What To Wear On the Plane

Flying can be a good experience or a terrible one. If you prepare well in advance and are comfortable, you might find that the plane isn't as bad as you expect, even on long flights. This month will see me on a 10-hour flight from Portland to London, and then a return flight a bit longer a few weeks later. It's not my first long-haul flight and won't be my last, so I make it the best I possibly can by first starting with my travel outfit.

I always want to be comfortable. That's my number one priority, but I also want to look decent. I'm sorry, but I shame people who wear pajamas or straight-up athleticwear on the plane. I live in Columbia Sportswear country here in the Pacific Northwest, and while a lot of their clothing looks like you're going out hiking in the woods, more and more of their clothes are versatile and give you the feel of outdoor clothing, with the look of normal casual pieces. 

Sports bra

I'm one of those people who never leave without a bra on. I also wear lightweight, and often, then shirts when I travel, so I don't want to risk people seeing things I don't want them to see. Usually, I wear a regular bra when I travel, but they can be super restrictive, especially when you're trying to get some sleep in a confining space. A sports bra gives me support, coverage, and I don't feel like I'm being strangled. I know a lot of ladies have already figured out this method of comfy travel and I'm jumping on board. There are a million different ones out there, plus they can do double duty if you're one of those people who enjoy an exercise routine when you travel.

Short sleeve shirt

I pick a breathable fabric for a shirt on a long flight. You don't want to find that the shirt you're wearing is making you sweat and also holding odors. I usually choose a lightweight, loose, moisture-wicking shirt, like this one from Columbia. It gives me good coverage and is long enough to not ride up, plus it doesn't wrinkle, so I'll be looking put together when I arrive in London, and then Edinburgh.

Cardigan

The first rule of travel is being comfortable. The second rule of travel is to layer. You want to be comfortable whether it's hot, cold, or somewhere in between. I like to be able to take something off if I'm too warm, or put something on if I need to keep the chill out. A good cardigan, that goes with all your clothes, is a must. It's a nice addition to your airplane outfit and it's great to have at your destination, whether you want to bum around your room, or you need that extra layer while you're out.

Loose pants or pants with stretch

I don't travel with yoga pants or leggings. I don't like the look of them and I don't feel like drew take you seriously if you're looking for an upgrade. I often travel in stretchy jeans or jeggings, which are very comfortable and don't cut off my circulation, but I have since found a great pair of Columbia pants that are a hybrid of travel pants and leggings. They are stretchy, comfortable, can be worn in a business setting or a nice dinner if needed. They're moisture-wicking and also have pockets. 

They are similar to the ones above, but I purchased them in black, so they're more versatile than pants in colors, and look professional when they need to, but they also don't show dirt or stains if I drop food in my lap. They're perfect for the plane, and then can be rotated into my travel wardrobe when I get to my destination.

Your heaviest shoes

When you're trying to pack light, I always suggest wearing your bulkiest shoes on the plane. Not only does it save space in your carry-on, but if they plane is cold, they will also keep your feet warm. If they are too bulk, though, I am a fan of taking off your shoes for a flight (but don't just rock out with bare feet, because that's gross!). You don't want your tight shoes creating problems for you, like making your feet and ankles swell, especially if you're short like I am and your feet don't really touch the floor.

Slippers or slipper socks

As someone who likes to get comfy on a flight, I like to take off my shoes and settle in. As a person who also has bad circulation in my hands and feet, my feet get cold very easily. I have some great short slippers that can give me freedom and also keep my feet warm, plus I won't be squicked out if I put my feet on the dirty plane carpet. 

Compression socks/sleeves

I once went on a long flight and wore boots, thinking they were lightweight and would be fine, but my lower legs swelled and I was never able to get them back on my entire trip, so I'm glad I had other shoes. If I had been wearing compression socks, I wouldn't have had that problem. Sometimes the plane is hot, sometimes the plane is cold, so I don't want to have to wear too many layers that can't be removed. I often pack compression socks and wear compression sleeves on the plane. It helps the blood flow in your legs and keeps your lower legs happy. 

Scarf

You never know when you'll need that extra layer of warmth and you don't want to pull out your big coat. I have this great Happyluxe wrap that I always travel with. It can be worn as a scarf, unfolded into a blanket (I often use it as a lap blanket in my room), or a wrap. It's one of my favorite things to have in my carry-on. You can even throw it over your head if your seatmate has their fan on full blast and you don't want it blowing directly into your eye for 10 hours. I love it, and many times will wrap it around my purse strap and take it with me on days out.

So, now you know exactly what you'll be seeing me wear in travel pictures on my airplane days. What do you like to wear on the plane to be comfortable?

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links that may result in monetary compensation for me if you make a purchase through them. This helps me keep this blog running, so I thank you in advance.

My Favorite Free Las Vegas Attractions part 2

In my last post, I started telling you about my favorite things to do in Vegas if you don't want to spend any money. Believe it or not, there are quite a few things that are absolutely free to do. If you don't want to spend your entire trip on The Strip and you're willing to rent a car or Uber somewhere else, then that opens up a whole new world of Las Vegas for you.

Every year I try to find more new things to check out, so I can bring you some of the best. A few of these are old favorites and some of them are new, but you're going to want to check out some of them.

Pinball Hall of Fame

This will soon be moved to The Strip, but right now it's a mile or so away on Tropicana in a very non-descript warehouse with no windows. Inside you'll find hundreds of vintage pinball and arcade games. Each game has a card on it with info on the game and manufacturer. You can even play these games, though you will have to shell out money for that, but most play on just one quarter, so you can get a good chunk of entertainment out of just $5.

View this post on Instagram

When it's approximately 1,000° outside and you want a snack and also air conditioning. This place is great! 🍫 . . . . . #jetsetter #jetset #ilovetravel #tourist #tourism #tblogger #tbloggers #travelblog #travel #travelblogger #travelgirl #travelgram #instatravel #traveler #traveller #budgettravel #budgettraveler #ftblogger #ftb #vacationmode #travelgoals #womenwhotravel #traveladvice #traveltips #freelasvegas #freetoir #chocolatetour

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Jul 10, 2019 at 11:59am PDT

 

Ethel M's Chocolate Factory & Cactus Garden

This is another destination we hit up nearly every time we're in town. You can watch the process of chocolate-making in their working factory for free, get samples, and browse all the different kinds of chocolates they make or pick up a non-edible souvenir, like a magnet or souvenir. Outside is an extensive cactus garden, which you may have seen on my Instagram stories. There are even ones that I haven't seen, coming from Arizona. It's really tranquil, even when it's 115 degrees outside. 

View this post on Instagram

Downtown Las Vegas is full of these amazing works of art, including this very pink old gas station turned into "The Empty Club". Inside are mirrored walls and a disco ball and that's it. . . . #lonelydancefloor #downtownlasvegas #lasvegasart #lasvegasartsdistrict #freeart #freelasvegas #jetsetter #jetset #ilovetravel #tourist #tourism #tblogger #tbloggers #travelblog #travel #travelblogger #travelgirl #travelgram #instatravel #traveler #traveller #budgettravel #budgettraveler #ftblogger #ftb #vacationmode #travelgoals #womenwhotravel #traveladvice #traveltips

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Aug 4, 2019 at 9:48pm PDT

Downtown Arts District

Downtown Las Vegas has so much more than it used to. In fact, it's no longer the dirty, sketch place it was, and now has a revamped look with the city working with local artists for murals and sculptures and other types of art. One of my favorites this year was the bright pink The Empty Club by artist Andre Saraiva, who specializes in French aesthetic. Eric enjoyed the giant fallen robot right next to it. 

Container Park

If you've not been to the Container Park yet, you need to go! I always suggest going at night, but you really should do it during the day and then return after dark to get the full genius of it. The Container park is a collection of shops and eateries made of shipping containers. Inside you'll find a huge playground for kids and a fake grassy area. After 9pm, the park is only open to 21+ and they host activities such as movies on the lawn, wine tasting and live entertainment. 

Out front is a giant metal praying mantis that was part of Burning Man. After dark, it shoots fire to music. You'll also find The Dome, a dome that houses music shows like the planetarium. I wrote about it here. You can also see a video of the praying mantis at work.

Fremont Street Experience

Maybe you've been afraid to go downtown at night time, but know that you will find the area patrolled heavily by police, so you really shouldn't worry too much about your safety. I enjoy visiting Fremont during the day as well, but you'll find a whole different vibe when the sun's still up. Depending on when you visit, daytime Fremont is pretty chill, though you'll find the same "showgirl" and "celebrity" photo ops anytime, you may also see some interesting street shows. On our last visit, we stopped to watch a saxophonist do a set. You can also get your palm read, buy souvenirs and people watch. 

When night falls, you will find tons of free music (there are three stages that run all at once), and each hour they turn the lights down for you to turn your eyes upwards to watch the Fremont Street Experience. There is a light canopy that runs two blocks. Music plays and the lights create patterns, show videos, and chase each other throughout the show, which can last 3-5 minutes. Tourists flood the street at night, so if you're not a fan of crowds, this might not be for you. 

This last visit, I had a tip from a fellow blogger about a vintage toy store on Fremont Street, so we went in search of it. It's called Toy Shack and it is packed floor to ceiling with amazing vintage toys from all decades, as well as some new stuff. Many of the things inside I've never seen before. They don't mind if you take pics and video and are happy to haggle with you if you're reasonable. It's definitely worth a look inside, plus it's air conditioned, so it's a nice break from the heat outside.

You can visit Fremont Street, the Container Park and see a ton of street art all within a few blocks of each other, so if you're looking for the biggest bang for your drive/ride, this is it.

View this post on Instagram

In love with the art park from @lyft on Fremont in Vegas. It's FREE! 🤑 . . . . . #jetsetter #jetset #ilovetravel #tourist #tourism #tblogger #tbloggers #travelblog #travel #travelblogger #travelgirl #travelgram #instatravel #traveler #traveller #budgettravel #budgettraveler #ftblogger #ftb #vacationmode #travelgoals #womenwhotravel #traveladvice #traveltips #artpark #freeart #localartists #supportlocalartists #discovervegas #downtownlasvegas

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Jul 17, 2019 at 10:43am PDT

Lyft Art Park

Right across the street from Fremont Street Experience is a funky little art park sponsored by Lyft. It's not large, but everything is from local artists, it's free, and you can even sit and rest inside or play giant cornhole. I loved it! Each time we visit, it seems Lyft is sponsoring a different cool art project. Just keep your eyes peeled while you're walking around. You'll also see revamped, retired neon hotel signs up and down the street.

Seven Magic Mountains

If you haven't seen the colorful photos of people visiting this art project in the desert, you might be living under a (normal, non-painted) rock. It's a bit of a drive out of the city, but I thought I was going to miss its run when I didn't visit last July. I was really excited to find they had extended the project for a further 2 years (and wonder if they won't just leave it indefinitely). The Seven Magic Mountains are seven stacks of painted rocks that contrast sharply with the surrounding brown and muted green desert landscape. It's quite surreal and the stacked boulders are pretty amazing. 

We did a lot of sightseeing this trip, spending most of our money on food and basketball tickets. I'll be talking about coffee shops and other foods in Sin City in another post, so stay tuned for that. 

What are your favorite free activities in Las Vegas, or what are you hoping to do on your next trip?

My Favorite Free Las Vegas Attractions part 1

It's no surprise that I love Las Vegas. I go at least once, and sometimes two or more times, per year. I know a lot of people don't think there's much beyond gambling and expensive shows, but that's not true at all. Even if you stay on the Strip, you can save money by seeing some awesome free stuff.

Las Vegas is continually changing, which is good if you get bored, but bad if you don't enjoy change too much. I love that there's always something new to see, so even if I go three times in a year, the next year there will be different things for me to check out. Here are some of the best things that cost nothing in my opinion:

Bellagio Conservatory

I love the Bellagio. There are some great places to eat, luxury shops where I enjoy window shopping, a video of upscale fashion shows, and it just has a good vibe. The stand-out for me is the lobby and the conservatory, which both change with the season. Anytime you go, there will be a different theme than the last time you were there. Even if the theme is the same, it will probably look completely different. Master gardeners create scenes using flowers, seeds, beans and more, which are combined with buildings, walkways, aviaries, and ponds inside a huge class-ceilinged area. 

It's open 24-hours per day and is completely free. It's a fantastic opportunity to get some lovely pics, and if it's busy, you'll be competing with plenty of other visitors doing the same thing. Don't forget to walk behind the main structure, as there's always something cool to see, and this is usually where I take selfies.

Bellagio Fountains

Beginning mid-day and into the evening, the Bellagio runs their fountain show on a regular schedule. If you can find a good spot to view from, this can be a treat, as the water dances to music piped out onto the street. I always find it too crowded, but I enjoy watching it from different vantage points that isn't directly on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.

Flamingo Habitat

I love the Flamingo, the Linq and the Linq Promenade. It's one of my favorite areas of the Las Vegas Strip. If you're looking for a relaxing time just viewing some beautiful animals, head to the Flamingo's Flamingo Habitat. You'll find flamingos, pelicans (they have feeding times if you'd like to visit and watch), koi, catfish, turtles and more in a lovely little oasis, complete with flamingo fountain and waterfall.

Wynn Fountain

If you don't enjoy crowds or want to wait for the fountains to start, head down to Wynn for a smaller water show that runs 24/7. It's also right next to their waterfall, which gives a great backdrop for a photo op.

Encore Flower Garden

If you love the Bellagio Conservatory, then you'll probably equally enjoy the Encore indoor walkway that has trees, flowers and a floral carousel and hot air balloon. The scene doesn't really change, though you might see a few changes in blooms, but I noticed last time I was there that there were out of season flowers being used and realized they were fake. So, not quite as impressive, but still beautiful.

Palazzo Lobby & Canal Shoppes

Like the Bellagio, the Palazzo changes up their lobby decor based on season, as well as their decor throughout their side of the Canal Shoppes. Inside you'll also find a very tall waterfall feature and a reflecting pool. Continue through the Shoppes to the Venetian, where you'll be able to walk along Italian canals, over bridges and enjoy free entertainment, like people dressed as statues, as well as some fantastic musicians. 

The Park MGM

Don't get this confused with The Park at MGM, which is the hotel across the street. MGM Park is attached to New York New York and is a great outdoor area lined with eateries. That's not all though! There's a water walkway feature, places to sit, vendor kiosks and on some nights you can take in free local musicians or watch artists creating awesome things, like murals that are displayed downtown.

Streets of New York at NYNY

Some of the best features of the streets have been replaced with more gambling and slots, but it doesn't diminish the fact that you can feel like you're walking down actual streets in New York City and even feel like you're seeing a little bit of Times Square. Slow down and look around. Look up, because the balconies and windows have some cool details. I also love to take pictures of store fronts and myself on stoops. 

M&M World

If those candy-coated chocolates are a favorite of yours, you can view 3+ floors of merchandise, sponsored items like a racecar hood with M&M art, and candy gifts plus there's even a free movie featuring your favorite candies. You don't have to buy anything here if you don't want, and there are even some fun photo ops throughout.

Statues, Atmosphere, and Fall of Atlantis

I don't recommend gambling at Caesar's Palace, but that's a personal preference of mine since I never win anything there. I still pay a visit there, starting with a stop out front to the colorful prayer shrine, where I donate a buck or two and light a stick of incense to give me some luck (either if doesn't work at Caesars, or else I'm just giving money for my own enjoyment). Inside, there are tons of impressive Roman statues and architecture elements, and if you continue through, you'll end up in the Caesar shops, which is a big indoor shopping mall that looks like you're outside. 

Head to the very end and witness the free animatronic show The Fall of Atlantis. It's not good, but it's fun to see at least once. Hopefully, they will either revamp this show or repair the animatronics, because the people are in terrible need of it. Don't forget to check out the aquarium, which you'll find on the backside of this round and see what sort of sunken treasure you can spy while enjoying the marine life.

Not everything can be seen on The Strip. Sometimes you need a car or to catch an Uber. I'll cover those things in the next blog post, because I feel like I've already given you enough to work with in this one.

What are your favorite free things to do in Vegas?