November 2004

Plan Ahead Travel

by Martina Priadka

If you have ever tried to check last minute airfares at this time of the year, you are well aware that you are competing with most of the country for seats.  The travel deals are few and far between and the blackout dates are plentiful.  Fortunately for most of us, Minnesota is a holiday destination spot. When it comes to going home for the holidays most of us are already there.  But for those of us who have to fly to get to our loved ones, have loved ones who are flying or just tend to travel often, here are some travel tips to keep you healthy and happy before, during and after the flight.

Stay healthy.  Make sure you get enough sleep before the trip.  Getting enough rest is the number one preventative of weakened immunity and illness. And don’t forget to take your vitamins.  It sounds old fashioned but it is really important.  Especially when you are planning to fly during a season when half the people on your plane are coughing and sneezing.  If you don’t have any vitamins, go get some.  A good multi-vitamin along with a garlic supplement, I prefer the odorless kind, and a vitamin C supplement such as emergen- C is a good start for immunity boosting.

Give yourself time to pack.  There is nothing worse than having to throw things in a suitcase randomly or staying up all night just to get everything together. If you are not a good packer the best thing to do is start a week in advance.  Take everything out of your closet and drawers that you think you might want to take with you.  Each day, remove two things.  Stick with a base of solid colors.  Add one or two items with color or patterns at the end.  This way you can pack light but still have a variety of looks.  Remember that socks can go inside shoes and toiletries can go in your carry-on (see ini’s closet for suggested carry-on bags). If you get really good at packing you might never have to check a bag again.

On-line check-in.  If you can check in on line, do it.  As long as you are not flying international you can save so much time by printing your boarding pass from home.  You can make seat changes and don’t have to arrive until one hour before the flight.  For those of you who must check luggage, curbside check-in saves you the waiting time in long lines of people who did not plan ahead like you.

Drink plenty of water and stay away from alcohol.  This may not sound very fun but water is your friend on an airplane.  The best way to help avoid jetlag and feel good when you arrive is to keep hydrated.  Bring water with you and alert your flight attendant that you would like to have water between meals.  The cabin air is very dry and recycled.  The extra water you drink throughout the flight will keep you in good health.  Alcohol will just dehydrate you and make the jetlag worse, especially on long flights.  Continue to drink plenty of fluids once you arrive, as it will take your body a little while to adjust to the new climate.

Sleep on the plane.  This is easier said than done but it is possible.  Bring along some cozy socks, some earplugs, an eye cover and a travel pillow for your neck.  Nothing makes the flight shorter than a little sleep.

Don’t nap.  If you have flown long enough that you are in a completely different time zone, try not to nap.  When you are on holiday it is best to try to acclimate to the local time as quickly as possible.  Napping in the middle of the day will only prolong the process.  If you flew from Minneapolis to Chicago then by all means, take a nap.  Take two if you want!

Hopefully these simple tips will make your holiday much more pleasurable.  Happy travels!

...Now That's Theskini!::permalink


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