Tips for the Long Haul

Remontee du Saumon

 A step back in time. The annual re-enactment of the old working sailing boats travelling (at high speed due to the fierce current) on the Loire. In the old days the boats had sails. These intrepid re-enactors have cleverly concealed outboards.

'Les Valeureux Mariniers' exiting the ancient Mantelot lock onto the River Loire at Chatillon

Until such time as 'Tardis Travel' eventuates, getting from here to there, when 'there' is on the other side of the planet, is never going to be anywhere near the top of my list of fun things to do. I recognise, however, that we are lucky to be able to travel at all and to whinge about its drawbacks seems churlish in the extreme. So, I am not complaining. Just making some observations on what I learned/was reminded of on our latest long haul in the hope that it makes your next journey more pleasant.

• when you book, look at the plane as well as the price. We had 2 legs on a 777 and one on an A380. The A380 was luxury by comparison. Same number of seats across the way but a much wider plane*. More room, bigger tv screen. I don't know anything about any other planes but in my experience if they give a thing a fancy name it's quite often not very good.
• speaking of seat room; if you are vastly overweight and your travel dates are far enough in the future, you might want to consider a diet and not just for your own comfort. If bits of you are spilling out of your alloted space and into your neighbour's seat area for something like 14 hours they are likely to be upset.
• wear deodorant. Please. (Just as an aside, in France you can buy deodorant that claims to last 96 hours.It's marketed at men. Who doesn't wash for 96 hours?? Actually, I think perhaps there are a few but either they don't buy that brand or it doesn't work.)
• if you're travelling with kids bring something to entertain them. 3 Disney movies they've probably already seen is not going to keep them occupied. Don't count on the airline giving out activity packs. There were none offered on our flights.So fill up that cute little pull-along hand baggage you bought them with books, colouring books etc rather than sweets and snacks. Airline seats are pretty roomy for small children so, unlike everyone else, they should be fairly comfortable with one exception; their feet don't reach the floor. However, they do reach the seat in front. Discourage them from constantly kicking that seatback or it might be the adult seated there having a screaming temper tantrum rather than your child. Not a pretty sight.
• don't wear a rucksack/backpack on your back on busy public transport. Apart from bowling people over every time you turn around you may very well get caught in the automatic doors as they close. I've seen it happen.
• lastly, and this is specific to the Paris metro which, on the whole, is a brilliant way to get around the city. If it's busy the area around the door will be packed. Some people  may refuse to move aside to let you past. You won't have time for niceties - either push or resign yourself to getting off at the next station.

 Now that we are here we're having a brilliant time!!!

*have been told that some airlines squeeze an extra seat in the middle section on the A380 making 5. Now that's going to be uncomfortable. So, check the configuration of the seating online.