My Tips For Long Haul Travel

Before you start your journey make photocopies of your passports and any important documents, this will help if you happen to lose your passport, at least you will have the information to pass onto the appropriate people to help you.

Carry loose change in your own currency and that of the country you are travelling to, it is always handy for airports, car parks, toll roads, tipping etc.

Make sure you can identify your suitcase when it comes to collect your bags, add a coloured belt around the case or tie some brightly coloured cloth onto the handles, it's amazing how many suitcases look alike. 

I have noted down a few tips I find to be handy when travelling by plane to holiday destinations, (not in any particular order). Some of these tips are not necessarily reserved for long haul flights but also for domestic flights like the things I like to keep at hand on flights.

1... This first tip may sound strange or even pointless to some people but here me out, this is something I have done every time I travel to a different country....
I keep my family's old clean underwear and pyjama's and stash them in a bag for holiday use, yep you heard me correct, my reason for this is simple, taking underwear and pyjama's that you are going to take back home is a waste of valuable space and suitcase weight allowance, seriously, who sees your undies or P.J's except for your family!. You may think that a few pairs of undies, socks and P.J's don't make much of a difference to your space and weight limit but add these per person and the weight and space soon mounts up and who doesn't enjoy buying clothes, gifts and souvenirs whilst in a new different destination, I know I do! and I bet a lot of you, me included over indulges in their weight limit, so if it means taking old underwear and pyjama's that can be discarded at the end of our trip to allow more space and weight for our new exciting purchases, then you bet I'll do it!! and continue to!. What can I say, I'm Scottish and I like to get my money's worth 😜.

2... I also pack bubble wrap, it weighs virtually nothing but is ideal for wrapping stuff up in, yes I use clothes to wrap fragile items but I like the extra protection bubble wrap provides for more delicate items.

3...
Pack a drawstring bin bag for dirty laundry so it doesn't get mixed up in your case with your clean laundry, also pack a set of underwear and pyjamas for everyone in each suitcase just in case one or two go missing, that way at least you have clean undies to wear until your cases turn up!

4...

Put everyone's underwear in separate storage bags, this way you don't have to sort out who's is who's when you get to your destination.

5...

Store all electrical chargers, cords, cables etc in a padded storage bag, this will help prevent them getting tangled or damaging clothes and shoes.

6...

Use a plastic leak proof storage container to store any liquids such as toiletries, if they leak or spill then it won't go through your clothes.

7...

Invest in an RFID blocking wallet or sleeve to protect your bank cards against skimming.

8...Keep the coat hangers that you get when purchasing clothes and store them with your travel items and take them with you on holiday, I always find there are never enough hangers in the wardrobes and you can leave them for the next holiday makers.

9...
If you plan to make yourself more comfortable by taking your shoes off during the flight, then always take a pair of thongs or easy slip on sandals in your hand luggage. I never walk anywhere in a plane with bare feet or even socks, it is always best to have decent protection from the obvious germs that lurk on plane floors, especially the toilets, and they are a lot easier to take on and off when walking around the aircraft, that way you don't have to keep bending down in a cramped space to try to fit and tie shoes, take a plastic bag to put them in at the end of the flight to protect the items in your hand luggage from the obvious.

10...

Store all tablets you may need on the flight in a clear bag/pouch for easy visability and access.

11...

Instead of a large handbag use a small crossbody easy access clutch/bag that stores your purse, phone, passport, travel documents, chap stick, etc, trying to navigate your way through an airport is stressful enough without having to keep searching for your items in a large bottomless pit of a bag.

I did a post a while back about travel essentials for long haul flights that can be found here

Things I keep at hand during the flight....

1. Daily medications.

2. Chap stick to keep my lips well moisturised during the flight.

3.  Hand sanitizer and anti bacterial wipes.

4.  Travel size moisturiser for face and hands.

5.  Wet Wipes.

6.  Cold sore cream, as sure as fate when I don't have cold sore cream with me I feel a cold sore coming on.

7.  Painkillers, usually paracetamol.

8.  Indigestion and heartburn tablets.

9.  Blackmores Travel Calm Ginger tablets.

10.  Vitamin C tablets.

11.  Antihistamine tablets for itchy eyes etc.

12.  Natural sleep aid.

13.  Saline nasal spray.

14.  Band aids.

15.  Travel size deodorant.

16.  Chewing gum and sookie sweets.

17.  An empty water bottle to fill up at the airport.

18.  Reading material, puzzle books and a pen.

19.  Music on an I pod or your mobile phone, and earphones.

20. Satisfying snacks.

21. Cosy cardigan/sweatshirt, socks and scarf that doubles as a blanket.

22. Ear plugs.

23. Eye mask.

24. Travel pillow.

25. Thongs.

26. Tissues.

27. Cash.

28. Glasses cleaning wipes.

29. Note pad/journal.

30. Make up removing wipes.

31. Small crossbody bag to keep all your personal items at hand.

32. Throat lozenges in case of a sore/dry throat.

33. Emery board (not metal).

And now added to my list... face masks.