We recently traveled to South Africa and we benefited SO much from advice, blogs, and google searches on how to make that trip as easy and comfortable as possible. So we wanted to share the love and give you guys our favorite travel hacks we used (and what we wished we had used!).
Plus if you purchase any of the items from the links in this blog Amazon sends us a percentage of the purchase! So your travel can help us travel!
Air Travel Must Haves:
- NoJetlag Homeopathic! We slipped right into a normal sleep routine right away. If you get nothing else, GET THIS HOMEOPATHIC!
- Gut Protector: Especially if you are going to a country where you are concerned about facing new germs! You can also use any strong pro and prebiotic as well. We did not take this homeopathic every meal, just if cleanliness was a concern. We had no issues wuth any gut problems while we traveled.
- Gum: We recommend this one to help protect your ears from popping when the plane is going up and down. Any gum will do but we recommend this gum we like that has xylitol to help strengthen your teeth.
- Hydration Packets: We were not a big fan of the ones we bought for our trip (First hydration packs) They didn’t taste very good and we couldn’t use them the whole trip because they had B Vitamins in them so if we took them they might interfere with sleep. Next time I will be using my tried and true options I used as a birth worker:
–Drip Drop: Cheaper option and all the flavors are delicious! And it has a sugar free option.
–Drip Drop Sugar Free
–Liquid IV is more expensive but also more effective in also a variety of delicious flavors and a sugar free option as well.
–Liquid IV Sugar Free
- Luggage Tags: We did not like the ones we originally bought (First luggage tags) because they did not fasten very securly we ended up using something else to fasten them with. We think we will get these next time: New luggage tags
- Good Luggage: We loved having all matching luggage. Made it so easy to find. The wheels on these worked so smooth and easily, not matter how heavy the bag was. None of our items were damaged when we got don traveling and we traveled with a lot of fragile items. Something to consider when deciding on luggage for international travel: hardshell luggage will keep items safer but is heavier so you can carry less in them.
- Neck pillow: We had mixed reviews on the neck pillow we got. I (Abbey) loved it and Joe was meh on it. We both liked the eye masks!
*Our Luggage and Luggage Tags
- Pepto Tablets: These chewable Pepto tablets were amazing for heart burn and nausea. If you get car sick you will want these. They seemed to work better than the dramamine.
- Toiletry Bags and Bottles: We loved these toiletry bags and bottles! Come in a variety of shapes and sizes so you can bring a little of all the necessities!
- Essential Oils: For travel we recommend having these few oils that help with a variety of symtpms and situations. our favorite brand is NOW because it is cost effective and safe to use. But use whatever brand you trust most.
-Ecaluptus: Lungs, sinuses, and alertness
-Lavender: relaxation, healing, and calming nerves
-Peppermint: nausea, alertness, lungs, and sinuses.
- Long Haul Circulation: Both adults took this on the way to South Africa and had no swelling or issues at all! I (Abbey) forgot to take it on the way back and had some pretty swollen ankles when I got to DC! We also recommend this combo pack of Long Haul Circulation and Immune Activator because Abbey got a very nasty cold during our travels and spent the first week back in the states sick in bed.
*Ignore my very tanned feet from the beautiful South African Sun!
- Colapsable Water Bottle: These were amazingly handy! We could fill them up when in the airport but colapse them to put in our bags when going through security. They were light and small when colapsed.
- Locks for your Luggage: We loved these locks! Easy to use and budget friendly.
*Abbey’s swollen feet when she forgot to take the Long Haul Circulation
- Sanitary Wipes: These turned out to be very handy! Helpful for wiping down anywhere on your body that needs freshing up. But also for cleaning. On on of our flights with Turkish Airlines we spilled some juice and the flight attendants gave us a bottle of perfume and a small paper towel to clean it up with. So we went for our handy wipes instead. Any kind will do but what we liked about these were they are sturdy, mildly scented, and in a small packaging that easily fits in a carryon.
What Want for Next Time
- Blanket for the Plane: They do give you a blanket for the plane but it is VERY thin. Also when you are in the aiport napping you won’t have the blankets that the plane has. I (Abbey) struggle with being cold all the time anyway, but especially on planes. We got thin fleece blankets from walmart which worked pretty well. For ladies I think it would be easy to find a long, thick shawl that you can wear in the airport and can double as a blanket to save weight on the plane.- On a similar thread we would have brough heavier coats with lots of pockets for storing items but also making napping more comfy in the airport.
*Can you spot Cloe?
- Face mister: I (Abbey) had a very unique problem immedietly on the first of 6 flights with Turkish Airlines. Turkish airlines and the airport was FULL of perfume. There was a fabreeze air freshener plug in the plane toilet and every other vendor in the airport was selling cologne or perfume. All of that combined with the dry air that exists in every plane I had a full on allergy attack the entire time from when we took off and it took a week to recover after we landed in South Africa. Nothing worked to ease my symptoms during the attack. Nasal spray, allergy meds, drinking lots of water, splashing water on my face, etc. did nothing to help.The only thing that worked for me on the flights going back was I emptied one of my spray bottles I had brought in my toiletry bag and filled it with fresh, filtered water. About every ten minutes I sprayed my nose and mouth area with the water and that kept my symtoms very manigable! The next time I am flying I will be trying this face mister out as a personal humidifier. I may look crazy but when you have sensitive sinuses you’d rather look crazy than deal with the attack!
- Better Snacks: When we traveled we ended up with a lot of sweet, cookie type snacks and that got old after a while. Next time I would do more variety and focus on healthier snacks. Here is what I want to do next time:
– Sweet Snack: Protein Bites
– Fruity Snack: That’s It Fruit Bars
-Crunchy Snack: Edamame Beans
-Veggie Snack: Chickpeas
-Meat Snack: Slim Jims
- Descrete travel bag: I wore a fanny pack but wished I had gotten something like this travel bag instead. Something I could wear under clothes if need be for walking around areas in Africa.
- Foot Rests: Some of the planes had foot rests but they were not adjustable and not always available. On our next journey we will be trying these out. They are adjustable but also the foot part is inflatable so its a comfy spot for your feet. Also we think they can double as an inflatable lumbar support pillow.
- Homepathics: Next time we travel this kit of homeopathics would be awesome!
Our Turkish Airlines Review
Overall we give Turkish Airlines an 8 out of 10! Which I think it would be hard for most businesses serving a worlwide community to score higher than that. Most of our struggles we believe were cultural.
1. Aiport Staff: We found the staff in the aiport to be pretty brusk and not very helpful. At one gate we were waiting for them to call our seat section for boarding and were then fussed at by an airport employee because we had small children we should have already gone (Even though they had never anounced it was time for small children to board). I think they made the assumption that everyone with children would know that they were in the first boarding group, whereas in america they anounce the time for children specifically over the intercom.
2. Airplane:
– They airplanes were clean (Except for the toilet room floor)
– The food was the BEST part of the whole flight. Everything was so fresh and delicious tasting!
– The seats were as comfortable as plane seats can be.
-You get a nice bag of emergency toiletries, headphones, socks, eye masks, and ear plugs in a reusable bag. We actually kept the bags we liked them so much.
– The toilet room had a glade plugin (designed for a large room) and. abottle of cologne. This caused a strong chemically perfume smell throughout the whole flight. Which I guess if you are used to that it is very nice, but since I (Abbey) struggle with a perfume allergy it was miserable.
– Flight attendants: were so kind! They were very hospitable and so patient especially with children. Each kid got a cool backpack with similiar items as the adult and a toy too.
3. Aiport in Turkey: Was the most beautiful airport we have ever been in. It was a work of art as well as an experience. Everything was extrememly overpriced but that is most airports. With your ticket you do get a free meal voucher at the airport, which was a huge blessing.
4. Tour Istanbul: With your ticket and if you have a layover of 6 hours or more you get access to a tourism of some area of istanbul. We had. avery dissapointing experience with this. On the first leg we had to ask employees where to go to take the tour and the directions were confusing and nothing was marked. There are no signs until you are directly in front of the tour istanbul information desk. Then when we got to the desk we were told that is where we can ask questions but not where we can leave for the tour. Where you leave for the tour is on the opposite side of the airport (We still don’t know where exactly it is). We were not offered any consideration or alternative for this loss. The second time we flew the tour had to be canceled because of bad weather, which is of course understandable. So we recommend if you are wanting to do the package make sure you get there early and know where to go.
