Traveling can be a real joy or a real pain for some people. It seems that the hardest part is getting there. People either love it or hate it when it comes to air travel. After you have made all the arrangements, reserved your hotel room and packed that last suitcase, you have to face the reality of boarding that plane (insert kicking, screaming, mumbling and complaining here). We all know how taxing a claustrophobic airplane can be to the mind and body, but the degree of fatigue and jetlag can really be gauged by your destination. An avid flyer would know that there is a great difference between getting through a 2 hour flight and surviving a 16 hour long haul flight. Try not to let any back aches, pains and jetlag ruin your vacation. The following are a few tips that can make the unbearable a little more bearable.

Make Yourself Comfortable

Since you will be confined to a seat in a temporarily indefinite condition, you should make sure that you are as comfortable as possible. Your personal comfort can be gauged by how you dress for a flight. When flying, less is always more. Be climate sensitive (according to freezing plane temperatures and trip destination) by wearing clothing that is conducive to the climate on the plane or bringing along an additional sweater and pair of socks in your travel bag. Avoid wearing fitted clothing in order to achieve maximum comfort. Comfortable travel gear should consist of breathable active wear; e.g. track pants, t-shirts, sports workout/ walking gear and jackets. Avoid windbreaker material as it has the tendency to be sweaty and uncomfortable after extended periods of wear. As for footwear, opt to wear ankle socks, toe socks, slide in shoes and flip flops. These all provide comfort and reduce foot perspiration, which will definitely be a drag after being in the air for hours!

Stock up on entertainment

Besides giving you a chance to catch up on some much needed sleep, a long haul trip will hardly give you anything else that will keep you entertained in flight. To counteract this boredom, you will need to have adequate entertainment to avoid becoming antsy and restless. Books are fine, but attacking a novel full on is heavy reading and it sometimes requires a subdued location for sufficient concentration. Instead, try an audio book or a magazine. Get your favorite playlists together and charge the iPod because a little music goes a long way. Laptops, portable DVD players, Kindles, and PSPs are all great to have for flights of this magnitude. However, they should be used in moderation. All of these devices require charging, and you may run out of battery in flight.

Accessorize and Accommodate

While on the plane you will not have access to the comforts and amenities of home. Load up on travel sized items such as lotion, hand sanitizer, eye drops, lip balm, gum, breath mints, cough drops etc. If you have problems sitting for long periods of time, bring a small pillow with you. When possible, take the opportunity to get up and stretch your legs. If the air on the plane is cold, bring an accompanying blanket. Check with the airline ahead of time about food selections and prices. Most long haul fights will have a menu, but use your own discretion. Plane food is a far cry from five star quality dishes.

Although time is not your ally on a long flight, these tips can help make it a more pleasant endeavor.

Tags: air travel, tips for travel, Travel Tips

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