Six Tips for Easy Travel w. Monos

Even though I love getting away and am super grateful to be able explore new destinations, I usually dread the actual travelling part of it. Between the stuffy, germy air, limited food options, and not being able to really stretch my legs for hours, it can all leave me feeling a little out of sorts.

We just booked our first trip since Miles was born (we’re going to Hawaii!), so it seems perfectly fitting to share a few things I’ve learned over the years to make the experience of air travel as comfortable and easy as possible. I’m also so excited to feature these beautiful, minimal suitcases I recently acquired from Vancouver-based Monos, and give you a chance to win one of your own. Scroll down to see how!

1. BYOB. …as in bring your own bottle. Planes are some of the driest environments, so I always make sure I stay super hydrated by drinking lots of water. I used to buy one of those big, 2L bottles from the newsstand after going through security, and making sure I drank at least all of it before landing. In the last few years, I’ve just been bringing a large empty reusable bottle, filling it up at the gate. It not only saves a trip to the newsstand, but also helps to not create waste both on the plane and at the travel destination. Most airports now have drinking water fountains, and if not there’s always a Starbucks nearby to fill it up for you.

2. Easy On/Off Shoes. It’s important that travel shoes are first and foremost easy to walk in, but I also like to wear footwear that’s super easy to get on and off – meaning no complicated laces or zippers. It never feels good to hold up a security check line! Alternatively, if I’m going somewhere that a pair of clunkier shoes like boots are needed, I’ll wear these on the plane so I don’t have to check them in or carry them on. That being said, I don’t usually prefer this for comfort.

3. Go Hands-Free. I much prefer a backpack or a small crossbody bag for my personal things when shlepping around luggage at the airport. That way, I don’t have to worry about slinging anything over my shoulder constantly or being unbalanced. I also like having full use of both my arms and hands to be able to access things at a moment’s notice. With a backpack, I keep important things like my passport or wallet on me for safety – and of course, wear it in the front when I’m in a busy area.

4. Invest in good luggage For as long as I can remember, I’ve always just used whatever suitcases I’ve found lying around in my parent’s house when travelling. A suitcase sounds like such a serious, bulky investment and I’ve been putting it off for so long. I finally recently introduced these Monos suitcases into my life, and I feel like I’m really adulting now! Minimal and thoughtfully designed, Monos suitcases are timeless, high quality, and accessibly priced. I plan for these to literally be the forever suitcases in our family.

There are four styles available in eight beautiful, subdued colours. I have the Carry On, Carry On Plus, and Check-In Large, and they just introduced a smaller Check-In Medium (great for if you need a bit more space but don’t want to lug a huge suitcase around!). At 11.7 pounds for the Check-in Large, it’s not super lightweight by any means but it’s a good average weight and made of nice sturdy materials. The best part is that they also impressively have a lifetime guarantee of fixing or replacing a suitcase if it breaks! PS. If you want one of our own, I’m giving one away on my Instagram this week!

5. Dress in Layers In a day of travelling, I find myself going from freezing cold to swelteringly hot and back multiple times… and that’s not even considering the difference in climates between origin and destination. I like to wear lots of layers, in breathable fabrics like cotton and cashmere, to have options and to mitigate my chances of getting sick. I also always remember to pack a pair of warm socks for the plane into my carry on backpack (Falke makes really good ones)!

6. SNACKS! As much as I love grabbing a Tim Hortons breakfast on the way to the plane, I know that more often than not it leaves me feeling greasy and sluggish, which is not a great combination with being dehydrated on a plane. I also really like sour gummy candy, but eating too much of it leaves me feeling quite queasy as well. To balance it out, I try to pack a few healthier options to snack on in transit, like unsalted nuts and fruit (if you’re traveling internationally, you can bring it as long as you eat it before you land).

Monos suitcases
Everlane coat
Levi’s jacket
Reformation top
Everlane jeans
The Lei flats

Suitcases were gifted by Monos. All opinions are my own.