It is summertime and the weather is … Well, let us just say it is always a good time to travel. Whatever destination you have in mind, holidays are not always stress-free which is why we spoke to Kelsey Johnson — an Emirates cabin crew blogger and travel aficionado who runs the hugely popular @LipstickAndLuggage social media accounts — on her top travel tips to make your summer vacation a whole lot more blissful.
Not everyone enjoys air travel... do you have a top tip for making flying a little less stressful?
• Research the airline you are flying with. It is important that you are aware of their products and services to prevent any surprises in air. Crew often get many requests for things like baby food, diapers and extra meals — these are often items most airlines do not offer or cannot guarantee on board. If you want to be comfortable in the air, bring what you think you need for yourself, such as earplugs, blankets, snacks and magazines. Many passengers assume these things are provided, which is not necessarily the case everywhere.
• Check in ahead of the flight. Overbooking happens and to be guaranteed a seat it is important to check in online prior to going to the airport. This tends to open 24-48 hours prior to departure, depending on the airline, and some will even email you when it opens.
• Ensure your travel documents are in order! This includes having the right travel visas and ensuring your passport does not expire within six months of your travel date. These rules vary by country, but keep in mind the airline is not always held liable if you are unable to enter a country after leaving the aircraft.
• Arrive early at the airport. Not every airline will hold your flight until you make it to the gate. It can take time to go through security and if you want to do some duty-free shopping, keep in mind that most airlines require you to be at the gate at least 45 minutes prior to departure.
What is the most underrated travel item that most of us forget to pack?
• A universal charger! Sometimes I forget which type of electricity outlets are used in the countries I travel to, so a universal charger ensures that I am able to charge all of my devices.
• Being a flight attendant, my Tide To Go stain removal pen is also convenient. It is small and portable, so if I spill anything on my uniform or on a customer, I can easily remove the stain. Sometimes I do not have time to give my laundry to dry cleaning on a layover or I forget to pack an extra set. This item has me covered in this scenario.
How do you manage to find the hidden gems in a new destination? Does it involve extensive research?
• To be honest, I do not do a lot of research before I go to a destination, but if I do, I will check out some of the destination’s hashtags on Instagram to get an idea of where I could go, or the content I could produce for my social media channels. I follow a lot of crewmembers online and they often inspire where I should go next.
• I also enjoy talking to the locals and the concierge at the hotels I stay at. They can offer the best advice. For example, the concierge gave us a tip in Conakry, Guinea, when the tour we had originally wanted to book fell through because of the weather. He took us to a quiet waterfall outside the city that very few tourists knew about.
With so many options for hotels and home rentals, how can we make sure we make the best decision about where to stay?
• Word of mouth. Ask those around you for tips. No luck? Do some research online and read reviews, blogs, travel magazines and watch YouTube videos. Do not rely completely on deal-finder websites — firsthand accounts are often more reliable than advertisements.
• Crew use online travel forums to ask each other about certain destinations, deals and discounts. We also speak to crew directly from the country we are hoping to visit because they have a better idea of pricing and where to go.
Jet lag always seems to take us by surprise. What are your best tips for beating it?
• Monitor your sleep. Know when you need to rest and when you need to stay up to keep your body on track. This usually involves staying awake until an early local bedtime on arrival to your destination. There are also plenty of apps you can use that will help you to track your sleeping patterns and determine the amount of rest you should be getting.
• Natural sleep remedies also prove to be helpful when you need to rest and are finding it difficult. Crew tend to use herbal teas and different vitamin supplements to help with this.
• Rest in a comfortable environment. From my experience, a cool dark room helps put me to sleep. Other crew tend to use eyeshades and ear plugs to minimize disruptions. Some even meditate and do yoga to put them in the right state of mind before bed.
• If you travel a lot, it is important to engage in a healthy active lifestyle. The food you consume and your fitness regime can heavily impact your day-to-day wellbeing. Although I am not heavily into fitness, it is important for flight attendants to stay hydrated and consume plenty of electrolytes for energy, stamina and recovery.
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Holiday hacks for a stress-free summer
Holiday hacks for a stress-free summer
AlUla’s ancient scripts come alive after dark at Ikmah
- Gen-Z local Omer Mohammad guided Arab News through the vast outdoor setting of ‘Secrets of the Scribe’
ALULA: Ikmah Mountain, also known as Jabal Ikmah, one of AlUla’s landmark archeological sites, is offering visitors a new experience this week as part of the Winter at Tantora programming, which ends on Jan. 10.
Near the ancient city of Dadan, Ikmah highlights AlUla’s role as a major cultural and religious center long before the rise of the Nabataeans. It is being activated under the stars in a brand new, old way.
The site, often described as “an open-air library” for its hundreds of ancient inscriptions carved on its canyon walls thousands of years ago, provides visitors with have a chance to etch their own names, using the ancient alphabet, on a block of stone they can take home.
Written mainly in Dadanitic and Lihyanite, the ancient texts once recorded religious dedications, laws, names of rulers and traced everyday life, providing rare insights into the beliefs and social structures of early Arabian kingdoms.
Arab News spoke with Gen-Z local Omer Mohammad, who guided us through the vast outdoor setting of the “Secrets of the Scribe — Ikmah After Dark” experience.
“When the guests arrive, we welcome them ... give them some tea to get refreshed. After that, if the group is big, we split them into two; some of the group goes to go to the carving where they are going to learn how to carve. And the other group is going to go to explore the gorge,” he said.
Storytelling was such an important thing here 3,000 years ago. People from all over the world used to bring their animals and rest here; it had a river so it had some water and everything.
Omer Mohammad, AlUla local
The gorge is an elevated path with candles lighting the way on both sides.
“In the scripts and descriptions you’re going to see (in the mountains), you will get to know more about Dadani lives and what they used to do here,” he said.
After the hike down, visitors from both groups join at the gathering point where everyone is encouraged to rest, mingle and enjoy small bites such as dates and other goodies, as well as tea.
While it is a new experience, the tradition is old.
“Storytelling was such an important thing here 3,000 years ago. People from all over the world used to bring their animals and rest here; it had a river so it had some water and everything,” he said.
Dressed in garb from olden times and speaking in poetic prose, Mohammad and his peers guided us to see the light in the dark night.
“It is significant to me personally to work on this project to get people to come here and get excited (about) what’s happening, enjoy our stories and know more about Dadani life,” he said.
On a personal note, Mohammad is grateful to know more about his own history and wants to continue passing on that newfound knowledge to all generations — both younger and older than his own — and be part of the unfolding story of the land and its people.
“I guess you can say that this is the land of my ancestors. I really love history, and I really would like to know more about history — and my history,” Mohammad said. “But I just learned about this ancient history three years ago when I started working here.
“I never had the experience before, so when I knew more about it, I was so happy. And it was so good. Everyone should come,” he said.
