Anybody who’s been on a long trip will know how stressful it can be to sit still for hours on end – your body aches, you feel drained and the only thing on your mind is getting out of the car or the plane. It can be very difficult to stay comfortable during a long journey, especially if you don’t have a lot of room to move around. Thankfully, if you follow a few simple tips, staying comfortable and happy while you are travelling can be a breeze.
1. Wear several layers
Getting settled in your airplane seat and realizing you’re freezing or rushing through the airport to make your connecting flight just to realize you’re drenched in sweat have to be some of the most uncomfortable situations you can stumble upon while travelling. Thankfully, they can easily be avoided by planning your airplane outfit a bit more carefully. Apart from wearing comfortable clothes, such as loose t-shirts and sweatpants or leggings, remember to bring a few layers with you, as well. Even if it’s just a simple cardigan or a hoodie, an extra layer can easily be added or removed, as the temperature fluctuates throughout the day.
2. Choose adequate footwear
While it may not be the most fashionable choice, sneakers, flats and other closed-toe shoes will go a long way to protecting your feet during your trip. However, the most comfortable footwear option for travelling might be Adidas sneakers, as not only are they very light and breezy, but they also provide your feet with proper arch support, preventing any potential injuries. There are many places where you can buy Adidas shoes online, so you are bound to find a pair to your liking. But whichever ones you choose, your feet and your back are undoubtedly going to grateful for these comfortable shoes.
3. Bring a comfortable pillow
It is likely that you will get tired of the stress that comes with travelling, and taking a nap while you are listening to your favorite playlist can help you relax and feel better when you arrive at your destination. If you are going on a car trip, consider taking your favorite pillow with you for maximum comfort. If you are travelling by bus or plane, however, the best idea might be to pack an inflatable neck cushion in your carry-on. Apart from being compact, this type of neck pillow provides your back with proper support and gives you additional comfort while you are travelling.
4. Pack some tasty snacks
Don’t skimp on snacks when you have a long day of travel ahead of you – being hungry is the worst. Make it a point to pack a lot of foods high in protein and good fats, such as nuts and seeds, which will keep your hunger at bay while you are on the road. You can even opt for fruit, jerky, dark chocolate and whole wheat crackers. But whichever food you choose, don’t forget to bring a bottle of water with you as well, in order to stay hydrated and refreshed throughout the whole trip.
5. Remember to stretch
Anyone who’s travelled before knows how sore your body can get after hours of sitting in the same position. In order to prevent muscle soreness, keep yourself as active as possible while travelling by stretching and moving around in your seat periodically. Look for any tension in your body every once in a while and, if an area feels tight, a simple stretch could usually help. If you are the driver, remember to pull over regularly if you need to stretch or move around. If you are travelling by plane, a simple walk down the aisle will do wonders for preventing muscle soreness and stiffness.
While a long flight or road trip can leave any traveler feeling sore, achy and fidgety, these simple tips will help you stay relaxed and comfortable on your journey, so that you can arrive to your destination rested and full on energy.
Guest Post by Peter who is a travel editor at Men-Ual magazine. Beside blogging he worked as a travel journalist for many publications around UK & AU. Follow Peter on Twitter for more tips.
A hot chocolate fixes almost anything! It relaxes and makes you sleep better, too!
Stretching has always been the big one for me. I can handle almost anything, but sitting in one position for hours on end is what really gets me. Stretching helps keep me comfy and way less fidgety.
A good pillow is a must for me. It’s always the first thing I make sure I have before we head out the door for our travels. Good walking shoes too. It can really dampen a vacation if your feet or sore or you are overly tired!
Snacks are a definite yes since things can get expensive. The right snack can also be hard to find while traveling.
My traveling life was forever changed when I got a comfy neck pillow. I’m not even kidding, it was amazing and made it so much nicer.
Thank you so much for the great tips! I will be traveling soon and I these will be really helpful!
These are definitely some great tips for traveling. I think wearing layers and comfortable shoes are super important.
Stretch has always been my way of staying comfortable while traveling. My muscle gets tense after sit in one position for long so it is important for me to get up and exercise a bit during a long-haul flight.
When traveling, a good pair of comfortable sneakers are a must for me. Bringing snacks isn’t a bad thing either if there are no stores to buy them.
These tips are all true to me. I have forgotten one or the other and it really makes your trip feel annoying! Especially when you forget the right shoes.
Yes stretching is a must. Sometimes those airplane rides can be hell, also neck pillows!
Stretching and regulating my breathing is one of my ways to stay comfy during a long flight. Thanks for the other tips….I might use them for my next travel adventure.
I agree that when one is travelling one must comfortable as sometimes one could be travelling for several hours. I would put the tasty snacks as number one on m y list but equally important strategies are having comfortable shoes and clothing.
Great tips! I think I follow these all. I also take ear plugs and an eye cover for longer flights so I can get some undisturbed rest and a ‘sensation of privacy.
Yes to all of these tips to stay comfortable while traveling. I’ll be honest, traveling is so hard on me, and we haven’t been that comfortable in some of our places we’ve stayed. I do blame clothing for that. I need some good shoes too for our hiking adventures.
My favorite snack to take while traveling is trail mix. I also take a lumbar and neck pillow. Sitting for a long time is very uncomfortable so a little cushioning helps a lot.
When travelling long distances, I do all of these things EXCEPT stretch. It’s so bad, and I always regret it, but I always seem to fall asleep and fail to stretch out my limbs.
excellent tips. and don’t forget the comfortable neck pillow for those long flights! they are such necessities when taking a flight.
Joy at The Joyous Living
The one thing I must be when traveling is COMFORTABLE! It makes the time so much easier.
Such good tips! We travel a lot and layers is a must for me!! I always bring my own pillow too.
Oh yes, comfy footwear is everything. I wore heels to Vegas not realizing how much walking there was… my boots stayed in the hotel room after I purchased me some comfy flats.
Layers and footwear are always two things I take into consideration when I travel. They’re my top!
Stretching is the big one for me. I can bring all the right things, stay hydrated, etc. BUT if I can’t stress, I’m going to go stir crazy.
These are amazing tips! I follow most of them, but have never thought about stretching! I’ll have to try that out.
These are all such simple tips, but they can make such a huge difference. I’ve found that if I don’t practice pretty much all of these, my flight is not a pleasant one.
Snacks and proper footwear are a must!! These are great tips, thank you!
Hhhhmmm…I hadn’t even imagined I could carry my own pillow for long travels! Good idea, I see! Thanks for sharing.
Great tips for travel. I also like to pack my own tea bags. It is easy to get hot water but not so easy to get good tea.
Comfy clothing and shoes are my go-to when traveling. And I pack my own tea bags for my sanity!
Brilliant tips on staying comfy while travelling. I can’t stress enough the importance of stretching, makes your travelling time pass like breeze!