Venere Travel Blog - It's our business where you sleep!

I spend between 14 to 18 hours of air travel from the US or Europe to Asia. With that amount of time spent inside the aircraft, I have learned to make time fly and have transformed the plane into a flying capsulated inn.

Make your flight as comfortable and as conducive to sleep as you can. Listed below are some tips on how to put the comfort and the zzzzzzzz to your air travel:

1. Do the electronic check in to avoid the long queue and to get a better seating arrangement.

2. Avoid the seats at the end of the aircraft and those near the wings and toilets if you want minimal distraction, noise and movement.

3. Get to the airport early to minimize the stress. One time, I was the last passenger to check in and all eyes were on me when I stepped on the plane. Not to mention, I had to run from the check-in counter all the way to the aircraft and even long after the airplane took off, my heart was still palpitating.

4. Wear a pair of shoes that’s easy to slip on, without having to tie/untie each time you go through security check and to the toilet.

5. Wear or bring a thick pair of socks. That way, when you take your shoes off, your feet are still protected form the cold. If you’re still feeling cold, you can let your blanket hang loose to reach the soles of your feet.

6. Wear comfortable clothes. Consider the fit and the texture, nothing silky as it gets even colder when its cold. It should be something you could wear comfortably while sleeping without looking like you’re going to sleep (like a negligee or pajamas).

7. Bring a jacket. It may not be cold at the check-in counter but it’s worth tagging along when it gets cold up there.

8. Watch inflight movies. It’s an entertaining way to pass the time. There’s one movie which was never shown in local theaters here but thankfully, I saw it while flying with Northwest Airlines – Bottleshock. Unfortunately, not all airlines show free movies. I’ve learned that an Airline company is now charging pay per view to deal with the economic crunch.

9. Move around and stretch for better circulation. At the beginning of the flight, an instructional video shows easy exercises which can be done without leaving your seat.

When you’re feeling comfortable but still far from feeling sleepy, then

10. Read a book or a magazine. Bedtime stories are not just for the kids. Skip the suspense thriller and action genre (even for the movies), if you want to set your mood to sleep.

11. Listen to a relaxing music which can help ease the tensions in traveling and which can help you get to sleep.

12. Keep the remote control in its place. You might end up sitting on it, which is uncomfortable and you may accidentally press tn or call the steward.

13. Bring an eye mask. If it’s part of your sleeping regimen that all lights are turned off before you sleep, then recreate that environment by using an eye mask. If your child hugs a stuff toy when sleeping at home, you can either bring her stuff toy or make use of the pillow.

14. For the male traveler, pull out the wallet from your back pocket. It will create an uncomfortable bulge when you sleep and it will create an imbalance on your spine.

15. Instead of drinking soda and caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea, opt for water. Skip on the sugary items, too. You can set aside your dessert for later, when you wake up.

16. The ideal posture is sitting at 135 degree angle so unless it’s meal time, take off and touchdown, pull your seat back.

17. Put the allocated pillow or blanket between your low back and the seat to alleviate spinal compression.

18. Relax and clear your mind. Avoid thinking of complicated matters which will keep your mind awake. Perhaps you can picture a serene view of the plains and hills and start counting sheep.

Sure, it is exciting to travel but it can be uncomfortable with long haul trips. If not addressed properly, the start of what could be a beautiful journey may end up disastrous and ruining the trip. Make sure you get a comfortable flight and a good sleep so you’re all set and recharged to begin your new journey.

“Sleeping on the Plane” picture by bravenewtraveler