Stay Hydrated in Transit. Get a travel water bottle.

If you read my previous post on Keeping it Together, you’ll know that one of my two main rules for air travel is to hydrate. It’s nothing fancy. You just need to get a travel water bottle in the perfect shape and size.

Drink. Water. (remember: breathing = loss of moisture. You gotta breathe. So you gotta replace that moisture.)

The best way to do this is to bring your own water bottle to fill after you get through airport security and at every available opportunity after that.

I like a water bottle to be BIG to avoid running out, but it has to be tall and slim to stand *upright* without taking up too much space in my shoulder bag or backpack. It CANNOT lie down in the bottom of my bag. Just No.

A glass bottle is best– sure, it’s a little heavier than some, but it ensures that there aren’t any weird chemicals seeping into my water and reduces plastic production. Glass also cleans super easily, so when you fill it with wine lemonade to take to the beach, it’ll wash out easily with no lingering flavors.

I also need a screw-on cap (rather than one of those that pops up and you suck the water out) to reduce accidental leakage.

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These requirements for a tall and sexy water bottle ensure three things:

1. Tall and skinny = small footprint. I don’t want a big bulky water bottle taking up space in my bag. I also find that I get a more comfortable grip on a bottle of this size. About 3 inches (7.5 cm) give or take is the best diameter.
   
2. Upright posture = no leaks. It’s a very sad experience to hand your soaking wet passport to a customs official. It also makes it easier to grab the bottle for a quick sip without having to dig for it. Screw on caps are best for leak reduction too.
   
3. Glass = Clean Earth and Healthy You: Don’t get me started on plastic pollution and plastic’s possible health effects. I avoid plastic and plastic waste whenever possible.

Luckily, I have found the perfect water bottle and am willing to share the wisdom with you. You’re so welcome.

If you just can’t stomach the weight of a glass bottle, I’d also recommend this collapsible water pouch for a long day of touring around a city or heading out on a hike. It’s easy to fill and stands upright in your bag (or clips on), then collapses down and weighs very little when empty.

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If you forget to bring your own water bottle, buy a big bottle of water in the terminal (after you’re through security).

I typically avoid disposable water bottles and try to stick with glass (plastic pollution is an ISSUE) but in this case, I’ll make a rare exception and try to use the bottle for my entire trip- including the flight home. (hey, it keeps me from using MULTIPLE smaller bottles, so it’s still a good plan!)

I will SCOUR an entire airport to find one of the tall 1L size Smartwater or Life Wtr bottles.  Smartwater and Life Wtr’s bottles tick all of my sexy water bottle requirement boxes (except the plastic, of course).

They stand up well inside my bag, take up very little space, have thin plastic to reduce weight (even though plastic is the last resort for me.. just looking for a silver lining), and are available almost anywhere. (If I’m in a place where Smartwater or Life Wtr bottles aren’t available, I can typically find a similar size and shape.)

Another hot tip that seems obvious, but I’ll say it because it’s so important:

Any time the flight attendants offer you water, TAKE IT.  Sometimes it’s a little cup. Sometimes it’s a little bottle. Sometimes it’s a large bottle. DO NOT PASS UP THAT WATER.  

Think of it as a reminder to take a sip. Drink it down immediately, use it to refill your larger bottle, or at the very least, stick it in your bag for later. It can also come in handy when you wake up in the middle of the night in your hotel room more parched than an old prune. Just take the water.

Finally: I. Love. In. Flight. Booze. And. Coffee.

Trust me. Love it. It gives the trip more of a vacay vibe, ya know? But you gotta go easy on that stuff.

Stick to 1 alcoholic drink- 2 max. Same for coffee.

The dehydration you’re already experiencing on the plane coupled with the diuretic properties of alcohol and caffeine will wreak havoc on your skin and organs.  It’s not a great look. Doesn’t feel great, either.

And no, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine, you don’t get drunk any faster on an airplane than you do on the ground. This myth came from a study in the 1930s that didn’t take cabin pressure into account.

Hot tip for staying hydrated: Use a q-tip to swab a tiny bit of nasal gel inside your nostrils before takeoff. This will keep the membranes moist and prevent that painful dry nose feeling. I also do this on the ground when the seasons change and in hotel rooms to combat the dry air’s (rude) assault upon my sinuses. I don’t travel without it!

My other MUST-DO during any long-haul travel is MOVE, and yes, of course I have tips on how to do it!

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