✍️ Ever felt like a travel day is a marathon of queues, sticky seats, and clock‑watching?
Dragging your suitcase across stations, sitting for hours on sticky seats, or rushing through crowded terminals — these days can feel like a waste of precious holiday time.
But travel days don’t have to be a blur of stress and waiting. With the right comfort hacks, you can turn even a 12-hour journey into a day you actually enjoy.
Whether you’re boarding a long-distance bus, gliding through scenic train routes, hitting the open road, or flying halfway across the world, each type of journey has its own tricks for staying relaxed, entertained, and even a little spoiled.
In this guide, we’ll break it down by bus, train, car, and plane — so you can jump straight to the tips for your next trip and make the journey part of the adventure.
Looking for something specific? Jump to your section below:
🚍 Bus Travel Days
You know the drill — hours on a bus, nowhere to move, and the temperature swinging from sauna to deep freeze. But with the right tricks, even a long-haul ride can feel like part of the holiday instead of a countdown to arrival.
🪑 Physically comfortable
If your seat is your home for the next few hours, make it a good one. A little preparation can mean the difference between arriving relaxed or stepping off stiff and grumpy.
Pick your seat wisely – A window seat gives you something to lean on, while sitting near the front means fewer bumps and faster exits at stops.
Bring your own comfort kit – A small inflatable neck pillow, a thin scarf (as blanket or to block AC drafts), and a light jacket for temperature changes.
Pack your own drinks and snacks – Not all buses stop where you can buy food, and local snacks may be limite
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: Slip a small bottle of hand sanitiser and tissues into your bag — not every rest stop has supplies.
🎧 Mind occupied
Hours on the road can feel endless unless you give your mind something to do. The trick? Pick activities that work even when the Wi-Fi doesn’t.
Podcasts that fill the trip – Choose an entire series so you can listen without searching for the next episode.
Offline entertainment – Download audiobooks, games, or short films before you leave (bus Wi-Fi is rarely reliable).
Learn as you go – Language flashcards or a phrase app can turn hours into useful prep time for your destination.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: If you’re travelling through scenic regions, keep your camera handy — sometimes the best photos are from the bus window.
✨ Mini moments of joy
The journey doesn’t have to be just sitting still — small rituals and tiny treats can lift your mood and make the time feel richer.
Scenery spotting game – Look for repeating colours, quirky signs, or local wildlife as you pass.
Stretch at every stop – Even 3 minutes of walking keeps you refreshed.
Bring a small treat – Something you really enjoy (fancy chocolate, favourite fruit) can turn a dull hour into a bright moment.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: If travelling with a friend, share a “trip playlist” so you have a shared soundtrack for the journey.
🚆 Train Travel Days
A road trip can be pure freedom — or just hours of staring at the same highway signs. The key is to set up your car, route, and mindset so the journey feels like part of the holiday, not just the way to get there.
🪑 Physically comfortable
If you’re going to be in the driver’s seat (or passenger seat) for hours, small tweaks can keep you energised and ache-free.
Adjust before you roll – Set your seat height, lumbar support, and mirrors before departure; it prevents mid-trip discomfort.
Pack a “comfort console” – Easy-reach basket with snacks, water, sunglasses, tissues, and lip balm.
Beat seat fatigue – A small cushion or folded scarf behind your lower back can work wonders on long drives.
Wear flexible footwear – Lightweight trainers or driving loafers make both driving and quick sightseeing stops comfortable.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: Keep a small spray bottle of water in the glove compartment — a quick spritz can cool you down instantly in hot weather.
🎧 Mind occupied
Driving demands focus, but passengers (and even drivers on long, straight stretches) need ways to keep the mind engaged.
Curate a “landscape playlist” – Match music to the scenery; upbeat for highways, calm for coastal or rural stretches.
Storytime on the road – Load up audiobooks or podcasts you can enjoy together.
Interactive travel games – From spotting unusual vehicles to “alphabet place names”, road games can break monotony.
Download offline maps – Dead zones happen — and they’re less stressful when you’re prepared.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: Let each passenger choose one playlist or podcast — it makes everyone feel part of the trip.
✨ Mini moments of joy
When you’re on the road, little stops and rituals can turn an A-to-B drive into a highlight.
Plan scenic pull-overs – Check your route for viewpoints, quirky roadside attractions, or farm shops.
Themed snack stops – Try one local treat at each break — it turns fuel stops into food adventures.
Photo pit stops – Capture at least one “we’re here” shot per leg of the journey, even if it’s just at a rest area with a fun sign.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: Keep a Polaroid or instant camera in the glovebox — quick, tangible mementos make the trip feel special.
✈ Plane Travel Days
🪑 Physically comfortable
From cramped seats to icy aircon, small comforts make a big difference when you’re thousands of metres above the ground.
Pick your spot – Aisle for stretching, window for uninterrupted rest; choose based on your priority.
BYO comfort kit – Neck pillow, compression socks, noise-cancelling headphones, and a light hoodie or wrap.
Hydrate strategically – Bring an empty bottle through security and fill it before boarding.
Snack smart – Pack something fresh and light (fruit, nuts, wraps) to balance out salty cabin food.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: Noise-cancelling headphones aren’t just for music — they make even a busy cabin feel calm.
🎧 Mind occupied
Cabin time can crawl unless you plan for things that are genuinely absorbing — and that work in limited space.
Curate an “in-flight list” – Films, podcasts, or ebooks you’ve been saving for months.
Creative downtime – Use a small sketchbook, journal, or travel planner to brainstorm the trip ahead.
Learn something new – Download a short course or language app session to use offline.
Photo organisation – Sort and edit your travel photos from earlier in the trip.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: Keep a small “curiosity list” in your notes app — write down questions or ideas that pop into your head mid-flight, then look them up when you land. It keeps your mind engaged and gives you something fun to do later.
✨ Mini moments of joy
Even in a packed cabin, there are ways to add a bit of pleasure to the hours in the air.
Make it a tasting experience – Bring one small treat you love and enjoy it mid-flight, when you need a lift.
Cabin spa moment – Refresh with a face mist, lip balm, or mini moisturiser during the flight.
- Join an in-flight challenge – Some airlines have seat-to-seat chat or multiplayer games; if available, join a quiz or race with another passenger for a fun twist.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: If your airline doesn’t offer games, download a simple multiplayer app before you fly — you can play with your travel buddy over Bluetooth, no internet needed.
🌟 Travelglaze Moment: Journey Jar Game
#travelglaze-moment-journey-jar-game
Long journeys can feel endless — unless you turn them into a game. The Journey Jar Game is a set of printable cards with small challenges and fun prompts you can use on the road, in the air, or even while waiting at a station.
🃏 How it works
Print and cut out the cards before your trip
Keep them in a small pouch or envelope (your “jar”)
Whenever boredom hits, draw a card and complete the prompt
🎯 Examples of prompts
“Spot something shaped like an animal”
“Draw what you see outside your window”
“Teach your travel buddy one word in another language”
“Find three things in the same colour”
✈ Where to use it
Perfect for buses, trains, planes, and road trips — solo or with travel companions. You can even adapt it for kids, making it a great family-friendly option.
🧳 TravelGlaze Tip: Sign up for the Travelglaze newsletter and get the printable Journey Jar Game for free — ready to use on your next trip.
✅ Conclusion
Most travellers spend up to 15% of their holiday time in transit — hours that can either drain you or add sparkle to your trip. The secret? Plan for comfort like it’s part of the holiday, not an afterthought.
From picking the coolest side of the train to turning a bus ride into a photo hunt, or making a flight feel like your own private cinema — these small, intentional choices keep you relaxed, curious, and in the moment.
Next time you’re packing, think like me: travel days are not filler days. They’re the stage-setters for the memories to come. This is how I Travelglaze.
📌 Save this blog for your next trip — or share it with someone who deserves better travel days.
