I have traveled and lived on three continents. In all these places I had to travel distances and I hated smelling like a plane at best. So here are some of my tried and try ways to smell good when you arrive.
When I lived in Eastern Europe, it would literally take 36 hours to get there via planes, taxis, buses, and trains. I remember sitting on a bus in the dead of winter, traveling to Transylvania when the heat was out. For hours, we had to stop our feet to keep from getting frostbite. Wow, you gotta love adventure.
Then, traveling to South Africa from America, get ready because, on some flights, you could be on the plane for 17-plus hours. If you get direct. On other flights, you might have a 12-hour flight, an 8-hour layover, and then another long flight.
But what do you do when you don’t want to smell like recycled plane air and your stinky self when you arrive at your destination?
Here are my main tips. These tips not only make you smell better but also make you feel better, not like you just got out of a jail with a prison that had no water.
First, I want to state the obvious: fly first class. This will help a lot, but if you are like most people and can’t afford to fly first class, then here are my four tips.
Take a shower during your layover
This is my most important tip; it makes all the difference when you arrive at your destination. If you have a layover, find out where you can shower at the airport. Pay the cost.
Some airports have free showers, which are excellent. In South Korea, one of my favorite airports, they have clean and incredible showers for free; they do have a towel fee. Dubai has a shower for free and one you can pay for, which is worth the price, trust me. (They give you all the amenities if you pay.)
Brush your teeth
Make sure you take toothpaste or a toothbrush. You can also ask if they provide them on your flight. When you get to your first layover or right before your flight lands, brush your grill! Nothing is more gross than travel teeth that haven’t been brushed. I love these little toothbrushes, especially if you’re going places where water is a problem.
Change your clothes
Now, if you are unable to shower because the airport doesn’t have one or if you only have one flight, it’s just really long. Then, once you get to the airport, change your clothes. I always have at least an extra outfit to change into in my carry-on. I take wipes to clean off, then reapply deodorant, brush my teeth, and fix my makeup. This will make you feel much better, especially when traveling by car, bus, or train.
Keep your air vent on you.
Some of you might be saying the plane is freezing. Well, that is true, but the air circulation will not only help you smell better but also help keep germs at bay. For real, ya’ll. So, ask for an extra blanket and keep that vent open.
If you a woman and want tips on traveling safely check out this post.
Bonus tip: Don’t drink the water or get it in your mouth, eyes, or nose in certain places or airports when you shower. This one is really important. In some areas, the water can make you sick. So think about it even in airports.
I sometimes get travel tummy. So make sure you always use filtered water when you brush your teeth and wash your toothbrush. And if you have contacts, keep that in mind as well.
Let me know what your tips are for smelling good when you travel for hours. And don’t forget to sign up for our post and follow on social media.