For most people, traveling is about letting go, fully immersing themselves, and indulging in the finer things in life. Whether you want to go away for a week-long Turks and Caicos luxury vacation or enjoy a multi-city European cruise, travel often means indulgence, from decadent desserts to free-flowing champagne.
When you are on vacation, you naturally want to sample the food of your host region. All of that is perfectly fine!
Instead of the typical, overly regimented approach (no one wants to be guilt-tripped on their dream trip), I’d like to share a few simple tips that will help you be well while enjoying your travels.
Stay Hydrated
At home or in the office, you have constant access to water. If you are used to drinking enough water every day, you probably do not give it much thought. However, you need to be more conscious about drinking enough water when traveling.
If you get dehydrated, you may experience fatigue, muscle cramps, headaches, and constipation, among other things. These are things that can quickly dampen your mood during your trip.
To avoid that, here are a few tips on how to stay hydrated while traveling!
- Drink as much water as possible in the days leading up to your trip (especially if you are taking a flight or heading to a tropical destination). It goes without saying; always keep your water intake within the recommended healthy range. This will help to balance out any water loss later during your flight. Airplanes are controlled environments with humidity typically as low as 10-20%. This is far less than the 35-65% humidity in a typical everyday environment. The lower humidity in the airplane cabin tends to lead to faster dehydration. And do not worry too much about having to take frequent bathroom trips. Getting up often during a flight is a good thing, as it keeps your circulation going.
- While you are at it, you should definitely take a reusable water bottle for your trips. If you want to keep your luggage load minimal, why not invest in a collapsible water bottle such as this one from Nomader (Get Amazon affiliate link)? They are lightweight and fold up very small when empty. Most airports have stations where you can fill up your water bottle for the flight. That way, you can leave it empty until you get through security. You’ll likely find these water stations wherever you travel, too.
Related: How to Avoid Overpacking For a Trip
- Eat fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of water content. Water-rich fruits include berries, watermelon, pineapple, oranges, and peaches. Water-rich vegetables include cucumbers, lettuce, zucchini, and celery. Having some of these with you on your trip will help you stay hydrated.
- Hotel rooms can be notoriously dry due to constant artificial air usage. A traveling humidifier like this one from GENIANI will really come in handy!
Though staying hydrated might be tricky while traveling, there are ways to make it work.
Move Your Body
Numerous studies suggest that regular physical activity can lower stress levels, boost energy, improve mood, support your immune system, and improve sleep quality.
Here are a few tips on how to move your body more often while traveling.
- Planes and trains can wreak havoc on your body during extended travel periods. In flight, stand up every hour or so to walk around and stretch to keep the blood flowing and relieve muscle stress and tension. Of course, if you follow my first guideline on hydration, frequent bathroom breaks will also help with that.
- Most hotels, resorts, and cruises offer access to a gym or fitness area. With a bit of research, you should be able to find accommodations that meet your fitness needs and preferences. Of course, if you were to hire me as your personal travel consultant, I’d take care of all that.
- You can also check to see if your fitness club has a sister facility near where you are staying. You can use that facility during your trip at little or no cost. Remember that overzealous expectations of your travel fitness routine can sometimes lead to disappointment. It’s okay to adapt. For example, if you are used to a longer workout back at home, do not let the idea of a shorter one on vacation hold you back.
- On the other hand, if you do not feel like going to the gym, try to get some sort of exercise every day. Take a long walk on the beach, a bike ride through city parks, or go for a swim when the weather permits. This could be just what your body needs for the day. After all, a little something is better than nothing!
Get Quality Sleep
It can be challenging to get adequate sleep while on vacation. Your routines have been interrupted, and you’re sleeping in a strange bed. How in the world can you get a good night’s sleep? Here are a few helpful tips to get a better sleep when traveling:
- This is a great time to splurge with Business or First Class airfare. Nothing is as relaxing as a lie-flat seat, especially on a long-haul flight.
- When you get to your destination, request for a quieter room. If possible, get a room on the top floor or away from the kitchen area, elevators, or main walkways.
- Limit your alcohol and caffeine intake close to bedtime (at least 2-3 hours prior).
- If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs, an eye mask, and a traveling white noise machine to mask any other sound variables.
- If you had a bedtime ritual before your vacation, try to stick to it; otherwise, create one while on vacation. A bedtime routine is a set of relaxing activities that help your body wind down for sleep and lead up to your sleep time. Your bedtime routine could include practicing deep breathing exercises, reading a light novel, having a warm shower, or listening to relaxing music.
- Don’t forget the value of a midday nap! It doesn’t have to be extended. Even 30 minutes in the Sunlounger on your private deck is enough to recharge your batteries.
Pamper Yourself
Staying well during vacation goes beyond staying hydrated and having a good night’s rest. A significant part of a fulfilling trip is being able to truly unplug and unwind. Yet, while traveling is meant to be relaxing, there’s no denying that it can take a lot out of you.
Stress can keep you from enjoying your vacation, whether you have to deal with the hassle of a delayed flight or lost luggage or traveling in an unfamiliar region.
Make the most of your trip by taking time to pamper yourself. Here are some simple wellness ideas. These should help you to fully shift into ‘relax mode,’ escape the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and minimize travel-related stress.
- If you’ll be spending much time in airports, consider buying a day pass to the First Class Lounge. These start as low as $25 and are well worth the money if you have a long layover or a delayed or canceled flight.
- Splurge on a spa treatment. You can kick things off with a massage because our muscles get stiff and sore while traveling. Depending on your hotel’s facilities, there are countless other ways to get pampered at the spa beyond the typical massage. Don’t be afraid to try something new!
- Choose your seat, hotel room, and/or cruise cabin carefully. Some upgrades are not expensive or even free if you ask nicely, and the cabins or rooms are not fully booked. Of course, one of the perks of working with a personal travel consultant is that you can get access to many more free upgrades to hotel rooms that are generally not available to most travelers.
Allow yourself to fully experience those moments and create wonderful memories while on vacation.
For more amazing tips on how to pamper yourself, check out these two fantastic resources
Plan a Perfect Next Trip
Traveling can be stressful because you have to take time off from work, coordinate with other family members/travel companions, and take care of logistics such as airfare, hotel accommodations, and long lines at the airport. Something that should be relaxing can also be very stressful at the same time.
That’s why many people pass all the planning and logistics on to someone else. They just want to lean back and enjoy the trip. But here’s the thing: The person you hire to plan and coordinate your trip greatly impacts how your trip will be.
My motto as a personal travel consultant has always been #travel far and well. I believe in curating trips where my clients can fulfill their wildest dreams and create unforgettable memories. On top of that, culinary and wellness travel are two of my specialties.
This makes me the perfect person to organize a trip that combines the best of both worlds. If this is something that interests you, please feel free to contact me to chat about your next trip.