Travel has always been one of my great loves, but let’s be honest, the process of getting to your final destination isn’t always the most fun. Airplanes are cramped, cold and crowded, making air travel an often unpleasant necessity in order to get from point A to point B.
But what if I told you it didn’t have to be? That even if you are flying coach you can pack a few things that will turn your stressful flight into a relaxing “me time”. Today I’m sharing what I pack with me in order to keep my time in the air stress free.
(World map from Paper Hearts Halifax)
When packing for a flight you are usually allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item. If you want to know what I pack in my carry-on bag during long flights click here! But today I’m chatting about that precious personal item you are allowed to stow under your seat. My personal item is almost always my Michael Kors Selma handbag since it’s the perfect size to fit all my travel necessities while still fitting within the the standard airline allowed dimensions. But what exactly do I fill my handbag with?
Here are 4 things you need to bring to make the most of your flight:
1. A good book
Depending on what airline you are flying with, there’s bound to be at least some amount of time when electronics are required to be powered off. Why not make the most of this time by bringing along a new book? I always loved reading as a kid, but as an adult it’s sometimes hard to find the time to actually sit down an read a novel. Being thousands of feet in the air with no cell phone service is the best excuse to curl up with that book you’ve been wanting to read!
2. Pretty pouches to keep things organized
Organization is everything when traveling! Confession, one time I dropped my passport while boarding a plane. I didn’t even realize it had happened, but suddenly the flight attendant was calling my name over the intercom to come pick it up. Oops! Now, I really focus on trying to keep everything organized when traveling. This cute blush multi-pocket organizer has multiple zippered sections, making it perfect for storing your passports, airline tickets and other documents. Oh, and it has a wrist strap so you don’t accidentally drop it on your way to the plane (like me haha!)
3. Stuff to stay hydrated
Airplane air is so dry and can leave your skin majorly dehydrated. While I always try to bring along some hand creme and moisturizing lip product (this agave lip mask is my absolute favourite thing for chapped lips!), the best way to keep your skin hydrated is by drinking plenty of H2O. What many people don’t know is that you can actually bring your own water bottle (like this pretty S’well bottle!) along during your flight. You do need to empty the water bottle before going through security, but then you are able to refill it once you get within the secured area of the airport. Many airports even have designated water bottle refill stations, but a regular drinking fountain works just as good. Bringing your own bottle means you don’t have to wait for flight attendants to serve refreshments before grabbing a much needed sip of water.
4. All the warm things
Planes are notoriously cold and feeling chilled mid-flight is sure to make flying a less enjoyable experience. Along with wearing a pretty scarf, I like to bring along a pair of thick cozy socks – especially since toes are one of the first things that will start to feel cold. Chapters sells these amazing reading socks that are seriously the coziest thing ever and they are absolutely perfect for keeping your toes warm mid-flight!
The rest of my bag is filled with the everyday necessities that I typically carry on a daily basis: A small card case, my glasses and a pen. Oh, and of course I always bring my iPhone and a pair of headphones to listen to music or watch in-flight entertainment if it is available. But by staying hydrated, warm, organized and entertained you are well on your way to actually enjoying those hours spent in transit.
– Shop the Details –
World map pin board. Milk & Honey book. Pink multi-zip wallet. Bite Beauty lip mask. S’ip water bottle. Reading socks. White & marble headphones. Michael Kors Selma.