Here at Salt & Wind Travel we clock in a lot of travel time. As in 100,000 miles annually whether to uncover a new story or to set off on our next Salt & Wind trip.
But the truth is being up in the air takes its toll and, after a few thousand miles, you can arrive at your destination feeling, or worse yet, looking weary. Call us vain but we consider that a nonstarter.
Luckily, all that time on the road has taught us a thing of two about how to best rebound after a long flight.
Dress The Part
As air travel has come more and more common, the travel outfit of sneakers and workout pants have too. By no means do you need to show up in a pantsuit, but dressing comfortable yet chic goes a long way. We have a few go-to travel outfits and they’re usually some combination of a slip-on bootie, a dark jean, a few layers, and a luxe cashmere scarf.
Need even more rationale as to why you should dress it up a bit? Flight attendants admit that looking put-together can also help you get an upgrade!
Zen Out
Every frequent flier we know has their own in-flight routine for relaxing. Clock in enough miles and you too will come up with a plane relaxation ritual, but we have a few ideas to get you started.
First, pack whatever you need to sleep well. Also download any shows you’ll want to watch, books you’ll want to read, or music you’ll want to listen to (maybe make a playlist to help you sleep even?) so you can get in the zone.
Move Around
This one sounds like a no-brainer but if you fall asleep or are in a middle seat and don’t want to disturb your seatmates, you can end up seated for hours upon hours. We probably don’t need to tell you that is not healthy.
About once every 90 minutes, make an effort to move on the plane be it a few in-seat stretches (even as simple as rolling your ankle and neck a few times), walking up and down the aisle, or even doing a few easy yoga moves.
Pro tip: a lot of the major air carriers have a few videos or articles in their in-flight magazine devoted to suggested stretches!
Change It Up
We’re just as hopeful as you that your luggage doesn’t get delayed or lost when you’re traveling. But, just in case it does? Be prepared!
We take a change of clothes in our carry-on so that we don’t have to resort to wearing the airplane-branded tee should our luggage get lost. Bonus is that, even if you don’t lose your luggage, having an extra outfit gives you something to change into so you can feel fresh upon landing (especially key if you, like us, often have meetings immediately upon landing).
Hydrate
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. The key to feeling great after a long-haul flight is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Our tactic is to drink 3 liters of water broken up over the course of travel so you drink 1 liter before flight, 1 liter during, and 1 upon arrival. Yes, it’s a lot of water but it will help you feel more refreshed, help your skin get over the dry airplane conditions.
Oh, and a reminder that you can also help stay hydrated via your skincare and food choices. As in, stay clear of super salty snacks (we’re looking at your pretzels) and load up on fresh fruit and vegetables.
Bring Your Freshen Up Essentials
Pack your own mini kit of whatever you need to freshen up before landing. We recommend bringing some toothpaste (or even those individual use mini toothbrushes), a face mask or facial mist, some eye drops to relieve any redness, and whatever makeup you need (say some liquid eyeliner, concealer, and a lip gloss) to look more refreshed.
Have any other tips for how to feel refreshed after a long flight? Let us know in the comments below!
Have Us Plan Your Next Trip
Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency specializing in vacation planning? If you’re looking to plan a trip, our trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary.
