With Staycations becoming more popular than ever before, what is the best way to stay entertained on a long journey?
No matter how you’re travelling, if it’s by car, bus, plane, or boat, long journeys can be boring if you’re not the one driving. In addition, the excitement of getting to your destination can prolong the feeling of frustration, so doing something to pass the time is essential if you want to get to your destination in the quickest sense possible.
If you want to stay entertained on your journey and better your overall travelling experience, have a look at some of our excellent suggestions. Help make your journey just as fun as the destination.
Phone Games
We all love to play good phone games, they’re fast, exciting, and with so many advances in technology, there is now something for everyone to enjoy. You can even get the excitement of the arcade with the brand new summer slot games available through apps on your phone.
There are great games such as ‘Heads Up’, where you act out chosen words without actually saying the word for travellers in groups. However, if this is a little too loud for the environment you’re travelling in, ‘Words with Friends is a great way to test your brain and enjoy a little friendly competition.
Read A Book
Being lost in a good book can take you into a new world, exploring the depths of the ocean with Moby Dick, or being on a remote island with Lord of the Flies. They say that travel broadens the mind, so starting your journey by opening your mind by reading a book is a great way to start.
Being genuinely lost in a book can turn hours into minutes, making your travel experience feel as quick as possible. In addition, travel books will help change your perspective on things, which could also be the perfect way to get ready for your trip.
Watch a Film or Series
With technology growing all the time, there are now more devices than ever. Tablets and laptops have come on leaps and bounds, with applications such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ allowing users to watch endless hours of films and series.
There’s something for everyone from young children, teenagers, adults, sports fans, horror lovers and much more. Just because you’re using these apps, it doesn’t mean you have to rely on a WiFi connection all of the time. Offline modes allow you to download films and series onto your device to watch later when an internet connection isn’t available. This is great for flying when network connections are not always there.
Play a Game
A traditional board game can cure the feeling of being bored, especially if a few players are involved. Classic games like Monopoly, Scrabble, and even Connect 4 all have travel versions making setting up and playing convenient and easy to use, plus offering compact storage for when you’ve finished.
If you’re travelling alone but still want to pass the time by playing a game, a pack of cards can be a great option. Games such as solitaire can help to pass the time while also testing your brain.
Be Creative
If you’re someone who likes to be creative, drawing, painting and sketching can pass the time during long journeys. Sketchbooks can be bought very cheaply and fit in your bag very easily if you opt for the A5 size. Paired with a pencil case of coloured pens and pencils or a tin of watercolours, you can get your creative juices flowing while also keep your mind away from the thoughts of the journey ahead.
Talk To Other Travellers
The opportunity to chat with other travellers isn’t going to happen every time you are on a journey, but if it does, it can be a great way to pass the time for all involved. When travelling to the same place you could bump into like-minded people who enjoy similar interests to you, making that one of the reasons you’re both travelling to the same place.
If you happen to chat to a local or someone who has been to the place you’re going to, you may get suggestions and first-hand recommendations from someone who already knows the area.
Upgrade Your Travel
Travelling in an uncomfortable setting is always going to make your journey feel longer than it is. Cramped legroom and a small seat will affect your experience negatively, but one way to counter this is by getting an upgrade. First-class or business class offers much more comfortable seats, allowing for extra legroom and added padding, providing a better experience.
If you can’t afford the extra cost of an upgraded ticket, there are a few ways you can take your chances and enjoy the luxuries of a better class ticket. Here are a few proven methods you could upgrade your ticket free of charge:
- Travel alone
- Don’t dress casual
- Arrive early and ask for an upgrade to see if there are any seats available
- Inform the staff of a special occasion such as a birthday, honeymoon, or anniversary.
These four options will not guarantee you will get a ticket upgrade, but your chances will be much better.
Enjoy Some Well Needed Rest
Sleeping will help the most in passing the time during a long journey, that’s if you’re able to drift off. Taking a neck pillow, eye mask, earplugs, or noise-cancelling headphones can help create a better environment for sleeping. Having a good sleep on your travels will also keep you rested and energised when you reach your destination, leaving you with much more enthusiasm to explore your new surroundings.
Conclusion
Overall, if you choose one of the eight different suggestions from our list, your journey is going to feel shorter than ever, and could very well be the most exciting part of your trip, so much so you might be looking forward to your journey back home.
