Many individuals look to vacation time as a much-needed opportunity to break away from everyday challenges and relax. Often travelers assume their vacation plans will be seamless; however, issues can occur more than one thinks.
Margaret Chamblee, an experienced traveler, shares a list of common travel problems and ways to help prevent your vacation from turning sour.
Jet lag
Any time you travel to a new time zone, adjusting to the time difference can cause you to feel fatigued, like you can’t focus, and hungry at off-times. If you are traveling over two time zones from your home, make sure you have rested as much as you can before your flight. When you arrive at your destination, try to avoid taking a nap and adjusting to their schedule as best as possible. Ensure you eat and go to sleep at reasonable times for where you are staying.
Flight Delays/Cancellations
Nothing makes you feel worse than missing a connecting flight or having a delay that makes it challenging to reach your final destination. When booking travel, most flights will provide an estimate of the percentage in which the route is on time. If you have a connection, make sure there is ample time for delays and you to make your way through the airport to another gate. The app to get live updates and track your flight to make sure you know of significant changes.
Motion Sickness
Depending on your method of transportation, motion sickness can hit at any time. If you know you are prone to motion sickness, consider planning if you can travel in the front of the car, middle of a boat, or near the wings of a plane. Fresh air can tend to help minimize nausea, as well. Most airports and drug stores sell medication as a preventative measure you can take before you embark.
Sunburn and Heatstroke
Those tropical destinations and beaches are appealing to many as a way to break away and enjoy some sunshine. However, if you plan on spending much time in the sun, you should take some precautions to ensure you can maximize your time. Use a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30, and make sure it is waterproof or reapply every couple hours. Sunglasses, hats, or longer clothes can help protect you as well. In the event you do find yourself sunburned, you can purchase after-sun creams or aloe vera to help ease the pain. Ensure you stay hydrated and seek shelter if you become dizzy, overheated, or get a headache.
Traveler’s diarrhea
Depending on where you are traveling, do your research on the water quality. Traveler’s diarrhea or food poisoning can often occur from bacteria in the water. To help prevent sickness, consider purchasing bottled water, and make sure any foods you consume are fully cooked and not raw.
About Margaret Chamblee
Professionally, Margaret Chamblee is a licensed pharmacist with direct sales, marketing, and management experience. She has a strong work ethic and a drive to identify and seize every opportunity for professional success and personal growth. Margaret can analyze complex information and communicate it to a variety of audiences clearly to achieve strategic and sales goals. Personally, Margaret Chamblee is a travel enthusiast, having traveled extensively throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Northern Africa, the United States, and the Caribbean islands.