SOME TRAVEL ADVICE FOR RICHARD (OF RBB)

Richard and Shelley are off to Italy next week - lucky buggers.Here are some 'tips' that may prove useful.






Electrolyte drinks like 1Above or Flyhydrate seriously reduce the effects of jetlag and are well worth taking with you.
Buy these in advance (check a pharmacy or supermarket) as it is really expensive to buy them at the airport.





Avoid eating on the plane if you can. Check out the 'galley' when you board and you'll see that nothing good will ever come from there. Eat the stuff they give you that's sealed in cellophane or plastic but don't get tempted by the fancy schmancy sounding rubbish.

Drink water that you can see comes from a plastic 'mineral' water bottle - lots of it. Don't drink the water that seems to come from a jug or something. This will be water that's been sitting in the airplanes tanks since the plane was first commissioned.

Don't drink too much wine - a couple will do unless they are offering real Champagne then drink as much as you can.

Use the toilet (number ones only) early in the flight as later on it gets a bit messy in there.

On long flights I change into my pyjamas for comfort. Take some with you or some sort of light and comfy 'pyjama-type' clothes that don't look like pyjamas if you are embarrassed. A T-shirt and loose shorts or pants will do.

In case they don't give you some 'oversocks' have a pair of throwaway socks or disposable sandals that you can wear and then discard. Refer to the advice above about the toilets as explanation.

Buy some of those compression socks to wear (under the throwaway ones). Again, buy in advance as they are expensive at the airport. These reduce the risk of blood clots and swollen feet.

Don't take too much stuff with you on-board. Others will clutter up the overhead lockers with kitchen sinks etc. but you don't need to. It will be easier finding your 1Above, passports, books, crosswords etc. if you have a reasonably empty backpack or carry on bag.

Take a pen or two for filling out arrival forms.

An iPad is ideal if loaded up with books to read on 'Overdrive' in case the movies are crap. On long flights an ideal way of passing the time is to watch entire series of TV series like Sopranos, The Wire, Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad etc.

Secure your blanket and pillow as soon as you board - these things have a habit of becoming scarce later on. Only fart when you have covered yourself with a blanket - in your case grab two.

Only speak Italian if someone next to you is annoying.

Bon voyage!

or, Buon viaggio!