After spending 96 hours on the longest train ride in North America, there are 5 things I wish I had brought with me and 3 that I couldn't have lived without

Rachel AskinasiAug 13, 2021, 00:25 IST

These miniature plastic cups were way too small.Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I tried my best to be fully prepared for my cross-Canada train trip, but looking back there are a few more things I wished I had packed.
I took a carry-on suitcase and a backpack filled with camera equipment - I had a limited amount of room.
The dry air and the time between meals on the train caused a lot of issues I wasn't prepared to solve.

As I prepared for my four-day, cross-Canada train trip, I read loads of blogs and reviews that all talked about what the trip would be like.

I traveled on Via Rail's The Canadian. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

In my planning, I made several packing lists and tried to think of everything I would possibly need. But, of course, I forgot a few seemingly obvious essentials.

I brought a carry-on suitcase and a backpack for my camera equipment. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The first thing I wished I brought along with me was a reusable water bottle. There were pitchers of ice water in the communal cars, so it would have been easy for me to keep the bottle filled at all times.

I needed a lot of water. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The first thing I wished I brought along with me was a reusable water bottle. There were pitchers of ice water in the communal cars, so it would have been easy for me to keep the bottle filled at all times.

The air on the train was dry and made me more thirsty than usual. I was constantly trying to stay hydrated, and I ended up using way more plastic cups than I would have wanted to.

These cups didn't cut it. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The air on the train was dry and made me more thirsty than usual. I was constantly trying to stay hydrated, and I ended up using way more plastic cups than I would have wanted to.

I brought along Neosporin, but I wished I had a tub of Vaseline for my lips, nose, and face.

I use Vaseline at home regularly. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Everything was dry and chapped, so much so that I got a nosebleed on day two.

No, it didn't get on my white sweatshirt. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I also wished I had brought saline drops and would definitely stick them in my bag for next time.

My eyes don't usually get dry, so I didn't think to bring drops. Will Russell/Getty

The constant blowing air and inconsistent lighting had dried out my eyes, and my first full day on the train resulted in a red, irritated left eye.

This was painful. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I also regretted not bringing along snacks like mixed nuts or dried fruit.

If you're a fan of trail mix, bring it. Hollis Johnson

Meals on the train are several hours apart, so I often got hungry before it was time for dinner.

The food was delicious, I just got hungry in between. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Passengers can purchase snacks like chips on the train or eat the complimentary pastries seen here, but I wished I had brought a little bag of healthier snacks.

I would have liked more nutritious options. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

On a more logistical level, I wish I had printed out an hour-by-hour schedule for the trip. This would have helped with planning ahead for time zone changes, which proved to be a doozy.

A schedule would have helped me plan for time changes. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

On a more logistical level, I wish I had printed out an hour-by-hour schedule for the trip. This would have helped with planning ahead for time zone changes, which proved to be a doozy.

As a Sleeper Plus cabin traveler, I was provided with a package of earplugs - the train makes noise and the walls between cabins are thin so I heard my neighbor snoring. If you're sensitive to noise when you sleep, and you're traveling with a berth or economy ticket, you'll want to bring your own earplugs.

Earplugs are important. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

As a Sleeper Plus cabin traveler, I was provided with a package of earplugs - the train makes noise and the walls between cabins are thin so I heard my neighbor snoring. If you're sensitive to noise when you sleep, and you're traveling with a berth or economy ticket, you'll want to bring your own earplugs.

Similarly, if you don't want to be disturbed by the lights of a freight train passing by in the middle of the night, regardless of what sleeping arrangement you have, an eye mask would be helpful.

It got bright when another train would pass by. Fox Photos/Stringer/Getty Images

Similarly, if you don't want to be disturbed by the lights of a freight train passing by in the middle of the night, regardless of what sleeping arrangement you have, an eye mask would be helpful.

The cabin I was in had a shade that I could pull down, but some of the bright light made its way around the shade. Also, I slept with the shade open most nights as I wanted to wake up to natural light in the morning.

I was thankful for the shade. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

The cabin I was in had a shade that I could pull down, but some of the bright light made its way around the shade. Also, I slept with the shade open most nights as I wanted to wake up to natural light in the morning.

One thing I'm so glad I had packed was a pair of flip-flops for the shower - train passengers in all classes except Prestige use a shared shower.

Flip-flops were great for showering and for walking around the cabin. Hollywood To You/Star Max/Contributor/Getty Images

If you're a germ-cautious person like me, you probably never travel without them.

I never travel without a pair of shower shoes. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

On a similar note, I'm glad I brought hand sanitizer with me. It was convenient to carry around so I didn't have to walk back to my cabin to wash my hands every time I used a railing or re-boarded the train.

I would also recommend disinfecting wipes. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

On a similar note, I'm glad I brought hand sanitizer with me. It was convenient to carry around so I didn't have to walk back to my cabin to wash my hands every time I used a railing or re-boarded the train.

I'm also glad that I had a portable battery handy - it's built into my suitcase. Because of the portable battery, I was able to keep my phone fully charged while spending time in the community cars, which only had one strip of outlets that was far from the main seating area.

I would highly recommend bringing a portable charger. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I'm also glad that I had a portable battery handy - it's built into my suitcase. Because of the portable battery, I was able to keep my phone fully charged while spending time in the community cars, which only had one strip of outlets that was far from the main seating area.

While my cabin did have an outlet inside, travelers who didn't have a cabin had to use the communal strip of outlets located near the dining car.

I got lucky with this. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

As a traveler, you may have enough time to buy something you forgot at one of the scheduled stops, but you don't know for sure when you'll be getting in.

Don't count on having enough time to shop during stops. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Some stores may be closed, and you may be limited to a candy stand or vending machine. So it's best to take the extra time packing and come prepared.

Don't make the same mistakes I did. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I flew on JetBlue's historic first trip to London and saw how low fares and great service will give competitors a run for their money

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After spending 96 hours on the longest train ride in North America, there are 5 things I wish I had brought with me and 3 that I couldn't have lived without

As I prepared for my four-day, cross-Canada train trip, I read loads of blogs and reviews that all talked about what the trip would be like.

In my planning, I made several packing lists and tried to think of everything I would possibly need. But, of course, I forgot a few seemingly obvious essentials.

The first thing I wished I brought along with me was a reusable water bottle. There were pitchers of ice water in the communal cars, so it would have been easy for me to keep the bottle filled at all times.

The air on the train was dry and made me more thirsty than usual. I was constantly trying to stay hydrated, and I ended up using way more plastic cups than I would have wanted to.

I brought along Neosporin, but I wished I had a tub of Vaseline for my lips, nose, and face.

Everything was dry and chapped, so much so that I got a nosebleed on day two.

I also wished I had brought saline drops and would definitely stick them in my bag for next time.

The constant blowing air and inconsistent lighting had dried out my eyes, and my first full day on the train resulted in a red, irritated left eye.

I also regretted not bringing along snacks like mixed nuts or dried fruit.

Meals on the train are several hours apart, so I often got hungry before it was time for dinner.

Passengers can purchase snacks like chips on the train or eat the complimentary pastries seen here, but I wished I had brought a little bag of healthier snacks.

On a more logistical level, I wish I had printed out an hour-by-hour schedule for the trip. This would have helped with planning ahead for time zone changes, which proved to be a doozy.

Similarly, if you don't want to be disturbed by the lights of a freight train passing by in the middle of the night, regardless of what sleeping arrangement you have, an eye mask would be helpful.

The cabin I was in had a shade that I could pull down, but some of the bright light made its way around the shade. Also, I slept with the shade open most nights as I wanted to wake up to natural light in the morning.

One thing I'm so glad I had packed was a pair of flip-flops for the shower - train passengers in all classes except Prestige use a shared shower.

If you're a germ-cautious person like me, you probably never travel without them.

On a similar note, I'm glad I brought hand sanitizer with me. It was convenient to carry around so I didn't have to walk back to my cabin to wash my hands every time I used a railing or re-boarded the train.

I'm also glad that I had a portable battery handy - it's built into my suitcase. Because of the portable battery, I was able to keep my phone fully charged while spending time in the community cars, which only had one strip of outlets that was far from the main seating area.

While my cabin did have an outlet inside, travelers who didn't have a cabin had to use the communal strip of outlets located near the dining car.

As a traveler, you may have enough time to buy something you forgot at one of the scheduled stops, but you don't know for sure when you'll be getting in.

Some stores may be closed, and you may be limited to a candy stand or vending machine. So it's best to take the extra time packing and come prepared.