This person might be a first-time or infrequent flyer or simply someone for whom flying is stressful, nerve wracking, and scary.

Flying can be an anxiety-inducing experience for many.

Whether it’s the unfamiliar environment, the lack of control, or the fear of turbulence, nervous flyers often find air travel stressful.

Here are a few tips for nervous flyers – from a flight attendant.

Tips For Nervous Flyers

Tell the Flight Attendants that Flying Makes You Nervous!

It is perfectly fine for you to let a flight attendant know that you are a nervous passenger!

We will do everything we can to help you feel more comfortable. We are actually trained to give you reassurance and support.

Say Hello to the Captain

Greet the captain or co-captain as you pass by. Look them in the eye. Remember that they are incredibly well-trained, competent, and that they also want to arrive safely.

Educate Yourself about Flying and Remind Yourself of the Facts

Many people find it helpful to remind themselves of just how safe airplane travel actually is!

Taking a look at some statistics before you fly and having a very basic understanding of the mechanics of flying can significantly reduce fear.

Read a Few Helpful Books Before You Go

Here are some books that will not only help you to understand the mechanics of flight but might also help you to deal with your fear of flying.

All three of these are great but I especially enjoyed Cockpit Confidential!

• Cockpit Confidential
• Soar: The Breakthrough Treatment for Fear of Flying
• The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying

Choose Your Seat Wisely

One of the best tips for nervous flyers is to select the right seat for you! Selecting a seat that makes you feel the most comfortable can make a big difference.

For nervous flyers a seat over or just behind the wings is often a good choice because passengers seated here feel less motion when the plane makes turns.

Some nervous travelers prefer a seat near the window where they have some control over the window shade and can decide whether or not to look out.

For other nervous passengers claustrophobia is an issue and they need to opt for an aisle seat in order to feel less confined.

Pay extra if you must in order to select a seat that makes you feel the most comfortable!

You might also be interested in: Tips for Avoiding Airsickness

Arrive at the Airport in Plenty of Time

Arrive in time to get checked in and through the pre-check lanes without having the added stress of worrying about missing your flight! No need to add additional stress to something that you already find stressful.

Also, if you have a layover it will be helpful to budget enough time between flights.

Get Global Entry or TSA pre-check

To go along with the tip above, it would probably be helpful for nervous flyers to get either Global Entry or TSA Pre-check.

This will almost always get you through lines more easily and with less stress.

Stay Hydrated and Avoid Caffeine (and DON’T drink too much alcohol)

Dehydration and caffeine can exacerbate anxiety. Drink plenty of water before and during the flight to stay hydrated. Avoid caffeinated beverages, which can increase jitteriness and anxiety.

I’m not going to tell you that having an alcoholic drink doesn’t help at all. For some people it does. However, too much alcohol almost always makes things worse.

Believe me, as a flight attendant I have seen the way too much alcohol can have unintended consequences!

Look Into Deep-Breathing, Meditation, and Visualization

Deep breathing can help calm your nerves. Research and implement some deep breathing exercises before you fly and practice them on the plane. This can help reduce anxiety and keep you relaxed.

There are some meditation apps that some people find helpful in calming their nerves while flying.

Visualization techniques can be powerful in reducing anxiety. Imagine yourself arriving safely at your destination and enjoying your trip. Visualizing positive outcomes can shift your focus away from fear.

Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened

Turbulence is one of the things that nervous flyers fear most. The truth is that airplanes are built to withstand turbulence the way cars withstand potholes.

The airplane itself is not in danger from turbulence and you do not have to fear that turbulence is a danger to the plane itself.

However turbulence can jostle passengers and their belongings. It is always a good idea to keep your seat belt fastened when you are seated even if the seat belt sign is off.

Knowing that they are buckled in may make a nervous flyer feel more secure.

Consider Professional Help

If your fear of flying is severe, seeking professional help can be very beneficial.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in treating phobias, including the fear of flying. You can also look into hypnotherapy, counseling, and support groups.

Overcoming the fear of flying is a journey, and it’s important to be patient with yourself. However, implementing these tips for nervous flyers can help make your flying experience more manageable and even enjoyable.

Safe travels!

Feel free to share your own tips for easing flight anxiety and thanks for stopping by!

The post Tips for Nervous Flyers – From a Flight Attendant appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

San Francisco was my first home base as a new flight attendant. There were lots of things that surprised me about San Francisco when I moved there.

It was more beautiful than I had imagined. It was more expensive than I had imagined. And most of all, it was WAY colder than I had imagined.

The weather is something that you will want to keep in mind as you prepare your packing list for San Francisco.

Here are some things that you will want to pack for your trip to San Francisco.

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Prepare for San Francisco Weather

Let’s talk about the weather in San Francisco! Mostly…it’s on the cooler side, but not always!

Of course you will always want to check the forecast before you travel.

Here is what you can “generally” expect in San Francisco.

By the way, the climate in San Francisco does not show a lot of variation throughout the year. The main differences you will encounter are the amount of rain and fog versus the amount of sunshine.

• May – July: Are you aware that the average temperatures in JULY in San Francisco are the same as the average temperatures in DECEMBER in San Francisco. Summers in San Francisco are COOL. The average high in July in the city is 57 and the average low is 46. Be prepared for cool and foggy and occasionally rainy weather.
• August – October: In my opinion fall is the BEST time of year to visit San Francisco. The weather warms up a bit and the sun is usually shining with less fog. There is not much rain especially in September and October, although it can pick up a bit in November
• November – January: Honestly, these months are very similar to the summer months. It can be a definitely be a little chilly but it is very rarely truly cold. You can expect some rainy days in the winter as well.
• March – May: It does warm up a little in the spring and becomes much sunnier with less rain and fog. Spring is also a great time to visit.

What is the San Francisco Style?

So what do people wear in San Francisco? What is the general “style?”

• San Francisco is trendy but casual. Even the business people or tech workers might be wearing jeans and T-shirts, sweaters and sneakers.
• Colors are muted. People wear a lot of black and grey and neutrals and not a lot of bright color.
• People rarely wear shorts. It is almost never warm enough to be in shorts for an entire day.
• Jeans are ubiquitous, especially smart, trendy denim.
• Lots and lots of jackets or sweaters. Almost everyone will be carrying a jacket or a lightweight sweater even on a warmer day.
• Shoes with closed toes. There are two reasons for this: First, hills. Don’t forget that San Francisco is incredibly hilly and you won’t want to be walking those hills in flip flops or sandals. Second, the streets in certain parts of San Francisco (yes, even the touristy sections) are really dirty.
• Dresses are fine but I would suggest either wearing leggings under your dress or bringing a pair of leggings just in case. Why? First, because of the wind can pick up at any time and second, because the weather can change on a dime and leave you shivering.

Packing List For San Francisco

It’s all About the Layers

Layers are key when packing for this gorgeous city!

One thing that you might not know is that the weather is not only changeable from day to day in the city, but can also be different from place to place within the city ON THE SAME DAY.

You might find it cold and very windy at a Golden Gate Bridge viewing point and much, much warmer in the Mission District.

Layers are something that you will need to think through a little more than normal as you pack for a trip to San Francisco.

As you put together your outfits always ask yourself questions like: Do I have a jacket I can throw on if it suddenly gets cold and windy. What can I wear if the fog rolls in? Will I still like this outfit if it gets hot and I have to take the jacket off?

You should definitely bring a jacket or a windbreaker.

Sports and Puffer Jackets

You will see people wearing a lot of sports type jackets in San Francisco.

North Face is very popular brand there, but I wouldn’t go with anything too heavy. This North Face triclimate jacket is a good option because you can wear the layers individually depending on the temperature.

I have this North Face hooded rain jacket and it is also a great choice.

If you don’t want to spend North Face prices take a look at this great little puffer jacket!

Rain Jackets

This Columbia rain jacket is inexpensive and when combined with a sweater on a cool day will be all that you need for the San Francisco weather.

It comes in tons of colors including the typical black or grey that you will see most often in the city. It can double as either a rain jacket and a windbreaker.

Cardigans

Of course a cardigan is a perfect layering piece!

I adore this oversized cardi with the stripes on the arms! So cute! But you could also just go with something more basic like this waffle knit cardigan with pockets.

More Jackets

I love a great denim jacket. It might be my favorite layering piece of all. I prefer them a bit oversized like the one in the link.

Active Wear

There is a lot of walking and hiking and biking in San Francisco.

Be sure and bring some active wear. This two-piece set is super cute.

I like these joggers which are a bit of a Vuori dupe.

A Great Pair of Comfortable Shoes

One of the most important things to wear in San Francisco is a pair of comfortable shoes! You will be walking a lot and up and down some VERY steep hills.

I would suggest a great pair of sneakers. I adore my Hokas. I know that they aren’t the prettiest show in the world but they are SO comfortable.

These SeaVees are great, this is a brand I really like.

You might also opt for a cute pair of flat boots like this Ugg Ankle Boot which is both cute and comfy!

Jeans

There would be almost no place in San Francisco where jeans would not be acceptable.

Jeans are basically the queen of most wardrobes in the city. In fact, did you know Levis is a San Francisco company?

You could always pack a pair of Levi’s 505 straight jeans. A great basic!

Or any other trendy jean that you have in your wardrobe.

Travel Umbrella

Because of the unpredictability of the weather it is always a good idea to bring a nice travel umbrella with you when sightseeing in San Francisco.

Day Pack

A day pack is a good choice for carrying your stuff around San Francisco.

It can hold your water bottle, your umbrella, and your extra layers. Plus it makes it easier to navigate the hills because it leaves your hands free.

My favorite is this Osprey Ultralight.

Tote Bag

Did you know that San Francisco was the first city to outlaw single use plastic bags? If you are going to be doing any shopping while you are in town you might want to bring your own tote bag!

Water Bottle

You will definitely want to stay hydrated even though the weather may not be hot!

Plan to carry a water bottle with you for sightseeing and outdoor activities! You can carry one like the Takeya.

General Packing Tips For ANY Destination

Here are a few packing tips for ANY destination!

Always, Always Check the Weather Before You Leave

Always check the weather forecast the day before you go on a trip. This will give you time to add or remove a jacket, throw in an umbrella, or completely redo what you had planned to bring.

I’ll never forget FREEZING in Florence Italy in June because I had forgotten to check the weather and had packed nothing for cold weather.

Are You Packing Light or Bringing Whatever You Want?

Decide whether or not you are going light before you start packing.

Some of this may depend on how far you are going and whether or not you are flying or road-tripping.

Honestly, If we are taking a road trip I pretty much bring whatever I want. When I’m flying I pack much lighter.

What About Luggage?

Do you want something on wheels or do you want to carry your luggage on your back?

I’m a wheels person myself!

I have and love the Away Bag Bigger Carry On but it is a little pricy!

If you are looking for a carry on that is high quality but a little less expensive check out the Amazon Basics Carry On. It is under $100 and gets great reviews!

Roll or Fold?

Almost every packing guru will tell you that you need to roll your clothing rather than fold them. Y’all, I just can’t do it! I’m a folder not a roller.

However, I do LOVE using packing cubes and definitely recommend them. These are my favorite packing cubes.

You can divide items up anyway you like: by outfits, or tops in one and bottoms in another…pajamas, swimwear, etc.

I personally like to set up outfits, but do whatever works for you!

If you are really trying to squeeze a lot into a small suitcase you can use these Compression Cubes by Eagle Creek!

A Few More Basic Packing Tips

• Put the heaviest items towards the wheels of a rolling bag or in the bottom of your backpack. This will make a rolling bag more stable and not as likely to fall over and it will make your backpack more comfortable.

• Choose travel friendly fabrics (meaning things that don’t wrinkle) You don’t want to spend your vacation ironing do you? However, if you do bring something that wrinkles consider using this travel steamer instead of an iron.

• Bring a bag for laundry that will keep the dirty things separated from your clean items. I usually bring a waterproof travel laundry bag.

• Pack by outfit! This way you won’t bring individual items that you don’t actually need and won’t wear.

• Lay things out before you put them in your bag. This enables you to see what you don’t really need or what you might be missing!

I hope that this helps you to know what to wear in San Francisco and what to pack for your San Francisco vacation!

Have a great time visiting this fascinating city.

The post What to Wear in San Francisco: Packing List For San Francisco appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

I grew up in south Florida and we used to visit the Keys frequently when I was a child. My husband and I recently took a road trip through the Keys so that I could show my him the place where I grew up.

I still love the Keys. It is truly one of my favorite spots in the world. Such a unique and beautiful place!

Here are some ideas for what to wear in the Florida Keys as well as some general packing tips!

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Prepare for South Florida Weather

Let’s talk about the weather in the Florida Keys!

Did you know that the Florida Keys are the closest you can get to the equator while still being in the United States?

It is warm year round. It is also humid so the high temperatures will feel a little hotter.

Fortunately the Keys are surrounded by waters that help to moderate the temperatures a bit and typically there is an ocean breeze. But it will be hot most of the year.

The other thing to know is that there isn’t a great deal of fluctuation between daytime and nighttime temperatures. In other words, it doesn’t cool off a lot at night.

The only major weather related thing you need to concern yourself with in the Keys is hurricane season!

Hurricane Season:

Hurricane season starts June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30. The season peaks in August through early October as surface temperatures in the Atlantic hit their highest temperatures.

I have actually been in the Keys when a hurricane was approaching and evacuations had begun. Let me tell you…evacuating on the small highway that runs through the Keys is not fun.

Keep an eye on the weather if you plan to travel during hurricane season!

January – March:

Highs are in the mid to high 70’s and lows in the mid to high 60’s. These are the months when a cardigan or windbreaker might come in handy.

The skies are typically sunny and it is a great time to explore because it isn’t too hot!

It is also high season in the Florida Keys because everyone wants to enjoy the nice weather.

April – June:

Beautiful and warm!

The highs will be in the mid to high 80’s and the lows in the mid to high 70’s. A gorgeous time to go to the Keys in my opinion.

July – September:

Hot and humid, but less crowded.

High temps are in the 90’s and lows are in the high 70’s to low 80’s. This is where things start to get a little dicey because although hurricane season begins in June it peaks in September.

October – December:

Hurricane season comes to an end in November. The temperatures start to cool a little with highs in the mid-80’s and lows in the mid 70’s. December can be pretty busy with tourists. I love November in the Keys!

You might be interested in planning a wonderful trip through the Florida Keys

Packing Tips for Key West and the Florida Keys

What do People Wear in the Florida Keys? What is the General Style?

You will find that the style in the Keys is very casual! People are definitely not “done up” here.

• Casual, casual, casual! Tanks, shorts, and flip flops everywhere.
• Comfortable clothing is favored. You will want to wear breezy dresses when the weather is warm. On the few cool days go with leggings or joggers or even shorts topped with a jacket.
• Shorts are acceptable almost everywhere!
• Sandals and flip flops abound and can be worn almost anywhere.
• It’s fine to throw a cover-up over your swimsuit to go in a store or even many restaurants.
• Think island wear, easy sundresses, cute coverups, shorts
• Lots of bathing suits
• Short sleeves T-shirts and tanks
• You can definitely wear color in the Florida Keys

What to pack for Key West and the Florida Keys

Bring shorts, beach coverups, bathing suits and dresses! People in the Keys are all about comfort and rarely wear long jeans. You will see a lot of people wearing denim shorts through!

Almost anything goes when it comes to swimsuits in the Florida Keys. From the skimpiest bikini to full coverage swim shorts and tops.

If you are going to snorkel then a little more coverage is always a good idea to protect from the coral.

Swimsuits…

Click on the links to check out these bathing suits.

…And More Swimsuits.

Swimsuit Cover-ups

You will definitely need to pack a couple of great swim suite coverups on your trip to the Florida Keys. They are perfect for running into a store or a great little restaurant.

• This crochet swim suit cover up is easy and adorable.
• This gauzy shirt dress style cover up is perfection.
• A swiss dot blousy button up coverup would take you straight from the beach to lunch. This one comes in a bunch of great colors.

shorts and Breezy Dresses

One of the best packing tips for the Florida Keys? Bring shorts and breezy dresses! Here are a few of my favorites:

These original Levis would be cute to wear walking around in Key West. They come in plain blue denim as well as a bunch of other colors and patterns and styles.

You can never go wrong with a great pair of white shorts. I really like the distressing on these!

Here is a cute sleeveless swing dress that comes in a ton of different colors and patterns.

I adore this little spaghetti strap dress in a pretty floral print and a tie at the waist.

Flip Flops

Seriously, some flip flops have got to go in your bag when you are packing for the Florida Keys! You can’t go wrong with a pair of pink Havaianas!

More Miscellaneous Things to Pack For Key West and the Florida Keys

Reef Safe Sunscreen

You are going to want to protect both your skin and the gorgeous reefs in the Florida Keys. The sun in the keys is intense so definitely be prepared for that! This reef repair sunscreen is both all natural and water resistant.

Water Bottle

You will definitely want to stay hydrated in the Florida heat! Plan to carry a water bottle with you for sightseeing and outdoor activities! You can carry one like the Takeya which I really love.

A Sun Hat

In the Florida Keys you will definitely want to wear something on your head to protect you from the sun. I love hats! A cute straw hat is one of the best things to wear in the summer. This straw hat is adorable and is foldable for travel!

Sunscreen Lip Balm

You will also need some sunscreen lip balm for extra protection from the sun. We really like the Banana Boat brand.

Waterproof Phone Case

I like to protect my phone from the sand and salt water with this waterproof phone case.

Underwater Camera

Ok, I can’t claim that an underwater camera is an essential item to back for the Florida Keys…but it sure would be fun! You will probably be spending some time looking at the beautiful reefs under the water.

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is one of the top rated and the gopros are always a favorite.

However, if you are looking for something less expensive you can get one of these Dragon touch 4K action cameras (the one pictured) for well under $100.

Sea Salt Hair Spray

You may find that your hair goes a little crazy in the keys! I know mine does. I end up having to wear it curly due to the Florida water and humidity. I love this hair sea salt spray! It has UV protection and will give you a fun beachy look!

General Packing Tips For ANY Destination

Now that I’ve given you a few specific packing tips for the Florida Keys let me give you a few packing tips for ANY destination!

Always, Always Check the Weather Before You Leave

It is best not just to assume that you know what the weather will be.

Always check the weather report in the days before you take a trip. This will give you time to add or remove a jacket, throw in an umbrella, or completely redo what you had planned to bring.

Ok, let’s be honest, for the Florida Keys you can pretty safely assume that the weather will be warm – at least about 95% of the year. There are a few odd days in January or February when it might be cooler – you might need a lightweight jacket.

What you are really looking for when you check the forecast for Florida is storms! Check for tropical storms and hurricanes before you plan your trip.

Are You Packing Light or Bringing Whatever You Want?

Decide how much you want to bring before you start packing.

Some of this may depend on how far you are going and whether or not you are flying or road-tripping. Honestly, If we are taking a road trip I pretty much bring whatever I want.

When I’m flying I pack much lighter. In fact I often pack in a carry on when I’m flying. It’s crazy, but sometimes I bring less on a trip to Europe than I do on a road trip to the next state.

It’s pretty easy to pack lighter when you are going to a warm weather destination like Florida!

What About Luggage?

Do you want something on wheels or do you want to carry your luggage on your back?

I’m a wheels person myself!

I do love the Away Bag Bigger Carry On and I have it in pink! However, it is a little pricy!

If you are looking for a carry on that is high quality but a little less expensive check out the Amazon Basics Carry On. It is under $100 and gets great reviews!

Roll or Fold?

Almost every packing guru will tell you that you need to roll your clothing rather than fold them. Y’all, I just can’t do it! I’m a folder not a roller.

However, I do LOVE using packing cubes and definitely recommend them. The ones pictured are my favorite packing cubes.

You can divide items up anyway you like: by outfits, or tops in one and bottoms in another…pajamas, swimwear, etc.I personally like to set up outfits, but do whatever works for you!

If you are really trying to squeeze a lot into a small suitcase you can use these Compression Cubes by Eagle Creek!

It’s all about the Layers

When you travel you are always going to want to think about packing in layers.

As you put together your outfits always ask yourself questions like: Do I have something I can throw on over this if it gets cool in the evening. Or, will I still like this outfit if it gets hot and I have to take the jacket off?

In this case you are packing for the Florida Keys. You really don’t need to worry too much about layers! Throw in a lightweight sweater in case it is breezy at night or the air-conditioning is too cool in a restaurant or store.

My favorite layer is typically a denim jacket, but denim is a little too heavy for this part of Florida. When packing for the Keys I would bring a lightweight cardigan and/or a lightweight wind breaker.

• I really love this crocheted cardigan! It is very lightweight and would even be cute as a beach cover up.

• Here is a basic cardigan that is not heavy and comes in a ton of colors!

• If you want to bring a lightweight jacket or wind breaker this one is a great value and comes in several different colors!

A Few More Basic Packing Tips

Put the heaviest items towards the wheels of a rolling bag or in the bottom of your backpack. This will make a rolling bag more stable and not as likely to fall over and it will make your backpack more comfortable.

Bring a bag for laundry that will keep the dirty things separated from your clean items. Bring a bag specifically for wet items if you will be doing some swimming or working out!

I love this striped travel wet bag and it comes in a ton of colors and patterns. A wet back is especially important when you are traveling places where you will be in the water a lot.

Choose travel friendly fabrics (meaning things that don’t wrinkle) You don’t want to spend your vacation ironing do you? However, if you do bring something that wrinkles consider using this travel steamer instead of an iron.

Make a Packing List Before you Go on Your Trip

If you start thinking about things to pack in the week before your trip you will have time to grab any extra items that you might need rather than rushing around at the last minute.

Another thing that I find that makes packing easier for me is to…

Pack by Outfit: Know what you will wear before you go!

Pack by outfit! This way you won’t bring individual items that you don’t actually need and won’t wear.

Lay things out before you put them in your bag. This enables you to see what you don’t really need or what you might be missing!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope that this post helps you as you pack for your vacation to the Florida Keys! It truly is a magical place. I would love to hear about your trip in the comments.

I also have packing lists for a Texas Vacation and for a trip to San Francisco!

The post What to Wear in Key West: Packing Tips for the Florida Keys appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

Honestly, I was shocked to find myself being queasy because I had flown many times before without ever having motion sickness.

The senior flight attendants assured me that this was normal and common for new flight attendants and that my body would eventually adjust.

They were right, but I assure you that during my first few months as a flight attendant I learned a lot about how to avoid getting airsick!

First of All, What Causes Airsicknesses

Basically motion sickness (called airsickness when you are on a plane) is a problem caused by conflicting signals between your brain, your inner ear, and your senses.

Your body and your inner ear are detecting movement that your eyes aren’t registering. These mixed signals confuse your brain and can cause you to feel sick.

What Are the Symptoms of Airsickness?

If you don’t know the symptoms of airsickness consider yourself lucky! Nausea, cold sweats, dizziness, turning pale, fatigue…at its very worse airsickness can cause you to throw up.

By the way…if you start to feel nauseated do your flight attendant a favor and make sure you have your airsick bag ready to go.

It should be in the seat pocket in front of you! If not, feel free to ask for one!

Please.

Best Ways to Avoid Getting Airsick

So, now that you know what airsickness is and how it makes you feel…here are some of my best tips for how to NOT to get motion sick when flying.

Some of these tips will also you feel better if despite your best efforts you DO start to feel airsick.

Choose your seat carefully

If you are prone to motion sickness this is a very important tip.

I was so surprised as a new flight attendant to discover just how much smoother the ride is near the front of the plane than it is in the back.

I have been on flights where the attendants in the back of the plane could barely complete the service due to turbulence while those in the front were blissfully unaware.

Of course, not all of us can enjoy flying WAY in the front of the plane in first class, but even if you are flying coach I suggest that you try to get a seat over or in front of the wing.

It really makes a difference in the amount of movement you will feel!

Don’t Eat Too Much or Too Little Before Your Flight

Many people like to take an early morning flight not only because they are usually cheaper, but also because early flights are not as likely to be running late.

However, I have seen many passengers start to feel sick on these flights because they have gotten up before dawn and rushed around to get to the airport in time without eating breakfast.

It is a BAD idea to fly on an empty stomach. I speak from experience here!!!

Try to have something light to eat before you get on the plane even if it is just a bagel or a piece of toast.

You can even pack a snack the night before to bring with you on your early morning flight.

On the other side of the spectrum are the red eye or late night flights when people may have had too much to eat before boarding. This can cause you to feel sick if you encounter any turbulence.

Basically, just eat a light meal before you fly and don’t eat anything that has potential to upset your stomach.

Don’t Drink Alcohol and Do Stay Hydrated

If you tend to get airsick then avoid drinking alcohol before or during air travel.

Drinking alcohol tends to make airsickness worse. In part because it can increase dizziness and also because it can cause dehydration which ALSO can make your airsickness worse.

So stay hydrated and don’t drink alcohol if you tend to get sick while flying.

Dress in Layers So That You Can Regulate Your Body Temperature

Getting too warm on a flight might not cause airsickness, but it can definitely exacerbate it!

Dress in layers so that you can remove some to keep yourself from getting too warm on a flight.

Use Your Fresh Air Vent

Having some fresh air blowing on you can help to prevent you from becoming airsick so be sure and use your air vent!

As an added bonus Business Insider says that using the air vent is a healthy choice on a plane.

Avoid Reading a Book or Looking at Screens

When you read or look at screens your visual field stays still, however your body and inner ear are aware of the motion of the plane which confuses your brain.

Whoops. There goes that disconnect that will make you feel sick.

It is better to be bored than sick!

Try to Sleep

I know that sleep is hard to come by on a plane under the best of circumstances. However, one of the side effects of motion sickness can be tiredness so perhaps you will be able to nap that terrible feeling away.

It helps to bring a few things to make yourself more comfortable. An eye mask and a neck travel pillow are must haves.

If You Are Seated By the Window Try Looking Out at the Horizon

Finding the horizon can be difficult on a plane, but if you do happen to be seated near a window you can try opening your shade and looking out. This can help to coordinate and stabilize the eyes and the inner ear.

Ginger or Peppermint

It might sound like an old wives tale, but some studies show that ginger really does help to alleviate nausea.

I honestly found ginger to work well for me when I was struggling with airsickness, maybe it will for you, too!

When you are flying you can try sipping on ginger ale.

In fact, you might even want to pick up a can right after you get through security so that you can sip before the cart service even begins.

If you prefer not to drink ginger ale try these ginger drops. I used these because obviously I couldn’t drink ginger ale while I was working.

Do note that these drops are strong and spicy! However, I really found them to be helpful.

Some people swear by peppermint to ease their airsickness. It never did much for me, but your mileage might vary. it wouldn’t hurt to throw some peppermints in your carryon bag!

Try Acupressure

There is a pressure point on your wrist, called the PC6, that is known to help some people with their motion sickness. Check this post here to see how to find this pressure point.

You can even try wearing a seasick wristband when you fly.

Talk to Your Doctor About Medication

If you find that you’ve tried everything and simply can’t fly without getting airsick then talk to your doctor before your next trip about some of the medications that are available.

Dramamine is available over the counter but, of course, you will want to speak to your doctor before you try anything new.

I hope that these tips for how to avoid getting airsick help you on your next flight!

Thanks for stopping by!

The post How to Avoid Getting Airsick: Secrets From a Flight Attendant appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

My husband and I recently took a little vacation to the Texas Hill Country.

Although I have spent a lot of time in Dallas and Houston over the years, the hill country was new to me and I HIGHLY recommend it! There was so much beauty and charm, great food, and everyone we met was so nice and friendly.

I had so much fun on this little Texas weekend get-away.

Here are some ideas for what to wear in Texas as well as some packing tips for a Texas vacation!

Packing Tips For Texas

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Prepare for Texas Weather

Let’s talk about the weather in Texas! Mostly…it’s hot, but not always!

Of course, you always want to check the weather before you travel. Obviously, this will make a huge difference in what you need to pack for your Texas vacation.

Here is the type of weather that you can “generally” expect in Texas.

• June through August: It’ll be warm, hot, and sometimes scorching. It will also be muggy most of the time across the state. Summers sometimes come with afternoon showers that don’t do a lot to cool things down.
• September – November: Don’t expect cool temperatures to have arrived by September in Texas. Most of the time September will still feel like summer. The temperatures will finally start to cool off a little in October and November, but it should still be warm enough for any number of outdoor activities.
• December – February: January is typically the coldest month of the year. Winters are interesting because temperatures can vary tremendously. You will have a really cold day with freezing temperatures followed by a gorgeous sunshiny 65 degrees. There can even be freak ice storms. However Texas normally has cool but mild winters.
• March – May: Spring is a gorgeous time to visit Texas. The wildflowers are blooming and the temperatures are warming up. It can still be a little cool in March, but will definitely be warming by April, and will be swimming hole weather by May!

What is the General Texas Style?

So, what should you wear in Texas, what is the Texas style, and what do Texans wear?

Want to know the good news about packing for a Texas vacation? Those clothes that you sometimes feel are a bit too “extra?” They won’t be in “most” parts of Texas!

Hats and boots and color and bling and fun…those are all acceptable in this larger than life state. It was a dream come true for me!

After all, I grew up in the neighboring state of Arkansas with a grandmother (hi, mawmaw!) who always told me, “Emily, there’s no such thing as too much bling” and I assure you that I took her words to heart.

Texans are mostly casual dressers, however people will still look pulled together.

Think about dressing in what I would call “cute casual” for the smaller towns and more rural areas.

This will also apply for most of the bigger cities unless you will be going out to some shows or fine dining.

Here is what I’ve seen in the bigger cities:

• Dallas: Dallas is a bit of a world all its own. Definitely dress more like a city slicker than a country mouse. Dallas is dressier than most other cities in Texas. You may notice that brands kind of a big deal in Dallas – but I’m not a “brand” girl so I just don’t worry about that! The look here tends to be sleeker than most of the rest of Texas.
• Fort Worth: Dallas and Fort Worth may be next door neighbors but they have a completely different vibe. Fort Worth is definitely more “western” then Dallas. Think big hair and boots and bling.
• Austin: Hippy chic meets cool western. Austin is very casual. Think denim and band tees and flowy dresses.
• Houston: Houston has it all. This HUGE city is very diverse and fun. Styles can change from neighborhood to neighborhood so you will be fine in almost anything. It’s pretty casual most of the time although people will dress up a bit to go out at night.

What to Wear in Texas?

Our visit to Texas was in April and the weather was already quite warm while we were there. Some days it was in the 90’s. I know, in APRIL!

It was already swimming (or swimming hole) weather!

If you are going anytime but winter you will want to prepare for warm weather. If you are going in the winter definitely bring sweaters and a jacket but you probably won’t need anything TOO heavy.

NOTE: People in the south, including Texas, like their air-conditioning y’all. So even in the summer you might want to throw a cardigan or some layers in your bag.

In addition to swimming there are lots of other outdoor activities in Texas. You will want to be prepared for being outdoors with athletic wear. If you will be hiking bring sturdy shoes for the rough terrain.

If you are planning to go to some of the swimming holes you will definitely want to bring some water shoes or sandals.

A comfortable flow-y dress or two is also a great addition to your Texas vacation packing list especially if you are going to search for wildflowers in the spring!

If you are going to be in the bigger cities and going to nice restaurants bring something a little dressier.

Some Ideas for What to Wear in Texas

Boots

Yes, people in Texas definitely wear boots. You can go for some fashion-y boots or wear real cowboy boots.

I wore this pair cute white boots while we were there just for fun.

If you think you will be doing any horseback riding while you in the state then you might want to splurge on the real thing like these Justin boots or this pretty Ariat Brand boot.

Water Shoes

There are some gorgeous swimming holes in Texas! Visiting some of these was one of my favorite things we did on our trip!

You will definitely want a good pair of water shoes for the walk to the springs and to stand of the rocky bottoms of the creeks and rivers.

I have been a Chaco fan for years! I wear this sandal style chaco and found it to be the perfect shoe for swimming. You will also see people wearing them out and about.

If you prefer a closed water shoe then I recommend this women’s water and walking shoe. Its cute and comes in a lot of colors and would also work perfectly for walking around town!

Hats

You will need a hat, and no, It does not have to be a cowboy hat! I swear people wear cowboy hats more in Nashville than they do in Texas.

However, you will probably want something on your head to protect you from the sun.

I happen to love hats! A cute straw hat is one of the best things to wear in the summer. This straw hat is adorable and is foldable for travel! Here is another straw hat that has the shape of a cowboy hat that might be fun to wear in Texas.

You might also want to bring a baseball cap for hiking and other outdoor activities.

Swimsuits

If you are going to Texas in the summer you will definitely want to bring something to swim in. I’m kind of ridiculous when it comes to swimsuits so I brought three!

Swimsuit Coverups

No matter how hot Texas is, it is not like being in the islands. They will expect you to coverup before going in stores or restaurants.

Here are some swimsuit coverups that I love.

• This crochet swim suit cover up is easy and adorable.
• This gauzy shirt dress style cover up is perfection.
• A swiss dot blousy button up coverup would take you straight from the beach to lunch. This one comes in a bunch of great colors.

Layers

Even in the summer you might want to throw a layering piece in your suitcase. A cardigan is always a perfect choice.

I love this waffle knit cardigan. It would be so easy to throw on even over shorts and a T-shirt.

If you aren’t a fan of waffle knit, check out this great basic cardigan which would be a perfect year-round staple.

I also think that this cute crochet cardigan is perfect as a summer layering piece. It is lightweight, with 3/4 sleeves, and it comes in several colors!

Sportswear

If you plan to do some hiking on your trip to Texas you will definitely want to have the right kind of clothing. The terrain can be pretty rough and the plantlife tends to be spiky.

I suggest something lightweight and quick dry for summer like these water resistant pants.

Because the weather can be so hot you might want to consider bringing some that zip off into shorts like this convertible style.

You can also just wear a pair of leggings or quick dry shorts for some of your activities. This super simple pair of quick dry shorts would be perfect for a lot of sporty activities.

Shorts

Shorts are definitely acceptable in Texas and almost a necessity in the hot summers. My favorites are denim shorts because they are so versatile.

They can be completely casual if you wear a distressed pair with a Tee shirt and tennies. Or even dressed up a little bit with a less distressed or darker denim, cute top and wedge sandals.

Denim shorts are just cute and a southern summertime staple!

Miscellaneous Items to Pack for Texas

• People who haven’t lived in the south have a hard time understanding just how hot he can be down here. Texas is hot, y’all! These cooling towels are perfect for after an outdoor activity. They will help you to feel so much better after hiking or biking or even just taking a walk in the Texas heat.
• Weather in Texas can be unpredictable and they can have some gully washers. Be prepared with a good travel umbrella!
• You will definitely want to stay hydrated in the Texas heat! Plan to carry a water bottle with you for sightseeing and outdoor activities! I still carry a Nalgene water bottle especially for hiking!

General Packing Tips For ANY Destination

Here are a few packing tips for ANY destination!

Always, Always Check the Weather Before You Leave

It is best not just to assume that you know what the weather will be. Always check the weather report in the days before you take a trip.

This will give you time to add or remove a jacket, throw in an umbrella, or completely redo what you had planned to bring.

I’ll never forget FREEZING in Florence Italy in June because I had forgotten to check the weather and had packed nothing for cold weather.

Are You Packing Light or Bringing Whatever You Want?

Decide whether or not you are going light before you start packing.

Some of this may depend on how far you are going and whether or not you are flying or road-tripping. Honestly, If we are taking a road trip I pretty much bring whatever I want.

When I’m flying I pack much lighter.

What About Luggage?

Do you want something on wheels or do you want to carry your luggage on your back?

I’m a wheels person myself!

I do love the Away Bag Bigger Carry On and it is what I have, but it is a little pricy!

If you are looking for a carry on that is high quality but a little less expensive check out the Amazon Basics Carry On. It is well under $100 and gets great reviews!

Roll or Fold?

Almost every packing guru will tell you that you need to roll your clothing rather than fold them. Y’all, I just can’t do it! I’m a folder not a roller.

However, I do LOVE using packing cubes and definitely recommend them. These are my favorite packing cubes.

You can divide items up anyway you like: by outfits, or tops in one and bottoms in another…pajamas, swimwear, etc.

I personally like to set up outfits, but do whatever works for you!

If you are really trying to squeeze a lot into a small suitcase you can use these Compression Cubes by Eagle Creek!

It’s all About the Layers

When you travel you are always going to want to think about packing in layers. You know that you will need layers if you are traveling to Texas in the winter.

However, you will still need them in the summer. As I mentioned above, Texans LOVE their air-conditioning.

As you put together your outfits always ask yourself questions like: Do I have something I can throw on over this if it gets cool in the evening. Or, will I still like this outfit if it gets hot and I have to take the jacket off?

I’ve already mentioned some great cardigans for layering, but my all-time favorite layer? Always a denim jacket! I like mine a little oversized and kind of basic like this cute denim jacket on Amazon.

Layers, y’all. Super important.

A Few More Basic Packing Tips

• Put the heaviest items towards the wheels or in the bottom of the bag! This will make a rolling bag more stable and not as likely to fall over and it will make your backpack more comfortable.

• Choose travel friendly fabrics (meaning things that don’t wrinkle) You don’t want to spend your vacation ironing do you? However, if you do bring something that wrinkles consider using this travel steamer instead of an iron.

• Bring a bag for dirty laundry to keep the dirty things separated from your clean items. If you are planning to be swimming or working out then you may want a waterproof wet bag. This one comes in a ton of colors and patterns.

• Pack by outfit! This way you won’t bring individual items that you don’t actually need and won’t wear.

• Lay things out a few days you put them in your bag. This enables you to see what you don’t really need or what you might be missing!

Hope that gives you some ideas of what to pack and what to wear on a trip to Texas! Thanks so much for stopping by!

What I Wore on our Trip to Texas

The post What to Wear in Texas: Packing Tips For a Texas Vacation appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

But what about some tips for those people who don’t want to get multiple credit cards or who don’t use credit cards enough to amass a bunch of points?

Here are a flight attendants tips for finding cheap flights without using points!

Tips For Finding Cheap Flights

It does take a little more work to find flight deals when you can’t just hand over points. You are always going to want to be watching the trends and keeping up with the deals but I promise that it will be worth it!

Also remember that some of these tips are “generally” true, not ALWAYS true.

What is Dynamic Pricing

One of the important things to know about airlines is that they practice what is called dynamic pricing. In other words the prices change all the time! Even daily!

The reason for this is that they are in business to make money. They know when the demand for flights is highest and will charge more during those times.

Want to go to Hawaii in December or Paris in spring? You are going to pay more. When fewer people are flying they drop the prices to attract more passengers.

One of the keys to finding cheap flights is to fly when the demand is lower. This means that…

The Best Way to Get Flight Deals is to Be Flexible!

I’m not talking about working on your yoga skills here either! Haha.

Flexibility is really the key to scoring inexpensive flights. When you have to travel on certain dates you automatically limit your chances for less expensive flights.

If you have to go home to Florida in January over the weekend you are going to be traveling with lots of other people who want to spend a warm weekend in Florida and the prices are going to be higher.

Obviously there are going to be occasions where you are required to be in a certain place at a certain time. However, if you can be flexible about when you travel and even where you travel you are going to be able to snag some of the best deals.

• Be flexible about the dates you travel – Even a day or two can make a difference in the cost of your airline tickets!
• Be flexible with your destinations – If you don’t have to be in a certain place, but are just wanting to go somewhere…it will be easier for you to get cheaper flights.
• Be flexible with the route you take to get to your destination – We all want to fly direct, but often it is less expensive to take a longer route with more stops.
• Be flexible with the airports you leave from and fly into – Check the prices from the airports that are within an hour or two drive from your home base. You can also check flights into the airports that are near your ultimate destination. Note: If you choose to do this you will need to remember to take into consideration the cost of transportation to get to the farther airport or to get to your ultimate destination.

ALWAYS Compare Flight Prices From Different Search Engines

You don’t just want to go to only one search engine and call it good.

You might be surprised to know that the various flight search engines might show you different airlines and different routes and come up with different prices. Be prepared to check several of them!

Some of my favorite search engines are:

• Momondo – I often find the cheapest deals when I check this one. It is also good for last minute tickets.
• CheapOAir – This one is super easy to search!
• Skyscanner – I like skyscanner because it is easy to use and often has great deals. It also has a good mobile app. Skyscanner also includes several of the budget airlines that other search engines don’t.
• Skiplagged – This is one of my new favorites! It is a little harder to work with because it shows the flights in “legs” and you have to keep choosing to get the full price, but it will often give you the cheapest flight.
• Google Flights – This is a good place to quickly compare flight dates and I really like it for that…but it doesn’t typically have the best prices.
• Booking.com – Yes, Booking is the one that is known for hotels, but they have recently added airfare searches and they are getting good reviews.

And of course there are the OG’s of Kayak, Expedia, and Priceline, but I like some of the newer ones better.

NOTE: Once you find a deal on an airfare search engine check it on the airline website as well!

Be Aware of the Typical Flight Prices

How do you know you are getting a deal if you don’t know what the prices are normally?

It is a good idea to keep a list of your top ten places that you might want to visit and check the search engines regularly to see what might be an average or normal price for your route.

That way when something cheaper pops up you know to book it right away!

Keep an Eye Out For Special Deals

This is probably my favorite tip of the bunch! I love looking for those extra special deals.

A couple of years ago we snagged a round trip flight from Little Rock to Paris for only $320 through one of these deals. Here are my favorite places to look for special flight deals.

• Secret Flying – This is my favorite. You will want to stalk this site because the deals expire quickly, but you can find some great airfares here.
• Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – Another really good one! It has both a free and a paid version and the people on the paid version get notified of the best fares. The membership for the paid version is currently $49 per year so it might be worth it to you to buy a membership.
• Airfare Watchdog – This one has been around a while and you can set it up to receive fare alerts from them.

Sign up For Flight Alerts!

Many of the sites mentioned in the two tips above allow you to sign up for flight deal alerts for your preferred routes.

This is a MUST for everyone, but especially for those who don’t have time to search flights on a regular basis.

Be Aware That Not ALL of the Airlines are on the Airfare Search Engines!

Southwest Airlines is a major airline that is NOT on the search engines. You will have to go to their website to check their fares. They often have good deals so definitely take the time to do this.

Many of the budget airlines also don’t show up on the search engines so you will DEFINITELY want to check the prices straight from their websites. They will often have better deals than the major airlines offer.

Here is a list of some of the most common budget airlines in the USA

• Allegient Air
• Frontier Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Jet Blue Airways

Follow the Airlines and Deal Websites on Social Media

Sometimes the airlines and deal websites will announce their sales or flight deals on social media. They often do this on Twitter or even Facebook so you might want to follow them!

Watch For Prices not Destinations

This tip goes back to being flexible! Yes, there are times when you will simply have to go to a specific place.

However, if you are just wanting to go somewhere warm or anywhere in Europe watching for prices instead of destinations opens up a whole world of potential deals!

Know the Cheapest Day to SHOP for Airfare

Often, the cheapest day to shop for airfare is Tuesday.

The reason for this is that many airlines release their sales on Tuesdays. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be checking prices on other days but definitely make sure that you check on Tuesdays.

Know the Cheapest Days to FLY

The cheapest days to fly are usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Keep this in mind as you are planning your trip.

Know the Cheapest TIME of day to Fly

The cheapest time of day to fly is when other people don’t want to fly. Most of the time this is early, early in the morning or late, late in the evening.

Don’t Buy Your Tickets Too Early or Too Late

A study was done which discovered that the best time to book domestic flights was 47 days in advance.

That’s a little too specific for me! Usually the best time to book domestic flights is 6-8 weeks before departure. For International flights it is 2 – 5 months before departure.

Obviously this is just a general guideline. You will always want to be checking for those special deals and purchase them immediately no matter what the timing is!

NOTE: If you must fly during one of the most popular times (particularly holidays) you are usually going to save money by buying your tickets a little on the early side. You will rarely find deals during these high travel times.

Shop for Airfare in Incognito Mode

I am VERY aware that many of the travel experts will tell you that this doesn’t matter.

I just think that if my phone listens to me and shows me ads about things that I’m talking about…the airlines probably know when you are searching for tickets. Hah!

It probably won’t matter when you search the first time, but if you are going continuously be checking a specific flight often it certainly wouldn’t hurt to search in incognito mode.

I can’t promise that it will make a difference but…you never know.

Take Advantage of Student Discounts

Did you know that many airlines offer discounts to students? Unfortunately I didn’t learn about this until it was too late for me to take advantage of these deals.

Here are the two best places to look for student discounts:

• Student Universe
• Cheap O Air

The various airlines have different rules about their student discounts but these sites will help get you started.

Note: You will not want to assume that a deal you find under student discounts is the best. You will definitely want to compare by checking other places.

If You are Traveling With A Group – Search For Tickets Individually

The reason for this is that airlines will also show the most expensive ticket price and apply it to the entire group.

Let’s say you are going on a girls trip with you and three friends. If the airline has two tickets left at the cheapest price of $250 and the next two are at $350 you will be shown the price of $350 each for the four tickets.

Don’t Delay!

Listen y’all, great travel deals don’t last long.

There is a lot of competition for the very best deals and they will go quickly. If you find something that you want and that you know is a good rate you will want to purchase it right away.

Hope these tips for find cheap airfare help you to find the very best flight deals! Happy traveling!

Thanks for stopping by!

The post Tips for Finding Cheap Flights WITHOUT Using Points appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

As a flight attendant myself, I assure you that there are some gifts that we all would love to have. Here is a list of great gifts for flight attendants!

Gifts For Flight Attendants

Some of these links are affiliate links. If you buy through our link we make a few cents at no extra charge to you. Thanks!

Body Scrub

Your favorite flight attendant sometimes needs to scrub the cares of the day away. I use this Tree Hut Moroccan Rose scrub all the time! It makes my skin so soft and it smells amazing!

They also have a Moroccan Rose Shea Butter which is so nice and light.

This is seriously one of my favorite bath products and I think that other flight attendants would appreciate this gift as well.

Airplane Mode Sweatshirt

Most of the time when flying I am a “slam-clicker.” Haha.

A slam-clicker is a flight attendant who gets to her hotel room, slams the door, clicks the lock and isn’t seen again until time for the next flight.

I like nothing better than to put on something cozy to wear at the end of a long day serving passengers. This airplane mode sweatshirt tells the world that the flight attendant is off-duty!

Power Bank

Flight Attendants rarely have the time or a place to charge their gadgets when they are flying all day.

However, when we arrive at our destination we need a phone to be able to call an Uber or a shuttle to get to our hotel or to just let our loved ones know that we have arrived.

A power bank would be a great gift to keep your flight attendant connected. This Anker Nano portable charger is small and lightweight. Perfect to keep in a flight bag.

Water Bottle

Flying is super dehydrating so most flight attendants try to sip on water all day long as they work. I know I do.

This Takeya stainless steel water bottle is top rated.

It has a spout lid that is easy to drink from but will still keep it from splashing in case of a bumpy flight. It comes in a ton a great colors. Best of all it keeps us from reaching for another plastic water bottle!

Facial Mist Spray

A great facial mist spray would be a perfect gift for your favorite flight attendant.

Sometimes we have a day of short flights with lots of loading and unloading. It would be nice to take a minute to refresh ourselves between flights and prepare to smile happily at the next load of passengers.

This Mario Bedescu facial mist set would be an ideal gift.

Passport Holder

A combination wallet and passport holder would be great for those long-haul international flights.

This passport holder is classic and stylish. It comes in a myriad of colors with just a simple airplane emblem on the front.

It also holds credit cards and is Rfid blocking!

Airplane necklace

I think that this pretty and feminine sterling silver choker necklace would be a nice for either a Christmas present or a flight attendant graduation gift!

Flight Attendant “Stuff”

It might seem crazy but most of us really do like airplanes and other flight attendant gift “stuff.”

Our jobs might drive us crazy, but we mostly think it is the best job in the world and can’t imagine doing anything else!

This “what day is it” mug is hilariously true. I also like this makeup bag. Here is an adorable T-shirt, and a cute little airplane Christmas ornament.

Apple Watch Band

Flight attendants are required to wear a watch and many of them choose to wear an apple watch. An apple watch band or two or three would be a wonderful way for them to personalize their watch.

These Marge bands are nice and slim and come in a bunch of colors. Or if you want to go all out you can just gift them a new Apple watch!

Hand and Body Lotions

I have always had oily skin so it was shocking to me to discover how dry I get when I’m flying a lot. I use a lot more lotion than I used to!

I also wash my hands constantly when working so I need to re-moisturize my hands often.

Because we don’t want to overpower the passengers with lots of scents most of us use unscented lotions when flying.

Mostly I just use plain old Cetaphil lotion. But if you want to give a flight attendant a splurge lotion then I suggest June Jacobs Rapid Repair Lotion. I love this stuff!

They also make this formulation for men.

World Wall Map

My home has become so much more important to me since I became a flight attendant! I want it to feel like a sanctuary and still give me a reminder of how much I love my job and traveling the world.

I have this wooden wall map and I LOVE it. I think that this is a great gift idea for a flight attendant or anyone who loves to travel the world.

Also for the home this “bon boyage” pillow cover is adorable.

Comfortable Shoes

Female flight attendants have to wear heels when they greet passengers. We can change into flats when we start doing cabin service. As you can imagine comfortable shoes are a MUST.

I wear this Mary Jane style from Sofft and they are perfect for work. These shoes by LifeStride have a slightly lower heel and are also super comfortable.

It might seem weird to give a pair of shoes as a flight attendant gift, but I assure you your flight attendant will LOVE it.

This job is hard on the feet, y’all!

Travel Shawl

A soft and cozy travel wrap or shawl is a perfect gift for a flight attendant or a frequent traveler.

Flight attendants often leave somewhere warm, like Houston, and end up somewhere freezing like New York, or vice-versa.

It is perfect to have something easy and soft to throw around your shoulders while you wait for the shuttle.

Cute Pajamas

After spending my days in a uniform and pantyhose and heels nothing is better than putting on a cute and comfortable pajama set and settling in for a night of binge watching and browsing Instagram.

I think that cute pajamas or baggy, comfy pajama bottoms would be a great idea for a gift for your favorite flight attendant.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are never a bad idea! If you are looking for some stocking stuffers you can throw in a Starbucks gift cards. Many airports have a Starbucks coffeeshop and you know that a flight attendant has to have their coffee or chai for those early morning flights.

A Sephora gift card or even an Amazon gift card are also good gift ideas.

Thanks everybody for stopping by. Be kind to your flight attendants when you travel! They are working hard to serve you and to keep you safe!

I hope that you enjoyed this list of gifts for the flight attendants in your life. I promise that they will enjoy any of these flight attendant gift ideas!

We love it when you pin!

The post Great Gifts For Flight Attendants appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

I am going to show you exactly what to do!

How I decided to apply for a flight attendant position

A few years ago, I was in a total rut in my life. I was in a job I didn’t love and dreaded going to, I had a college degree I wasn’t putting to use, I had just moved back home…overall I was in a place in my life where I was wondering, “where in the world do I go from here?”

Instead of doing anything about it though, I really just ran away from my problems and tried to fill my void with other, very practical, things like napping and eating large quantities of cheese dip.

When even those two incredible things weren’t making me feel much better so I knew a change was in order. 

Pursuing a career as a flight attendant was never on my radar before that fateful day Facebook popped up an ad telling me I should apply to become one.

And when Facebook tells you to do something you do it, right? Right.

Sometimes I think the internet knows me better than I know myself and I can’t decide if that’s creepy or cool.

Anyway, I went home and couldn’t stop thinking about the “join the friendly skies, become a flight attendant” ad I had seen. 

I was friendly. I loved to travel. I thought their scarves were cute. Most importantly, I was ready to get the heck outta dodge. Seemed like a perfect fit. 

How to Become a Flight Attendant

The first thing you need to do is to find out which airlines are hiring.

At the time I began to apply all three major airlines were taking applications.

Most airlines take applications once or twice a year. There are lists that you can put your name on to be informed of when airlines begin to hire.

Also, if you know someone who is a flight attendant ask them to let you know if they hear that there airline is going to be hiring.

I decided to apply to United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines. Southwest is also an important airlines but at that time they mostly flew within the US and I wanted more opportunities to fly overseas. (Since I became a flight attendant Southwest has started doing a few more international flights.)

Before you actually fill out your application the most important thing you need to know about how to become a flight attendant is that you need an awesome resume for a flight attendant position!

Prepare your flight attendant resume

I’ll never forget the day I pushed “submit” on my application because that day honestly changed my life forever.

But before I could do that I had to work on and update one very important thing…my resume. I needed a new resume that was specifically written for a flight attendant position.

Even if the airlines aren’t hiring you can start preparing your flight attendant resume!

I google searched and tried to find YouTube videos with sample resumes for flight attendants, but I had a hard time finding anything.

One thing I did learn was that having a good cover letter was very important, and that it was okay to show some personality and spunk in your resume, so I took those two things and went from there.

Now that I have trapped you into reading this far, I will give you some knowledge that I think can help you make a great resume to get you through to the next application round, the video interview.

I am also going to include the cover letter that I sent to Delta, United, and American Airlines in case you want to use it as a template!

This cover letter along with my resume got me to the second step of the interview process with every one of those airlines!

Tips for a great resume that will get the attention of the airlines!

Include a cover letter.

This is where you get to brag on yourself a little and show some personality.

Tell why you would be an amazing flight attendant.

Perhaps you would be a great candidate for this job because of prior work experience or your friendly and helpful personality. In addition to talking about yourself tell what you can do for their company!

In order to help I am including my cover letter. Obviously you will want to write your own cover letter that represents YOU and what you can offer the airline that you are applying for!

Don’t forget to personalize your cover letter for the particular airline that you are applying for. I rewrote this for United and American as I applied to all three.

Include background in customer service on your flight attendant resume and cover letter

The most important thing that the airlines are looking for when they scan your resume is experience in customer service.

In fact, this is so important that if you truly want to become a flight attendant you should work in customer service for a year or so before you apply.

Airlines are looking for candidates who can handle an array of passengers and situations that may occur in flight. Be sure and include everything and anything that you might have done that involved working with the public.

Be specific with ways that you have helped people in your previous jobs.

Include anything that you have done that is safety related

Did you know that when you go to flight attendant training you spend approximately 6 weeks on safety and one day on service? It’s crazy, but true.

If you are first aid certified, or CPR certified, or have any emergency health response training definitely include that. If you have any previous experience in any job that has to do with health and safety – you want to highlight this.

If you are fluent in a second language stress this on your resume

The ability to speak a second language – any second language – will give you a huge advantage when applying to be a flight attendant.

They will test your language skills so don’t claim that you are fluent if you really aren’t!

Show who you are as a person

Allow the human being who will be looking at your resume be able to see a bit of your personality. For example instead of saying, “I was a manager for a retail store,” say something along the lines of “High energy leader at…”

You want to give the facts of previous employment while also letting them see your great personality.

Stand out by showing that you will reflect the company values and goals

It is very important that you show in your resume that you know a bit about the company for which you are applying.

Tell why you would love to work for that specific airline.

Include something you know about them as a company to show you did your research and that you are specifically interested in them.

You will want to customize your application slightly for each individual airline for which you apply so that they will know that you are able to represent their brand.

Stand out by going with a slightly non-traditional resume format

I am not sure if this helped in getting the job or not, but I decided to go with a non- traditional resume format. I think it is never a bad idea to do something to set you apart from the rest.

I went to Etsy and typed in “blush colored resume template.” I spent about $10 on a template and I think it was totally worth not having to do it all myself. 

But don’t be too non-traditional in your flight attendant resume

As much as I’ve talked about standing out you probably won’t want to take it TOO far.

You can be both personal and professional! Make sure you walk that line well.

Don’t use a resume that you have previously used for other types of jobs.

If you already have an old resume you have been using for jobs, make sure to redo it so that it is a resume specifically to fit the flight attendant position.

Everything I put into my resume I made sure would be applicable to what they were looking for. 

Add a personal signature

This is something very small, but adds a nice personal touch to your resume. It helps you to seem more like a real person beyond just the words on a page! 

After you have prepared your flight attendant resume

If the airlines are hiring you will also fill out an online application.

This will include some general questions that they ask as well as a personality test.

Then finally, you will be given an opportunity to upload your revamped resume to become a flight attendant!

Then you wait…

This can be a long process y’all. You could hear back quickly or it could be weeks. Be patient and don’t quit your day job.

If you make it through the application process you will be asked to do an online interview.

If you don’t make it through to the online interview the first time after applying…try, try, again.

I know people who applied multiple times before they got through to the second and subsequent rounds of hiring! When you want to become a flight attendant persistence does pay off!

If you have a flight attendant in your life and would like to get a gift for them here is a list of perfect gifts for flight attendants.

Xoxo, 

Emily 

The post How to Write a Flight Attendant Resume appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

Here are 13 misconceptions about flight attendants that I am going to debunk for you.

Misconceptions About Flight Attendants

Flight Attendants are Servers

This is partly true.

We definitely do serve the needs of the passengers. In fact, I love taking care of people and giving them snacks and drinks.

That is definitely part of our job, however, our most important role is to keep you safe when you fly!

Flight attendants spend weeks in training learning about the various aircraft and all their safety features.

We learn how to handle an emergency, what to do in the case of an attempted hi-jacking, what to do if a plane loses pressure or has to ditch in the water, how to handle a belligerent passenger, how to administer basic first aid…

…we also spent a few hours learning how to serve you your coffee.

It Is Easy to Become a Flight Attendant

It is actually quite difficult to become a flight attendant.

First you have to apply and write a killer resume which you will submit along with tens of thousands of other applicants.

Then you have to do an online interview, and if you make it past that you will then attend an in person interview.

If you get through all of that you will then have to go to flight attendant training, which is typically 7 weeks of training 6 days a week.

While there you have to pass all your tests including a comprehensive final to become a flight attendant.

It’s definitely NOT easy.

Most Flight Attendants are Young, Single Women

Sure, some of the newer flight attendants are young, single women, but more and more flight attendants are male, and all ages are represented.

In fact, the longer you are a flight attendant the better the job becomes so you will find many older flight attendants AKA Senior Mamas and Papas.

Flight Attendants Aren’t Educated

Not true at all! It is true that no college degree is required to become a flight attendant, but many of us have a college degree and quite a few flight attendants have their masters.

Most flight attendants come from other careers and many speak multiple languages. What we all have in common is our love of people, travel, flexibility, and adventure.

Flight Attendants are Supposed to Help You With Your Bags

Nope! In fact, we are NOT supposed to help you with your bags and if we are injured while helping you put your heavy bag into the overhead bin, the airline will not cover our medical expenses.

That said, many flight attendants will still help you put your bag in the overhead bin, however, if they are injured and can’t continue the flight it could cause a delay while the airline gets another flight attendant.

It’s Just a Job

Being a flight attendant is more than just a job, it’s an entire lifestyle. Many people who resign from flying end up returning to the the air after only a short while.

Once you have been a flight attendant and then try a grounded job, you miss the freedom, the flexibility, the feeling of being able to come and go as you please.

Um…the flight benefits!

Flying is like an addiction we can’t shake.

The flight attendant lifestyle may not be an ordinary one, but it gets in your veins and most people have trouble returning to a different job after experiencing this lifestyle.

We Take This Job in Order to Meet a Rich Pilot

This one makes me laugh.

If you do happen to be a young flight attendant with one of the major airlines the pilots will tend to be much older than you. If you are an older flight attendant you probably either already have a significant other or are too jaded to be interested in a pilot.

I’m sure there have been some love matches, but usually there isn’t that much interaction between the pilots and the flight attendants. That is until they want their coffee, of course.

Plus, we all saw the train wreck that was Pilot Pete’s season of the bachelor.

We think it is cute when you mention the “Mile High Club”

This is a big no. Please do not try to flirt with your flight attendant in this way. First of all, if you are on our flight then that means that we are working.

Secondly, we have heard it all before and not only are you not being funny, you aren’t even being original.

P.S. Don’t ask to buy our panty hose either. Unless you’re willing to pay the big bucks. I kid, I kid.

Flight Attendants Always Fly the Same Route

This is really rare and reserved only for flight attendants with very high seniority.

Most of us don’t know from one month to another where we will be going or what our schedule will be. All a part of the fun and mystery of this job right?

Being a Flight Attendant is Glamorous

We spend the day dealing with travelers, most of whom are wonderful, but some who are grumpy, rude, condescending, drunk, hangry, tired, or stressed.

We do our best to keep a smile on our faces through it all.

We are busy pushing heavy carts up and down the aisles. We get hot coffee sloshed on us during intense bouts of turbulence. We have short turn arounds or layovers that barely allow us enough time to sleep. We throw away your stinky trash. We have to be at airports at 4:00AM.

No, it is typically NOT a glamorous job.

Ok, I can’t lie, getting paid to lay on the beach during a Cabo San Lucas layover can feel a little bit glamourous.

Layovers Are Always Lots of Fun

Sure they can be incredible!

My roommate got a 48 hour layover in Tahiti her very first trip as a flight attendant. I’ve had amazing layovers in Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada.

But not all layovers are pictures of perfection.

Most layovers are short with no time to see the town that you are in. By the end of the day, many of us are just ready to get to our hotel room, shut and lock the door, kick off our shoes, eat some snacks, and settle in for some Netflix before we have to wake up and head back to the airport.

Who can complain about snacks, Netflix, and a hotel bathrobe though?

It is Easy for Flight Attendants to Fly Anywhere in the World

I can’t deny that being able to fly for free is an amazing perk and is one of the very best things about the job. I have gotten to go to some wonderful places.

What flight attendants don’t usually talk about is how difficult it can be to fly standby.

It is an adrenaline rush like no other waiting at the gate to see if you will make it on the plane or not.

Flights are often full and often you will spend your whole day at the airport, hoping and praying you get on your flight. We get around this by being very, very flexible.

You won’t find many flight attendants who actually plan their vacations. Instead they wait to see what locations have open flights and just go there, where ever there may be!

I have definitely shed a tear (or a hundred) over not making my flight home, but it’s all worth it in the end when you reach your final destination.

Flight Attendants Have Control Over Whether You Make Your Connection or Not

Surely, y’all know that this is totally out of our control, right?

However the way some people act when their plane is late you would think it was totally the fault of the flight attendant. They fuss, they complain, they yell, they order us to tell the pilot to get this plane off of the ground.

We can’t control the weather, the pilots, or the schedules. We also can’t hold your connecting flight!

Did you know that flight attendants are only paid from wheels up to wheels down? We hate sitting on the tarmac as much as you do because we aren’t getting paid!

Hope I have dispelled some of the misconceptions about flight attendants!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

The post 13 Misconceptions About Flight Attendants appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

Although the laws are always changing, Access Culinary Trips has legal and licensed tours for those of us from the United States to experience the cuisine and the people of Cuba.

My husband and I typically travel independently. In fact, we had never been on a tour before this! However, we weren’t keen on going to Cuba on our own. I did a lot of research and we selected Access culinary trips for our visit to Cuba.

We thought that Access Culinary Trips was the perfect choice for a wonderful trip!

NOTE: This is not an advertisement. We paid in full for our trip and are not being compensated to write about it.

Why did we select Access Culinary Trips for our Cuba tour?

• Access Culinary Trips has an impeccable reputation.
• We love food and cooking and this was a food tour to Cuba.
• Access Culinary trips are small and personal so that you don’t get lost in the crowd. Their Cuba tour has a maximum of 10 people in the group.
• Their tours are immersive and employ local guides.
• They have won awards for their trips so you know that quality is important to them.
• Because of the small size you are able to have unique experiences that you could never have in with a large group.

When I think of all the places we have gone, this visit to Cuba stands out in my mind as one of the best! It was educational and fascinating.

We enjoyed being with our wonderful guide and driver and fellow group members. Best of all the experiences truly allowed us to interact with the local people. I highly recommend Access Culinary Trips for your tour to Cuba!

General information about travel to Cuba with Access Culinary Trips:

Be aware that this is not an all inclusive list of every single thing that you need to know about traveling independently to Cuba. Because we traveled with a tour we had help in gathering and preparing all the necessary paperwork.

Also note that laws are always changing as travel to Cuba tends to open and close.

Another reason that we choose Access trips is that they offer a no-risk refund policy in the case that Cuba closes and the tour must be canceled.

Documents and information for travel:

• You will need a Visa to travel to Cuba
• There are certain categories under which guests from the US are allowed to travel to Cuba and tourism is NOT one of them.
• Access trips currently uses the Support For the Cuban People category.
• Access trips has a travel agent that can help you with all required documentation.
• You will be able to book your own flight to Cuba.
• Trip insurance will be required including trip cancellation insurance. Check all the details regarding insurance on the Access trips website in the FAQ section.

Currency

• You must bring all the cash that you need for the entire trip as those of us from the US still cannot use our credit and debit cards in Cuba.
• It was suggested that we use Euros to exchange as there are taxes and fees when exchanging US dollars that you won’t have when exchanging other types of currency. Access trips will be able to advise you further on this.
• Cuba uses two types of currency. The Cuban Peso or CUP is the local currency, but tourists will mostly use the Convertible Peso or CUC.
• The CUC is pegged to the US Dollar at an exact 1 to 1 exchange rate.
• Be aware that the Cuban peso or local currency has much less value than the CUC. This changes frequently so you will need to double check before your trip to Cuba.
• Our guide with Access Travel took us to an exchange office upon our arrival in Havana to exchange our Euros into the CUC. It was a quick and easy process.

Cell Phones and Wifi

• Check before you go to receive the most recent information about cell phone use in Cuba as the telecommunications market there is changing rapidly. Most US carriers still do not have roaming agreements with carriers in Cuba. Do not expect to be able to easily use your phone.
• What about wifi? There are some wifi hotspots. But in general you will not find easy access to wifi and the internet is slow. Once again this is an area where Cuba is always in flux so ask your guide for more information.

Safety

• Cuba is one of the safest of the Caribbean countries and violent crime is extremely rare.
• Although there are certainly issues between our governments, we found the Cuban people to be extremely warm and welcoming to those of us from the US. Remember that many, if not most, Cubans have relatives that live in the USA.
• Not only is Cuba typically a safe country, but your safety is a priority with Access trips. We never felt the slightest bit uncomfortable while there.

Accomodations

• Accommodation choices in Cuba are government hotels and resorts or Casas Particulares.
• A casa particular is a private home that has been given permission by the Cuban government to rent out guest rooms.
• Hotels are either owned by the Cuban government or jointly owned by the Cuban government and foreign companies. From what I learned from my research there are no 100% foreign owned hotels in Cuba and no privately owned hotels in Cuba.
• There is a list of approximately 80 hotels that are off limits to American visitors.
• Access Trips will arrange all of your stays.
• Casas Particulares are typically a great value and range from basic to luxurious. They are a great way to interact with the Cuban people as well as inject some needed financial help directly to a Cuban family.
• When traveling with Access culinary trips you will be staying in Casas Particulares.
• The places we stayed were very clean and had air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms. The Casa in Havana was quite luxurious with a pool and bar. The one in Trinidad was more simple, but still very livable and spotless.

Restaurants and food in Cuba

You learn about the soul of a people when you eat their cuisine. Food is a part of who we are. It is memories. It is warmth. It is family. It is tradition. It is community. it is creativity. It is artistry. It is identity.

I believe that you can’t really understand a culture without understanding their food and this is what your Access culinary trip is really all about, learning about the Cuban people through the food of the country.

• In Cuba there are government owned restaurants as well as Paladares.
• Paladares are privately owned (though state sanctioned) restaurants. They are often in someone’s home.
• Most people believe that the government run restaurants tend to serve food that is less innovative and more bland. Although, as with everything, there are some exceptions to this rule.
• Currently there is a list of government owned restaurants that Americans are not allowed to patronize. I have no idea how this is being regulated.
• On your Access Culinary trip you will eat at Paladares as well as have meals in private homes.
• There is a burgeoning organic farm and food scene in Cuba. On your Cuba tour with Access Culinary Trips you may explore some organic farms.
• The food of Cuba is a mix of Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences. It is not spicy! Beans and rice are a staple. It is also a cuisine that was and is still created in part from deprivation. As certain items became difficult to obtain chefs must continuously adapt their recipes and menu choices.
• While on your Access Culinary trip your breakfast will be provided by your Casa Particular.
• We were advised not to drink the water in Cuba, so we did drink bottled water. However we did eat salads, and have our share of frozen drinks and none of us got sick.

The Itinerary for our Cuba Tour with Access Culinary Trips

Do be aware that the itineraries will be ever-changing. This is just a sample of what we did on our trip. You will need to talk to Access to get specifics for your trip.

• We spent 5 nights in Havana and 2 nights in Trinidad.
• Although we were in Havana for 5 nights much of our time was spent taking day trips from the city to other areas of Cuba.
• Because of the restrictions that Cuba has on tourists from the US the schedule will be fairly full. The laws state that those visiting under the category of Support for the Cuban People must have a full-time schedule of activities resulting in meaningful interactions between American travelers and the Cuban people.
• Your itinerary with Access Culinary trips will support Cuban entrepreneurship. You can feel good knowing that you are helping the average Cuban citizen.
• I have written a detailed post about everything we did while on our tour of Cuba with Access Culinary Trips.

How We Got Around

We traveled everywhere in a classic Chevy with a great driver and out guide! It was spacious for 6 people and had air-conditioning.

The vehicle was always in immaculate condition there was always bottled water for us to drink while we were on our longer travel days.

Read more about the classic cars in Cuba here!

What We Liked About our Cuba Tour with Access Culinary Trips

I have nothing negative to say about our trip!

Here is a list of some of the reasons that I am glad that we choose to visit Cuba with a tour as well as why I’m glad that we selected Access Culinary Trips specifically.

• Not having to worry about transportation. We loved riding in Leonardo’s vehicle and knowing that he would get us where we were going safely. I have read that transportation can be an issue in Cuba as the bus routes can fill up quickly and you will need to schedule in advance. I have also heard stories about taxis breaking down and that it is just generally difficult to get around outside of Havana.
• The size of the tour. There were only 4 of us! The maximum would have been 10. This enabled us to have amazingly personal experiences with locals that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
• Although it was a full schedule we never felt rushed. There was always time to ask questions or stop and have a coffee.
• The days were well planned. The schedule was busier in the beginning of the week when you had more energy and became more relaxed as the days went on.
• We enjoyed the places that we stayed. It was nice to be able to visit with our hosts. We were always very comfortable with air-conditioning and our own bathrooms.
• We had an excellent guide and an excellent driver and we enjoyed getting to know them tremendously.
• We never felt as if we couldn’t ask questions about anything – even the most difficult topics. Obviously there are issues between the governments of our countries but we felt that we were able to discuss things openly.
• Along the same lines we never felt that anything was being covered up or whitewashed over. There was real conversation about the hardships of the Cuban people beyond what we could see with our own eyes.
• We visited the typical touristy places such as the Floridita, and Fusterlandia, but we also had experiences that the average tourist would never have. We were guests for dinner in our guide’s Havana home, we ate an organic farm to table meal at a young farmer’s house and pushed back the furniture and danced salsa in the apartment of a young local.

This trip to Cuba changed me in ways that are hard to put into words.

If you are interested in the details of what we did on our itinerary or for help to plan your own trip to Cuba, here is another post that will not only tell you what all we did, but also give you a ton of information about things you can do on your own visit to Cuba.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for pinning!

The post Cuba Tour With Access Culinary Trips: Our Review appeared first on Wear I Wandered.