4 things to help you survive your next long travel day

In preparation for flying to Thailand, and trying to survive a 19 hour travel day to Bangkok, plus an early morning flight the following day to Koh Samui we did a few things to make it easier. I would highly recommend everyone does this, especially if you’re stopping off somewhere on your way to your final destination or just looking to make life easier.

Split the packing

The first thing we did was pack half of each other’s clothes in the other’s bag. For example, we each have a packing cube full of T-shirts in our backpacks with half of my tops and half of Reilly’s. This means that God forbid one of our bags gets lost (we have AirTags just in case) we are not left without any clothes. It’s just one less thing to worry about and takes pressure off if something does go wrong. As a flight attendant I can’t stress enough how important it is to have backup plans in terms of luggage because issues other than just an airline losing bags are more common than you would like. Alternatively, if you are flying with well-known big airlines, it’s very common for bags to be checked at the gate for free. If you want to check a bag and want it guaranteed to get on that plane, here is the smartest place to do it.

Good old entertainment

We also packed some Uno cards, but this could just be regular cards to keep us entertained on our four hour layover between flights as something to keep our minds occupied that doesn’t include electronics. It’s also easy to access at the first accommodation and is something fun to do to wind down from a long day before another long day. Another benefit is that you may, like us, arrive at accommodation before check in. A lot of hostels is still allow you to use the facilities before checking in, so going to social areas and playing cards is a great icebreaker.

Always pack spares

In our carry on bags, we each packed some spare clothes to change into when we arrived in Thailand as we didn’t want to arrive wearing clothes suitable for the UK October weather as they’re definitely not suitable for Thai October weather. Along with spare clothes, we packed our pyjamas, change of underwear and swim swim wear because rather than digging through our big main backpacks everything we need on the first night is easily accessible.

Essentials to hand

I’d also recommend packing a plane/hostel kit, especially if you have one night somewhere before getting to your destination. This once again means you don’t have to go rummaging through your bag to find the essentials, like toothbrush, toothpaste and body wash. In this pouch we also have anti-bacterial wipes, earplugs and eye masks as they just make plane journeys a bit more bearable. In some cabins with some airlines are pouch like this is provided as an amenity. However, as we’re on a budget, and in economy, I made my own based on the ones I used to see working for an airline.