DELUXE TRAVELLER

Follow our top tips to look effortlessly stylish when you travel

If you’re planning a luxury holiday to Thailand, it’s possible that you’ll be travelling on a long-haul flight to reach the Kingdom. It’s always great to arrive in your final destination both looking and feeling fresh – and we’ve got the lowdown on exactly how you can achieve just that. After all, if you’re planning to stay in a lavish private villa and visit Thailand’s chicest restaurants and beach clubs, why would you start you vacation looking anything less than your absolute best?

Effortless style takes careful forward planning and organisation, from selecting the right carry-on luggage to match your hold suitcase, to packing the right beauty essentials in your hand luggage.

Whether you’re journey is set to last six hours or 16, follow our top tips on how to look effortlessly stylish when you travel.

Smart luggage

A designer hold-all and carry-on luggage is one way to inject instant elegance

Elegant luggage that’s both practical and stylish is essential, for men, women and kids. Designer cases with decorative flourishes can add so much to your travel ensemble, whether you opt for Gucci or classic Louis Vuitton. Selecting matching hold and carry-on luggage can be a fantastic way to bring effortless chic into your outfit.

If you’re travelling light in terms of hand luggage, a high-quality leather bag is always a classic choice for men. For ladies, a statement tote bag will often do the trick. After all, you want a bag that’s going to hold all your essentials – phone, purse, tablet, travel documents, toiletries and spare change of clothes – comfortably. If you want to avoid stress whilst you’re travelling, choose a bag with plenty of interior compartments where you can stash away different bits and bobs. For kids, Trunki’s are a travel must have. Other innovative cases, such as the JetKids Bedbox contain a mini fold out bed. The case can be pulled along with ease, so little ones can be responsible for their own bag – great news for mums and dads who have plenty of their own cases to carry.

Essential beauty goodies

A good lip balm will help to keep your lips smooth and soft during the flight

Thanks to the air conditioning systems on planes, it’s easy for skin to become dehydrated quickly. If you want your skin to be fresh and bright upon arrival, you need to combat this by packing all the right beauty essentials in your bag. Many beauty brands do mini bottles of lotions and potions suitable for hand luggage, so there are no excuses when it comes to in-flight hydration.

Your travel beauty regime should actually begin before you even get on the plane. Before you board, always cleanse and moisturise. The first thing you’ll need is a hydrating mist to revitalise your skin if it starts to feel dry. You can use this on the flight as many times as you like to give skin an instant boost. Many celebs also swear by overnight moisturising masks for when they travel. A good quality lip balm and an intensive moisturiser is also vital. Try and choose a model that contains a SPF so skin is ready and protected when you touch down in Thailand. And remember, these products are just as essential for men as they are for women!

Chic style

Victoria Beckham’s sunglasses, Hermes bag and structured jacket

The perfect travel outfit needs to tick two important boxes. Firstly, it needs to be comfortable and cosy enough that you can curl up and sleep for as long as you want during the flight. Secondly, when you land, it needs to give the impression that you’ve only just thrown it on. There are certain pieces that can help you achieve both requirements here, so make sure you’ve got them handy.

For the ladies, a printed skirt can be a clever choice. Not only will it be comfortable and cool, but the printed pattern will help hide any creases, too. Ladies and gents, a structured jacket is a must-have. This can be thrown on over any travel outfit to add an instant flourish of sophistication – even your most comfortable trousers or leggings. Wearing multiple layers is also smart – especially if you’re travelling rom a cool climate to somewhere warm like Thailand. That way, you can peel off a layer whenever you’re feeling warm, transforming instantly to a cool, calm and sophisticated look.

Last but not least, ladies shouldn’t forget their pashminas or blanket scarves. These can double up as blankets or makeshift pillows to cuddle up with, and can also add instant colour and vibrancy to your outfit.

Healthy choices

Make sure you keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water

Looking good after your long-haul flight isn’t just about disguising tired eyes and wrinkled clothes with stylish cover-ups – it’s about what you choose to eat and drink, too. When you’re flying, it’s easy to become dehydrated. You can avoid exacerbating this effect by drinking plenty of water and steering clear of any salty foods – even the snack size servings of peanuts and pretzels that you might be offered by the flight attendants!

You can also fight the visual effects of fatigue by nourishing your body with nutrients throughout the flight, too. While many airlines – including Thai Airways – offer a tasty in-flight meal service, if you’re worried you’re not going to be getting your usual dose of vitamins and minerals, come prepared. Pick up a couple of smoothies and juices in the departures lounge before boarding. You can gulp these down on the plane for an energy boost and to keep your body loaded up with nutrients. Having plenty of healthy food before, during and after the flight will also help combat the effects of jet lag.

All sorted

A champagne toast at your private villa is an excellent way to kick start your holiday

After a long-haul flight, the last thing you want to do is worry about finding a taxi to your accommodation when you finally reach the arrivals gate. If you’re staying in one of Thailand’s luxury private villas, you can pre-arrange with the villa manager to have a driver come and pick you up from the airport in a spacious, air-conditioned car. The driver will take you straight to your villa, so you don’t need to worry about getting lost. Upon arrival, kick start your holiday in style by pre-arranging to have chilled champagne waiting on ice for you.

TIPS

Here are a few extra tips on how you can prep for your flight to look your best:

• The plane’s air conditioning system can also dry out your hair. To avoid this, massage in a luxurious overnight treatment before boarding. In addition to keeping your hair soft and smooth, it’ll smell delicious, too.
• If your eyes are feeling tired and puffy during the flight, ask your flight attendant for some ice or a chilled drink to press against the eye area. This will help to reduce any puffiness.
• Avoid applying any makeup until your plane is descending to its final destination – you don’t want to fall asleep and end up with smudged mascara!