Booking your first safari is so exciting! Anticipation runs high as you start to imagine the animal encounters that await you, but then you have to consider the practicalities. What should you pack for a safari in South Africa? Do you really need a £1000 lens to capture the photos? Why does all that safari gear have so many pockets!? Never fear, this guide is designed to be a totally truthful roundup.
You are welcome to read through all the rationale behind our packing list, along with examples we have learned from ourselves or you can head to the bottom of this post and just download the printable PDF that accompanies it. Tick it off as you pack and have a great time on your trip! (more…)
Dubrovnik has been a top destination for tourists since the first hotel was built here in 1890. It is no surprise, the city is a beautiful, fairytale ringed in stone. As cruises increased in popularity scores of daytrippers descended upon the Old City. However, people on such fleeting visits really miss out. Those in the know organise at least a 3 day Dubrovnik itinerary. So, if you have a long weekend in the area, how do you see the best of Dubrovnik in 3 days?
Jordan is the perfect destination for a 10 day holiday…I know, it’s a bold statement! Jordan has so much to see and do, and it’s all so varied, which makes it a great mini-adventure. Spread along the King’s Highway, a huge variety of adventures await you. So how can you see the best of the country if you only have 10 days in Jordan? This is your guide to the top sites in Jordan, how to get around Jordan and more in the perfect 10 day Jordan itinerary.
This Jordanian flag in Amman is 60m by 30m; the pole is the tallest in the world at 126.8 metres!
Harbin, in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province, isn’t on most travellers radar for ten months a year. However, when the winter chill really sets in, a magical kingdom grows up, Frozen-style, made of ice and snow. It becomes one of the greatest places to visit in China. This annual festival is Harbin’s huge party piece, and this your ultimate guide to Harbin Snow and Ice Festival.
The Sinai area of Egypt has had its troubles. In fact, reaching it from Cairo is actually pretty tricky. However, visiting Sinai from Eilat in Israel is actually a great way to explore. For our journey into Egypt, we decided to join Abraham tours on their Mount Sinai & Red Sea 3 Day Experience for the chance to chill on the beach and climb Mount Sinai overnight.
There are several ways to travel from Yangon to Bagan in Burma (Myanmar). Some people choose to fly. Others, on a tighter budget, book nighttime buses. We just HAD to try out the train! I know what you’re thinking, “Another train story”? …Well, if you insist! Join us on the night train from Yangon to Bagan.
After a little research, and trawling The Man in Seat 61, we found the 12go Asia website. We had never used this website before but it seemed to have all sorts of transport on there and great reviews.
We put in our request for tickets and during the process, were given the option to refuse lower bunks, take a different train and a few other options. Great stuff! Train tickets in Myanmar aren’t released until close to the departure date so we put in our preferred date and crossed our fingers.
Top Tip:There are a few different classes of travel, from hard wooden seats, to full padded sleepers. For the flat beds, you will want to book Upper Class Sleeper.
Picking Up the Tickets
The day before we were due to travel, our booking was confirmed. Yangon to Bagan, on the sleeper train, in seats A1 and A2. Perfect. All we had to do then was pop to their office in Yangon to swap the tickets. We had booked at Rangoon Boutique Hostel, just around the corner from the shop and the station so this took no time…once we had found it.
Top Tip: It worth noting that the office (EPG Travel) isn’t too easy to find. To pick up your tickets, look for the True Coffee shop and just to the right there is a slope leading into the condominium. Walk down the slope and around to the left, you will find a lift. That will take you up to the fifth floor where you’ll find the EPG Travel offices to your left
Boarding the Night Train to Bagan
When we arrived at Yangon Central Station (a ten minute walk from the office, our tickets were checked and we were directed to platform three. We walked down the platform, past the waiting throngs, and back through a gate. More helpful guards pointed out the bridge crossing and we lumbered over.
It was easy enough to find our carriage as gangs of children dashed over to show us the way. They held cold water and snacks, and once we were in our section, they darted in and out to try and make a sale. One girl spent quite a long time trying to convince us to buy water, then played on my phone for a bit.
What is Like On Board a Sleeper Train in Myanmar? – The Practical Stuff
The Carriage
Our sleeper compartment slept four in an unusual configuration. There was no adjoining corridor connecting all of the compartments, instead, we were totally isolated from the rest of the train. It was good not to have people bumping into us but I was hoping to take a wander through the carriages and meet some people. I could have changed carriages at one of the stops but didn’t quite have the guts.
Our roommates were a french couple who were pleasant enough but not so chatty. For a while, we thought they didn’t speak English but it turned out, they were pretty fluent.
The Hygiene
I am not a clean freak by any means but this night train from Yangon to Bagan was pretty mucky. The general carriage interior was very dusty. I guess that is only to be expected with open windows. However, the bathroom and other side room were both filthy. I found myself craving the odd antibacterial wipe.
The Seats
PROS
Each passenger has two seats to themselves meaning we all got a nice view out of the window.
The covers reminded me of 1990s Network Rail.
The seats could be reclined a little.
There was a ton of legroom.
There was a table between the seats for dinner time.
CONS
The covers were old and ripped.
The padding was OK, but not quite comfy enough for the level of bouncing we did.
The Fixtures And Fittings
Our carriage had a small luggage rack between the two upper bunks but this was only used for rubbish and food bags. Also on the ceiling, there was a small fan. We were thankful for this when we first boarded but it was quickly shut off when the evening took hold.
The windows could be closed which was a relief when the temperature dropped. There were also wooden shutters along with the light green curtains to block out the flashing lights of the world outside passing by. The shutters were quite heavy but once you got the hang of them, they were easy enough to open and close.
The Bathroom
As mentioned, this little room was less than pristine. It seemed coated in years of dust and dirt rather than freshly grimy. Changing in there was rather unpleasant. As the train bucked underneath me, I reached for the wall and then regretted it a little.
The toilet was a metal drop loo, like the kind found on Indian trains. Below, the tracks were clearly visible as they whizzed below. To flush, there was a small hose (bum gun). No toilet roll was provided.
The sink drained onto the floor so I used the hose to wash my hands directly down the loo instead, trying to maintain the dry floor.
What is Like On Board a Night Train in Myanmar? – The Experience
“Strap yourselves on folks, it’s going to be a bumpy ride”.
The Tracks
The train began to rock and queasy thoughts of seasickness crossed my mind. Can you throw up out the window of a train without losing your head? I really didn’t fancy using the toilet that we all had to share. As it didn’t flush with water, it would have been a very messy business. Luckily, the sideways rocking only happened occasionally, and wasn’t bad enough to induce any sickness.
I was expecting bumps, and had even heard rumours of frequent derailments. It was as I thought. We bounced our way through the Burmese countryside and rattled across railway crossings. Children waved and we waved frantically back.
Mickey
I said before that there were four of us sharing the cabin…that wasn’t quite true. The fifth member of our travelling gang was a small, light grey mouse. He only made a few appearances but one of them was on the french couple’s chair. I’m not scared of mice but I am not a fan of waking up to one scampering across my face and that was on mind all through the night.
Top Tip:Tie food bags to the luggage rack between the beds.
Dinner Time
As night fell, the waiter knocked and handed us two polystyrene boxes. One was full of the fried rice we had ordered from him a little earlier, and the other containing questionable looking chicken. A memory of the misunderstanding between Mr Fluskey and the waiter popped up. Oh yes, he had put two fingers up, and called it, “Fried rice, and chicken”, not chicken fried rice.
We wolfed down the rice (oily but inoffensive) but didn’t know what to do about the chicken, so we hid it in the room at the end of the carriage in the hopes it may lure Mickey away from the sleeping area.
Bedtime
Everyone made nighttime stirrings, closing the curtains and shutters on the windows, putting sheets on the bed, and the whole pantomime show of big, fake yawns.
As I settled into my “bed”, I realised just how uncomfortable it was. The metal casings of the chairs could be clearly felt by a hipbone. The chairs tipped away from the centre meaning my head was tipped back at a strange angle. Oh, and there was no blanket. I don’t know whether they forgot to give us one or if that is standard but we only had one sheet, and a pillow.
The Fridge
The cold began to creep in. At first it wasn’t too bad, but as the night progressed I put on more and more clothes to try and combat the chill. By morning, I was in:
my pyjamas,
a cardigan,
a maxi dress,
a down jacket,
two pairs of socks
sleeping under a scarf
….and I was still covered in goose pimples and desperate for the sun to heat up the carriage.
Top Tip: BRING A BLANKET, A SLEEPING BAG OR SEVENTY MILLION LAYERS
I know this logo on the sheet stands for Myanmar Railways….but it totally says Mr Boobs!
The Sleep
It was a combination of the constant, violent movement, and arctic conditions (ok, that is a touch hyperbolic) that meant I was awake all night. It should have been called the “not-so-much-sleep-er-train”. Still, I didn’t manage to binge-watch the entire first series of Sex Education on Netflix so you know, every cloud!
Morning Time
At 7:20, we had a knock on the door
“Hello!”
I was in a weird daze, thinking the night would never end and so I didn’t really clock that this was real.
“Hellooooo”
This was accompanied by a loud knock on the window that made myself and my french companions jump out of our skins. The waiter was back with their breakfast so it officially time to reset our seats and give up on sleep.
All except for Mr Fluskey who was finally getting some rest so I left him to it.
Arriving in Bagan by Train
The night train from Yangon to Bagan was due to arrive at 09:30, and as this time approached I gave Mr Fluskey a little shake to get him up and off his bunk. I knew we were running late but not sure exactly by how much. The train slowly crawled towards Bagan, stopping at red signals on the single track.
The train pulled into Bagan at 10:50, only an hour and twenty minutes later than scheduled. Considering the swathes of reports I had read that said they were often hours and hours late, this wasn’t too bad.
Getting to Nyaung-U from Bagan Train Station
Taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers descended upon the tourists on the train platform. We agreed to a taxi into town for 8000 MMK (around £4) which may have been slightly too much but we were SO tired that we just wanted to get to a real bed. If you good at haggling, 6000 MMK should be manageable.
Shared pickup trucks ply the main road a short walk from the front of the station. We believe they take people into Nyuang-U but not being on a tight budget, we didn’t investigate fully.
The taxi stopped at a checkpoint and we paid for our Bagan Tourist Ticket. They took our photo (after no sleep, that was mean). This tickets covers tourists for the whole Bagan area for a week but in reality it is checked rarely. We had two checks out of about fifty pagodas. Still, we did see people having to pay during one these checks so I wouldn’t skip it.
Information for Taking the Night Train to Bagan from Yangon
If you are thinking of taking the night train, here are a few things you might like to know:
Tickets are available four days before the date of travel. If you are in Yangon, you can go and purchase them yourself but get there quickly as the sleepers can sell out.
12Go Asia is a good option for those that either won’t be in town when tickets are released or just don’t fancy the effort of getting the station etc
Rangoon Boutique House is a good budget hostel close to both the 12Go Asia offices and the station.
For those on a swankier budget, check out Zealax Hotel and Residence. It is not near the station at all, but was rather lovely and they can organise a transfer.
Final Thoughts on the Night Train from Yangon to Bagan
I am so conflicted about our night train from Yangon to Bagan. I am glad we tried it but regret bitterly that we didn’t have any kind of blanket. Whether that is their fault for not giving us one or ours for not bringing one, I am not sure. Either way, I was bloody freezing and wouldn’t choose to repeat the experience in a hurry.
I am wondering whether a day time train trip would have been a better plan than the sleeper train from Yangon to Bagan, then there wouldn’t have been that terrible attempt at sleep, and we would have been warm. The run between Mandalay and Hsipaw, passing over the infamous Goteik Viaduct is meant to be a lovely journey. Maybe we should try that one next time eh!?
Travelling from Shanghai to St Petersburg by train has to come under the heading “bucket list travel”. The Trans-Siberian (or Trans-Manchurian in our case) is one of those travel experiences that is almost a rite of passage. Travelling from Beijing to Harbin by train was the second leg of our epic Trans-Siberian Travels…and a pretty ridiculous one at that.
As tourist sites go, the Dead Sea has one of the most unappealing names going, but millions of visitors can’t be wrong. There is just something that draws us to bathe in its super salty water. So how do you go about visiting the Dead Sea? Gleaned from two personal trips, and rather a lot of research, this is your guide to visiting the Dead Sea in Israel or Jordan including our top tips for visiting the Dead Sea.
London has been gripped by an obsession…or maybe it is just me. When two of my favourite activities collide (dining and theatre) they create immersive dining. The leading lights of the immersive dining revolution, Gingerline and Favourology have done it again with their latest Chambers of Flavour incarnation, Chambers_. After our latest excursion with them, we were super keen to share it with everyone and so it is with a confusing mix of mystery and enthusiasm, I write this Chambers_ review.
Johannesburg, South Africa is a city with a reputation. It’s troubled past seems to cloud its dynamic and encouraging present. People whispered “be careful” with serious expressions when we told them our plans, but we were determined to go and see it for ourselves. Our hotel, The Michelangelo Hotel, also has a reputation, be it vastly more positive. When I told people that The Michelangelo would be our Bed in Johannesburg, their faces lit up and we got a unanimous “Ooooooo”. The Michelangelo is known as, “The Grand Dame of Johannesburg” and is part of the Legacy Hotels group which is why we were so excited for the Michelangelo Hotel review.
Location
Contrary to some people’s view, there is loads to see in the City of Gold. Don’t believe us? Just check these awesome things to do in Johannesburg. It was my first time exploring the city and what a fabulous hotel to set out from!
The Michelangelo Hotel is located in the wealthy, upmarket suburb of Sandton, North-East of Johannesburg. This is where the money of Johannesburg comes to shop and do business. The Michelangelo Hotel is set to one side of Nelson Mandela square. Part shopping mall, part leisure hub, and with a 6m high bronze statue of the man himself.
The hotel is just a 5 minute walk from the Gautrain, Johannesburg’s light rail system which connects directly to the airport. This is how we reached the hotel and so we were airport to room in 40 minutes.
Walking in from street level, from West Street to be precise, we were greeted by a friendly doorman in a handsome uniform. We were slightly confused, the huge round lobby was almost entirely empty.
We were pointed to a set of lifts and whisked up one floor to the main lobby and reception. It was quite the entrance!
It was a breathtaking way to see the lobby for the first time. The red marble, and lions faces growling at us slipped away and the towering ceiling stretched to the sky like a soaring cathedral. It would be hard not to be impressed.
The lift doors dinged and we turned from the view to step out and to the reception desk. The security guard looked none too impressed at the two jet-lagged, backpackers with shorts and t-shirts. We told him about our reservation and he soon cheered up.
The reception got us checked in with cheery smiles and a glass of juice. As it was still quite early, they took our bags. They said that we could use the pool and spa until it was ready . They sounded fabulous (more on those later) but we had a few errands to run and so we nipped out through the hotel’s mall entrance into Sandton City.
Our Room
Nails freshly filed, and South African sim card sorted, we returned 2 hours later to the happy news that our room was ready. We were shown up to room 2012, a deluxe king room.
The room was such a surprise. I don’t think we have ever had one like it. It was a mini suite, all in red tones ans with dark wood trimmings. Two step led down to the seating area and to either side was a column. We had columns!
Look!I love having steps!ColumnsOur big ol’ bed
Our windows opened like french windows and gave us a great view over the square and the Mandela statue below.
I have been trying to work out how to describe the style of the decor. I know it was meant to be kind of Italianate but it had kind of a Vegas vibe. The carpets, curtains and covers seemed a little nineties so, although they were good quality and perfectly nice, but I think they could do with an update.
Facilities
Around the room was a lovely coffee maker, surrounded by plenty of milk and a nice variety of teas. Every day we got shortbread fingers on the tray which we loved. By the desk were the only plugs in the room. In a world where we need to charge phones, cameras, iPad and more, there weren’t enough. I am not a fan of plugs that are so far from the bed either.
A great coffee machine
The Bathroom
The bathroom was lined in decadent red marble and had a HUGE mirror. It was palatial. The toilet and showers both had glass doors, blocking them from the central area. The shower and bath were both great and, (and this may seem weird) the extractor fans were epic! We were given a whole raft of useful things, shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitiser and even a sewing kit.
Look at that mirror!That is the decadent marbleGoodiesYou know its the small things that make me really happy
Gym, Pool and Spa
Besides the immense central lobby, this was my favourite part of the Michelangelo Hotel. We popped into the gym to have a quick look. We found a well air-conditioned little space, packed with machines. There was a sign that mentioned the personal trainer. It is nice to know that after your giant buffet breakfast, there are people to help you work it off again.
Out of the window we spied the pool and it looked totally inviting. It was time to dive in!
We head down one floor and head into the changing rooms. They were a good little space that had been well-considered. There were big showers with shampoo and conditioner, and a basket full of handy things like toothbrushes, deodorant….etc. It shows a level of consideration for their guests that I admire.
As seen from aboveDive inGaze upThe gymLocker areaA little basket of handy thingsTime to get changedThe showers with more productsThe grassy sundeckThe entrance to the spaTaking a dipSauna and steam room
The round pool is secreted under a giant glass dome. Floating the water you can gaze up to the sky above, whatever the weather. I bet it is amazing during a thunderstorm!
Next to the pool, you will see the main spa area. Here you can get a variety of treatments and up above it, is the sun deck. This is a nice grassed area and there was even a hot tub It was quite a chilly, windy day though, so we stuck to the indoor pool/ There was also a mini sauna and steam room to relax in.
Lounges And Lobby
Main Lobby
Well, what a stunner! There is absolutely no doubt about that. The ceiling rises seven stories above you and is drenched in natural light. It is exactly what you want from a hotel lobby, an area you actually want to spend time in. It is the first time in a while that it hasn’t just been a place to pass through. If you are in the area, and unable to stay at the hotel, it is worth popping in for a meal or a drink just to see it.
The Il Ritrovo Lounge
If you don’t want to perch around the bar in the main lobby, you can take a seat in the Il Ritrovo lounge. This classy side area has tables, chair and bunkettes. When we visited, there was a live pianist giving the ivories a tinkle. There was a display fancy whiskey on show.
Intermezzo
One floor up from the main lobby is the Intermezzo lounge. We spotted it from above and knew that we had to have a quick nosy. This mini lounge on the first floor mezzanine level is a great spot for a little peace and quiet. We didn’t see anyone else using it during our stay. The sofas are comfy, the magazines current and the natural light lovely. I’d happily spend an afternoon relaxing there if we had the time.
Business Centre
The Michelangelo Hotel is understandably proud of of its business centre. We popped in to have a look and they were so excited to how us about their unique selling points. The things that impressed us most were:
They will operate 24 hours a day. That means, if you need a meeting with Malaysia or a catch up with Canada, they can arrange it.
The location within the hotel means that it is a safe place for your meetings and it is always nice to have a bar and restaurant just across the lobby.
There are three room and they can set them up as board rooms, presentation spaces or video screenings. (You can use those screens for video calling too).
As we were out and about in Johannesburg in the day times and evenings, we only used the hotel for breakfast and the odd drink.
Breakfast Buffet
Entering the Piccolo Mondo at The Michelangelo Hotel, you are handed a menu. This details all of the special plated dishes you can order to accompany the huge buffet on offer.
First things first, we ordered coffee and then made a dash for the buffet.
My highlights:
There was a good selection of cheese from soft and blue cheese to a hard, Parmesan style cheese that came with its own shaving wheel.
The Asian section had dumplings (and we all know what a sucker I am for dim sum). The chicken bar tasted great, but as they were in a ban marie rather than a steamer, they had a gone a bit chewy. I bet if you get there early, they are perfect!
There is a plate full of smoked salmon. I had to exercise unbelievable personal restraint not to just wander off with the whole thing.
Toast is ordered from the waiters which means no queueing for one of those weird and usually terrible giant toast monsters.
The pastries are good and kept warm.
Breakfast timeOur table by the wndowCheesy goodnessPastriesSalad barAll the smoked fishContinental styleAsian selectionThe hot buffet
Elsewhere you could find the hot options (we didn’t try any as we had the eggs royale coming). Here were the usual suspects of eggs, bacon, sausage etc. There was a nice continental selection with a few things from the continent (smoked haddock, roll mops, good quality salami). I found plenty of fruit and Mr Fluskey enjoyed his cereal.
Breakfast A La Carte
On our first visit, we wanted to try as much as possible so we both got a buffet plate and ordered an eggs royale to share. It was very different to the kind we have at home. The eggs were boiled rather than poached, with a squishy yolk (not soft or hard boiled). The hollandaise sauce was a bright yellow, and came in a much smaller quantity. It was also served with mushroom and tomatoes. These were not mentioned in the menu so it is worth checking before you fill up on other things. I really enjoyed it as I normally have to ask for my sauce on the side, but Mr Fluskey wasn’t so keen.
On the following morning, I was craving sugar after a long night so picked at pastries and fruit and ordered the waffle with fruit and syrup. It was good but the thin kind of waffle rather than the large Belgian style. That’s great for me, but if you love deep puddles of syrup you may end up disappointed. The fruit that it came with was melting and pineapple, a slightly unexpected but tasty combination.
The Il Ritrivo Bar
The bar in the centre of the lobby is the hub of the Michelangelo hotel social life. We decided to stop for a few drinks on our way out to a party. The staff were very friendly and the selection of drinks was good. With each round, we were presented with two little dishes; one contained salted peanuts, and the other had a combination of wasabi peas and totally addictive, crunchy corn things.
At the bar, every day, they have a special G&T offer. For two hours, you can pick an exciting and unusual gin and tonic for a few less rand. It is a good way to end a work day, or start an evening out!
When we first sat down, the bar was a little quiet but over the next half an hour, it started to fill up. We popped out for dinner, and on our return, we saw that the bar was full.
Looking back on our time at The Michelangelo Hotel, we are slightly confused about their target audience. The pool and spa area are too cool for a busy business traveller, and the whole place seems very grown up. Then there is the slightly costumey feel to the place. The lobby is gorgeous but the giant stone lions are a little bit like overkill. I think it would be amazing for a small conference or series of meetings. The food is nice and the breakout spaces are great, so you wouldn’t feel stuck in the hotel. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and would happily return.
We would like to thank The Michelangelo Hotel as we were their guests. We genuinely enjoyed our stay and, as always, all opinions are entirely our own.
As much as we adore travel, it can be hard. In fact, travel can be exhausting, draining and downright miserable! Don’t worry, these long haul flight essentials will ease some of the pain.
Next time you are flying from A to Z (and especially if you are going all the way over B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K with a six hour stopover in Q) remember these tips and a pack a few things and you won’t just “survive” your next flight, but you will enjoy it.
Water is the Most Important of your Long Haul Flight Essentials
It’s a basic fact that we all know, you need water to live. But, did you know that in an aeroplane’s atmosphere you need an extra half litre an hour to stay hydrated? That’s a whole lot of the clear stuff. I am terrible at drinking water in the real world but on a plane, I suck on my water like a bottle fed baby!
And it’s not just the cabin air. Plane food can have very high levels of salt in. They are trying to make up for the deadening of taste buds at high altitude, and so you are dehydrating from the food too!
Don’t rely on an airline’s drinks service to keep your whistle wet, take a bottle of your own. You can buy a bottle of fancy mineral water after security, or you can take an empty bottle through and fill it up air-side at a water fountain.
I also make a point of asking the crew if there is a water fountain on board, or a jug in the galley. This sometimes prompts them to bring you more water.
How to Approach Other Drinks
Many airlines offer alcohol as part their drinks services. The official advice is that you should avoid it, and if you are that way inclined, well done! I do like to have a drink or two though, and so to counteract the alcohol’s dehydrating effect, I make sure I ask for water at the same time.
Remember that alcohol will hit you harder at altitude so you cannot drink as much as you would at ground level, without really feeling it. This could leave you a bit of a mess and arriving at your destination with a big hangover isn’t pleasant.
Make Sure You Pack Liquids
As well as drinking lots of fluids, there are other things you can do to keep your body from drying out (and this goes for girls and guys).
Once the plane has taken off, remove your make up, if you have any on. Once your face is bare, treat it to a nice big blob of intensive moisturiser. Ensure that it is more intense than the kind you would use at home. This will soak in surprisingly quickly, and keep your skin supple.
Lip balm or Vaseline stops your lips from cracking. Put on a nice thick slick before you go to sleep to keep them kissably soft.
I have been using this set for a while now and it works wonders. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.
Eye drops or spray will relieve sore, tired eyes by keeping them moisturised. It’s not something you normally think about, but it can make a difference after fifteen hours in the sky.
I am a HUGE fan of saline nasal spray. Planes are dry, and they can be rather cold. This makes my nose all dry and sore on the inside. Occasional squirts of saline spray stops this from happening. My mum does the same thing with airwaves chewing gum, but that makes my champagne…I mean water…taste funny. Trust me, this is weird, wonderful and works. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.
This is a complicated business. We all like to look nice when we fly, it’s exciting to be off on holiday, but you have to find the comfy/trendy balance.
Don’t wear anything with a tight waistband. It will only get worse as your tummy swells with the altitude, and that bloating salty plane food.
Don’t wear tight shoes or boots that can’t be loosened. Your feet will swell and getting them on again at the end of the flight can be very uncomfortable. If you keep them on they can restrict blood movement and that can encourage DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) which is a very bad thing indeed.
Flight socks can look silly (I know) but they work wonders to keep your circulation flowing nicely. You will need to pack a pair of high quality compression socks.
At least they make funky flight socks these days. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price. for these bright beauties.
It can get bumpy on a plane, so ultra low neck lines could result in unwanted wardrobe malfunctions. It’s best to stick to something that covers a little more “decolletage”…or you might get a nip slip!
I have said it before, and I will say it again, a seamless sports bra is INFINITELY more comfortable than a regular one when taking a long haul flight. There’s no straps to rub, no hooks to dig into your back and no danger that you’ll get a full pat down when the wire sets off the security arch.
The joys of the seamless sports bra lead to a seamless journey. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price for this triple-pack to suit every colour top.
Consider Wearing Slippers on Your Long Haul Flight
I like to change into little stretchy slippers for my flights. They keep my feet warm, allow them to swell without pain, and they are a bit sturdier than socks for my little walks around the plane. I have black ones which are a little more discreet. They go in the washing machine when I find a laundry and then they are fresh and clean for the next flight.
If you are worried about those questionable drips on the bathroom floor, wear comfortable shoes you can slip on and off quickly. I wouldn’t recommend wear flip flops and you will get cold toes and the “flip” “flop” slaps as you make your way to bathroom could disturb other passengers.
Keep it Moving
Get up and have a wander around the plane every so often. It is nice to get a change of scene; to look out of the window when you’ve been trapped in the centre of the plane can be a revelation. More importantly it promotes blood movement and helps prevent DVT.
If you are trapped in a middle seat and can’t clamber over your slumbering neighbours there are still little exercises you can do to simulate the benefits of a walk. You may look a little silly, but they are asleep so it doesn’t matter.
If you know that your plane has entertainment, why not visit the airline’s website ahead of time, and take a look at the listings. This allows you to decide what you want to watch and in which order. It would be very annoying to find a great film just as the plane starts its descent.
On overnight flights, I watch a blockbuster whilst I eat dinner. Then I get ready for bed and put on some sort of kids film, or a frivolous comedy. It is inoffensive, I don’t mind falling asleep to it (got to cut out that engine noise somehow) and they all have a nice predictable plot. It’s very comforting. When I wake up a few hours later, it’s back to the exciting films. This passes the time, gives me something to look forward to and sometimes saves me money at the cinema. Win, win, win.
Emirates is well known for their great entertainment ‘ICE Information Communication Entertainment’, check out a full Emirates economy review
Pack a Pillow
I am not sure the world has invented the perfect sleep pillow for flights yet. I can’t function without a surface to lean against! But we persist. At the moment I am using a blow up pillow. It takes up very little space and when I only have hand luggage, that is a big plus!
I have read great things about Cabeau Evolution and I’m tempted to try it for my next flight, but it looks very cumbersome and quite heavy for backpacking. Maybe I’ll give a go for my next city break.
Why not give it a go? Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.
If you only have one piece of hand luggage, and it is too big to fit under the seat in front (or you are gifted with long legs and need the space), prepare an essentials pouch. You can slip this in to the seat-back pocket negating the need to get up and down every ten minutes. It also makes it less likely you will forget loose items. Here’s what’s in mine;
Eye mask and ear plugs – I’ll be honest, I always fail to use these when I am actually on the flight, but Mr Fluskey uses his religiously. They block out light and sound for when you are ready to sleep. The eye mask I use, mostly when we are in a noisy hotel, is a 3D mask (check out all our accomodation reviews including budget, midrange and luxury). It fits the bridge of your nose snugly but doesn’t press on your eyes/eyelashes so it is very dark and very comfy.
This looks just like mine and even comes with free ear plugs. Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.
Pen – For filling out landing cards, making notes or doodling.
Phone – It may be on aeroplane mode but it still my blogging tool…plus it has games and back up videos if the entertainment system is awful…or non-existent.
Portable charger and USB cable – You may get lucky and have an in-seat power supply, in which case, you’re OK. Just in case there isn’t, have your portable charger fully juiced and ready for back up.
This is exactly the model I have and I couldn’t live without it! Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.
Headphones and splitter. Don’t bring your wireless headphones because you can’t use them with the inflight entertainment system, except on the newest Virgin Atlantic A330 planes.
We have had a great run with one of these multi-splitters, plus four of us watched one video together…win! Tap on the picture to check the latest Amazon price.
This is very important if you seriously want to get some rest. You need to trick your body into thinking it is bedtime.
Go to the bathroom.
Change into some light, loose cotton clothing.
Brush you teeth.
Make sure you can sleep on your hair comfortably.
Do whatever else you do before you go to bed (nothing naughty please).
This psychologically puts you in mind of bedtime and so when you return to your seat and strap back in (doing up your seat belt before you sleep is very important or you could be woken by the crew to do so) you are ready to slumber.
Try Flirting to REALLY Enjoy Your Long Haul Flight
I know, I know, this is a weird piece of advice, but flirting (without being cringy) can achieve some wonderful results:
It might get you a slightly better seat on board or convince a crew member to give you extra drinks, food or water. It also means that if you are looking for ways to make the time fly(!) on your plane, you can go and have a chat with the crew. You could also try and make conversation with your fellow passengers. You may make a friend for life…or alienate the passengers around you… Either way, you’ll have passed some time.
Plus, it is a free way to enjoy your long haul flight!
Check in online. There are many different reasons for this but just believe me, check in online.
Always set you phone or watch to your destination’s time zone. This means you can try and start adjusting straight away. Many airlines will try and keep you asleep for most of the journey, but if it’s 13:00 in your destination, you should be awake. Consider setting an alarm when you get ready for bed to ensure you wake up at the right time.
Need to pee a lot? Pick an aisle seat. Need to lean on something to sleep? Pick a window. Got a tight connection? Sit as close to the front as you can get. Want a nice photo? Just behind the wing is good.
The first time I visited Chiang Mai was during our five month trip around Asia. I can tell you that I am struggling to remember much of what we did. It has all blurred into the mists of mis-memory (I think I just invented a word) and is the sum of our photos. But seeing as you are here, let me share with you what I do remember about Chiang Mai.
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I also make a point of asking the crew if there is a water fountain on board, or a jug in the galley. This sometimes prompts them to bring you more water.
Eye drops or spray will relieve sore, tired eyes by keeping them moisturised. It’s not something you normally think about, but it can make a difference after fifteen hours in the sky.
