Start Your Trip Right
From the United States, a trip to the Alps includes several hours of air travel. In order to start your Alpenwild adventure off right, consider these flight tips to travel in comfort:
Dress Wisely
A non stop flight from LAX to the Geneva, Switzerland airport is 13 hours and 50 minutes long. That doesn’t include a layover, wow! That’s a whole lot of time to catch up on reading, writing in a journal, a favorite TV series with inflight wifi, (I personally crocheted a horse on my last flight) or sleep! In order to make the most of your travel time, dress appropriately for the journey.
Wear comfortable, sturdy clothes
Do not wear attire that has itchy tags, or is tight in any area. It will be much easier to enjoy sitting on your flight with loose, breathable clothes. Shoe wise, I wear my hiking boots to save my heels from the chomping jaws of my wheeled luggage, save space in my checked bag and easily loosen the laces to slip my feet out and relax on the long flight. (Heads up, they can be a hassle going through security, though. The benefits weight out those few minutes, though.)
Layer up
It is smart to wear layers on the plane as the plane can get cold. If you’re lucky, blankets and pillows are provided by the airline. If not, you can put on a light jacket, roll up a shirt for a pillow and sleep in peace.
Pack Wisely
An airline mis-placed my mom’s bags between flight transfers and she arrived in Switzerland with nothing but her carry-on. With such a long trip, if luggage is lost, it will be (thousands of) miles away. Stock your carry on wisely to ensure you are prepared in the case of lost luggage.
Pack an extra set of clothes
It is always a good idea to pack an extra set of clothes – not just in case your luggage is lost but there is something rejuvenating about changing into something new when you land at your destination.
Be mindful of travel documents
Again, the lost luggage concept – if your train tickets are in your checked bag and the bag is lost, you will not be able to catch a train to your destination after your plane lands. It is always a good idea to keep your carry-on stocked as an “emergency kit” including an extra change of clothes, personal care items and medications just in the case that your checked bag is lost.
Most likely, your passport will be in your carry-on (it should be or you won’t be able to get on the plane) be sure to keep your travel documents in a safe, yet easily accessible place. I like to use my backpack and purse hidden pockets for my passport’s safe keeping.
Additional items that can enhance your flight experience:
- WetOnes wipes – excellent for wiping down a plane seat – might as well sit in peace knowing that even if the person before you was sick, the seat is a little cleaner than it could have been
- Travel pillow – There are many shapes and sizes of travel pillows: horse-shoe pillows, bum doughnuts, and more… Ostrich pillows always make me laugh. Just choose the pillow that will make your flight as comfortable as possible.
- Snacks – The airlines do an excellent job providing snacks and drinks on international flights.That being said, one can only eat so many Biscoff cookies before the tummy craves something else. If you really want to be prepared, do your research to know what food will be available on the flight ahead of time. If the menu doesn’t suit your tastes, or if you have dietary restrictions, I highly recommend that you bring your own snacks. (I have a severe peanut allergy and will only eat food I bring on a flight. In the course of doing so, I’ve discovered that yes, you can bring sealed packaged yogurts, fruit cups and more. I haven’t figured out the limit yet… but that’s a good thing. 🙂 )
There you have it! A few tips to help you travel to the alps in comfort. What items do you prefer to wear or take with you to make your long flights more enjoyable? Are there any travel-savvy tips you’d like to share? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments below.
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