Hey everyone 🙂

I hope you enjoyed my Visiting Tennessee Series, in which I talk about my trip to Smoky Mountain and the Opryland Gaylord Resort and Convention Center. This is now Day 5, where we are driving 8 hours back home! I could talk about the car ride, but I rather talk about how to survive long trips!

For one, I definitely prefer roadtrips over going on a plane! But let’s be real, no matter whether you’re driving, sailing, or flying to your destination, traveling can get tiring. The following tips are mostly for plane rides, which I’ve realized I’m actually in a lot, but will be helpful to deal with the long journey and have you reaching your destination refreshed and ready to go!

1. Wear (and Pack) Light Layers! I’m one of those people who, no matter what the weather is outside, I get cold while traveling. Usually in the car that can be fixed because you control the AC, but on planes it poses a bigger problem. Always pack a jacket and a pair of socks with you! Most planes provide socks but in case they don’t, it’s better to be prepared
2. Keep your valuables close! If traveling on a plane or somewhere where you can check in your luggage, I highly recommend keeping your valuables in your carry-on in the event that your luggage gets lost. All 3 times when my luggage got lost, I received it in 24 hours, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’ve never done this, but when I heard it, it sounds like a good idea: Also pack a set of clothes in your carry-on and perhaps a few under garments in case your luggage gets delayed for longer than a few hours.
3. Bring some music or entertainment! Even if your electronics are fully charged (do this do this do this!), it’s surprising how fast they can become boring. I always bring a pack of cards to play with my brother. Some airlines provide this for you! I still have a pack of cards from one of the first times I flew on Emirates in 2000. The cards are gold and have “Emirates” stamped on the back, and comes in a plastic case.
4. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate! Try to avoid consuming excessive amounts of caffeine or alcohol. Usually the air in planes can get really dry and cause dehydration. Try to average two cups of water an hour, plus, hydrated skin is happy skin. Usually whenever there is something abnormal happening with my body (my legs are cramping up, my eye is twitching uncontrollably, etc) it’s because I don’t have enough water in my system. It’s an easy fix and will leave you feeling a lot better!
5. Wear slip-on shoes! I always find it easier to wear sandals on the plane instead of sneakers, and my brother wears the Adidas sandals that he lives by!
6. Stretch your legs! If you’re in the car, during rest stops get out of the car, stretch your legs, keep the blood flowing, and this is also recommended by doctors. If you’re on the plane, then walk up and down the aisle a few times to stay energized.
7. Sanitize! In addition to the things mentioned above to pack, include sanitizer! I have a handy Bath and Body Works that I carry with me everywhere!
8. Fight jetlag when you can! More often than not, I end up taking the red-eye plane to places, like last year when I went to Paris, and have to be ready to go when we reach our destination. I know sleeping on planes is awful, but it’s really not that bad once you get past the fact that the seats are uncomfortable and there more likely than not is a little kid screaming somewhere in your vicinity. If it’s not the red-eye plane, then try to sync up your sleep schedule with the time zone of your destination!
9. For fun, get something from duty-free! Whenever I’m at the airport in India, I have to buy chocolate, whether it’s Dairy Milk, Smarties, or Toblerone. I would recommend however, buying something more long-lasting. Who knows when you’ll visit this place again! Plus, I’m sure there’s that one friend that always gets you something when they return from a trip… perfect time to return the favor!
10. Relax! Know that your trip isn’t going to go exactly as planned, whether it’s your luggage being lost, the annoying seat-mate next to you, or the fact that your plane is delayed for 12 hours. Just try to relax and enjoy the vacation 🙂

Overall, I love traveling. There’s so much of the world that I haven’t seen, and any opportunity to explore is welcomed!

I hope for those of you who are traveling this fall or this coming winter, you all have a very safe trip!

Until next time!

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xoxo

Sandhya