Restless.

I've been getting restless again lately. It's something that slowly creeps in, and then all of the sudden smacks me in the face - <bam> It's time to go see new things!

In a way, I feel very fortunate that this restlessness, this desire to see new places takes hold of me. Without it, I would never dream of flying off to Egypt or Brazil or Iceland. I wouldn't yearn for that uncomfortable feeling that only comes as travel pushes the limit of my comfort zone.

They say that travel is like a drug - you get a little taste, and from there you are hooked. And I am a junkie.  Lately, I've taken to planning itineraries for far off places just 

Fernweh, one of those great, non-translatable German words, is the perfect descriptor for my current state of mind:

Fernweh (noun): An ache for distant places, a longing for travel.

I've found myself pinning a number of images like the one above lately -- a sure sign the fernweh, the restlessness has set in. It is time to start thinking about where I'm going next and how soon I can get there!

Surviving Those Horrific Long Haul Flights... In Coach

Let's be honest - any amount of time over an hour on an airplane is kind of awful, unless you are in first/business class. And since no one I know is that fancy... here are a few of my thoughts on how to make the experience a little less painful (cause it is going to hurt - your body, your ears, your everything).

Anyone have any other good tips? I am always looking for ways to improve that experience!

• Think about all of the things you are going to want on that flight – iPad/Kindle, magazines, contact case, meds, lotion, eye mask, blanket & pillow. Get it all packed in small bag that you can quickly pull out of your carry-on when you get on the plane, and keep it the seat back pocket.  Get everything else up in the overhead bin and save yourself some leg room!
• I am a big fan of taking a sleep aid before a flight (or right as they serve dinner, depending on the length of the flight). In some of the best situations, I've fallen asleep right after dinner and woken up for breakfast just before landing, completely refreshed and ready to go. 
• I try to always bring my own blanket and neck pillow – and then only use what the airline provides as back support or on my feet.  You don’t want all those germs near your face!
• Try to avoid the booze. I can rarely do it, because I love that happy happy place that wine gets me, but it really does make the sleep worse and the jet lag harder.
• HYDRATE. Seriously. Buy the biggest water bottle you can get when you get through security, drink it, and then ask the flight attendants to refill it.  Your skin (and your jet lag) will thank you.

Travel Tips & Tricks

I'm not going to claim the most comprehensive (or even the best) list of travel tips & tricks -- but these are a bunch of the things I've learned as I've traveled hither & yon and suffered through some pretty horrific long-haul flights.

Packing Tips:

• Always have your cosmetic bag ready to go – check for any refills needed when you unpack, so you don’t have to rush around right before a big trip. 
• I live and die by a monochromatic wardrobe when I travel (black, black, and more black!) and spice it up with a colorful scarf or some inexpensive costume jewelry.
• Lay out everything you want to pack, and then get rid of half of it. You don't really need that "just in case we go clubbing" outfit and no one will know if you wear something twice.
• If you are going to multiple cities and unpacking in each one, write out a list of everything you've packed originally - then use it as you are packing up your hotel room to make sure you don't leave anything behind.
• Save room in your luggage for some shopping space.  I love wearing a new shirt or pair of shoes when I get home and being able to say I picked them up in Paris!
• Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane – save yourself some luggage weight!
• I always pack a collapsible/reusable grocery bag or tote bag in my luggage.  You never know when you might do some major shopping or might need some extra space (like when you decide to buy some cool giraffe carving while on safari in Kenya… don’t want to put that in your luggage, but still need to get it home!)
• Invest in a good travel adapter/converter. I like this one from Tar-zhay.
• Or, if you know you’ll be making a lot of trips to Europe (or some other locale), buy the appropriately plugged items that you know you can't live without.  I recently bought this USB Charger and a hair straightener with European plugs. Life. Changing.  Oh, and if you are as Instagram obsessed as I am, you might want to pack that USB charger in your carry-on so you know you can charge up even if the airlines lose your bag (which never happens, right?!).

Carry-On Must Haves:

• Pack some snacks – granola bars, fruit snacks, nuts – whatever floats your boat. The worst thing in the world is to be hangry in a country where you can’t express your needs.
• Get one of these eye masks.  Just trust me. 
• Get Vitamin C (I love Emergen-C) into your system early and often – gotta fight the airport/airplane germs!
• Always, always, always pack spare undies and socks in your carry on! If you are traveling through a notoriously bad airport for lost luggage (<cough> Heathrow <cough>), maybe pack an entire change of clothes.  Three days in the heat of Athens with no change of clothes taught me that one.
• I try to always bring my own blanket and neck pillow – and then only use what the airline provides as back support or on my feet.  You don’t want all those germs near your face!
• A scarf/pashmina (maybe that colorful one you are going to use to spice up your outfit!) is great as a blanket, or to cover your head to send a signal to that chatty neighbor of yours.
• Headphones or ear plugs -- get some soothing music or white noise going to block out the random baby crying, announcements, or whatever other noise comes along.
• A toothbrush & toothpaste (or those Wisp things) are must haves - it feels so amazing to brush my teeth once I get off the plane, I almost feel like a whole new person!