Whether you are flying away on your summer vacation or, jetting off on a business trip, long flights can be a test of your patience. Security queues, lost luggage, unexpected delays, and hours in the air with no home comforts to keep you occupied, can all make travelling seem like more of a chore than perhaps it should.
That’s why preparation is key and the most important thing to do before a trip is to make sure you have plenty of entertainment options to help the time, and the journey, fly by. Here’s our round up of the best entertainment options for turning a long flight into an enjoyable, stress free, journey.
Cards
A simple pack of playing cards is the perfect item for a long journey. Cheap to buy, easy to pack, and it is a game that allows you to play a wide variety of games with. From snap to rummy and patience, a deck of cards allows you to play alone or with multiple players, making it perfect for solo travellers or groups.
Alternatively, UNO is another great option. This hugely popular puzzle card game is easy to play and has a variety of gameplay options to keep the enjoyment levels high. The rules are simple, you have to match the cards with the same colour or number in order to shed all cards in your hand before your opponents.
Mobile Games
Smartphones can be a lifesaver when it comes to staying entertained on long flights, especially when so many great games are available to download and enjoy on the go. From first person shooters, to puzzles, world building, classic casino offerings, and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Some of the most popular mobile games include:
- Tetris
- Candy Crush
- Minecraft
- Poker
- Angry Birds
Poker
One of the most popular games around with more and more people discovering it every day, the classic casino game of poker is a great way to spend some time on a long flight. There are games available for all abilities and experience levels, plus a wide variety of poker variants to choose from including, Texas Hold’em, Omaha 8, Seven Card Stud, Razz, and 2-7 Triple Draw.
Poker games are easily accessible online and can played on your own or with friends, making it the perfect travel companion. There’s even the chance to win some money!
Candy Crush
Candy Crush is a thumb sliding phenomenon, and one of the most popular mobile games ever made. It’s both silly, frustrating, colourful, and gimmicky, but despite all that, it’s also wildly entertaining and keeps you coming back for more.
While there is little strategy involved, Candy Crush boasts a huge number of puzzles to enjoy, with easy game play and plenty of variations to keep you entertained for long periods.
Binge watch TV and Movies
With so many streaming channels around, there’s guaranteed to be something out there you’ll enjoy watching. But with our modern lives leaving us time poor, catching up on movies or box sets you’ve missed out on is almost impossible – Unless you happen to be going on a long flight.
Whether it’s movies, TV dramas, or comedies, all you have to do is download it onto your mobile, tablet or laptop before you travel. Then sit back and relax as you catch up on some great entertainment. If you’re not sure what to watch, check out our list below for some inspiration.
TV Dramas:
- Big Little Lies
- The Wire
- Sopranos
- Succession
- Game of Thrones
- Breaking Bad
Comedy:
- Schitt’s Creek
- Parks and Recreation
- The Office
- Seinfeld
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
Movies:
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001)
- Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- Mamma Mia! (2008)
- Airplane! (1980)
- Toy Story (1995)
- Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
Books
There’s a reason airport shops are stuffed full of books, and there’s arguably been no better way of relaxing and passing the time on a long journey than reading a book. There’s a huge variety of genres to choose from too, including thrillers, romance, comedy, science-fiction, crime, biographies, and many more.
Whether you’re catching up on the latest bestseller, looking for an easy summer read for the beach, or researching your destination, there’s nothing quite like a book to draw you in and make the time pass quickly.
Music
Travelling can be stressful even at the best of times. Whether it’s screaming children, missed connections, or lost passports, there’s always something to worry about. That’s why a lot of people like to listen to their favourite music to help them relax and shut out all the surrounding distractions.
It’s a good idea to put together several play lists before you travel, giving yourself a variety of musical options to choose from depending on your mood. Music is also a great way to help you drift off to sleep, meaning you’ll arrive at your destination fresh and relaxed.
Whatever your entertainment preference it’s a good idea to pack a few options, especially if you’re travelling with family or friends. But with a little pre travel preparation those long-haul flights will soon be flying by.