above the clouds // tips for long flights

Anyone can bear a small seat, no snacks, and little entertainment for the 2 hour commuter flights along the east coast or Europe-hopping with RyanAir. Many are even fine with minimal perks on discounted transatlantic flights. But don't underestimate the tenacity needed to survive 12+ hours on the wrong airline without being properly prepared.

Here are a few tips for plane travel to the other side of the world:

• The airline DOES MATTER: The first thing you and your travel companions need to do is set proper priorities. Is cost the greatest factor or are you willing to spend a hundred dollars or so for extra comfort? It's not a rule that the cheapest flight option will always be a lower quality airline (sometimes it's the opposite...but more on flight searching later) but you will often find that there is a correlation. Just make sure that you are doing your research before booking by utilizing crowdsourced review sites that will often give you a snapshot of worst and best experiences to let you average out what you are in for (eg. unidentified food, knees in your back, glitchy entertainment consoles *cough* China Southern *cough*). Here are a couple useful sites to start with: www.airlinequality.com and www.tripadvisor.com/Airlines. 
• PLAN accordingly: Once the flight and airline have been decided on, try to supplement your carry-on with whatever your airline is lacking in. If food seems to be the issue, fill your bag with snacks or packed meals. Poor entertainment? Load up your computer or tablet with movies or books. And no matter how comfortable the seats claim to be, load up on rest enhancing meds, sleep mask, and ear plugs. 
• Use this time to REDUCE JETLAG: Do not underestimate the power of drinking lots of water! Ease off the booze and try to focus on keeping your body as hydrated as possible. The plane will already dry you out and your system needs those fluids to help your body adjust. Trust me, it's worth the extra trip to the bathroom. While you're up, use this time to stretch and get blood flowing. Taking turns to walk loops around the plane will keep you a bit more comfortable and help reduce that lethargic feeling once you land. Finally, try to set your sleeping schedule to your final destination. It's not that important to get through the entire list of available movies from 2010. Use your Benadryl or sleeping aid wisely to match your resting and then force yourself to stay awake once you land (no naps!) until an acceptable bedtime. One day of coffee and discomfort will ensure that you are able to enjoy the rest of your trip as much as possible without the haze of sleepiness.

A 35 hour journey doesn't have to damper your trip around the world. Just plan accordingly, take in the views, and get yourself pumped up for your arrival!! 

seattle, wa // usa

FIRST STOP: Seattle, WA!! Being our very first time in the PNW (crazy, I know), it served as a perfect starting point on our way around the world. We LOVED it! Here for a college buddy's wedding, we shared the sweetest AirBnB with our dear friends Cuddles & Emily, and spent the long weekend exploring the city & mountains before dancing our pants off (literally... Shane ripped his pants while dropping it low on the dance floor). I've boiled this post down to my Seattle highlights -- this list could be conquered in one weekend! 

We adored our little Belltown AirBnB and would definitely recommend it for a getaway weekend in downtown Seattle. The location couldn't be better (around a 10 minute walk to Pike Place) and, come on, check out these views! 

It makes sense to start your weekend in Pike's Place Market, a Seattle staple. Some highlights include some deliciousss Russian pastries from Piroshky Piroshky Bakery, a stop in at the original 'Bucks (you have to, right?), fish & chips from Jack's Fish Spot, pork buns from Mee Sum Pastry, the gross but weirdly cool gum wall, Moscow Mules from Rachel's Ginger Beer, and the beautiful dried flower bouquets in the market! With 6 floors of vendors, it's a real challenge to run out of things to do here.

Pit stop in Le Panier for some lattes and macarons? Yes please!

We skipped the space needle due to limited time and enjoyed the skyline view from the roof of our apartment building instead. However, if you are looking for alternative spots for stunning views of the city, try Kerry Park in the hip Queen Anne neighborhood or the quirky Gas Works Park for an atypical park experience.

For those with a little extra time and an itch to get out of the city, I highly recommend hitting up the Snow Lake Trail in Snoqualmie. I really wanted to see snow and giant pine trees and this 7 mile trek did not disappoint! (Although I recommend wearing appropriate layers and footwear - our SE Asia focused suitcases didn't equip us for the PNW mountains!) 

Have any other Seattle or PNW recommendations? We loved it out there and are itching for another more extended stay.