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 Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:09 am
After a forever-time of raising money, I'm going on a trip with my senior class to various parts of Europe. It's Brussels, Paris, Italy, Germany, and a day or two of Austria. I've already got a nice list of things I need to do/get before I go, but as I've never traveled overseas before (and my single previous flight on a plane was about 3 hours long), what do those of you with more experience suggest I bring along?
What could I do to make the plane ride easier on my ears/head (chewing gum seems to help but only so much), and any suggestions as to what I should bring along? lol
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:35 am
maybe an mp3 player or ear plugs.
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:41 am
From my experience of transatlantic flights - do everything you can to get some sleep on the flight. It really does help to negate the effects of jetlag, and it makes the flight pass quicker.
I'd recommend taking along a portable games console if you have one, or a good book. An mp3 player is also a good idea - these just give you ways of passing the time. You can never guarantee that there'll be a good film on the flight - I was lucky and got The Princess Bride, but even that only used 2 out of the 9 1/2 hours of the flight's duration.
For the takeoff/landing parts, I've found that Fruit Gums do the trick nicely. I'm not sure about chewing gum, as I'm not too keen on it, but theoretically that would be good - it's just making sure that you keep swallowing to sort out the pressure in your ears.
By the way, I'd like to add my envy at you getting to go to Austria. It's a place I'm rather keen on visiting. You'd better have a great time! 3nodding
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:23 am
fredwise From my experience of transatlantic flights - do everything you can to get some sleep on the flight. It really does help to negate the effects of jetlag, and it makes the flight pass quicker. I'd recommend taking along a portable games console if you have one, or a good book. An mp3 player is also a good idea - these just give you ways of passing the time. You can never guarantee that there'll be a good film on the flight - I was lucky and got The Princess Bride, but even that only used 2 out of the 9 1/2 hours of the flight's duration. For the takeoff/landing parts, I've found that Fruit Gums do the trick nicely. I'm not sure about chewing gum, as I'm not too keen on it, but theoretically that would be good - it's just making sure that you keep swallowing to sort out the pressure in your ears. By the way, I'd like to add my envy at you getting to go to Austria. It's a place I'm rather keen on visiting. You'd better have a great time! 3nodding I've been skiing in Austria, it's awesome!
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The_Enigmatic_SEF Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:26 pm
Take a money belt. Its important! You don't want to have all your money and whatnot stolen in the middle of a foreign country. Its bad news.
A digital camera, and extra battery, and a charger/plug adapter.
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:52 pm
yes, money belts are important, that way whenever you have to pay for something you have a good excuse to shove your hands down your pants, you can look like a tourist, and if you get robbed, you can give them all your money in one single swoop!
I went to Britain last summer and all I had for the flight was a book and my mp3 player. They have inflight movies and headphones for you, as well as some games (some of them cost money though!) It was good, but I ended up bringing 3 new books home!
I think the most important thing is to know your customs and blend in. If you offend the people of a town by talking about pants in public you won't have as much fun
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Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:53 pm
Sam the Morningstar yes, money belts are important, that way whenever you have to pay for something you have a good excuse to shove your hands down your pants, you can look like a tourist, and if you get robbed, you can give them all your money in one single swoop! I went to Britain last summer and all I had for the flight was a book and my mp3 player. They have inflight movies and headphones for you, as well as some games (some of them cost money though!) It was good, but I ended up bringing 3 new books home! I think the most important thing is to know your customs and blend in. If you offend the people of a town by talking about pants in public you won't have as much fun Lol. Remember in Britain: Pants = Trousers Underpants = Pants Chips = Crisps etc...
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:40 am
Unfortunately, I can't go to Britain, or I would in a heartbeat (or two). xd
Thanks for the advice about the plane, I plan on pulling nearly an all-nighter the night before with my friend so I can actually fall asleep on the plane.
As far as money, it's going in my passport holder, which is going underneath all my clothes. XD
@fredwise: Fruit Gums... you mean gummies? In that case, heck yeah. I love 'em! biggrin
And I'm crazy excited about Austria and Salzburg (the Sound of Music tour is asdf;lkjasdf; omgican'twaitomg).
Digital camera, extra batteries (and memory card!), iPod, and an adapter, check.
Thanks so much, guys!
I'm leaving in 13 days. eek eek eek
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The_Enigmatic_SEF Captain
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:27 pm
One last piece of advice: HAVE TONS OF FUN!
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:33 pm
Ah, you got one of those pouches that loop over your neck & hide under your shirt, huh? I had one when I went to London. Put your passport & excess money there.
I'd recommend getting American Express Traveler's Checks. For real.
I got a whole book of them, and each day I tore one off & went to the bank & cashed it in. DON'T use the exchanges you see in the airport & elsewhere that are not banks, they will rip a hefty interest charge out of your money for the transaction. A good bank will be much better. In London, I used Barclay's to get my cash. Keep the extra checks in the pouch. All the cash you would have would be enough for each day only.
I would recommend only drinking bottled water. Evians is nice. Tastes better over there than it does here--fresher, I suppose.
You think you'll sleep on the plane, but if you're really excited, you WON'T. On top of your lack of relaxation, the seats aren't comfy for sleeping and the dull roar of the engines is invasive. So make sure you're getting plenty of rest AHEAD of the trip.
And if you're awake and it's night and the moon is up, you've GOT to look out a window. The sight of the moonlight shining across a landscape of clouds is awesome. Sunrise is even more so if you get a golden dawn shining across the tops of the clouds!
Take some Airborne along. The stuff DOES work if you don't wait until you're actually snarfling or feverish to take it. You get around somebody sick, take a dose.
Get some guidelines for packing. The airlines are downright psycho about what they won't allow on board any more. One of my friends loves to do needlework & planned to do this during a really long trip to the Philippines. She found out needles aren't allowed. She had to get creative & come up with a plastic substitute that would work.
When I went back in 91, I had nothing but carry-on luggage--one of those cases that rolls behind you & fits right under your seat. Not sure if they allow that any more, but it sure saved me time getting through the airport at Gatwick; straight to customs & away! biggrin
Find out where the really good bookstores or comic shops are ahead of time if you can. You might get a chance to hit one. I found Forbidden Planet & another place across from the British Museum & I bought a bunch of Doctor Who stuff & eleven volumes of Footrot Flats (in other words, books we can't get here in the US!)
Don't eat in the tourist restaurants. That's NOT where the good food is. Just as true there as it is here.
Always use good manners with the locals. It astonishes them, if nothing else. xd Sometimes it causes them to tell you things they might keep from typical tourists.
Mass transit in Europe is not yukky like it can be here. Trains and coaches are used by everybody. I was scared to use a coach at first, but they said it was clean and safe--and it was so. Almost like being on the plane! Comfy seat, curtained window, air blower overhead, & a snack trolley that made circuits up & down the aisle! It was a nice trip, and the drivers were pleasant & friendly.
Take lots of photos! biggrin
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Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:24 pm
Thanks for the advice, everyone! Just 5 more days! surprised
Definitely gonna be taking photos like crazy. biggrin
I've already bought Airborne and some multivitamins to take along with my meds for my sinus infection - I'll be starting them a few days before I leave so my immune system has a nice boost to it.
I've got to be at the airport around noon, and I'm landing in Brussels around 6am their time, then I hit the ground running and have to stay up all day to kill the jetlag.
I usually can't fall asleep unless I'm really really tired, and I'm leery of taking meds to get me to sleep because we have a layover somewhere and I'm a fairly heavy sleeper. In order for me to actually be able to sleep on the plane, do you guys think it would be a good idea to stay up late the night before, or just do my best to block out the noise and/or use something to get me tired? razz
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:05 pm
Ceribri Thanks for the advice, everyone! Just 5 more days! surprised Definitely gonna be taking photos like crazy. biggrin I've already bought Airborne and some multivitamins to take along with my meds for my sinus infection - I'll be starting them a few days before I leave so my immune system has a nice boost to it. I've got to be at the airport around noon, and I'm landing in Brussels around 6am their time, then I hit the ground running and have to stay up all day to kill the jetlag. I usually can't fall asleep unless I'm really really tired, and I'm leery of taking meds to get me to sleep because we have a layover somewhere and I'm a fairly heavy sleeper. In order for me to actually be able to sleep on the plane, do you guys think it would be a good idea to stay up late the night before, or just do my best to block out the noise and/or use something to get me tired? razz Put some ear plugs in and eat something soporific. Staying up late the night before will just make you edgy.
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The_Enigmatic_SEF Captain
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Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 6:07 pm
Seriously. Get well rested BEFORE the trip.
I kept sleeping til 11 am every day in London, which wasted a LOT of time since they actually rolled up the sidewalks at 5pm most places, if you can imagine it in a huge metropolis like that!
Maybe headphones and good music to listen to or some sort of recording of white noise or ocean waves or something, to put the rumble of the engines in the background. You WON'T shut it out entirely, it's too loud and deep a roar. Hopefully you won't have any turbulence. That's kind of annoying.
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Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:15 pm
Yeah, I'm definitely getting plenty of sleep before I go. smile
I've got some amazing little headphones that block out everything and I'm packing those in my day pack.
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The_Enigmatic_SEF Captain
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Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:51 pm
Its actually pretty easy to fall asleep on a plane anyway.
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