I hope you are all doing well.
I did say I am going to make more of an effort with blogging so here I am with another post for you all! As of late, I have been seeing (and envying!) may I say over many peoples check ins on holiday and snapchat stories so its only natural that I have been day dreaming about the very day I myself get to step off a plane and step straight on to a hot beach.
Truth be told, It has been five long years since I have been abroad, with work, other family commitments and two small children has made booking a family holiday the last thing on the to do list. Rest assured, it still remains on the to do list!
As an avid flyer (thanks to daddy dearest for always working hard to get us a yearly holiday) has meant one thing, knowing the dos and dont's of travelling abroad so I thought I'd share my very own travel essentials with you all.
Less is more- Thats the packing I mean, I always used to make the grave mistake of overpacking and taking ten pairs of wedges, sandals and flip flops only to wear the same ones the entire time. I would randomly be throwing things in thinking I would need everything and anything, when in fact all it did was create a very heavy suitcase to lug around and coming home to things being unworn and unused. The last thing you want is aching arms from the heavy luggage you have to manage and lets face it, having a half empty suitcase can only mean one thing- using the space for any shopping! With the clothes and accessories, remember you can mix and match, you are likely to be in a swim suit most of the time and you can easily wash,dry and wear things again in the hot weather. With those all important makeup items and toiletries, I always try to condense things down in little travel sized bottles and try to use miniature and multi purpose products so that I am carrying less around. I am not too bothered about shampoos and shower gels and things like that as some hotels provide these and supermarkets and pharmacies nearby will always have these to hand anyway.
Hydrate- When I was younger, I was always plane sick, it then later turned to really bad nausea and then thankfully wore off as I had gotten older. I found that drinking lots of water helped with this not to mention to prevent dehydration, help with jet lag, help with circulation as well as keeping the skin from drying out. Avoid caffeine consumption (lets admits the plane coffee is dreadful anyway!) Eating lighter meals help with warding off any plane sickness too and I have never been a big fan of plane food hence always stopping for some food before my flight. Going back to hydrating, I tend to wear as little makeup as possible, pack on my moisturiser and really let my skin breathe.
Research- I always like to try and do as much as research as I can beforehand. Its the one thing I thrive on, does the hotel have a shuttle bus service hence saving you money on taxis? Does the hotel have Wifi so you can do those all important Facebook check ins? What about any excursions? You may be better off with you local travel agents here in the UK or can you get a better deal out there, it is really worth researching to try and get the best deals possible. What activities are on? Is there an on call doctor? I always refer to sites such as Trip Advisor and of course ask family and friends that may have been before.
I also like making a little list in my notebook of things I would like to do/ places I would like to visit whilst I am there. I like to get the being spontaneous and planning ahead balance just right!
A few snaps of my last holiday in Dubai.
Prep well- Do not relax with things like vaccinations, meds and travel insurance. I always tend to pack a clear plastic zip bag with good old paracetamol, Ibuprofen, the all important Immodium, calamine lotion, vaseline, sunscreen, and hayfever and allergy relief tablets. I also pack a small first aid kit that you can buy from a pound shop and heres where my first aid training comes in handy. I am a right geek when it comes to medicine as it is paramount to be safe than sorry. My handbag always has a bottle of hand sanitiser and anti bac wipes, you just never know where those nasty germs could be lurking. On another note, have you let your banks know you will be using your cards abroad and to get a travel marker registered? It would be pretty embarrassing (and frustrating!) if your cards were blocked. Last but not least, I always pack a jumper and a pair of cheeky socks in my hand luggage for the trips back home to the UK, it is always likely to be chilly when you step off that plane to come home!
A personal touch- I used to always struggle sleeping in a strange bed no matter how comfortable it was. Some of the hotel rooms despite being immaculate would never feel cosy and I always found adding a few small personal touches always did the trick. My favourite is my lavender room spray and pillow mist to help me relax and unwind. My personal favourite is lighting a candle in the evenings before bed to really get that cosy atmosphere and of course to finish it off with pillows propped up behind me and reading a good light hearted book. I may be on holiday, but it doesn't stop me from reading!
So there you have it, some of my very travel essentials. What are yours? I would love to know, comment down below.
Until next time, love and lipstick
xxx
*Cover Image source: Google Images.
