Hi guys! So, after spending such an incredible summer living in Manhattan, I’ve had to leave. Sad face. But, that means my fall semester adventures can officially begin! I couldn’t be more excited to spend my time living in London, exploring all over the U.K. and Europe, interning with a local business and experiencing all the wonders of traveling, as I so love to do!

Since it’s crunch time for me to get ready for my epic travel adventures, I thought today’s blog post would focus on travel tips and perhaps things I want to do abroad/in London.

WHAT TO KNOW WHEN GOING GLOBAL:

1. Pack light. You don’t need twelve pairs of pants, several ball gowns and six pairs of boots (numbers approximate.). A few pairs of pants, shoes, etc are plenty. Remember, there’s always laundry. And if you pack too much, then you can’t go shopping… So, isn’t it worth it not to overpack?

2. When traveling for an extended period of time, always choose your outfits ahead of time. What I do is lay out all my options and take pictures of complete outfits. It also helps to show you how versatile each piece can be. If you can’t wear an item multiple ways, leave it at home!

Example from my NYC packing!

3. Dress for comfort on the plane! Especially when you’re on a long flight, always wear clothes that are light and easy to move in. Also, grab a pair of compression socks when traveling internationally! Do you really want an increased risk of blood clots and DVT/ cankles?

4. Make sure you have some identifiable trait that makes your luggage easy to distinguish. I mean, everyone has a black rolling suitcase. Sometimes, I travel with a brightly colored pink suitcase or have a colorful ribbon or luggage tag, so I’ll always be able to i.d. my bags at baggage claim.

5. When on the plane, sleep as much as you can! You don’t want to waste a day when you arrive being jet lagged. (A sleep mask is a great investment!) Hint: the window seat is the best place to fall asleep, as you can lean on the wall. Or, if you are not able to sit at a window seat, you can rest on your tray table or just lean back, but please don’t be that person who leans way too far back, giving the person behind you no space for comfort. (For inspiration on how to avoid jet lag: remember Gilmore Girls? This is what not to do.)

6.When packing, ROLL don’t fold or place flat. Rolling allows you to take up less space, and thus, you can add more to the suitcase. Or you can put everything in Ziplocs or Space Bags, and make sure to get the air out!

7. Just in case your baggage does not make it to your destination on time, always always always make sure to add some extra undergarments, deodorant/ toiletries and a change of clothes in your carryon. (When traveling abroad, you do not want to board the plane with one tiny little purse exclusively.) Adapt to a backpack or big tote and put your essentials inside. This was my lifesaver in Israel last year. (No luggage for 3 out of 10 days is definitely not ideal, but I survived due to preparation.)

8. Pack snacks! You’ll definitely get hungry on a long flight and sometimes the little peanuts or the prepackaged meals won’t really help. So, always bring easy snacks for the length of the flight. However, please don’t be the person with the airport fast food. The entire plane will instantly dislike you, as it stinks up the whole cabin.

9. Speaking of the airlines food options, if you have a meal allergy or specific preference always make a note under the “special requests” section when booking your flight! The last thing you want is to be given some food item that you cannot eat. You can even do it after the ticket is bought, as long as they have 24 hours notice to be able to order everything.

10. With a long flight, I always like to go to the bathroom about an hour before landing to freshen up. Change any clothing items that are no longer fresh or clean/ not weather appropriate, and you can also use this time to freshen up your hair and makeup from the flight.

My London Bucket List:

What do I want to do in London?

1. Hello? London. Home of TOPSHOP. But, I think that one is quite obvious.
2. Since I’m staying in Kensington: PETER PAN statue (Finding Neverland!) and Royal Family sightings perhaps?
3. Well, I already know this one: see One Direction live at the O2 arena!! (Eeep, I’m legit soo excited!)
4. Fitness/ dance classes at Seen on Screen! (Seems like fun for a dancer like me!!)
5. Travel… EVERYWHERE. (Well, time and budget permitting)
6. West End shows! (Obviously…)
7. Singalong film at the Prince Charles Cinema? I think yes. (I mean, Grease singalong?!?!)
8. Historical sites that are obviously necessary to visit.
9. Well, since celeb spotting was a thing in NYC… How about royal spotting?? 😉 Also, I wouldn’t say no to 1D spotting… 😉
10. Shopping, obvi… (Think Harrods, Spitalfields Market, etc)

I can’t wait to go to London!