When it comes to travelling, there are always two things that you need to be thinking about packing for... (1) the actual holiday itself, but also (2) the plane. There is nothing worse than sitting on the plane and realising that you don't have anything to do, or that you have to listen to the group of people a few rows back that have to talk about the latest organic gin to hit the high street.
My typical ritual when it comes to plane packing, is this little list of five essentials.
1. iPod
Essentially, you can drown out the noise of the plane, the chit chat of various people having loud conversations and use it to relax in preparation for your holiday. If you are a nervous flier then there is nothing better than some of your favourite tunes to help you relax. Music does feed the soul after all! While iPods are beginning to go our of fashion thanks in part to the iPhone which does everything other than make coffee, I still like to keep my music separate. Not only can I put more music on and am not restricted to a good WiFi connection, the battery on this little device lasts for ages and I could probably go for 10 days with one charge.
2. Reading Material
This can really be in the medium that you prefer. Be it a book or your tablet, this really does help to pass the time. My personal preference (at the moment) would probably be a tablet though dependent on the type of holiday. If I have a little space in my luggage then I would pack a book too as you never know if your tablet decides to lose all its juice! In a digital age where you can now carry a thousand books on one single device, which also doubles up as the method to call home, why not put everything on one device? You can also put videos on for other entertainment.
3. Scarf
I am sure that many of you would not have put a scarf in your top list of items to pack in your day bag, but think about it. If like me you suffer from the cold on the plane, then this is essential but it is also good as a mini protection from any sneezes that either you or your fellow passengers feel the need to graciously share with the whole plane. When I flew to the Caribbean earlier this year, my faithful scarf did double up as a barrier when they had to spray the whole cabin (and passengers!) with insecticide!!
4. Tea Tree Oil
On that note, I have been recommended to take Tea Tree Oil on the plane and put a couple of drops on either a tissue or the scarf that you did not forget to pack. It's supposed to help with preventing illness from long flights where the recycled air will naturally spread a plethora of germs and bacteria. I personally enjoy olbas oil particularly on long flights where I need to sleep. Always be conscious of others around you that might not appreciate the small but one or two drops on a tissue will be fine and will also help you to relax. For me this is more for long-haul flights rather than short. Must be true as I am on my way to Italy with neither of these things.
5. Lip Balm and Hand Cream
Keep those lips and hands hydrated! Air conditioning on the plane will naturally dry out your skin, so make sure that you remember to pack these little essentials. I personally favour the Nivea Hydrate lip balm. One of the other things that I tend to have with me on the plane are eye drops, particularly on long-haul flights. As one of my close friends likes to remind me on a regular basis, drinking water also helps with resolving this issue.
I hope that this little checklist helps you with your packing list. Any that you think should have made the list? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @travellingladybug!