We hope you’re getting excited about your upcoming Wells Gray Tours adventure! Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your tour and have a more comfortable flight.
Review your Itinerary & Important Tour Information
Take the time to review your tour itinerary and understand the highlights and activities included. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the destinations you will visit, including cultural norms, weather, and local customs.
We will also provide you with an ‘Important Tour Information’ document at the time of final payment. This document will summarize key information about your tour such as travel documentation needed, luggage restrictions or allowances, packing tips, local currency, etc. to help you prepare and pack. We ask that you please review all information provided and reach out to us if you have any additional questions.
Be Prepared and Pack Light
Prior to you tour, you may wish to make a list of carry-on items you want to pack to enjoy a comfortable flight. You may use our ‘General Packing List‘ to help prompt some ideas to get your started, but remember you want to adopt a minimalist approach and only bring what you truly need. Here are few more carry-on packing tips:
- Essentials only: Lighten your load and only bring the essentials. For example, thin out your wallet and bring only the cards you need for the trip.
- Light-weight luggage: You will need to handle your own luggage in the airport, so select a piece of hand luggage that is light-weight and easy to carry. A small backpack or cross body tote bag which allow for hands free access works well.
- Quick access: Ensure easy access to your items such as you ID, passport, boarding passes, and money in an organizer such as a wallet, purse, or bag that zips closed.
- Liquids rule: Pay attention to liquid carry-on rules and ensure your liquids, aerosols, and gels meet airline requirements (100 ml/100 g (3.4 oz) or less, as per the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority) and fit into the allowable size of plastic bag (1 L (1 quart)).
Here are a few essential carry-on items that may help you have a more comfortable flight:
- Empty water bottle: After security clearance, use a bottle-filling station to get water.
- Reading material: Pack a soft cover novel, a magazine, or e-books you want to read.
- Personal entertainment: If you pack a device or laptop for entertainment, remember to bring ear buds or headphones and an electronic charger. You may also want to use headphones or earplugs for peace and quite to help soften the steady drone of the plane or nearby chatter to help you rest.
- Hand Sanitizer or wipes: Clean hands and touchable surfaces frequently.
- Snacks: Bring nourishing snacks like a granola bar or almonds to help keep your body feeling good.
- Medications: Please remember to bring any medications in your carry-on bag.
Dress for Comfort
Consider the climate on the plane and at your destination. Wear multiple light layers of loose fit clothing that you can take off or put on as needed. If you have a light down vest, you can roll it up and use it as a travel pillow. Additional tips:
- Compression Socks: Consider wearing medical-grade compression socks or stockings. These help with circulation during the flight.
- Comfortable Shoes: Wear comfortable low heeled, close toed shoes such as sneakers to prevent your feet from swelling.
Stay Healthy
Before travelling, make sure you are well rested. Regularly wash your hands to avoid catching any virus, avoid touching your face and common surfaces at the airport and while on the plane, and follow these health tips:
- Hand sanitizer and wipes: Use hand sanitizer and wipes to clean hands and touchable surfaces such as armrests, seatbelt, eating tray, touch screens, and/or phone frequently.
- Cough and sneeze etiquette: Cover your sneeze or cough with your arm, not your hand.
- Wear a mask: KN-95 or N-95 face masks are recommended in airports and while flying.
- Monitor health: Inform your tour director if you feel unwell well on the tour.
Stay Hydrated
Be sure to drink plenty of water while flying and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks before or during your flight to avoid dehydration, feel relaxed, and minimize the risk jetlag. Qantas also reports that airplane cabins can have low humidity that can cause drying of throat, eyes, and nose. All the more reason to keep hydrated!
Eat Healthy
Fend off jet lag and travel fatigue by eating healthy. Travel Guard recommends eating a good nourishing meal prior to flying, then ‘strategically snacking’ the rest of the way. Our top tips include:
- Packing nourishing snacks like almonds, raisins, dried fruit and granola bars that do not require refrigeration and are easy to digest are great options.
- Avoiding salty snacks to help guard against retaining water that can cause dehydration and swelling.
- If travelling within Canada, try to condense and divide snack items into smaller clear baggies to get through security. You can then recycle the original packaging at home. If travelling internationally, check the food allowable regulations online.
Keep your Seatbelt Visible
Keep your seatbelt fastened overtop of your small blanket, scarf or sweater when seated so that it’s visible when you’re sleeping. This way the flight attendant does not have to wake you to make sure you’re buckled and you can enjoy a little extra sleep.
Incorporate Body Movement
Movement is an excellent way to keep you energized, your blood circulating, muscles engaged, your mind focused, and mood enhanced. Here are a few of our best tips to keep you moving before and during your flight.
- Pre-boarding: Walk around the gate area, visit stores, or stand.
- In-flight: Walk the aisle every few hours and stretch your legs and arms. This will refresh you and promote healthy blood flow. In addition, Qantas recommends the following exercises that you could try at your seat (just be sure to try and minimize any disturbance to other passengers):
- Ankle circles – Lift the feet off the floor. Simultaneously move one foot clockwise and the other foot counter clockwise. Reverse circles. Rotate in each direction for 15 seconds
- Neck roll – With shoulders relaxed, drop ear to shoulder and genteelly roll neck forward and back, holding each position about 5 seconds. Repeat five times
- Forward flex – With both feet on the floor and stomach held in, slowly bend forward and walk your hands down the front of your legs towards your ankles. Hold stretch for 15 seconds and slowly sit back up
Enjoy the Day!
Find ways to enjoy yourself while travelling and on a flight. Remember to pack a positive travel attitude and embrace every experience with an open heart and mind. Explore the opportunities to create new friendships and meet fellow passengers on tour.
- Be flexible for any kind of travel or itinerary changes.
- Connect to the excitement of discovering a new travel destination.
- Keep moving your body and stretch when you can.
- Remind yourself to stay hydrated.
- Remain aware of your environmental impact, ensuring you take necessary steps to minimize it.
- Before arriving at your destination make plans with a fellow tour passengers to explore the hotel and amenities and get to know the surrounding area.
- Above all else, have fun!
Written by:
Elvia Picco, Tour Director
Photo Credits:
Adobe Stock (airplane and person drinking water on plane)
Taylor Beach on Unsplash (carry-on bag)
