Some cross continental travel is a matter of road tripping from one point to the other. This is often the more fun and enjoyable option, what with you at least being able to get out and stretch your legs!
On the other hand, some cross continental travel takes more than 12 hours just the one way, and leaves you feeling like you’re never going to sleep again. It’s quite the time and energy commitment, especially if you’re on a flight with noisy and inconsiderate passengers.
So when you do finally manage to touch down at your destination airport, make your way through the arrivals gate, and come out the other side, you’re probably not feeling your best.
You’re relieved, of course, to finally have completed the journey! But you’re also likely to be incredibly uncomfortable, tired, and not in the mood for your trip at all.
And if you’re worried this kind of thing will happen on the super long, cross continental flight you’ve booked in, we’re here to help. Here are a few tips for finding that sense of enjoyment again, even after a long haul flight that really tested your patience.
Before You Go: Check You’ve Got the Right Stuff in Your Carry-on
No long haul flight should be undertaken without the right carry-on kit. Always make sure you’ve packed items that’ll help you stay comfortable and calm, so you don’t just become dehydrated and overstimulated!
The most important thing? Being able to block sound! Pack headphones or earplugs in your carry-on as soon as you know you’re going on a flight. That way you’ll make sure you don’t forget to pack them in the few hours’ rush before heading to the airport.
You’re also going to need moisturizer, lipbalm, face and/or hand wipes, and items to take care of your hair and nails. Spotting a hang nail on hour 10 of a long flight could very well be the last straw!
On top of these items, you’ll want to pack at least two different forms of entertainment as well. If you get bored, you can swap.
Don’t Walk Everywhere
Walking is a lovely way to see the sights at your own pace. You get to set the speed, direction, and stop-off points, and if something catches your eye along the way, you can tweak your plans in an instant. But if you’re planning to walk as much as possible when travelling across continents and timezones, you might be setting your expectations a little too high.
It’s not a good idea to try and walk every possible pace on your trip, and your body might start flagging right in the middle of one of your pre-booked activities. You won’t enjoy losing your energy or needing to cut a class or an experience short because you’re not feeling well.
Save your feet, save your legs, and save your energy. Find alternative transport and don’t be afraid of the ticketing systems; there’s always a guide to find online!
Of course, you may only be able to access certain areas on foot, but count up how many times this is likely to happen.
If there’s more than a handful, you’re definitely going to want to take public transport back and forth as much as possible. And if there are also multiple hour plus journeys to get through, you’re going to want to hire a vehicle of your own.
Try to Stay Awake
If you’ve swapped time zones and now find yourself in a place with radically different hours than you’re used to, try to resist the temptation to have a nap.
Fatigue can come on quite quickly when you’ve first arrived at your destination, what with jetlag cursing travellers either way, and it’s difficult to motivate yourself to keep going.
You might be incredibly tempted to get to your accommodation as quickly as possible, put your stuff down, and then hit the hay for an hour, but this will only prolong your adjustment.
Instead, stay on foot, find yourself somewhere to sit, and have afternoon coffee or a proper meal while you wait it out.
And if you don’t want to give yourself even the temptation of staying behind in the hotel (because you know what you’re like!), try to avoid checking in until much later.
If you’re worried about having to carry heavy bags around all day, simply drop your stuff off at a secure storage locker like those found at Radical Storage Sydney, and let yourself become much more portable for the next few hours!
But if You Do Need a Nap, Listen to Your Body
You might have read through the point above and thought that it doesn’t sound very comfortable, and for some people, it isn’t!
And while it’s a good way to maximise your time in your destination AND make sure the jet lag doesn’t affect you too badly in the long run, you know yourself and your body best.
So if you get to your destination after a super long flight and feel like you’ve barely the energy to even speak, feel free to take a nap.
Sometimes that’s exactly the thing you need to get back on top – no matter if it cuts into your festival time or your chance to scope out the night life.
Cross-Continental Flight Inbound? Prepare Yourself for the Other Side
Long haul flights that take you across continents and into completely different parts of the world aren’t exactly fun. Even when you’ve booked a ticket in business class or higher, spending all that time on a plane just isn’t good for you.
But once you’re at your destination, the real effects of the journey are going to come into play. So try to offset these from the get go.
Make sure your carry-on bag has been packed with everything you might need to keep your comfort level high, and do your best to adjust to the new timezone on the same day you arrived.
