7 Items to Improve Any Journey

Planes, trains and automobiles. We use them all and yet, we tend not to look forward to using them. They are but a means to an end. Especially for those of us who don’t enjoy flying or struggle with travel sickness. No matter how much time you spend travelling every day, that time is your precious time. A well-packed bag can transform your journey and you’re more likely to arrive at your destination in a good mood. Whether you’re touring the world, jetting off on holiday, or your commute makes you want to gauge your eyes out. Check out the below for some tips on how to improve your journey and make the most of your time.

On our journey back west, we got a bit complacent. Assuming that our plane would have entertainment on it, we stuck our laptops into our checked bags for the first time and boarded. Can you imagine a long-haul flight without a little TV on it? No, I didn’t think that was a thing either. Much to my disappointment, for the first time I found myself unprepared, with 9 hours to kill. Oh, and also a dying Kindle, a dying phone and no charging points. So, there’s your first tip! If you’re flying budget long-haul, check to see if there’s entertainment because apparently, not all planes have it. Needless to say, by the time I arrived at my destination I was not feeling particularly relaxed.

After packing every few days, we got rather good at ensuring we had everything we might need in our hand luggage. Might – being the key word here. If your journey is 8 hours, you don’t necessarily know what you’re going to be in the mood for. Therefore, a variety of choice is important. If your journey is a lot shorter, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for delays or breakdowns. If you’re enjoying your time and your relaxed, a delay will be less likely to ruin your day. You’ll get there when you get there right?

Whether you’re using a big handbag, backpack or laptop bag, you should be able to fit in the below. I’m not going to tell you to pack your smartphone, tablet or laptop, I’m working on the assumption that you’ve got that figured out for yourself.

I got into the habit of charging the power bank the night before every journey. There is nothing more frustrating than having the charging amenities and not being able to find a plug or USB socket. If you’re using your phone or tablet to watch shows or films, or you’re using Google Maps to get around, you’ll likely notice your battery drop at an alarming rate. Save yourself from boredom and keep a (charged) power bank handy. Then, you can binge watch your downloaded Netflix shows without the fear of a dead gadget. We found this power bank fabulous. It’s a bit too bulky for a handbag but it is perfect for a rucksack on a day trip or a long journey. It has 2 USB charging points and can charge using solar if it runs out of juice. There is also a handy torch on it.

Bag Organisation: I used a small clear zip bag to hold my power bank, 2 charging cables, 2x headphones, a headphone splitter and a screen cleaning cloth. Organised and easy to reach.

Man, I feel weird leaving the house without this thing. I bought a small make-up bag from Superdrug and filled it with necessities. It saved all of the small bits from floating around in my bag and left me feeling prepared for any eventuality. So, what’s in the bag?

Pocket tissues, freshen up wipes, mints or chewing gum, a mini-med kit (containing painkillers, travel sickness pills, Savlon, Rennie, antihistamine & Imodium) hair ties, plasters, hand sanitiser, hand cream, eye drops, pocket mirror and lip balm. It’s always a good idea to put in some special lady items too, should you or another girl in need ever require them.

If the journey is particularly long or involves a flight I would extend this to include… Face moisturiser, eye masks, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, multivitamins and some kind of relaxation aide such as Rescue Remedy. Liquids will obviously have to be packed into a separate clear bag if flying.

I always kept a lightweight sarong in my bag whilst travelling and it was so incredibly useful. In the heat I would use it as a sarong on the beach, to sit on (sand, grass and uncomfy chairs) or to leave on a sun lounger. Travel wise, I would use it as a blanket when the air con was a bit much, wear it as a scarf or shawl and if I was lucky enough to get a window seat, bundle it up and use it as a pillow. They’re so multi-purposeful. Probably not necessary for a commute but perfect for long journeys and layering.

You can’t go wrong with having something to read. Pick up a magazine, a book or carry a Kindle with you. Sitting on a plane or train is the perfect time to pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. If you feel like being more productive with your time, get yourself a self-improvement book in an area of your choice. Educate yourself on nutrition or mental wellbeing. Alternatively, learn something about history. A Short History of Nearly Everything & Sapiens are just 2 books that pretty much cover the history of humankind. Turn up to your destination smarter than when you left.

Remember that 9-hour long haul flight we did without TV? If you thought that was bad, imagine doing it without any food or drink. I know. We had spent 2 weeks in Vietnam and were flying to Dubai, via Manila. The long-haul flight being the Manila to Dubai leg.

Our airline accepted UAE or Filipino currency – of which we had none, or credit cards – of which we had none. It really was a miserable 9 hours. Obviously, we were brought water but that was the extent.

It doesn’t hurt to keep a little something-something in your bag, especially if you like to eat healthily and want to avoid convenience foods. Plus, if you’re stuck on a broken-down train or in traffic you’ll be grateful for a snack and less likely to go on a food rampage when you arrive at your destination.

In Asia we spent a lot of time on buses, sometimes the drivers stopped for breaks, other times they didn’t. Having your own snacks means you can relax and not sit on-edge waiting for someone else to dictate when you can eat.

With all of the above, you should be prepped for most eventualities. But what if you’re travelling in a group? Should you be unable to stick in your headphones and zone out without being dubbed the unsociable hen, now is the time to pull out a game. A pack of cards, Uno, Dobble and lots of other travel games are available and conveniently small enough to stick in your bag. I recommend a regular pack of cards because most people will know how to play a game or 2. Plus, if there’s a bar nearby they’re fantastic for drinking games. If it’s a bit early for that, look up the rules to ‘Warewolf’, a role-playing game (which can be played with regular cards) which makes for a surprisingly good ice breaker (but admittedly is even more fun after a few drinks).

Whilst travelling, I had the above on me at all times. When flying or heading out on an all-day trip, being prepared made me feel more relaxed. It’s also convenient to have painkillers or plasters ready in case you or anyone needs them, without disrupting your day going in search of a pharmacy. You probably already have those items and end up spending more money buying them again due to necessity. Maybe you won’t need to use any of it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you came prepared.