How to Survive Long Haul Travels: Tips and Essentials

Travelling is a great way to gain new experiences and see different cultures, but the process of travelling itself isn’t always the greatest. Whether it’s a layover at the airport or an overnight bus trip, long haul journeys are often a cross you have to bear in order to reach your final destination.

If the prospect of a long haul trip stresses you out, just know that you can survive it with the right items and some mental preparation. Even taking some time to rest whilst travelling can help. Choose a comfy area you can rest on your carry on, find a seat or get lucky and be able to get in a hammock to snooze can help. Read on for a list of things you have to prepare if you’re expecting a bit of a journey. 

Even if these tips and essentials might not make your travel time shorter, it’ll make the process that much easier. 

Reliable trainers

The right pair of trainers should be durable enough to withstand a sudden downpour and running to catch flights, but light enough that you won’t feel like you’re wearing a pair of bricks. Nike’s Roshe One trainers are ideal, with the added bonus being that they are available in lots of colours to match your outfits. 

A charging cord and power bank

You’ll need your phone in case of emergencies, so make sure to take some extra power sources with you. You don’t need to bring an extension cord. One plug (with the necessary adaptors, depending on where you’re headed) is enough. If you’re someone who carries a power bank around, ensure that it’s fully charged before you leave the house. 

A change of clothes

Keep a spare outfit in your hand-carry luggage if you’re planning to fly, as delayed flights and weather conditions mean that you could be spending more time at the airport than initially planned. Woman Within’s dresses are light enough to stow away in your bag but chic enough to make you look like you’ve just come back from a fabulous holiday and not tired from a long haul flight. Plus, they’re comfortable and easy enough to dress up or down as needed. Always remember to keep your spare set of clothes in a storage pouch, too, so that your clothes don’t end up crumpled. 

Eye masks 

People usually lug around neck pillows on a long haul trip, but eye masks are just as crucial. A study from Scientific Reports shows that light consumption from screens and indoor lighting can greatly affect your body’s natural sleep habits, making eye masks absolutely essential for getting some much-needed shut-eye. The great thing about eye masks is that you don’t have to shell out a fortune for one, so it might be a good idea to keep one in your purse and one in your backpack.

Face Masks

Travel is looking very different for everyone this year, and long-haul travel is especially different! More and more countries are making a face mask mandatory for travel. You can take them off during the flight eating and drinking – and some long-haul carriers are okay with them being off entirely. However, it’s always good to make sure that you make this fun! Funky prints can make wearing a mask much more fun, and you can even buy one that will match your airport outfit. 

Everyone has an outfit that they wear on the plane, so choose a mask that compliments what you’re wearing – or not! It’s completely up to you, but the goal here is to keep yourself and others safe. You can do this far better when you have a face mask to accompany your flight. The right mask will have comfortable ear loops and be big enough to cover your nose and mouth at the same time. If you can get one to match your eye mask, you can sleep easy on the flight. It’s always a good idea to check with your carrier whether you will need to wear one for a long flight, as this can help you to feel prepared for that!

Entertainment

At its worst, you’re looking at hours on end in transit. Sure, you can spend it scrolling through your phone, but this is also the perfect time to catch up on some leisurely reading. Packing a book or two (or an e-reader, if you prefer) ensures that you have something to do — whether you’re at an airport terminal or on a sleeper train. 

Face mists

You should always have a face mist on you, provided that it’s less than 100 millilitres. Depending on your travel conditions, your skin might end up becoming too dry or sticky with sweat. A face mist solves both these problems by providing your skin with the hydration it needs to maintain its smoothness. If your favourite mist is sold in large quantities, decanter it into tiny spray bottles so that you don’t exceed the liquid restrictions on planes. 
To top things off, check out our previous post on Anoushka Loves for some style inspiration. While this list is by no means exhaustive, you should hopefully have a better idea of the factors you need to prepare for when embarking on a long haul flight.

And finally, don’t forget to check whether you have to pay a tourist tax or apply for a visa before you travel. If visiting Cancun, for example, you will need to pay the Visitax. This can be done online.