Seven tips to make your travels more comfortable

Traveling means leaving your comfort zone. Now, a lot of people treat the term comfort zone like it has an exclusively negative connotation.

Sure, it’s often used to imply that someone is afraid to go on an adventure, but the word comfort in the comfort zone is there for a reason. You’re in your own home, taking the same (well-known and safe) itinerary every single day, sleeping in your own bed, and sitting on your own toilet. It’s cost, and it’s… well, comfortable (there’s really no need to use a different word for it).

Trips are fun, but they’re also not as comfortable. There’s a lot of adjustment to make, and all the moving about seldom gives much room for comfort. Still, there are tricks you could use to make your travels more comfortable. Here are seven of them.

1. Use travel apps
The first thing you need to understand is that the right app can make your life much easier. For instance, an app like a flight tracker can help you feel more comfortable during the journey. You can also get a luggage GPS device and install an app to track your luggage every step of the journey.

Then, you have modern language translators who are far superior to their predecessors. A lot of people have tried using these apps before (in the era before NLP and AI), which discourages them from doing so in the future. The technology has progressed so far that you need to give them a second shot.

Most importantly, while traveling, you need a VPN. According to tech expert Aleksandar Stevanovic, picking one of the best available VPN services will do more than just allow you to bypass geo-restrictions. The thing is that, while traveling, you’re more likely to use an unsecured network. An extra layer of encryption will keep you safe.

2. Choose the right luggage
Next, you need to pick the right luggage. First of all, you need something lightweight and durable. You should never underestimate the amount of time you’ll be hauling it manually (even if it has wheels), and you should definitely never downplay the amount of bouncing and tumbling that this luggage will have to endure.

You want something that’s easy to maneuver, easy to fit in the trunk of a cab/Uber, and something you won’t have a problem carrying through the narrow streets or in a packed elevator. The choice of luggage will affect the comfort of your journey more than you know.

You also want something that fits airline regulations. Some airlines have limits on the size and weight of their luggage, and you want something that will always pass these criteria. Just remember that different airlines sometimes have different regulations and that you won’t be using just one airline.

3. Pack smart
Next, you need to learn how to pack smart, even if you’re last-minute packing. First, you want to start using packing cubes. When it comes to packing, it’s not just about cramming items into your luggage. It’s about keeping them tidy and well organized, and packing cubes can really help you out with this.

Rolling clothes also helps you with space management and making things more compact. Plus, when rolled tightly, your shirts will remain ironed. It doesn’t sound intuitive, but when you learn how to do it right, you’ll see just how accurate this really is.

Next, you want to bring versatile items. A multi-purpose item will save you the need to bring two items instead. No matter how much you think you need a single-purpose item, the reality is that you should probably think twice before adding something you don’t really, really need to the luggage.

4. Dress comfortably
Wearing layers is a great tip when traveling for several reasons. First, it allows you just to remove layers one after another if you’re too hot and then add them when you get too cold. You don’t have to look for a wardrobe where you’ll replace your entire apparel.

Wearing comfortable shoes is probably the most important tip you’ll ever get. You see, wearing uncomfortable shoes for hours without end will be a proper nightmare, and it will be so distracting that you won’t be able to focus on anything else. If you’ve got new shoes just before the trip, make sure to break them in before embarking on the voyage.

The previous two tips are intuitive and are something you’ll encounter on every travel list. However, what they often don’t tell you is to pick clothes made of breathable fabrics. This is crucial both for your comfort and perspiration.

5. Stay hydrated
You need to stay hydrated, and the simplest and most cost-effective way to do this is to carry a refillable water bottle. In a lot of areas, tap water is completely safe to drink, but make sure to look this up before trying it. Sometimes, bottled water will be your only choice.

Water should be your staple, and you need to avoid caffeine and alcohol. Why? Well, because they don’t really hydrate you but dehydrate you instead. In areas where the temperature is already too hot, and the atmosphere is humid, alcohol will only make matters worse.

You also need to drink plenty of water, but the exact amount depends on the region that you’re visiting and the current temperature there.

6. Invest in travel accessories
Good travel accessories are inexpensive one-time purchases that can make all your subsequent travels much, much easier.

For instance, you can get a neck pillow for as little as $2-$5; however, if you’re frequently traveling, even paying something like $35 for it is not too much. After all, you’re investing in your own comfort.

Noise-canceling headphones are a must, and if you’re a regular traveler, even paying several hundred dollars for a set will be worth it. After all, this is not just a travel purchase; it’s not like you don’t need them at home.

Lastly, you need a portable charger. Just keep in mind that sockets and outlets in other countries may not be the same.

7. Plan for downtime
You’ll only remember the adventures when you return home from the trip. What you won’t remember is that two-hour bus ride from one destination to another. You need to fill out this idle time, and there are several things you can do.

First, you should bring a good book with you. This way, the hours will just fly by. Unlike our other idea, a book doesn’t have a battery that can go dead, so it’s your safest go-to. If you’re creative, you should bring along a diary, a journal, or a notepad. Some of the best literary pieces and sketches were created by a person on a literary pilgrimage.

You should also download movies or shows. Sure, you may have streaming service apps on your device, but you never know when you’ll run out of network service. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

With the right planning and travel kit, you can take your trip’s comfort to a whole new level
Everyone travels at their own pace, which is why we didn’t make the list too specific. Traveling to a different location will require you to pack and prepare differently, but the seven tips listed above are really universal. A VPN, a refillable bottle, and a travel pillow will be useful no matter what.

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash