to Europe for the summer, we’re looking at flights and I’m feeling a little bit nervous about traveling as a couple. Travel can be really hard, especially when you’re traveling with someone else, flying through various timezones and spending days cramped up in a plane. I’ve navigated a few long haul flights, with the longest being around 40 hours of transit. It’s not fun, it’s not pretty, but it’s necessary to get to your destination. Here are some simple things I do to ensure travel is as comfortable as possible.
Pay a Little More:
Whether it’s for a better class of train, airline or bus ticket, investing a little more into a long journey can make all the difference. I’ve flown “cattle class” a number of times and I don’t really mind it for shorter trips, but for 12+ hour flights it can be quite painful. Ben and I are looking into Executive Travel this time around as we are going to be flying all the way from Christchurch to Spain. I want extra legroom, more of a recline and just more comfort in general. Access to the lounges would be a big bonus as we’d be able to work while we wait for our connecting flights. If your budget is too tight to upgrade your flights or travel, make sure you take a travel pillow with you – I swear by them.
Bring Snacks:
This is more important for budget airlines, or land journeys, but make sure you bring snacks! I’ve been on far too many trips where I have thought I would be able to buy snacks onboard or would be provided with them, only to find my stomach churning the whole trip. Airport food tends to be pretty average, and at some airports there’s no food court which means a very hungry wait. Be organised, learn from my mistakes, and take snacks. Dry food like muesli bars, a roll or wrap and chips can be a good option.
Keep Yourself Entertained:
If your transport doesn’t have entertainment onboard, then make sure you bring your own. I have a Kindle which I am madly in love with and it is perfect for reading on a plane, especially as it has a gentle backlight so you can use it when the main cabin lights are off. I use my iPhone for music and bring my laptop to write onboard or watch movies on. If you’re trying to sleep, put on a boring Disney movie or something that you’re not very interested in watching and it’ll put you to sleep. If you put a movie you actually want to sleep, you might find it very hard to drift off.
I love travel, even the uncomfortable long haul stuff. Do you have any tips for traveling across long distances? Let me know in the comments below.
I used to be all about price and nothing else when flying, but after all those RTW flights I’ve changed my tune a little (plus am married to a veritable giant). Comfort is definitely worth something.
I agree with you a little more now that I can afford it. I now try to strike a good balance between cost and comfort.