By Nick Widmer
Traveling for long periods of time can be rough. There always seems to be that screaming baby in the aisle over, that man in the window seat who has to fulfill his quota of getting up to go to the bathroom thirty times throughout the flight, or that certain passenger we all know too well who seems not to believe in soap.
All of these factors make it difficult to try and zone out, take a nap, or concentrate on that movie or book we’ve brought along. The good news is that there are certain tools we can arm ourselves with that will combat the inevitable frustrations of long distance travel to help provide for a more comfortable voyage.
Here are my three essentials:
1) The Neck Pillow. We’ve all experienced the woes of trying to find a comfortable sleeping position on that train, plane, or bus. Trying to contort our hand into anything that might provide support and then waking up with an arm half asleep covered in drool. It’s never easy trying to get in solid sleep while traveling but the neck pillow is sure to give you the best chance. Bite the bullet and buy one; you won’t regret it.
2) Noise Canceling Headphones. Noise Canceling Headphones serve as your personal escape to peace and quiet amid a cacophony of travel disruptions. Whether you’re listening to music, watching a movie, or just using them to zone out, you’ll feel as if no one else is in the room with you.
3) Kindle. If you’re a big reader like me then this one is a no brainer. The best thing about the kindle is its size. Its small slender shape can hold hundreds of books and will take up a sliver of what one your clunky paperbacks used to. I also love the freedom of it gives me to download books whenever I have access to Wi-Fi. Most of the new models are backlit now so you won’t be the lone passenger with the light on.
Traveling is exhausting. It can be scary and intimidating but at the end of the day it’s getting you to where you want to be, and that’s a beautiful thing. These three items will make for a more pleasant and comfortable travel experience. Who knows, you might even find yourself looking forward to that layover.
