Carry on and flying tips

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5F83C144-B439-4BB0-B112-B0EF76AD5B91.jpegTraveling can be stressful. I like to make it as comfortable for myself as possible, especially for the long flights! I’ve read SO many different tips and tricks for what others like to bring in their carry on’s. Here’s a list of my favorite items and some tips that help me stay calm, relaxed, and ready to go once we land.

Mario badescu rose water facial spray – this is really nice for when you’re about to land. Give your face a nice spritz to help revitalize your skin (it can get really dry in the plane).
Clorox wipes – I wipe everything down before I get completely settled. Kyle makes fun of me, but airplanes are one of the dirtiest forms of transportation (IMO). I wipe the tray table, arm rests (especially the reclining button), seat if I can, TV screen, remote, I wipe it ALL. Germs, be gone!
Facial wipes/makeup remover wipes – I use these twice. Once before I’m getting ready to sleep, and again before we land (before the facial spray).
Snacks (protein bar/almonds) – bring your own snacks. Even if you’re not hungry or don’t think you will be, it’s nice to have something healthy in your bag. Not to mention, airplane food can get pretty pricey!
Thick socks – when we’re finally in the air, I take off my shoes off and swap them for some big, thick socks. Bonus points if you can find a pair with “grippers” on the bottom. These are great to walk around in if you need to use the toilet in the middle of the night, no point in waking up the people in your row while putting your shoes back on.
Large scarf – this is probably my #1 must have. A large scarf is not just for style in the airport, but pick one that can also function as a blanket! Most international airlines provide a small pillow and blanket, but if you’re traveling a shorter distance or booked a flight on the cheap airlines (WOWair for example), you’re going to want some type of blanket. My favorite scarf I got off of amazon for less than $10.
Neck pillow – I recommend finding a memory foam pillow. The ones with beads aren’t as comfortable to sleep on. This can also be used as lumbar support if you’re lucky enough to already have a pillow provided by the airline!
Light sweater/jacket – Even while traveling in the summer, I’ve never regretted the extra layer. You never know when your row mate is going to blast the cold air all night.
Power pack – one of my biggest fears while traveling is to be in an international airport with a phone that’s completely dead. Sure, there are maps and airport employees to help…but if you’re like me, your livelihood is on your phone. Do yourself a favor and bring the power pack as a CYA.
Hand lotion – did I mention the air is dry on the flights? You’re going to be thankful you brought this one along.
Hand sanitizer – one of my flights not long ago had a broken sink. Not only was I not able to wash my hands after using the toilet, but neither was anyone else 😱. Bring this as a precautionary measure or even to use after you’ve made your way back to your seat.
Ear buds/ head phones – Some flights provide these if you have inflight entertainment and a tv screen to use. Sometimes they charge for them though so best to bring your own if you’re on a budget! For those that done have inflight entertainment, I don’t typically listen to music on flights, but I have a meditation pod cast that I love!! I know I know, we all hear too much about meditation and how great it is (blah blah blah). Hear me out — for people like me with flight anxiety, this really helps calm me down. Turbulence really freaks me out, no matter how many times i fly. The calming voice of a guided meditation and ocean sounds in the background have been my saving grace more times than one!
Hair brush – for obvious reasons. I hate having tangled hair after taking a snooze on a flight.
Travel size toothbrush and tooth paste – I once read that in order to sleep properly (or as best you can) you need to do your nighttime routine, which means brushing your teeth before bedtime!
Benadryl – Benadryl is not only great for my allergies, but it puts me to sleep! Again with the flight anxiety, sometimes I just need to knock myself out with some OTC meds. Sleep = less freaking out. Also, I read recently that Benadryl is actually recommended to be the best OTC medicine for flight anxiety, for the exact reason that it makes you tired! I have nothing against controlled substances for anxiety, but it’s just not for me. So, BRING ONNNNN the Benadryl!
Ibuprofen – we all hope for those quiet and relaxing flights, but in the event you didn’t drink enough water or you get seated next to a screaming child — the ibuprofen will save your life.
Bottle of water – obviously you can’t bring a bottle of water through security, but I almost always grab one at a shop before getting on the plane!! Staying hydrated is going to help prevent jet lag, or at least make the time change a little easier on your body. If you plan to drink a lot of water, might want to switch your window seat for an aisle. Otherwise, you’re going to annoy the heck out of those in your row by waking up to pee every hour.
Visine eye drops – again with the dry air…this isn’t something I use often, but the times I have I’ve been very thankful to have them in my bag.

I want to mention too that if you really want to avoid jet lag and getting dehydrated, stay away from too much alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, when I start my vacation one of the first things I want to grab is a glass of wine to celebrate the trip! I always try to stick to one glass of red wine and then drink a glass of water. Believe me when I say that being hungover and jet lagged at the same time will have you regretting the multiple cocktails more than you realized. There will be plenty of time to drink that cranberry and grey goose when you get to your destination.

 

 

 

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Published by Sara Tabor

Hi! Thank you for visiting my page :) My name is Sara Tabor. I’m a 27 year old wife, dog mom, and business woman living in Columbia, MD. A little bit of background about me, I grew up in a working class family in East Tennessee. (The older I get, the more thankful I am for this) We couldn’t afford to travel much or if we did it was to visit my Aunt in the DC area. Don’t get me wrong, my parents ensured we never went without things that we needed, we just didn’t have the means for things we deemed more “luxurious”. I remember sitting in French class in high school and studying about the culture of France. I fantasized about standing beneath the Eiffel Tower and walking the streets of the 7th arrondissement in Paris. I was determined to make traveling a priority and to find a career that would afford me the ability to make it happen. Fast forward to a college degree, a husband, and a big move to the DMV area later, we (kind of) figured it out! Well, we’re still figuring it out I guess... stay tuned! I started reading blog after blog about people who backpacked through Europe or just went on vacation with a budget of less than $100 per day (including accommodations). Intriguing? Yes, I thought so too. Kyle and I are not what we would consider “wealthy”. So, i was floored to read how NORMAL people travel. I just needed to figure out a way that worked for us and to set up a budget that would give us the ability to finally make this dream a reality. In 2016 we planned our first trip to Europe! We saved for almost a year to ensure we had plenty of money. Since then we’ve been hooked! We make sacrifices every day in the name of saving money. (Not just for traveling, but in general). I promise it’s worth it. You won’t miss the things you thought you would once you start reaping the benefits I started this blog in hopes of sharing our travel tips with others. I believe it’s a common misconception that one must be “rich” in order to travel, especially internationally. (I actually used to think this myself!) That is simply not true and I can’t wait to show you how you can travel too! Other than traveling every chance we get, Kyle and I live a pretty normal life with our two “fur babies” in Columbia. We both work full time (sometimes more than that!) and try to take advantage of any time we have off together. I’ll be sharing bits and pieces of our lives here as well, just for fun!

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