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Taking a long journey, whether by train, plane or as a passenger in a car, can be incredibly dull. However, assuming you are not the driver of the vehicle or responsible in any way for the journey, there are plenty of ways to pass the time and make things a little less boring. For example, you could try your hand at Slingo, read a book, or try out one of our other helpful ways to entertain yourself on a long journey.

1. Listen to a Podcast

Podcasts are great, there is literally something on every topic you can conceive, and yet people still forget to check them out. What better time to find yourself the perfect podcast than when you are held captive because of the length of your journey. If you are not sure how stable your Internet connection will be, then you need to download a podcast before you go and store it locally on your phone or tablet.  

2. Try Slingo

You probably need some for G for this idea, but it’s available quite widely, so why not try the game of Slingo. A concatenation of bingo and slots, this is a fun and fast-paced game that will keep you entertained. Just remember your fellow passengers and try not to shout and whoop for joy when you win. It is easy to learn and to pick up the rules and available on plenty of different websites. Some online casinos that offer Slingo will also have an app making it easy for you to download before you leave.

3. Learn a Language

If you are travelling to foreign climates, why not learn the language as you go. Again, there are plenty of apps where you can learn the basics of many different languages without spending any money. Most require some Internet connectivity, but you will be able to find ones that don’t if you’re not sure what the quality of your Internet will be like. Learning a language is good for helping keep our brains in tip-top condition as we get older and staving off memory loss and other potential issues such as dementia.

4. Read a Book

If you know that you will not have access to the Internet, why not plan to read a book? Of course, if you are travelling light, there are plenty of ways to download books to your tablet or mobile and read them from the screen. Whether you love the iPad or the Kindle, you can stock up the library well in advance of your journey and have plenty to choose from while you’re sat with nothing else to do.

5. Edit Your Photos

Many of us have photos that we take on the move and leave on our phone. A long journey is a perfect opportunity to organise your photo album and edit any that you want to change. There are plenty of apps available that can help you crop out pieces you don’t like, add different colours or generally play with them so that they look better than ever. You could also apply the same principle to your email account and spend that all-important time finally clearing out your junk emails and emptying the trash.

6. Binge Box Sets

Streaming apps have become incredibly popular over the last few years, and most people have access and subscriptions to one or more of these. In addition, most of them will allow you to download content to your local device, which again means that you do not need the Internet. Catch up on your binge-watching or start a new series and engross yourself in that, you will be surprised how fast the time passes, and you will wish you were travelling for longer.

7. Meditate

Why not download one of the many meditation apps and have a go at meditating while you are on a long journey. There are plenty to choose from, and all you have to do is sit back, close your eyes and listen to the calming voices. Don’t worry about what your fellow travellers think, as plenty of them will be doing it too, and to most people, you may look like you’re taking a nap.

8. Sleep

Speaking of taking a nap, this is an excellent way of passing the time when you’re stuck in one place for an extended period. A power nap has been proven to have many benefits for health. If you’re travelling across time zones, it can also help you avoid the dreaded jet lag, meaning that you will arrive feeling fresh and wide awake, able to enjoy arriving at your destination.

9. Audio Books

If reading makes you feel a little bit queasy because you’re looking down all of the time, then why not try an audiobook. This is a great way to listen to the latest best-seller without having to strain your eyes or unbalance your equilibrium. Just remember that to be a considerate traveller and refrain from disturbing other passengers by putting in some headphones.

10. Play Mobile Games

From Words with Friends to Candy Crush, there are plenty of online games that you can play to pass the time of day. Many of these do rely on a 4G connection, so again, it will depend on where you are travelling, and remember that if you’re going to spend a long time using your phone, the battery will drain quicker than usual. You can solve this issue by getting a battery pack or charging your phone as soon as you arrive at your destination.