You ate the cake, now run!

The weekend of the TCS New York City Marathon is something to be experienced, and not just by the runners. The entire city is buzzing and the excitement that builds in the air as marathon morning draws closer is something like waiting for Christmas to arrive.

Anyone who has yet to tick off their first marathon also hasn’t experienced ‘the night before’. That’s when you insist you’re going to get sleep early, lay out all your clothes for the morning and try to be as organised as you can only to find you stay awake for 80 percent of it wondering what the following day will bring. Strictly speaking, I’m one to go for a glass of red before I hit the sack. I find it calms the nerves and helps me get a good night’s rest before the marathon. I can’t say it’s the professional’s advice, and may not work for everyone, but it hasn’t failed me yet, so I plan to keep that tradition for many runs to come. For others a pasta carb-loading dinner and a cup of tea before bed seems to do the trick just fine.

Marathon morning is a mix of emotions for everyone with plenty of nervous chit chat, excitement, and discussions on the lack of sleep we all got the night before. Everyone on the transfer bus to the Staten Island has their own story and their own reasons for ticking this one off their bucket list, but when we reach the start area deeper thoughts about the run became evident.

Most runners stop talking, preferring to take a moment of silent pep talk, think about why they’re wearing a race bib, consume last-minute nutrition and tackle the never-ending queue for the toilets. As the start waves are called excitement builds again, and before I know it I’m running in the New York City Marathon. The enormity of it doesn’t hit me until around the 20 kilometre mark, which is when the emotions kick in and I drop a few happy I-can’t-believe-I’m-doing-this tears onto the road.

The weather is particularly harsh, but that doesn’t stop spectators lining the streets and supporting all the runners. Whether it’s with words of encouragement painted on signboards, bands playing lively music along the way or people handing out bananas and lollies to keep us going, not one single runner goes unsupported.

Likewise, it’s apparent every competitor has a deep appreciation for those on the other side of the fence. They keep us going in the darkest moments on the run and have a knack of making me feel like I’m in an appreciation parade rather than a marathon.

The hardest part for me by far is the Queensboro Bridge (Normally when I tell this story I refer to it as “that f**king long bridge”, but I know that won’t help any future runners figure out exactly which of the five bridges on the course I’m talking about.). It seems never-ending and is one of the only parts without the encouragement of the crowds, so feels very lonely despite the thousands of other runners hitting it at the same time.

Some emotional relief is given when I pause for a quick stretch just as a fellow runner stops to propose to his girlfriend. It’s a beautiful moment that makes me forget for a brief second I still have plenty of kilometres to go – a good break for mind and body.

The upside to the Queensboro Bridge part of the run is at the end when I experience one of the coolest moments, coming out to screaming supporters filling the streets and anticipating the exit of all the runners. And just like that I’m filled with the buzz of the marathon once more. 

Hitting Central Park doesn’t provide me with the exact reaction I anticipated. Knowing it’s almost the end I figure I will be ecstatic and pretty much skip in a land of happiness all the way to the finish line. Clearly, I don’t consider the pain my body is in by that point and those last three kilometres feel like I’m doing the first 39 all over again.

I must look like a 96-year-old lady hobbling to the bus stop, but I try to make myself believe I still possess the speed and grace of the Road Runner. Who am I kidding. It hurts. And I’m not sure that finish line is ever going to arrive.

I begin to think that all the people on the sidelines telling me it’s the last kilometre are diagnosed compulsive liars and silently plot the death of every single one. That is, until I finally see the finish line, in all its beautiful ending glory. I mentally apologise to the spectators I’d hated minutes before, take a deep breath and realise this is it.

The song they play when I cross the finish line is one I’ll never forget: Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. To this day it can still make me emotional when I hear it.

My legs wobble like jelly, but the smile on my face hurts my cheeks so much it takes my mind off the pain in the rest of my body. As I cross that line I let out a very impressive swear word, mentally high-five myself and cry. Happy, relived, proud, painful and emotional tears soak my cheeks. The thing about marathon running, no matter if it’s your first or fifteenth, is that you never cease being amazed at yourself. At what your body is capable of, how your mind can talk you through anything and at how much stronger you are than you ever thought possible.

I really love myself in the days following a marathon. I will admit it loud and proud. Not in a conceited way, just in a my-body-and-my-mind-is-a-machine way.

Even the pain is one that, in a warped way, I love. Not because it’s fun to crawl up a flight of stairs because my legs hurt so much, or struggle to bend my knees for a few days just trying to get my pants on, but because it’s glory pain. It’s a you-earned-it pain; the kind you can appreciate.

Whether you’re reading this as someone who has never run a marathon, are considering doing their first or who has done many, it’s important to remember your experience will be your own. I have never been a runner and spent many years avoiding it wondering what the thrill was to hit the pavement running for hours on end. But I get it now. I still don’t go out every day and use it as a form of meditation like many people swear by – a good bottle of red will happily do the trick for me – but I appreciate the amazing sense of achievement you feel after those 42 kilometres.

I may not be the fastest out there or understand the “lingo” in terms of which muscle groups are causing me grief – I’m more of a my-leg-hurts girl rather than “I tore my ITB”, whatever that is – but I know there isn’t much in the world that’s ever going to replace the day my legs took me on my own personal journey of New York City and turned me into a marathon runner.

Chicago sights and Divvy bikes

Not to make a pun about the windy city… but it completely blew me away. Chicago is so much more beautiful than i had imagine. And clean! Its rare to find a city that takes such great pride in how it looks overall- not just one one area or neighbourhood. Admittedly, I’m sure theres many parts i haven’t discovered in Chicago that may put this claim of mine to shame, but i can only speak on what i experienced, and it was a beauty!

Staying at one of my favourite chains for this leg of the trip - we settled in to the W City Centre. There is also another W property not too far away at Lakeshore that i have on my list for the next visit. If you can secure yourself a room there with a lake view you’d definitely wake up a happy tourist every morning. Also- when i say lake, its easily mistaken for an ocean (but thankfully they’ve titled it ‘Lake’ Michigan just so we know not to confuse the two!)

The rooms here, as always - have just about everything you can think of. And anything thats missing is easily fixed for you with a quick dial to the concierge. The first thing i always do at these properties is ask for a coffee machine to be delivered up to the room. They don’t come in there automatically, but its important not to just assume defeat on this one. They’re readily available at no extra charge, and come with Starbucks coffee too - its a good start to the day knowing my little buddy ‘caffeine’ is right next to my bedside.

Heading towards the lake, you’ll find the first of many Divvy cycle bike depots. For a very small $7, you can ride around all day on these exploring the sights. There is a trick to it though - you must exchange them for a new one every 30 minutes (otherwise additional fee’s are charged). Given that these are all over the place, its not as tricky as it might sound. Just make sure you look on the map before you head off to know where you next bike stop might be. Generally all of the big attractions have them close by so if you’ve mapped it out right you’ll be in for a stress free, cheap day of sightseeing!

Our first stop is a great example… The Navy Pier. Its a short 15 minute ride down a beautiful bike path to get you there, and the bike drop off is right out the front. Its free to walk along and see the sights of the pier, and even the attractions themselves aren’t over priced. We hit up the ferris wheel to get a birds eye view of the city ($7), before a pit stop at Margaritaville for a couple of frozen daiquiris (*insert my nagging voice here telling you all to drinks and cycle responsibly*). There’s also mini golf, jet skis for hire, and plenty of restaurants to make an entire afternoon out of your visit. If you’re heading their during the festive season- theres also an iceskating rink to try out some fancy footwork on skates while you’re there too!

The next day we hit the bike trail again, this time heading all the way down to Lincoln Park. First stop was the museum to check out the butterfly house, found in the nature museum. Id read about it online, and we weren’t disappointed. A small area on the second floor houses thousands of butterflies waiting for you to walk through and bask in their beauty. Every colour, every size, and a few birds in there too for good company. Just make sure you check each others backs on the way out the door to check for any hitch hikers looking to bust out!!

Just a few minutes down the road is Lincoln Park Zoo. And for a change- this zoo is completely free. Yep, not even a gold coin donation. Theres giraffes, hippos, lions and seals - as well as a small cafeteria (that does sell beer!) for a pit stop before you hit the bikes again to start making your way back. The only thing to keep in mind is that there isn’t a bike drop off near the zoo entrance. Your safest bet is to go back to the museum where you dropped your bike off and recollect another from there (speaking from experience of walking laps around the outside of the zoo trying to find those darn blue bikes!)

Once you’ve ridden the bike path back along the lake into the city centre, take the time to have a wander around Millennium Park. Featuring a variety of public art, including the famous Cloud Gate sculpture. Resembling something of a giant silver bean, this particular piece cost a tidy 23 million buckeroos… way off the original estimate of 6 million! 

For a short trip to Chicago (we had two full days in total) - this was a great way to make the most of it. Jumping in and out of cabs can cost a fortune, not just in money but also in time. Honestly, stepping out side of your comfort zone and hiring the side of the road pushies is a brilliant way to get around, especially when you’ve only got a limited number of days.

Golden Gatetime

After we got the all clear to hit the road again - it was off to recover in San Francisco. Just when you think you have driving in the states sussed, you soon realise it was Californias version of the country that you were driving in, and reality hits. Or in this case- it sideswipes. A police vehicle. Managing to get the entire way through our road trip sans accident - we almost came out unscathed… but too many one way streets and narrow lanes go the better of us and 500 metres out from being at the car hire depot we ‘tapped’ a cop car (at least thats how my mum likes to put it.). Enough to flip the side mirror in, and to leave me thinking we might also get a free trip to a jail cell and another emergency phone call home. Thankfully, it was left undamaged. And we were left with any bail money safely still in our pockets.
Arriving finally in one piece at the hotel, home for this leg of the trip was the Sheraton at Fishermans Wharf. The hotel itself is quite old and not by any means as ‘glitzy’ as others from the same chain. Definitely the beachside version. It does have a coffee machine in the room, which scored some points - and its great location wise, but other than that i’d put it in the 3.5 star range. Elevator keys are temperamental and you’ll need at least 371 tries before you finally master the art. The internet server went down for all rooms for about a 24 hour period - not the end of the world but inconvenient none the less. Overall, i think if you go in without the ‘Sheraton’ expectation you’ll have a nice stay and appreciate the hotel for what it is.
As for which side of town you should stay in San Fran, they’ll always be the debate from people of whether you stay in downtown San Fran or at Fishermans Wharf. It all comes down to personal opinion really- theres no right or wrong. I think if you’re an avid traveller and love to wonder around cities, then Fishermans Wharf does the trick perfectly. You can easily get into the city centre within 30 minutes straight up Columbus Avenue on foot. Then wander back down along the Embarcadero. Yes- there are ALOT of hills in San Fran - but thats all part of what makes the city exactly what it is. And for all the eating and drinking i like to experience on my travels - my ass was grateful for the hills. Its San Frans gym, and the best kind of stairclimber is a free outdoors one in my opinion.
There are of course the ‘must do’s’ of San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge and  Alcatraz are the two that you can’t go home without ticking off the list. If you don’t feel the need to actually spend time on Alcatraz island, you can get still get up close for some great photo opportunities via the ferry (and do your budgets some favours by avoiding the tour boats!). Heres how I suggest to see the sights in a day - Blazing Saddles. These guys have platy of locations so you can easily pick yourself up a bike from somewhere close by to your hotel. It’ll cost you about $35USD for the day, but if you grab one of the free maps from the hotel lobbies you’ll find a $5 off voucher… winning! The staff here are awesome, and will give you great directions before you head off (these are also written on your bike, and theres an emergency number too - just incase. So you have all bases covered).
Head off down the bike path towards the Golden Gate Bridge. They’ll be some amazing photo ops along the way, and then you’ll hit the bridge itself. There are two hills that require a bit of guts (or just jump off and push your bike if you’d rather) - but other than that its mostly flat. This is a long day of riding, but nothing too strenuous. Besides, its a pretty epic moment in life to be riding your bike along such a famous landmark. Take it in, and be grateful. Once you hit the other side - its an easy downhill to Sausalito. This a beautiful and quaint little town right on the bay (and also where you’ll catch the ferry back). Hot tip- find out the when the next ferry is as soon as you get into town. Chances are you may have about 40 minutes or so to wait. In which case park you bike in the ferry lane first, then wonder off to check out the town. Otherwise you’ll come back to a very long line and most likely have to wait for the next one! Pre-buy your ticket from Blazing Saddles to save yourself time (its the same cost as at the station - $11). Most of our time was spent in the ‘Holiday Shoppe’. A cute little shop covered in Christmas. My souvenir of choice when i travel is a Christmas decoration showcasing where I’ve been. Long terms dreams of decorating my tree with the unborn kids one day, telling them stories with each decoration they hang about the places in the world I’ve travelled (and hope it’ll give them the bug to do see the world themselves one day the same way i have). This was definitely the place to tick that shopping off my list! One San Fransico Giants decoration later and i was ready to go...
The ferry itself will take you about 20 minutes to get you over to the Ferry building - which is an awesome stop to grab a quick bite before returning the bikes. And you’ll go directly passed Alcatraz - giving you a great close up and photo op as well (all included in your 11 buck ticket!). From here - its just a short ride back to Blazing Saddles to return the bikes. So for a total of $41 to knock off these two attractions (and get in a bit of exercise at the same time) - this gets our thumbs up for sure!
Make sure on on your ride back you take the time to stop and listen to the music. There is some serious talent along the wharf, and go way beyond just  your average busker shaking around a tin can singing an off key version of Joe Cocker. This is a showcase of actual talent. The kind you want to get up and dance to, and the kind you would happily pay a $10 overcharge to see (keep that in mind and remember to leave them a tip! This is how they earn a living, and for most that money goes right back into their talent). Our favourite was the Lone Sound Ranger. One man - who can play many, many instruments, All at once. Who needs a band when you have that much talent!

Queen Of Hearts

This post definitely wasn’t a planned part of the itinerary - but one worth mentioning none the less, if nothing but to praise the staff & paramedics at Queen of The Valley ER in Napa.
After having a great dinner at Hurleys, and sharing a bottle of red (and yes, just one bottle!) - we decided to make it an early night in an effort to shake off some of the tiredness from the long trip over there the day before. Tucked up and fast asleep by 8pm. The world was a good place and we were happy & grateful to be sleeping in such a beautiful city, surrounded by lush vineyards. I awoke at about 3am feeling incredibly out of sorts. Im an old hat at passing out, and sometimes like to throw in the occasional seizure (for no explained reason) - so i knew the feelings running through my body all too well. Thinking i could just breathe my way through it and avoid it getting to the extreme, i took myself off to the bathroom, and shut the door so that i wouldn’t wake mum.
Rookie mistake. Now, lets be honest - I’m not a big one to ask for help… but there are times in your life when you have to admit to needing it, and this was one of them. Had i have not had made to decision to open the door and mumble for mum that night - i most likely wouldn’t be here to type this today.
Within moment of her running into the bathroom… i was out cold. I couldn’t even tell you what happened next - but from mums description, and the doctors diagnosis, it was a ‘tonic seizure’. Basically, your entire body stiffens up, your eyes roll into the back of your head, and you’re left resembling something of that from the exorcist to anyone who has to be unfortunate enough to witness it. In my case… it was my mum. As i came in and out of consciousness, i really thought i was done for. I couldn’t breathe, i couldn’t move, and i was too exhausted to fight it. Then i could hear my mum on the phone to 911 in a panic. I called for her. At first because i was too scared to die alone, but then once i saw the terror in her face, i knew i couldn’t die at all. No parent should have to see their kid die before them. Let alone on the bathroom floor surrounded by their own waste (i get that isn’t pleasant, but when your body shuts down like that- its just the cold hard truth of what happens).
Within moments the paramedics were there, along with the fire brigade. Nothing short of incredible from the minute they arrived. Calming down both mum and I, without making too much of a scene to have all the other hotel guests out of their rooms and gawking (thankgod!). I was taken off in the ambulance while mum gathered some of my things and was left with a hand drawn map of how to find me at the hospital… I think her driving there by herself terrified my just as much. International driving still wasn’t her specialty just yet!
I have a vague memory of arriving to the ER - and the paramedics making jokes about how they’d hired it the whole place out just for my arrival, because at that time in the morning it was so very quiet and i think i may have been the only patient there. But their sense of humour kept me giggling in an otherwise terrifying situation. A few hours, some blood tests, and fluids through an IV drip later - i was beginning to feel more like myself. Exhausted, but alive none the less. The seizure remains an unexpected mystery - but its also a reminder of why i’d never let anyone leave the country without travel insurance. Accidents can hit an anytime, even to to the healthiest of people. So this blog entry - goes out as a special thanks to Covermore Travel Insurance, all the staff at Queen of The Valley Er, Dr Lopez, Shane the paramedic, and the nurse who was headed to Ireland for her next vacation (i can’t remember her name… but if she ever reads this she’ll know its her!). And of course - my mum. Because no matter how old you get, when you get sick- they’ll still be the first person you want by your side. xox
Souvenir postcard below… I’m aware i could use a spray tan and a blow dry for this shot - but lets be honest, sometime reality just isn’t pretty!


As an after note though… one of the first thoughts i had when i started to come too, was that i never had ’the good macaroon’. The ones from Bouchon that I’ve so fondly spoken about in my previous entry. I’d walked past them, drooled over them from the other side of the glass… but that stupidly listened to the little voice in my head worrying about it having too much sugar and not being any good for you. People- take it from me. Treat yourself to the good macaroon! Life is too short, and they are good for you in so many other ways… its nutrition for your soul! Needless to say, once i was well enough to leave the hospital - the first stop was Bouchon. And it was the best damn salted caramel macaroon of my life!

Food is essential to life. Therefore, make it good.

Yountville is as full of good food as it is great wine. It's also home to one of the top three restaurants in the world - The French Laundry. However, with a 2 month waiting list and a $250pp bill, it may not be for everyone. Being the big foodie that i am though - i think if i had of done my research beforehand, i would happily eat baked beans in the lead up to save for this once in a lifetime dining experience! My credit card was thankful that they were booked out though, and luckily Yountville offers many other great options.
So here were our choices to eat at while we were in Napa. A good mix of affordable, quality food to keep your belly full in between all the wine tasting...
R & D Kitchen
Not a huge menu, but enough to keep everyone happy. We chose to go with the goats cheese omlette, the meatloaf, and of course - a serve of fries. Im a BIG fries fan, so tend to rate restaurants with an entirely separate score for the fries. These ones weren’t bad, and scored points for being well presented in a cone. Medium size..not quite thick, not quite shoe string… and had good taste. Overall - a 6/10.
The omelette was spot on, highly recommend. The meat loaf was a bit on the dry side, and theres most likely better things you could pick from the menu.
Price wise for 2 mains, a share serve of fried and a bottle of Sav, we paid around the $65 usd mark in total. Not bad.
Bouchon Bakery
For your morning coffee and sugary treat - you can’t go past this one! The macaroons here are to die for (and larger than you’ll see anywhere else!). A medium sized coffee and a macaroon will keep your purse and your tummy happy at $6.75. Of if its a quick lunchtime snack your after - the ham and cheese baguettes come highly recommended! This place has queues out the door on the weekends, but if you are finding you have to line up- its well worth it.
Make it your morning local for sure!
The Lakeside Grill (Golf Club)
This is a really great pick for a cheap lunch date with a view, and within walking distance from the main street. Again- you can BYO here, and corkage is only $9 (which for whatever reason, our waiter kindly removed from the bill for us). A huge range of burgers, burritos, tacos, and sandwiches… theres something to please everyone. I loaded up with 3 tacos (a steal at 3 bucks each!), while mum went with the chicken sandwich. It was raining outside so we stayed in the bar area - no where near as good for atmosphere, but for what your paying you can’t complain. Our bill was a combined total of $15. The complimentary corkage definitely helped win us over here, but even then - the price of the drinks is so resonable at the Lakeside Grill you really don’t even need to BYO!
Hurleys
The big plus for Hurleys is the free corkage. This can be pretty pricey around Napa - some places charging $20-25. So to get it free felt like a massive win.
The ambience here is beautiful, and makes you feel like the bill is going to be a lot higher than it actually is. But the highlight for me- was the entirely separate menu for Gluten Free. I felt very special not having to just pick from a choice of 3 things on the generic menu… this one was a long list of entrees, mains and desserts - and left me stuck for choice! So i ended up going with the pumpkin risotto. Coming out served to me inside an actually pumpkin was a big win it itself - but the taste was amazing!! Perfection as far as  risotto goes. The side serve of brussle sprout leaves i could live without - but i always hated those things anyways.
Mum went with a vegetable tangine (which she also raved about, so i can only assume comes highly recommend also). Fries for this one - an 8/10. Big portion, medium in size, cooked to perfection and the sort you can’t stop eating. Our waitress was very helpful in suggesting she bring out our mains soon before we fill up on too much potato goodness! My waistline was definitely grateful for that.
So with 2 mains, 1 serve of fries, and no corkage for our bottle of red- the total bill was at $60. Not bad for a candlelit dinner for two!

Time to get Merloaded!

You know a dedicated shopper, when even after 17 hours of combined travel time, and an hour into the road trip - you find a premium outlet shopping centre and find the energy to pull in and spend the afternoon finding bargains to fill up your suitcase before you even unpack them!
This may have also been due to the fact that we were in need of a well earned break after having to brave the rules of international driving. Granted - it was mum doing the driving part. But as a passenger, i think i suffered more grey hairs (and sadly there was no bar at the factory outlets to cure this!).
Using some pre-printed google maps, we found our way fairly easily to downtown Napa. The drive there from San Fran airport is actually not so hairy (and about an hour and half long if you get good traffic). Making your way 7 minutes down the road to Yountville - turned out to be the more difficult part of the day! Following what we thought was the ’29’, pretty rapidly turned into a dusty road surrounded by nothing but vineyards. Not a bad way to get lost… but unless someone else is turning those grapes into liquid for us, then it isn’t ideal either!
After a wise group decision to do a u-ey, we found a sign that said 'Wine Tastings', and thought it would be a good opportunity for us to refuel (ourselves) and ask for directions. Keep in mind- it isn’t cheap to get lost in Napa. Wine tastings here are around the $20 mark (USD), just to have a few sips. And the chances are they taste so good that you also can’t leave without a bottle… which will also pull on the purse strings. Our stop off was at the very beautiful Montecillo Vineyards - just off of Big Ranch Road. The gardens here are the perfect setting to take in your first few moments realising you’re lucky enough to be in Napa. And the wines are just as complimentatry! $55 american dollars later, I was slightly buzzed and holding the right directions to be on the road again (shout out to the designated driver at this point).
Within a few minutes we pulled into Yountville. Described by one local as ‘like Disneyland in wine country’… we quickly realised he wasn’t wrong! One long road (Washington street), kept pristinely clean and with perfect gardens the entire way along, is the main hub of Yountville. A quick stop past the window of the real estate agent will soon prove what an affluent area this is - with 3 bedroom houses sitting around the 2.8 million mark. We might have to hold off a few years yet till we thinking about a holiday home in the vineyards...
We chose to spend 2 nights at The North Block hotel, and were warmly greeted with two glasses of complimentary Chandon as we checked in. These guys sure know how to win me over. Now keep in mind if you want to save on pennies you may be better off staying just outside of Yountville. There are plenty of other areas close by that will do your holiday budget more favours, but if you only have a couple of nights- and you can spring for it… this is the place to really get a taste of Napa (and be in walking distance or a short bike ride from plenty of wineries).
The North Block is located right on Washington street, and each room is set around a main courtyard - feeling very much like you’re staying in a French chateau. The staff are wonderful, the beds are heaven, and the bathrooms are huge (with what i call ‘carwash showers’ - the sort that have too many options and water coming at you from all angles. In a good way…)
Now that we’ve tasted the wines, and tested the beds… its time to see what this place can offer out tastebuds… stay tuned.

If you want rainbows, you have to take the rain.

The pain of long haul flights is quickly forgotten within a day of reaching your holiday destination. Once the bags are unpacked, you have a hotel key in your posession, and have spent the night appreciating not sleeping in the upright position - it all seems to make it worthwhile. But that doesn’t stop the hundreds of passengers en route complaining about the journey to get there. They quickly forget how lucky they are to be spending a few days - or even weeks - seeing parts of the world that others could only dream of. While there are some people who’ve never left their home city before… others are complaining about a seat reclining in front of them too far back - instead of appreciating the view of the clouds from 10,000 feet.
I have never been one of those people. In fact- I’m one of the very odd few who revel in the idea of long haul flights. The thought of being forced to turn off my phone, and have no access to emails - whilst someone serves me food and drinks for a few hours, is like a mini holiday in itself. To sit under a blanket, watch back to back movies, read a few trashy magazines, a good book, or just sit quietly in with my own thoughts - is a rare opportunity. And one that i never take for granted.
Yes - it can be uncomfortable after a few hours, and experience can vary from airline to airline… but it also comes down to the traveller making it the best experience for themselves. The better prepared you are, the less painful of an experience it will be.
So, in saying that - heres my hot tips for long haul travel...
#1 Treat it like your normal routine. And by saying that - i mean, pack something to change into when it comes to sleep time. Pyjamas are totally acceptable if thats what helps to get you in the napping mood (theres never any judgement after about the 3 hour mark once the cabin lights dim). Take yourself to the bathroom, wash your face, brush your teeth, put on your warm socks, and get ready for ‘bed’. Our brains are suckers for routine, and will automatically understand its time to switch off as we prepare for slumber.
#2 This ones for the ladies... wear a strapless bra. This will make the world of difference to your comfort level- trust me! Once you’ve settled in, it’ll make it very easy to unclip under your jumper and get yourself out of ‘boob jail’ discreetly for the next 12 hours. And to re-dress easily when it comes time for landing.Of course, this may not be as effective for anyone with mammoth cans who can’t bare the thought of strapless anything, so i can only speak on behalf of the itty bitty titty comity when i suggest this (and yes, we are jealous of your buxom beauties!)
#3 Pack snacks. Especially if you’re a glutard like myself. It happens all too often where your specific dietary requirement hasn’t ‘manifested into the system’. Which means someone most likely dropped the ball on getting it on the flight for you. My favourite line is when they like to blame this one on your travel agent. Now, I’m not saying we’re always perfect… but having loading up my own meal requests only to be told my ‘agent’ mustve forgotten, leads me to wonder how often this happens to our clients. Needless to say it gets awfully uncomfortable when i tell them i am the agent, and i generally wouldn’t chose to forget to feed myself. Ever.
#4 Do your research. Know your airports, or at least ask when your checking in what the procedure will be at the other end. Do you need to collect your bags in transit? Will you need another boarding pass? Or a shuttle to another terminal? Are there additional baggage fees when you swap airline? Its best to find all this out before you land in a foreign country that may,or may not, speak english. It’ll save you many meltdowns and furious rants to your friends when you get home, after all- they’re only interested in hearing all about the exotic places you’ve been to while they’re stuck in the office… not about how the ‘Express Line’ wasn’t at all express, and how the girl at check was out of line for charging you excess baggage (even though you most likely did have over weight bags!)
For those of you who frequently travel to LA (or via LA) - you’ll also be glad to know that they have now introduced self service kiosks to get you through customs. No more lining up for 3 hours… in fact, it only took us 15 minutes to get through using these machines. It will only work if it isn’t your first trip there, and there are plenty of customs offices still willing to serve you through the counter if you don’t feel confident doing it independently, but its sure makes a world of difference!
Nice one LAX!