As the holiday season approaches, many travellers are gearing up for exciting journeys abroad. Recently, Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni and Dr. Musa Mthombeni took a memorable trip to Türkiye, exploring its vibrant cities, indulging in its rich cuisine, and soaking in its cultural wonders. Now, they are sharing their top travel tips to help others navigate long-haul flights, combat jet lag, and make the most of their adventures – just in time for the festive travel rush.
- Have you planned any specific spots or hidden gems in Istanbul or elsewhere in Türkiye that you are eager to explore as a couple?
We were most excited about exploring Istanbul and Antalya in its entirety. Istanbul specifically because we love city travel just as much as we love coastal travel.
In Istanbul we were particularly delighted by the food and the delicious sweets! I was looking forward to going shopping, getting some spices to bring home and just excited about the city including its markets.
- As frequent travellers, what are your top tips for making long-haul flights more enjoyable and comfortable, especially when travelling together?
Comfortable, relaxed travel is a priority for us, and we also prioritize self-care, especially in terms of skincare, both in-flight and upon arrival. We have specific approaches to manage jet lag effectively.
- Clothing and Comfort: Opt for comfortable, relaxed clothing. We tend to wear black clothing often, which keeps things simple and versatile. Comfortable shoes and hairstyles are essential for a relaxed travel experience.
- In-Flight Skincare Routine: Both of us value self-care and take skincare seriously, especially on long flights. Before the first meal is served, we do a small skincare routine to keep our skin hydrated and fresh for when we land.
- Entertainment Tips for Long-Haul Flights: For Series Lovers (Liesl’s Tip): Download your favourite series onto a phone or tablet to stay entertained throughout the flight. For Movie Buffs (Dr Musa’s tip) Take full advantage of Turkish Airlines Business Class’s in-flight entertainment system, featuring a vast selection of the latest blockbusters, timeless classics, and captivating series. It is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a cinematic experience above the clouds, making your journey as entertaining as your destination.
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- How do each of you typically combat jet lag when crossing multiple time zones?
Our strategy for beating jet lag is simple yet effective: avoid rest upon arrival. By staying active immediately, we help our bodies adapt to the local time zone faster.
- Jet Lag Rule: Never rest upon arrival. As soon as we land, even if it is morning at the destination but nighttime back home, we do not sit down or relax.
We drop off our bags, freshen up, and head out to explore, pushing through any fatigue.
- Stay Active Until Local Bedtime: Avoid resting or “taking it easy” upon arrival—let your body get naturally tired. Aim to sleep according to the local time zone to help your body adjust more quickly.
- Returning to South Africa: Adjusting back to South African time can be a bit trickier. We give ourselves about three days to reset, making sure to only sleep at night in South Africa, even if we land during the day.
This routine helps us tackle jet lag with minimal downtime – both when we are traveling and on our return.
- What essentials do you always pack in your carry-on bags to ensure a stress-free flight experience?
Packing a well-prepared carry-on is essential for a comfortable and stress-free flight, especially for long-haul trips. Here is what we make sure to include:
- Warm Clothing: Since I often feel cold on flights, I always pack a sweater or jersey and a pair of socks (or even double up) to stay cozy.
- Skincare Essentials: We both have a quick skincare routine to refresh mid-flight: I remove any makeup, and Musa cleanses sunscreen or any daily buildup to keep our skin fresh and hydrated. Turkish Airlines’ Business Class Amenity Kits make this easy, featuring luxurious Ferragamo travel sets thoughtfully prepared for their guests. These functional cases include essentials like face mist and lotion, designed to elevate your in-flight self-care experience.
- Sanitizing Supplies: Hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes are necessary for wiping down surfaces like seats, tray tables, and electronics to keep our space clean.
- Mints or Gum: For freshening up during long flights, we pack mints or gum, which can be a lifesaver on flights that last eight to twelve hours.
- For those who struggle with motion sickness or discomfort during flights, do either of you have any tips or remedies to ease symptoms and make flying more pleasant?
As per Musa’s recommendation, mints, or bubble gum just to freshen up the mouth if you must during the flight.
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- Musa, you have previously been to Istanbul. What were you looking forward to discovering with Liesl this time?
Rediscovering Istanbul through Liesl’s eyes. She is always such a keen traveller, keen on exploring, seeing new sites, eating new food. We love eating and just exploring the city.
- Liesl, what are the top spots in Türkiye you were most excited to visit with Dr. Musa.
The one I was most excited about was the Galata tower tour. We had a guided tour at the Galata tower outside and in and around the space was so beautiful and then inside just getting to explore that going all the way up and then making our way down that was beautiful and then again, the food. It will always go back to the food, always go back to the food.
- With both your busy schedules, how do you find time to travel together?
We do not compromise on travel. Once it is in the diary, it is in the diary. We will then move all our work commitments, shoots, family time, all our other important things in our lives in and around that travel time because once the trip is booked, we are going, and we will make it happen.
- Turkish cuisine is so rich and diverse. Are there any dishes you are excited to try together?
It is just food in general. There was no kind of, how can I say, like the first list of food that we had. Just excited to try the spaces that Musa had already travelled to in terms of the restaurants. So, he took over in terms of the eating or rather the restaurants when we did have a little bit of free time, and we were just most excited about all kinds of Turkish cuisine and specifically for me trying out authentic real Turkish delight. The, Turkish Airlines’ award-winning Business Class Catering further elevated the experience, offering a curated selection of gourmet Turkish dishes. From carefully prepared traditional flavours to fine dining presentations, the culinary journey began the moment we stepped onto the aircraft.
- Are there any destinations on your bucket list that you are both especially excited to explore together, and why?
So, we are travelling to Hong Kong very soon. So, we are super excited about that.
We might even go to Disneyland which I am very keen on. We are also looking forward to traveling to Japan in the new year.
Musa has just always been keen on that, and he has sold me on it. So, I am looking forward to it as well.
Our friends are getting married in Cuba and we are going to make an entire trip of it as we have always wanted to visit Cuba. Aside from trying a brand-new place, it can be great to revisit places you have already been to.
We had been to Italy this year, Rome specifically, and I would like to go to Italy again, pass by Rome, and then maybe explore the rest of the country as well because we did not get to spend enough time in Italy to be able to visit the many beautiful cities and regions. Rome was amazing for the pizza and pasta and then the rest of Italy just to see how beautiful the space is, the architecture and of course the rest of the beautiful food as well.
- Are there any new activities or adventures you are planning to try together in Türkiye that you have not done before?
I was SO excited about the ice cream! It sounds silly, but the guy that is kind of taunting you with the Turkish ice cream was something I was very keen on, and we got to try that on one of the nights that we visited one of the markets and it was very, very much a fun experience and the ice cream was really good as well. I think the other thing we were most excited about in terms of adventures was Antalya.
We had never thought of visiting Antalya as a part of a Türkiye visit and it was incredible. It was beautiful, the weather was amazing, and the water was stunning too.
- For couples considering a trip to Türkiye, what places in Türkiye would you suggest they visit, and why?
Since we have only travelled to Istanbul and Antalya, those are the two we would highly recommend because it gives you a little bit of both. You get to experience the city life or more of city life in Istanbul and the markets and everything else and in Antalya, you get to experience warmer weather, the beach, some swimming, and a more relaxed kind of vibe. In Antalya, we stayed at the Antalya Titanic Mardan Palace which had a lot of snacks and down time, and I think if you pair the two together where you have a busy city life for about three to four days in Istanbul, then end of your trip in Antalya like we did for about three days of relaxing, 10 out of 10.
- Which airline do you enjoy flying with the most, and why?
Over the years, we had the pleasure of traveling with several airlines, each offering unique experiences. However, Turkish Airlines consistently stood out as one of our top choices. From the moment we boarded, it was clear that they prioritized their passengers’ comfort and satisfaction. Their attentive service, alongside the quality of their in-flight offerings, created a travel experience that was both relaxing and enjoyable.
What truly set Turkish Airlines apart for us was the attention to detail—whether it was their diverse and delicious meal options, their immaculate and well-maintained fleet, or the seamless connections through their impressive hub in Istanbul. It was the level of care and professionalism they brought to every journey that made flying with Turkish Airlines a standout experience for us.
Also see: Dr Musa Mthombeni and Liesl Laurie Mthombeni mark 38 months of matrimony | Bona Magazine
