Our Top Travelling Tips
Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport have put together travelling tips to help plan your next holiday.
How to Beat the Burden of a Long Haul Flight
A 24-hour flight is a burden on the body. We’ve all heard the long haul flight horror stories. The dreaded jetlag, the colds & flu, the lethargy and the body aches & pains.
So what can we do to prepare ourselves, before, during and after the flight to maximise our chance of feeling our best when we finally reach our destination?
We put the question to some frequent flyers and collated these top 6 travelling tips.
1. Stay Hydrated
Even the shortest of flights can make you feel pretty blah by the time you reach your destination. The dry, low humidity, air-conditioned environment on-board makes for a very dehydrating process. You’ll feel it in your body and even be able to see it in your skin.
Some people choose to drink alcohol on the flight to help them relax, but this could actually exacerbate dehydration. Try limiting the alcohol intake on the plane and drink plenty of water instead. Save the drinking for your destination when you can enjoy the duty free alcohol you purchased.
Avoid drinking alcohol the night before a flight. Not only will you feel fresh and hangover free, your body won’t be dehydrated from the night before. Instead, increase your water intake the day before you fly.
Travel hack: Hydrolyte.
Use 2 dissolvable tablets in a glass of water before bed the night before your flight, then repeat during your flight and after your flight. The electrolytes (hydrating salts) in the Hydrolyte will maximise hydration. Drink fresh water between the Hydrolyte and you’ll feel good as gold. This is one of our top travelling tips.
2. Guard against Germs
It’s inevitable you’ll come into contact with pollutants, bacteria and viruses travelling in a pressurised, air-conditioned environment that’s carrying 500 strangers.
Be diligent with your personal hygiene. Wash your hand with soap and water regularly and avoid touching surfaces if you can. Most importantly don’t touch your face to avoid transferring germs to your mouth, nose or eyes where they can enter the body.
Travel with a small bottle of hand sanitiser and use it to wipe down the surfaces around you, such as the armrest and tray table. And of course, use it on my hands while on the go.
Travel hack: Frequent Traveller Saline Nasal Spray.
Use before boarding and every 2 hours during the flight. This non-medicated nasal spray helps prevent airborne bacteria, dust and pollens entering the respiratory system, and keeps the nasal passages moisturised and lubricated.
3. Refuel the Body
It’s not just the flying, but also the inevitable running around to prepare for a trip that exhausts the body and mind. I’m sure you’ll agree that often enough before you even get on the plane you can feel washed out.
In the days leading up to a flight it’s more important than ever to watch your diet. Avoid fast food, make sure you’re eating regular meals and increase the intake of fresh, nutritious foods.
Don’t deplete your body of important vitamins and minerals that keep you strong, healthy and vital. Choose fresh vegetables, grains, protein and slow release carbs, at least in the days leading up to your flight. If you simply can’t manage it, consider using supplements.
Travel hack: A Balanced Nutritional Meal.
Make it a point to have a balanced meal with plenty of fresh veg the night before you fly. Low glycaemic index foods, such as pasta and grains are also a good choice because they will provide slow release energy.
4. Control Stress & Energy
Facing a long haul flight when you’re already feeling energy depleted is the worst. The pressures can build up from everything you have to get done before leaving – making sure you’re on top of all your tasks at work or home, the worry of whether you’ve packed all the right things, and the stress of getting to the airport on time.
Vitamin B is often recommended to help combat stress and lethargy. While Vitamin B is found in many foods, the fact is that most people don’t get enough of it, especially busy people, such as Executives, new Mums and working parents. Vitamin B can help relax the mind and give you the energy you need for travelling.
Travel hack: Berocca.
Dissolve 2 tablets in a glass of water. Take the supplement in the days leading up to your flight if possible, but especially first thing in the morning the day of your flight. Use again during the flight.
5. Keep the Body Moving
Sitting for long periods of time is not only uncomfortable, but will cause muscle & joint stiffness, water retention & swelling, and aches & pains. It’s important to keep moving during the flight.
Try going for a 20-minute walk before you head to the airport. You’ll feel more focused mentally and more physically ready for the long haul. Just a 20-minute walk is enough to get the body moving and the blood flowing.
Try to stand up and move around the cabin regularly during the flight.
Our Top Travelling Tip: Gentle Stretching and Exercise.
Do a lap of the aisle and head to the back of the plane where you can find some space for a good stretch of the legs and arms, a few shoulder and ankle rolls, some neck stretches and side stretches.
6. Protect against DVT
Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition that can occur in cramped, pressurised environments, particularly with long periods of sitting. The body can form a blood clot that can actually be fatal if it travels to the lungs.
The key to prevention is good circulation. Make a point of doing ankle rolls and calf stretches while seated. Get up and move around the cabin regularly. Also keep the water intake up and wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Our Top Travelling Tip: Compression Socks.
Special purpose compression stockings or socks can help improve blood flow in the legs and prevent DVT.
We can’t promise you’ll be feeling a million dollars after your long haul flight, but by following the above tips you’ll definitely see an improvement in your wellbeing.
