On long-haul flights, some airlines provide a pillow, blanket, headphones, and an amenity kit. The amenity kit usually includes a sleep mask, socks, earplugs, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.

These items can make your travel day easier, but for the best experience, here are our top 10 travel tips for a long-haul flight:

1. BRUSH YOUR TEETH BEFORE BOARDING

This is a small trick, but one of the most important for me. Freshly brushed teeth can make anyone feel better and more relaxed. Before boarding, I always go to the airport bathroom and brush my teeth. This is especially helpful if you have a night-time long-haul flight.

So, don’t forget to bring your toothbrush and toothpaste in your carry-on luggage. And to be safe, use bottled water to wash your teeth at the airport and on the airplane. You can also brush your teeth in the air after a meal, but the space in the airplane toilet is very limited. It is best to brush your teeth before boarding your long-haul flight.

The same goes after landing. I always brush my teeth so I feel fresher in a new destination.

2. WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES

This is my second-best long-haul tip. Wearing comfortable clothes can make a huge difference. Even sweatpants that are too tight around the belly can make your flight uncomfortable, especially if you tend to get bloated from airplane food.

I am always shocked when I see people wearing tight jeans on a 10-hour flight.

Wear very comfortable clothes and bring a hoodie to help cover your head from the air conditioning. It is also important to layer your clothing so you can adjust to the temperature differences when flying.

3. BRING WARM SOCKS ON YOUR LONG-HAUL FLIGHT

Because circulation in your legs worsens when sitting for a long time, your feet can get cold. If you keep your shoes on during the flight, you might not have this problem. However, I always use the provided slippers.

If you wear slippers and your feet get cold, you will be glad to have warm and fuzzy socks with you. But never walk around only in your socks because the airplane floors are not clean. Avoid going to the toilet without your shoes, because the floor there is extremely dirty, especially on a long-haul flight.

4. BRING A NECK PILLOW ON YOUR LONG-HAUL FLIGHT

This is an obvious tip, but it really makes a difference. Without a neck pillow, my whole body hurts because I strain my neck while sleeping, and I keep waking up as my head falls.

Many pillows are available on the market, so find the one that suits you best. If you forget to bring one, don’t worry, most airports sell neck pillows in their shops. 

5. BRING A SOFT SLEEP MASK

Most airlines provide a sleep mask on long-haul flights, but they are usually not of the best quality. If you want a good sleep, bring your own sleep mask. Buy a mask that is soft and does not feel too tight or too loose on your head. 

This is especially helpful on day flights because the cabin is often very bright, which makes it harder to sleep. Get yourself a comfortable sleep mask—it makes a huge difference.

6. BRING SNACKS ON YOUR LONG-HAUL FLIGHT

Some airlines provide enough food to keep you full for the entire flight, but many do not. Also, not every airline meal is the best. Sometimes the food can be really bad, or you accidentally sleep through the mealtime. Bring some snacks to help you endure the long hours.

This is also helpful if you get nauseous during a long-haul flight; having a quick snack can help settle your stomach.

7. SHOWER AND WASH YOUR HAIR BEFORE COMING TO THE AIRPORT

This tip is similar to brushing your teeth, but it really does make a difference. Even though your hair will get dirty on a long-haul flight, washing it beforehand will help you feel much better.

Take a shower at home or the hotel and wash your hair before your flight. You’ll feel better in your own skin, making your flight more comfortable. You will also look good with freshly washed hair. Maybe you will meet the love of your life on your next long-haul flight. 

8. BRING YOUR HEADPHONES

Most airlines provide headphones on long-haul flights, but they are not always of the best quality. If you have comfortable headphones, especially ones with noise cancellation, bring them along.

You’ll enjoy your long-haul flight much more with a good set of headphones. Just do not forget to take them with you when leaving the airplane.

9. ORDER A SPECIAL MEAL FOR YOUR LONG-HAUL FLIGHT

If you have food allergies or dietary preferences, most airlines now provide a variety of special meal options. You can request vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian meals, and more, depending on the airline.

It would be best if you chose your meal a few days before your long-haul flight, as it won’t be possible to do this on the same day. You can do this through the “manage your booking” section.

10. PACK ESSENTIAL MEDICATIONS

On a long-haul flight, I always bring some paracetamol, throat lozenges, and a saline spray. The strong air conditioning can give you a headache, a blocked nose, or a dry throat.

This can happen within the first hour of your long-haul flight, so imagine having a sore throat for the next 10 hours with nothing to ease it. Bring these essentials to make your flight more comfortable.

I hope that these tips will help you have the best travel experience on your next long-haul flight.

->Find the best flight deals! Click here to book your trip now!

We also created a list of the most essential carry-on bag items. You can check our guide on what to pack for a comfortable journey here.

SEE ALSO:

Turkish Airlines – Vegan Meal Experience in Economy and Business Class

The post Master Your Next Long-Haul Flight: 10 Essential Tips for a Comfortable Journey appeared first on Vegan Friendly Travel.

There are so many amazing things to see and do in Hong Kong. Here are our best travel tips for first-time visitors.

1ST TRAVEL TIP – USE OCTOPUS CARD IN HONG KONG

Octopus card is a multipurpose card to use in Hong Kong. You can buy it at any 7/11 store but can only top up the card with cash.

You can use the Octopus card for all public transport and most attractions. This card will make your time in the city easier. If you visit the city often it is great to have this card.

2ND TRAVEL TIP – BUY A LOCAL SIM CARD

Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere but if you are not familiar with Hong Kong and need to use Google Maps for navigation, then a local sim card is a must-have.

You can buy a local SIM card at Klook or any 7/11 store in the city.

3RD TRAVEL TIP – USE KLOOK IN HONG KONG

I was not familiar with Klook app before travelling to Hong Kong. Many attractions have better prices if you buy tickets through Klook.

Waiting times for attractions are shorter if you buy your tickets in advance. It is the best app to use in the city and one of our most important travel tips. 

You can also buy an Octopus card, local sim card, and Airport Express ticket through Klook. Do not forget to download the app before traveling to Hong Kong.

4TH TRAVEL TIP – USE AIRPORT EXPRESS

Airport Express is the best way to get in and out of the city. It is fast and efficient, and you do not have to worry about the traffic.

It takes about 24 minutes to get from the airport to the city.

5th TRAVEL TIP – HAVE CASH IN HONG KONG

In most cases, you can pay with a credit card but there are some cash-only examples. Taxis are cash only and if you need to top up your Octopus card you can only use cash. 

There are many ATMs available all around the city.

6th TRAVEL TIP – MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR POPULAR RESTAURANTS

Hong Kong is a city with a large population. If you have a special restaurant in mind for your dinner date, make a reservation upfront. At weekends, most of the popular restaurants are full or have long waiting lines.

7TH TRAVEL TIP – GOOGLE MAPS IS GREAT FOR NAVIGATION AROUND HONG KONG

Google Maps was our best friend in Hong Kong. It is familiar with MTR stations and timetables, so it always helped us find the most efficient way to our destination.

To use Google Maps in the city – do not forget to buy a local SIM card.

8th TRAVEL TIP FOR HONG KONG – TRAVEL ADAPTER

Most electrical outlets in Hong Kong take a three-pronged UK-style plug. So do not forget your travel plug adapter if you need one. If you are staying in a fancy hotel there is an option that your hotel will provide an adapter. 

9TH TRAVEL TIP – WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES

You have a lot of walking to do, sometimes even uphill, so wear shoes that you are comfortable in. A good pair of sneakers or my favourite for hot weather – the Birkenstocks.

If you are visiting Hong Kong in a rainy season wear waterproof shoes.

10TH TRAVEL TIP – HAVE A HOTEL NEAR MTR STATION

It is not a must, but it makes your life much easier.

If you are visiting Hong Kong for just a few days and have limited time to squeeze in all the important sightseeing, you do not want to make any extra steps to get to the MTR.

BEST HOTELS NEAR MTR STATION IN HONG KONG

Hotels in Hong Kong are expensive. There are many good hotels but not all of them are near the MTR station. We compared hotel prices and found out that Agoda has the best deals for the city.

Here are our best recommendations:

AFFORDABLE – THE CITYVIEW

The Cityview is in a great location in Hong Kong that is close to the Temple Street Night Market. The rooms are comfortable, clean, and reasonably priced. 

Check the hotel availability here.

AFFORDABLE – OCEAN INN

Ocean Inn is the most affordable option we could find in a great location. The rooms are clean and simple and the location is right next to the MTR station. The reviews are also amazing. If you are low on a budget for your Hong Kong travel this is a great accommodation to choose.

Check the availability and price here.

MID-RANGE – HOTEL CORDIS

Hotel Cordis is located in Kowloon. It is directly linked to the MTR station and the Langham Place shopping mall. The location is amazing, and most of the rooms offer incredible views of the city.

Breakfast is delicious, and there is also a rooftop pool with views. Do not miss out on this amazing hotel; check the availability here. 

MID-RANGE – HOTEL ICON

This hotel is a little bit more expensive than the mid-range, but we loved staying there. The rooms in Hotel Icon are spacious and comfortable. Every room also has a drinking water tap. Because of that, you do not need to buy plastic water bottles.

Some of the rooms have amazing views, and there is also a pool with a skyline view. If you have the option to go to this hotel, I would not think twice.

Check the availability on Agoda here.

EXPENSIVE – THE RITZ-CARLTON

It is located in the heart of Kowloon in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Ritz-Carlton hotel has world-class service, and it is one of the best accommodations in the city if you have the budget for it. 

Because the hotel starts at the 102nd floor, every room has a spectacular view of the city.

You can check the prices here.

SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Hong Kong: Top 10 Things to Do on Your Next Adventure in the City

The post Experience Hong Kong Like Never Before: The Ultimate Top 10 Travel Tips for an Unforgettable Trip appeared first on Vegan Friendly Travel.