Travel Guide: 5 Air Travel Tips That I Swear By
We all have our preferences and personal rules for air travel. This blogpost is shorter than usual as it’s an extension of some ramblings from my Instagram stories and DMs with y’all! I know that I’m more particular than most and wanted to share my 5 tips for a seamless air travel experience.
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1) for any trip shorter than 3 weeks, I refuse to check luggage
Carry-on only, folks! This was already a habit pre-COVID, but I now swear by it given all the baggage delays and lost luggage. I’m also more thoughtful about my attire as I only bring pieces that can be mixed and matched. I also love being able to zip through the airport without a luggage cart. If you’re embarking on a longer trip, ensure that you book accommodations with laundry facilities every few legs!
2) bring an empty water bottle
Not sure what the cost of bottled water at the airport is now, but we don’t want to pay for it. There are almost ALWAYS water refill stations after security so take advantage! In Vancouver, only cold water is offered, but Hong Kong has hot, warm, and cold water. Revolutionary. You can also use the water bottle at your destination so it’s a win-win.
Linking my exact bottle here for y’all: Hydroflask 21 oz water bottle with a screw cap (insulated stainless steel).
3) packing cubes
I cannot emphasize this enough - it creates structure and prevents you from overpacking! I love to group my clothes by activity: swimsuits, workout + PJs, footwear, casual clothes, special occasion. When you work with packing cubes, remember to ROLL your clothes, rather than fold them, so you can see what is what. I have the 7 piece set of these packing cubes and highly recommend them! I bought them in Hong Kong a few years ago and it came to $15 CAD (~$99 HKD), so if you happen to be in Asia, you can probably find them at a cheaper price point.
4) 360° spinner wheels (4 wheel) and NO DUFFLE BAGS
I roasted a guy on Hinge for using a duffle bag after he asked me if I check luggage because he was anti-checked luggage. Turns out, I’m more anti-duffle bag than anti-checked luggage, despite a strong distaste for both. Duffle bags are an easy way to injure your shoulder and just plain heavy if you’re walking through the city or not using a luggage cart at the airport. Please do yourselves a favour and invest in high quality luggage as this will last a while if you take proper care of it! I love two-sided suitcases with mesh zip-up coverings on both sides, but you do you, boo.
5) booking aisle seats
This is a preference thing, but I drink a lot of water and pee A LOT. On my last flight, I peed twice in the span of 2.5 hours and probably finished the flight with 3 trips to the bathroom! I opt for the aisle for medium and long-haul flights and window for short-haul.
And there you have it - 5 short and sweet tips for air travel!
