You may remember a post I wrote last summer about The New York Times‘s list of “Five Cheap(ish) Things That Could Disproportionately Improve Your Life.” At the top of this ground-breaking list? “GREAT PENS!” Their reason? Writing is better!
I thought that was ridiculous and I doubt I was the only one who did. I mean, sure pens are a must-have in every home, office and pocketbook, but I don’t think a slightly fancier version of the standard will disproportionately improve one’s life. If it does, more power to you, I guess. We should all be so lucky.
That list was not an isolated incident. The NYT’s Smarter Set is always publishing lists of “five things that do this” and “five more things that do that.” This past week, they offered an article titled, “Five Cheap(ish) things to Take on your Next Long-Haul Flight.” And I just had to know: What kind of earplugs are the editors recommending? Where does a $40 water bottle rank? Why does every travel article try to convince me to wear an eye mask around a group of people who show extreme disregard for my well-being?
We’ll get to all that. But first, let’s find out what THE must-have cheap-ish travel accessory?
!!!PENS!!!
You think I’m kidding, but I am not. It’s pens. The first thing on the goddamn list is still pens.
A great pen is one of the most underrated items you can pack for your trip. …Number and word puzzles can engage (and energize) your brain and help pass time when the onboard Wi-Fi is spotty. You might also need to fill out forms or keep track of important information, so a reliable pen is essential.
The article goes on to recommend a pen that meets two distinct criteria: 1. It writes; and 2. You won’t care if you lose it.
Now that the NYT’s pen agenda is covered, what else is on the list? Some pretty predictable things: Lip balm comes in second, followed by ear plugs and an eye mask. A toiletry bag full of at least five other items rounds out the list. Fine. Aside from the conspicuous absence of the water bottle, I am totally unsurprised.
You know what else I am? Unimpressed. I wouldn’t say these items are much of a reach. In fact, many women carry around half these things on a given day. Swap out the earplugs with headphones and I would say this is downright basic. Forget the carry on, just grab your purse, ladies!
It’s almost like the list was written by someone who either doesn’t travel very often, or hasn’t travelled in the past ten years. Because I can tell, “a pen” is just not on the radar for a modern traveler. A portable cell phone charger or back up iPhone headphone adapter? Sure. Emergen-C sachet or Unisom capsules? Yes. Adult coloring book? Why not. But an ink pen? No. It’s not 1995. And honestly, who doesn’t have one in their bag already?
Here’s the thing: I know it’s easy to poke fun at these things from the comfort of my home. I also know that I shouldn’t be snarky if I can’t do a better job myself. And with that in mind, please allow me to offer my very own list of five cheap-ish things I always take on long-haul flights:
#1 Travel pillow. I know, a travel pillow is nothing new. But not just any travel pillow. The HOMCA Travel Pillow, Portable Head Neck Rest Inflatable Pillow, Design for Airplanes, Cars, Buses, Trains, Office Napping, Camping. This is one specially designed for people who have trouble sleeping sitting up. It inflates to look sort of like a life vest that can be placed in your lap or leaned against the window. It has a hole in the center, not unlike a massage table, where you can rest your head. Reviewers online have also pointed out that the base is the perfect size to hold an iPad or other tablet. Put the screen in the bottom and throw on a pair of headphones and you got yourself a real sensory deprivation chamber. As a person who can only sleep on the tray table or if there’s an extra seat available, I love this product. I won’t say that I get a perfect and restful night’s sleep, but I can at least catch a few winks.
#2 Travel pouch. Let me address the elephant in the room: this is a fanny pack. I am well aware of that. I am also aware that there are many cute fanny packs on the market today and that they’re almost in style right now. That’s fine. I continue to use this one, the Eagle Creek Travel Gear Undercover Hidden Pocket, because it’s more or less invisible. It goes under your clothes and it’s thin, slim design is pretty much undetectable. I guess that’s helpful for safety reasons, but for me it’s more of a pride thing.
But why do I even need a fanny pack as opposed to a purse or backpack? For anxiety. When I travel alone, I can’t afford to lose my credit cards or passport. I’m always checking and re-checking that I have everything. With this pouch, I can spot check just but touch, feeling out my passport and credit cards and then getting back to more pressing issues: like fighting someone for space in the overhead bin.
#3 Wipes and hand sanitizer. Planes are gross. If you plan on eating off the tray table or touching your own face once you board, you’d be wise to bring your own provisions. Wipe down the tray and armrests, disinfect your hands regularly and try not to use the bathroom. If you do, don’t expect there to be soap. Are these “critical” to the average non-germophobe? Maybe not. But I think they’re more important than lip gloss.
#4 Incidental bag. The NYT cheated with a toiletry bag full of five or more items, so I will too. Except this time we’re not limiting ourselves to the bathroom. In my years of travel, I’ve noticed that the things I overlook packing are the things that I use right up until my departure: a shower cap; a cell phone charger; toothbrush and toothpaste. I put off packing them the night before because I know I’ll use them in the morning. Then, when the time comes, I’m on autopilot as I get ready to head out. I use the things as planned and then leave them exactly where I always do… at home.
Over the years, I’ve collected all kinds of overpriced incidentals from a $6 toothbrush on a cruise ships to an $18 off-brand charging cable in Istanbul. To avoid all that, I now just keep an “extra everything bag” in my carry on. What’s in mine? A shower cap; mini USB charger; cell phone charger; extra headphone adapter; universal adapter; OTC headache medicine; toothbrush and travel size toothpaste; hair ties and clips; mini deodorant.
I know what you’re thinking: but if you use all those things in the place you’re going, aren’t you just going to leave them there? What problem does that solve exactly? Well, leaving a hotel or Airbnb is different from leaving your home. At your house, you have a routine: you get ready as you normally would. When you take a quick look around before leaving, you won’t really notice your toothbrush or shower cap still in the bathroom because that’s where it’s supposed to be. But in a space that’s not yours, you do take note. You know that anything left in the room is yours and you need to take it with you. So do I keep having to replenish the kit? Nope. Never. Works like a charm.
Seat reservation. Nowadays, just about every air carrier charges extra for a seat reservation. When it’s $7-10 for a short flight, it’s not such a big deal. But when you’re flying internationally and you have a layover, it can really add up – often costing $30 or even $45 for each leg of the journey. I do understand that urge to skip, but I recommend you don’t. If you can spare the money, treat yourself. When you’re five hours in on the way to Paris, you’ll be so glad you have the window or the aisle or the exit row. The middle is just not where you want to be. No one does.
While we’re on the subject, a couple other tips on picking a seat: Seats tend to fill from the front to the back, with aisle and window seats being claimed first. Once those are gone, people who have to pick a middle seat tend to choose one in the front. As such, the back of the plane is more likely to have empty middle seats. In my experience, the second to last row is the most likely to have empty middle seats. (For whatever reason, some people gravitate to the last row or it’s set aside for flight attendants. It’s often full even if the few rows in front of it are not.)
If it’s a large plane, divided into three sections (three seats on the left, three on the right and four across the middle) then the middle section is the least likely to be completely full because the middle of the middle is the least desirable place to sit. If you prefer the aisle, then choose a seat toward the back in the middle section. (That said, families of four often take the middle row so if you can’t stand children, that may not be the ideal spot for you.) Finally, if you’re traveling with another person, book one aisle and one middle – you can always switch with the middle person if you really want to sit together.
Keep in mind, there’s nothing special about sitting in the front of the plane. You’re just paying extra to get treated like shit first.
But here’s the honest truth: comfortable, easy travel isn’t just about what you pack or bring along. It’s also about what you do – or, more accurately, don’t do. This, too, is common sense:
- Don’t drink coffee before overnight flights, even if it’s your comfort treat.
- Go easy on the alcohol to avoid dehydration.
- Dim your screens to avoid tripping your own sleep cycle – and annoying the shit out of your seatmates.
- Leave the air vent open. The air is recycled, but it’s better than nothing.
- Wear comfortable clothes and cover up as much skin as possible. You really have no idea what’s on those seats.
My biggest tip is to plan how you’re going to spend your time on the plane and stick to it like a schedule. Long flights go a lot faster if you tell yourself you’re going to work for two hours, have a snack and then binge watch three episodes of your favorite show. That covers almost six hours! Plus, when you treat your time on a plane like you would any other day of the week, you’re more likely to just deal with the stuff that comes up as if it were an ordinary inconvenience. People next to you are having a long, loud conversation? Sounds like every café everywhere. A kid is crying? Who hasn’t had to eat a meal with one of those in the background. Delayed on the tarmac? Sort of like waiting in line, but at least you get to sit down.
And that, my friends, is my advice for long haul travel. You might want to grab a GREAT PEN and write it down!
Great article! I just came back from a long haul trip and I agree with almost everything written here. The only thing I would suggest is that you could skip the wet wipes…most brands have plastic in them and take up to 100 years to break down, so they’re not eco-friendly. Plus I think you’re already addressing the germs with the hand sanitizer! Travelling as light as possible is always the dream for me.
Ah – you are totally right. I’ve seen those Wet Wipes “icebergs” or whatever they’re called on the news… so gross. I am still going to insist on a quick wipe of the tray table, BUT you are right to point out that I need to find an eco-alternative. Flying is bad enough. I don’t need to add to it with sewer clogging plastic. UGH. Here’s the traveling light & green(ish) forever and ever.