Surviving 24 hours straight in airports and airplanes can be a nightmare, but the adventure that awaits you on the other side is almost always worth it. If you want to be a rock star traveler and feel good while doing it then keep on reading.
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I recently set a goal to see and photograph every country in the world. I’m starting this year by visiting thirty countries and created the list below because I know I’ll be spending plenty of time in airports. Here, my top ten tips for surviving twenty four or more hours in airplanes and airports.
#1: Steal a Better Seat
If you can’t afford first class, stay on your toes. As soon as the flight is in the air all seats are fair game. If there is an entire row open, all you have to do is move and set up shop. Three seats with a couple of pillows and blankets are almost as nice as first class. Even two seats are not a bad way to go. Is this rude? I’ll let you be the judge, but someone is going to sit there and it might as well be you!
© Trey Ratcliff / Stuck in Customs
#2: Sleep Deeply with Melatonin
Melatonin is a natural hormone that your body produces to regulate your internal clock. It helps achieve a natural sleep when resetting your internal clock, so you don’t have jet lag. Flight attendants often use it for this reason. You can buy 100 tablets over the counter for about $5.
#3: The Relief Band
I lived in Puerto Rico for a while and had a 38 feet sailboat. We would go sailing with six people for several days at a time. When things got rough someone always got sick. I found a small electric device that looks like a watch and stops motion sickness in about thirty seconds. It works perfectly.
In fact, it works so well that the company stopped making ones with replaceable batteries and now only produces a disposable variety with a week of battery power (called Reletex). I recommend checking Ebay and getting an original one with replaceable batteries though.
#4: Become Super Hydrated
Hydration is key on long flights since you are breathing dry, recycled air. Skip the soda or wine and drink as much water as you can handle. I really can’t say this enough; it is crucial. Oftentimes jet lag is really dehydration sickness.
#5: Avoid Heavy Foods Like the Plague
One of the worst feelings is to be stuck on an airplane with a horrible cramp. Also, according to a report from “Associated Content”, fatty foods and sugar can lower your immune system within ten minutes of their consumption. When flying long distance, you need an immune system firing on all cylinders. Examples of foods to avoid would be fried foods, pizza and basically any fast food.
Aeroport El Prat, Barcelona © Lali Masriera
#6: Take a Yoga Break
“There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
~Douglas Adams, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
I have gotten a few odd looks with this one, but it’s totally worth it. If you have to choose between fitting in and being comfortable, always go with comfort!
If you don’t know any yoga stretches, simply find a quiet part of the airport (like an empty gate) and stretch your legs and arms. Take your hands and massage your neck and shoulders with your fingers. This helps stave off muscle spasms and knots and helps get your circulation going. It also helps prevent blood clots from forming due to lack of movement. If you already know yoga, do some basic poses and focus on your breathing for a while. Twenty minutes like this can reset your whole day and replace the pain caused by sleeping on a plane and traveling.
#7: Wear Comfortable Clothing and Shoes
Flying is no time to worry about looking nice (and hurting your feet) or to be sweating. Comfortable clothing will ensure you are well rested. Also, taking your shoes off from time to time helps.
#8: Use Earplugs
Planes create massive sound frequency and electric fields. One way to reduce the noise effect is to block the sound.
Why would an electrical field affect us? Your body runs on electricity. Seriously, you can measure the electrical field of your brainwaves with an EKG machine. Spending that much time next to an electrical field can throw your body off completely. You can find good earplugs in most airport gift shops for about $5.
#9: Try a Light and Sound Machine
A light and sound machine is a small computer hooked to a pair of glasses and headphones. It uses light and sound frequencies to put you into a deep sleep or an energetic state. I know that it sounds crazy, but it works.
The sleep program typically knocks me out in about ten minutes. The machine uses a technology called binaural beats to get your internal rhythm synced up and then speed it up or slow it down. It feels kind of like a sound massage. Music uses the same principal.
I recommend Photosonix-Inner Pulse, which sells for about $179 with glasses and high-end headphones.
Need a cheaper alternative? If you have an iPhone, there are some solid applications that do this also. The experience is not nearly as good, but it’s still a very useful tool for quick relaxation.
#10: Endless Power Supply
Few things are worse than having no batteries on a long flight or layover. There is a super battery that will keep you going for days called HyperMac-External-Battery-for-iPad-iPhone-Mac. You can get one at www.hypershop.com. They have several different sizes starting at around $169. Even the basic model will recharge an iPhone 38 times on a single charge.
Last but not least, remember to be grateful when things do not work perfectly. If a flight gets cancelled or some other travel delay inevitably happens we can always take comfort in the fact that at least we are out travelling the world in the first place. Life is short, so we might as well enjoy the entire process and not just the destination.
If you would like to follow my trip around the world, you can find me at The Endless Weekend. If you have any ideas you would like to see added to this list, please leave a comment below or hit me up on twitter @endlessweekend.