STARTING Part 6: Pack Extras for The Plane

Hey guys, I'm back and today I want to share some tips before you get on the plane for your travel.

Now we all know that airline travel isn't the most comfortable so it pays to think about your height and other body issues before you board the plane. Simple forethought can alleviate you to arrive at your destination the picture of calm.

Now here's a few list of what we called an Air-plane must-haves:

Inflatable Footrest

• First, if you're short, think about buying an inflatable footrest. This is not only good for general leg health but also protection against *DVT. Because they don't touch the ground, the legs of short people tend to ache more and inevitably get swollen ankles.

• Seriously consider of having or buying a neck pillow. Again this is an inflatable item that helps support your next while you try to sleep. The neck pillow is 'super' essential for those who are too short or too tall for the headrest.

• Another inflatable essential support thing is a back cushion. A inflatable back cushion placed at the small or your back can make the longest flight more comfortable.

• Also worth taking: a book, eye masks and ear plug (good for sleeping) and a bottle of water and snacks so you don't have to wait for the food trolley.

Neck Pillow

Back cushion

Well the above are some of the super essential things to have when having a long flight. Next I want to share what some of my travel mates would bring but it depends on you want you want to pack for long flight. 

Here is the list :

1.     Moisturizer 

I forgot to mention that during a long flight, it’s important to stay hydrated so your body doesn't get dried out. To keep your skin from drying out, try to pack some moisturiser so you can stay feeling fresh throughout the flight and for when you land.

2.     iPad 

An iPad is an option or you can bring your laptop. The difference is the portability of the item itself. I probably won’t even bring any of those two, but what my friends said that they prefer listen or watch movies from their own iPad as entertainment. But I don’t really recommend bringing this to long flight.

So that's all for my post today on Pack Extras For the Plane. I hope you guys enjoyed it. And on my next post I'm going to write some tips on travelling.

*Deep venous thrombosis

Deep venous thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep inside a part of the body. It mainly affects the large veins in the lower leg and thigh.

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STARTING Part 5: Packing Bits

Pack Lightly (Unless You Have Strong Arms) :

Are you the king or queen of cover-packing? Someone who takes 14 pairs of shoes on a ten-day trip? Well, unless you want stress on your journey and return you need to learn to travel light. The best way to pack, says a well-known fashion stylist, is to lay out everything you want to take on your bed and then enlist a friend (who’s not coming with you) to help you thin it out.

First out should be :

1. Anything you haven’t worn in the last year. If you  on’t wear it at home, you won’t wear it on a trip.
2. Anything that is wildly impractical (four-inch heels on a trekking trip for instance).
 3. Excess shoes – you need trainers to travel, flip-flops/sandals for the beach, and one pair of sexy shoes for nights out and that’s it.
 Remember you don’t need to think of everything; they do have shops in other countries.

Essentials You Do Need to Pack :

Weirdly it’s the stuff you skimp on that you need to pack more of. Forget the diamanté four-inch heels and the 17 tops for night out and think about what you’re really going to need. First envisage exactly what you will be doing on this trip and pack accordingly. If you plan on going down the beach path, pack more beach-type clothing and less party-girl gear.

Suitcase must-haves :

1. A copy of the first pages of your passport (the ones with all the details on), a copy of your bookings and a copy of your insurance. Keep these separate from your hand luggage so you don’t have to panic if one of your bags goes missing.
2. A loose linen shirt – covers a multitude of sunburn sins, plus keeps the insect out.
3. Two pieces of swimwear or two jumpers depending on your destination
4. A hat, especially if you’re going somewhere tropical.
5. Enough underwear.
6. A good book.

To Pack Effectively :

1. Roll your clothes, don’t fold them. This allows you to get more items in your case, plus it avoids too many wrinkles.
2. Think about Ziploc vacuum bags. These allow you to take clothes in a vacuum-packed bag that makes even the chunkiest jumper appear flat as a pancake.
3. Place shoes along the side of cases and bags.
4. Think about your case. Bags with wheels have smaller insides than bags with normal handles (as the wheelie handle needs space to fold within the bag) and so you’ll get less in.

     Buy Products That Do Two Jobs in One :

    Another way to cut down on make-up and toiletries to use products that do two jobs in one. While they aren’t always efficient on a long-term basis they work perfectly well for a two-week trip.

     Trip Doubles :

1.           Shampoo and conditioner.
2.           Foundation with SPF 15.
3.           A Combination sunscreen and insect repellent.
4.           Vasseline, which not only take off make-up but can also be used as a moisturizer (under sunblock) and lip balm.
5.           Aftersuns as body lotion.
6.           Shaving gel and shower gel.
7.           Toothpaste mixed with mouthwash.
       Take Some Toiletries in Your Hand Luggage :

       This is essential if you’re travelling with kids. Pack a variety of products that will ease your mind if you suddenly end up with lost luggage, an overnight delay or simply want to freshen up on your way to your destination.

        Essential items to include :

1. 1.     Wet wipes – work for everything from cleaning dirty hands to removing make-up, freshening you up and relieving a heat rash.
2. 2.     Toothbrushes – to get rid of aeroplane breath.
3. 3.     Travel calm tablets or crystallised ginger to alleviate travel nausea.
4. 4.     Sunscreen – for arrival.
5. 5.     Aspirin – handy for any number if stress-related disasters.
6. 6.     Remember to take out nail scissors, tweezers or anything sharp and put them in your main luggage as you can no longer travel by plane with these items in your hand luggage.
7. 7.     Finally, check the size and weight of your hand luggage before you check in so you aren’t made to put it in the hold.

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STARTING Part 4: Healthy Bits

Take Out Health insurance:

If you’re going on a trip the last thing you want to think about is getting ill or injured. However, accident happen all over the world and if you’re not suitably covered you can end up making a stressful situation ten times worse. So before you leave ensure you have adequate travel insurance that only safeguards you against the obvious but also means you are covered if you cause an accident.

Combat Jet Lag by Preparing Yourself :

Cross more than two time zone and your body clock will take a beating. This will affect your brain, adrenal glands, kidneys and digestive system. Not to mention your mood and sleep patterns. To avoid being a trip zombie put a bit of forethought into your pre-trip days at home.

Before you leave :

• Don’t mess with your sleep patterns. You may feel you can live it up   because you’re going away, but less than seven or eight hours’ sleep a night mixed with jet lag will play double havoc with your body clock.
• Try to select flight arrival times that minimize sleep deprivation. Aim to arrive late afternoon/early evening so you can go to bed around 11 p.m. local time. This will help your body to readjust faster.
• Don’t get drunk the night before you leave. The effects of jet lag are similar to a hangover – dehydration, sleep problems, digestive grumblings, and headaches. Mixing the two will ruin the first few days of your trip and make you a travel companion from hell.

Pack a First-aid Kit :

Over-the-counter medications cannot always be replicated abroad. Also certain types of medication have different brand names in different countries so wise up on your medical needs before you go by ensuring you have details for everything both you and your travel companions need.

Be sure to :

• Get to grips with the medication’s proper name (read the packet) and if you have a preference for a certain type of tablet (dissolvable, capsule, etc.) take it with you as different countries have different forms of medication available.

• Make a note of your medication and ask your doctor to write down the non-brand name for you.

• Pack a first-aid kit. Essentials include: plasters, anti-septic cream, water sterilization tablets, oral rehydration tablets, calamine lotion and aspirin.

• It might be worth packing the first-aid kit in your hand luggage so that it is easily accessible.

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STARTING Part 3: Element of Risk???

Be sure to be sensible about where you are going. Wherever you travel there is an element of risk, especially now everyone is worried about terrorism and weather. However, even getting out of bed is dangerous so get your risk in perspective. If you're thinking of travelling off the beaten track check with your country's foreign office before you go to see if :

1. You are being advised to steer clear and

2.  If it's a definite no-go area or not.

Beware, however, the five most common dangers to tourists are far simpler than you imagine, which means they are also easy to avoid if you take care.

The real dangers :

• Traffic accidents
• Beach accidents
• Hotel balcony falls or poolside falls
• Tropical diseases
• Skiing accidents

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STARTING Part 2: Planning The Trip

Hey guys I'm back and in this post I'm going to talk about how to plan the trip.

So first thing first, you have to ask some questions before you book the . Depending on the type of the trip you want, be sure to ask the right questions when you book. Travel agents should know more than you, but don't assume they have sorted out your preferences for rooms and flights. The same advice applies if you're booking a trip yourself.

Ask the right questions :

• Is your flight non-stop (you fly directly to your destination without stopping), direct (your flight stops but you don't have to change planes) or connecting (you stop and change plane)?
• Ask for written confirmation of hotel bookings, flight arrangements and insurance.
• Ask whether the travel company you are booking through is affiliated to your country's national travel agents' association as this gives you insurance to get home should the company go bust.
• Check whether hotel prices are per room or per person (and get this in writing) and whether you have double or twin bed and if yo have an en suite.

Next is to try to make your travel plans simple:

This means make sure your travel plan suit the way you want to travel because travel agents/bookers don't always take this into account. Also, to make trip stress free, ensure that you know the specifics of your booking before you leave.

Ask the right questions:

• Look at local departure and local arrival times to see if they suit you and whoever you are travelling with. Some arrival times will mean you will get to your destination before your hotel room ready.
• Work out all stopover times and transfer to make sure you have enough time to get connecting flights
• Are meals included? And if you're on all-inclusive, are all types of drinks included in your price?

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STARTING Part 1: Preparing to Go

Hey guys, and welcome to my first post. So my first post is the part 1 for the STARTING phase of travelling. So, in this first post I'm going share on how organize yourself before a big trip.

Zap Pre-travel Stress :

Your trip is approaching fast and if you’re like the majority of travelers you’re probably stressing about everything from your travel arrangements to clothes, packing, health bits and even your body blips. That is completely normal. The good news is even if you only have two weeks left to go, you still have time to handle all of the above and more.

Organize yourself by 

• Making a list and prioritizing what you have to do before you leave. Include work commitments, tickets, documentation, pre-travel arrangements and confirmation of flights.
• Thinking about how you can get your body ready if you’re going for pleasure. Have you sorted out your vaccinations, and beach body-firming details?
• If your mind is racing, finding ways to make space for yourself before you leave so you can go away feeling relaxed.

Don’t Aim for the Perfect Trip :

It sounds odd but striving to make your trip perfect is the number-one way to stress yourself out both prior to your departure and during your time away. Be realistic about your expectations. Trips are stress-relievers but they don’t have the power to mend a broken relationship, cure a bad work situation or make you happy when you’re not. They do, however, make life easier by allowing you to step out of your everyday routine in order to relax.

Help Yourself have a relaxing trip by :

•  Streamlining your objectives – what is it you actually want to do on this holiday.
• Choosing whatever works for your current state of mind, i.e. if you want to relax don’t  select a whirlwind tour of a region or a trip that means going trekking at 5 a.m.
• Thinking about how stressful the journey is going to be. If you only have two weeks it’s pointless to waste four days travelling there and back.

Cheaper Isn’t Always the Best Option :

As tempting as it is to go for the cheapest travel option be aware of what this can do to your travel plans. Choosing cheaper airlines can sometimes mean more delay (as the planes tend to have bus-like schedules that back up easily) and arrival at airports that are not the nearest ones to where you are heading (meaning more travelling time when you get there). Opting for cheap tickets on foreign journeys by train in different countries can also mean none of the luxuries that you’re used to.

Help Yourself by :

• Researching what a cheaper fare usually means. Are the tickets non-refundable and non-exchangeable? Is your journey time doubled? Will you be exhausted on arrival? What won’t you be getting for your money?
•  If you’re going by a charter company, finding out beforehand what happens if the company goes bust while you’re abroad.
•  Not getting so mesmerized by a ‘deal’ that you lose out on a bargain elsewhere. Change the day you leave. Some airlines add a weekend tax to flights leaving on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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