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Tips for when you are sick while travelling

Stock up on food known for it’s vitamins and nutrition

First thing to do is make sure you fuel your body with what it needs to help you recover so think anything with vitamin c and zinc – fruit, fruit juice, vegetables etc

Raid the pharmacy section in the supermarket

If you don’t have anything on you, hit a supermarket as soon as you can. Most roadhouses will have the basics too, it will just be a bit pricey.

I’d recommend travelling with some basic vitamins, cold remedies, muscle rubs and pain killers anyway, as you never quite know when you’ll become under the weather and it could be in the middle of no where!!

Tell those you are travelling with

Definitely let those you are travelling with know and don’t feel you have to keep up with them but take time out if you need it and chose easier activities or walking routes.

If you are travelling solo, strike up a conversation with others staying in your accommodation, or even the staff where you are staying, as you never know what they may have in their first aid kits that could help.

Stop and rest

When you are ill your energy often plummets. It’s really easy to keep going when you are travelling and power through so you don’t miss out on anything or because you have a trip already planned. This can potentially knock back your recovery and it might be wise just to stop and relax in one place for a bit so you can rest up and let your body heal, allowing you to hit the road with more energy and probably more enjoyment!

Use Medicare and go to a bulk billing doctor

If you are from the UK, and some other countries (check the Aussie government website), you can sign up for medicare which gives you free appointments with the doctor. I would definitely recommend making this a priority when you arrive in Australia and before you set off travelling around the country. If you do go, make sure you go to a bulk billing doctor which you’ll be able to find on Google, otherwise you could be charged.

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6 Things Every Good Traveler Needs in their Backpack

I’ve been on the road a while and over time have added and thrown things out of my day bag. As you know, when you are carrying your whole world on your back while backpacking around, space and weight are of a premium! In this post I wanted to touch on what I now regularly take in my day bag in the hope that it helps you decide what to buy, pack and find a way to squish into your pack. I am also keen to hear what you guys have discovered are travelling essentials.

1. Bags in Bags!

So as well as the nearly obligatory pack-able shopper bag you need these days, I have also taken to making sure I have a waterproof dry bag in my day pack which I can put all my valuable electronic items in. This not only keeps them safe but is also a great carry case if I just want to take those with me and leave the backpack behind – brilliant on group travel tour buses when you are constantly nipping off the bus to take photos or buy snacks at the roadhouse and don’t need all your stuff, just the essentials.

2. Water Bottle

A re-useable water bottle is a must and I have attached a caribener to mine so that I can secure it to my bag.

3. Traveler’s Handy Kit

So I now regularly carry a small kit of essentials and handy items that literally get me through the day and I’d be stuck without them. In this small bag I carry: –

  • Tissues
  • Small pack of baby wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Lip balm
  • Hand cream
  • Plasters
  • Pain killers
  • Nail file (for the ladies!)
  • Anti-allergy pills

4. Electronics

We can’t really live without them now. I always have my phone, phone charger and power bank as a staple.

On top of that I have my camera and Go Pro and SD cards, plus their power cables so I can charge up from my power bank as needed.

Plus, for the long bus journeys, I have a kindle. I also now buy my guidebooks as ebooks to save on space and weight!

5. Items to make you comfy in any climate

Being protected and comfortable in any climate is key to enjoying travel. In my pack I always have everything I need for the sun – always important in Australia – which includes sunnies, sunscreen, hat and an umbrella (good for shade as well as keeping you dry in rain). I also have bug spray and a long sleeved top in case it gets chilly or I feel myself burning and need to protect my skin from the sun.

6. Snacks

You can’t head out on the road without any snacks! As you are never quite sure when the next stop will be and what will be there, I have found having my own supply of snacks and keeping them topped up is vital. I tend to go down the road of some unhealthy sweet stuff like chocolate and some healthy energising food like almonds and fruit. Pick whatever suits you.

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10 Tips for Surviving a Long Haul Flight

We’ve all been there haven’t we, stuck in a recycled air conditioned tube miles above the ground wondering why we are only 6 hours in to a 15 hour flight and how on earth we are going to get through the rest of the flight so we get off the plane in anything more than a zombie like trance.

With several long haul flights under my belt I would have to say the key to surviving such long journeys is in the planning before you even board the plane. It’s all about packing the right flight kit for you and in mentally preparing yourself so you don’t get frustrated or bored but actually sit back and relax, and even indulge in things you don’t normally have time for when your in the land of phone signal and have texts and emails flying at you all the time.

Tip 1: Do some research when booking the flight

Pick your airline carefully, they all have pros and cons with some being known for more leg room, better meals or even higher air quality. So have a little browse and see which airline best fits your criteria.

Think about your seat. Use seatguru or ask an agent for advice, but think about the location of your seat and the leg room. You obviously don’t want to be near the toilets either for the smell or the distracting continuous movement of people past you. Being near the back of the plane may mean your food is a little cool by the time it gets to you or you have less choice as they’ve run out of the most popular option before they even get to you.

Obviously if you can afford to upgrade then do as it could mean a bit more extra sleep for you on that long flight. If you can’t afford an upgrade than maybe consider a stop over, which is often cheaper, just to break up the flight time and allow your body to start adjusting to the new time zone.

Tip 2: Dress for comfort

We all want to look good when travelling but ultimately a long haul plane outfit needs to be comfortable. Think pyjamas but not actual pyjamas . Anything that allows you to move around easily, is soft and warm.

It’s also worth remembering planes get pretty cold. Airlines do hand out blankets but you will be more relaxed if you have your own bits around you. So take a scarf or an extra pair of thick socks and get ready to settle in for that nap.

Tip 3: Pack a sleep kit

For most of us its pretty hard to sleep on a plane so try and take things that might help you nod off. I’d definitely recommend ear plugs and an eye mask. Whenever you start feeling drowsy, pop that mask on and see if you get some shut eye, don’t wait for the end of the movie as it will be there when you wake up but you might not get that chance to sleep again!

You may also want to take a sleep aid, whether that’s a sleeping pill or something natural, depending on your health and desire to sleep!

I have never found a travel pillow that suits although lots of people use them. I have actually found that the seats adjustable head rest is enough for me but if you need a pillow or to take a big jumper to use as a pillow, make sure you pack one.

Tip 4: Take some TLC items

A long haul flight is a long time in which you don’t have any privacy or the chance to have a nice shower. Take anything with you that might make you feel a little bit more indulgent on the flight. I always take lip balm and a good quality hand cream as it’s so easy to get dried out on the plane.

Another good item to take is an essential oil. I regularly take a small roll on lavender oil. It’s tiny so isn’t a liquid issue, is easy to apply and has the added benefit of masking any unpleasant smells on the plane and as it is lavender it helps to relax me. It’s also handy throughout the holiday as a sleep aid if you’re struggling to sleep in those hostel dorms or unfamiliar hotel rooms.

Tip 5: Stay hydrated

Avoid diuretics before the flight, such as caffeine and alcohol, and take a water bottle on the plane with you. You can ask the crew to fill this up and then you always have a supply of water throughout the flight.

Tip 6: Take your own headphones

Airlines do supply headphones but they may well not be as good as your own and you really don’t want to face a 16 hour flight with no headphones! If you have noise cancelling headphones these are brilliant for blocking out the ambient noise and helping you focus or sleep if you can sleep while listening to music.

Tip 7: Plan for boredom

It’s a long time to be in one place so you are probably going to get bored. Don’t stress about this but try and embrace it so you don’t get frustrated. Take some books to read, indulge in the Hollywood blockbusters in the plane’s movie selection, load up your MP3 player or download your favorite TV show onto your tablet and take that with you. You may even want to take a bit of work with you as how often do we get uninterrupted time like this in everyday life.

Tip 8: Think about your health

This is someone who has been on a plane and got off with one of the worse colds I’ve ever had. Don’t let this happen to you but try and make sure you think about your health throughout the plane journey.: –

Take hand sanitizer or baby wipes to keep your hands clean

Take some Echinacea  tablets or vitamin c tablets with you just to help your body’s immune system

Don’t forget to move around the cabin and stretch those leg muscles

Take a toothbrush and toothpaste in your carry on so you can brush your teeth, it’s surprising how much better you feel with a clean mouth!

Tip 9: Take your own snacks

Plane food isn’t as bad as it used to be, and if you have picked a good airline it can be really quite nice. However, they may still serve food you don’t like, you may sleep through a meal, your body is used to a different time zone so will get peckish when it wants to and plane food isn’t really that healthy with a bias on carbs.

So make sure you take some snacks with you so you don’t go hungry. I’d suggest a mix of healthy snacks like almonds and the odd indulgent chocolate bar as a bit of a treat, but pack what suits you!

Tip 10: Don’t take too much carry on

It’s so easy to take lots in your carry on these days as you try and save weight for your main luggage. But think carefully about what you are taking and which pockets to store things in. The more you put down by your feet the less leg room and maneuverability you are giving yourself. The more your cram into the bag the harder it is to find things when you’re sleep deprived and getting the bag down from above to try and find something.

My tip would be to have everything you need throughout the flight – water bottle, sleep stuff, snacks, headphones, baby wipes, phone charger – in one small bag that you can easily take out and which doesn’t take up too much space around your seat.