Flights and airports always sound super intimidating to everybody, but it doesn’t have to be if you are ready well beforehand and have everything you need to make your travel and transits as smooth as possible.

Pack it in
We always seem to want to take everything with us when we are traveling and fitting most of the things in, even if they are well within the weight limit, can be quite a monstrous task. The simplest trick to getting everything inside your suitcase and avoiding wrinkles is to roll your clothes instead of folding them, apart from the formal shirt you may have ironed and folded. In that case, fold it with a sheet of newspaper in between to avoid wrinkles and put a coiled belt inside the collar of your shirt to make sure it stays stiff. 
Another great way to maximize space is to roll up your socks together, wrap the ends around the roll and then to pack them inside your shoes. One shoe can fit up to 3 pairs of socks and it doesn’t take up any of the space! And as for your shoes, pack them in shower caps to avoid getting your clothes dirty. 

Carry on
There are a few things you should have in your carry on that will help you have a smooth flight. “Bored” is the constant state of being in flights, you took that nap, and you aren’t interested in the in-flight movies, so what next? Taking a book you have been meaning to read with you will keep you occupied and entertained for a longer stretch of time. Having full charge on and carrying a battery backup for your gadgets can also help you kill time not just on flights but during transits too. One way to easily pack your phone chargers, earphones and any other kinds of wires is to toss them in an old sunglass case to keep them together, relatively tangle free and not have them in your way every time you open your bag.

Always pack your carry on with the thing in mind that you may not see your main luggage for a few days sometimes. One trick to avoid severe disappointment if your luggage gets lost is to carry your favorite pieces of clothing that you would be absolutely devastated to lose in your carry-on luggage. 
Pro tip: To avoid ending up spending a lot on water, carry an empty water bottle in your carry-on and fill it up for free once you pass security.  

Care
An airplane is one of the driest places you will ever be in your life so deep moisturizing lotions and chap sticks are two of the most important things you need to carry. Most flights allow liquid carry on of 100ml or less per item, so if you don’t have small enough lotions, pack some in contact lens containers. They are compact and economical and are very handy for traveling. 
In a long haul flight that’s six hours or longer, you need an arsenal of things to keep you feeling fresh and comfortable. Wet wipes, deodorants, hand sanitizers, chewing gums and even toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste can go a long way in making you feel fresh and clean. You can also use your time on board to keep up with your beauty regime if you aren’t too shy; hydrating facemasks is the way to go.

Comfort plus
Airplane temperatures are always expected to fluctuate between too hot and too cold. To make your journey as comfortable as possible, wear layered clothes that you can shed off as per the temperature and carry cozy socks that you can wear for the duration of the flight. Carrying a jumper and a small travel blanket is a good idea especially if you catch a chill quickly.  For a nap, make sure you have a neck pillow and a sleeping mask, it’ll make you comfortable, make the people around you aware that you are sleeping as well as give you a bit of darkness so you don’t have to grumble about that man with the shade up or that woman with her reading lights on.
When you have everything packed and ready and you have maximized your comfort, traveling doesn’t need to be a hectic hassle we all make it out to be. Don’t travel stressed, travel savvy. 

 
• travel
 
• savvy