We are about one month away from Gettysburg College’s Spring Break, and college students everywhere are packing their bags and daydreaming about laying on the beach with a drink in hand. According to Forbes, 1.5 million college students travel for that sweet mid-semester break every year (Sands, 2023). Everyone loves a good vacation, and yet, more than 90% of Americans find travel stressful (Muther, 2023).
There has to be a better way to travel, and I feel like I’ve got some tips to help alleviate stress throughout the process. I’m from New York City originally, so I travel a lot by train or car to get to and from school. I have some experience traveling by airplane as well, both long and short flights. Most importantly, my mom was a flight attendant and has years of experience helping travelers like you. She has really informed many of my thoughts on travelling, and she will reveal some of her ideas in this article as well!
I’ve thrown up on a plane, I’ve stayed awake for over 48 hours, and I survived a 15 hour flight to China with no entertainment; so I’ve really thought through my travel routine. With that said, even with some not-so-great travel experiences, I’m incredibly grateful for the privilege I have for being able to travel. It’s such a special and amazing experience to get to visit new places, and that’s why I think it’s important to make the actual traveling process easier so that you can better enjoy your destination.
This article is written with airplane travel in mind, as I feel that this process is the most stressful. However, many of these tips can be applied to car travel such as a long drive or a road trip, as well as bus and train travel. No matter where you’re going for Spring Break– home, the Caribbean, or closer to school– you can use these tips to ensure that every second of your break is relaxing and rejuvenating.
What to Wear
“A 2015 study by TravelMath, a search engine that answers data-related questions about travel, tested samples from hard surfaces in planes and found that tray-table surfaces had more than eight times the amount of bacteria per square inch than even the lavatory flush buttons” (Murphy, 2023). Other bacteria-filled offenders were soda cans, coffee pots, most surfaces in the lavatory, and the overhead luggage latch. Yuck. And I’m assuming most other public transportation options have similar amounts of bacteria and germs on them. This is one of the reasons as to why I always have a “travel outfit” that I wear both on the way to my destination and on the way back in order to consolidate the amount of dirty clothes that need to be washed when I get home. I also just don’t want to gross myself out by wearing clothes with that many germs on my relaxing vacation.
Having a travel outfit is also helpful because it saves space in your luggage. If you wear the same thing both ways, you don’t have to pack an extra set of clothes just for sitting on a plane or in your car for a few hours. There are two things I prioritize when I put together this outfit: comfort and practicality. No matter the weather, I always make sure that I’m wearing something with pockets so I can easily throw in my phone or AirPods when the security line gets a little nuts. However, when it’s warmer out, I usually go with biker shorts (with pockets), a tank top, and a sweatshirt on top. Since biker shorts are on the longer side, you’ll be able to shield your skin from making direct contact with your seat while still staying cool. And of course, wearing both a sweatshirt and a tank top will ensure that you are comfortable even if the plane is cold. If it’s colder outside, I just switch out the biker shorts for sweatpants.
Finally, especially when I am flying on a plane, I always wear fuzzy socks and easy to put on shoes. My same rules of comfort and practically apply here. Fuzzy socks are simply the most comfortable socks you could wear. If you’re flying, you could also wear compression socks, as some peoples’ feet and legs swell up on a plane. Additionally easy to put on shoes are vital for the security line. No matter how much I prepare for this part of the journey, it’s always the most stressful aspect of the airport. Having shoes that you can easily slip on will just make everything more efficient for you and everyone else behind you. Still not convinced? The last time I flew, I didn’t wear my go-to plane shoes, and I ended up dropping my laptop on the floor as I was trying to put on my shoes!
Now that you know what to wear, let’s figure out what you should be bringing with you!
What to put in your personal item
On most airplanes, I believe you’re allowed to bring a personal item, a carry-on, and checked bag with you to the airport. I believe this is also true for Amtrak. Regardless of your mode of transportation’s rules (or lack thereof if you’re driving somewhere), I am not someone that packs light. I feel that it’s incredibly important to be prepared for any scenario, especially when you are in a new and unfamiliar place. Thus, I would take advantage of this baggage policy and bring what you can.
For me, a personal item is usually the purse I will use when I am on my trip. However, I’ve also seen people bring backpacks and tote bags, so go with whatever works for you in that sense. The things I put in my personal item are the ones I will definitely use while traveling. I would keep this in mind as you pack your own personal item, as you may have some other “must haves.” Some obvious things to include are your wallet, passport (if you need it), any medication you will need on your journey, the technology products you will use, and the chargers you’ll need for these devices.
Speaking of technology. You should definitely download content to consume while you’re traveling if you will be without service or Wi-Fi. If you’re driving, you can download a bunch of audiobooks, music, and Podcasts to keep you occupied. Not only will this hopefully make your journey more fun, but it will make sure you don’t get distracted by your phone as you try to queue up a new song. If you’re not driving, I would also download some visual content like movies, TV shows, and eBooks. On my most recent cross-Atlantic flight, I downloaded 10 episodes of Gilmore Girls to watch. I’m not joking, the flight felt super short because I was just binging my current favorite show! My mom recommends investing in a phone mount that can attach to the seat in front of you. This way, you can enjoy content from your own device without straining your neck (Kenny, 2024). Most planes also have personal entertainment screens that you can use as well. I recently got an AirFly to use on these, and it’s game-changing. In case you haven’t heard of it, an AirFly allows you to use your bluetooth headphones on the personal entertainment screen instead of the janky earbuds they provide. Just being able to use your own, quality products, can help you to feel more comfortable on your journey.
Bringing items that will help you to stay clean will make your journey so much more comfortable, and you won’t have to worry about getting sick. Even some hand sanitizer will go a long way in ensuring that you won’t ingest harmful bacteria. My mom agrees, stating, “Do take a travel size pack of wipes. Those tray tables are gross! Wipe your area down and your hands! Don’t stick anything in the seat pocket– another germ hotbed. Bring a gallon sized ziploc and stick your stuff in that and then in the seat pocket” (Kenny, 2024). If you have an overnight or just a long journey ahead, some simple items I would also recommend are disposable body wipes, deodorant, floss, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. While it won’t be the same as a refreshing shower, you can use these products in the bathroom before you get to your destination to make you feel a little more awake and replenished. My mom recommends taking time to moisturize your face and hands as well, since the plane can get extremely dry (Kenny, 2024). These items can also make it easier to fall asleep while traveling, as it may remind you of your routine at home and make you feel more comfortable. Speaking of falling asleep, it could be helpful to bring things to make staying asleep easier, such as earplugs and an eye-mask. My mom recommends bringing a travel pillow and blanket to help keep you comfortable.
Finally, in order to be as comfortable and prepared as possible, you should also have some extra feminine products, a water bottle, and a snack. You never know when you or someone else on the trip will get a visit from Aunt Flow, and it can be hard to find a store with pads or tampons quickly. The same is true for bring water and a snack– you never know when the opportunity to eat or drink will arise– so it’s always helpful to have something on hand to hold you over. But don’t go too crazy with snacks at the airport. My mom warns you to “Save money for your actual vacation. Since many airlines don’t feed you, pack healthy snacks; granola bars [and] fruit leather” (Kenny, 2024).
What about my carry-on?
To me, a carry-on should be your secondary items. Things that you won’t want to part with on your journey, but you won’t be using them while you’re travelling. Or at least you don’t plan on using them. There’s nothing worse than realizing you left something you need in your carry-on, and needing to go through the embarrassment of unpacking your entire bag in the aisle of your plane. I usually use my backpack as my carry-on, but I have seen other people use small suitcases and other bags as well.
The first thing you should pack in your carry-on is everything you will need for the next day (or two) of your journey. In the off chance that your main luggage goes missing, having an extra outfit ready to go in your carry-on will save you the panic of running to the store immediately. And you already have some supplies in your personal item! You can also pack some travel sized makeup, skincare, and haircare products to hold you over. Hopefully you won’t need to use them though!
You’ll need to put any electronics that are not already in your personal item in your carry-on. Not only is this a safety issue for public transportation, but my mom says to “Never pack valuables or medicines in your checked luggage– always in your carry-on and always in your sight” (Kenny, 2024).
You may find that something that ties all these items together are that they are there just in case something happens while you are traveling. Thus, it’s smart to keep some extra medication and first aid supplies in your bag, as well as a photocopy of your passport/ID, extra cash, and an umbrella.
I won’t be diving into what you should pack in your checked luggage, as it really depends on where you’re going and what you’re doing. But of course, in this bag, put anything you will need after you have reached your destination!
Extra steps for success
- Make sure to review your itinerary before you pack. Pay attention to the weather forecast, and think about what kind of activities you’ll be doing while you’re away. If you’re going to be relaxing by the beach, maybe you don’t need to bring that second pair of sneakers. Also, triple check what time your flight/train/bus leaves, where you’ll need to be, and what items are prohibited on your mode of transportation.
- Use packing cubes. My mom recommends these items to help you to stay organized while traveling. I used packing cubes on my most recent trip, and I feel like it made it really easy for me to find items while on my trip.
- Get there early. For flights, you’re supposed to get to the airport two hours early for a domestic flight and three hours early for an international one. This may vary depending on your airport, and what mode of transportation you’re taking, but it never hurts to be early when traveling. You never know if there will be traffic!
- Wait to party until you land. My mom says to “Limit alcoholic beverages inflight as the high altitude actually will make you feel worse, especially when you land. Hydrate with water” (Kenny, 2024).
I hope that you have an amazing Spring Break, and that some of these tips help you as you pack for any trips you have coming your way. Have a safe and relaxing vacation!
References
- Murphy, J. (2023, November 8). The 5 Germiest Places on a Plane. Outside Online. https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/advice/how-dirty-are-planes/.
- Muther, C. (2023, February 23). More Than 90 Percent of Americans Find Travel Stressful. Here’s How to Make it Better. The Boston Globe. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/23/lifestyle/more-than-90-percent-americans-find-travel-stressful-heres-how-make-it-better/.
- Sands, R. (2023, March 2). These Destinations are Ideal for Spring Break Travelers. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogersands/2023/03/02/these-destinations-are-ideal-for-spring-break-travelers/?sh=1e113e046c46.