WHEW. We’re only in the second quarter of 2020 and already the COVID-19 pandemic has turned our lives completely upside down! Serious concerns about public health and the need to mitigate the spread of this dangerous disease has led to national, regional and city decrees to stay home. As a result, armchair travel, the art of exploring the world from the comfort of your own couch, is experiencing a powerful rebirth.
Previously perceived as an activity mostly reserved for sedentary individuals, that’s no longer the case. Virtual vacations are now all the rage because they’ve become a lifeline for gloomy travelers practicing self-quarantining and social distancing for the greater good of themselves and mankind. Of course, nothing beats a real-life destination experience. But with technology and ingenuity, there are still fun ways to cure your wanderlust while you shelter-in-place.
Miffed you had to cancel your last trip? Here are 11 ways to armchair travel your way out of your current travel slump:
3.Join a live cooking demo to learn about regional or global cuisines.
For example, you can head over to @travelsaintlucia for an Instagram LIVE class every Tuesday and Thursday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ZpEbPH8Kv/
4. Take a virtual tourof your fave museum, theme park or zoo.
Are there any museum lovers out there? If so, this is your happy time! Google Arts and Culture has partnered with 500+ museums and galleries to bring you multiple exhibits.
5. Get crafty with destination keepsakes (like seashells).
6. Explore different regions of the world through dance.
7. Binge watch your favorite travel movies or television shows.
Not sure where to find them? Tastes will vary, but these lists from Conde Nast Traveler and The Guardian are great places to start.
How do you cope? By creating a diverse global music playlist, putting in ear buds, and blocking out all the anxiety-inducing news? Drop your tips below.
FINAL NOTE: Please adhere to all medical guidelines to stay safe and healthy!
Never? Lucky you. Not recently? Well, be grateful.
Getting sick is hard in general, and when you’re not in a familiar place, it gets even trickier. Plus, if you don’t speak the local language fluently enough to explain your symptoms, that adds another level of stress to your situation. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of over-the-counter medications you might want to add to your travel checklist right now.
DISCLAIMER: This article was written to give general travel tips only. It is not intended to be an endorsement of any drug manufacturer or a replacement for personal consultation with a medical practitioner (which I, categorically, am not). Please check with your doctor or local pharmacist for all possible drug interactions with your current prescriptions. Also, as an additional precaution, kindly seek information on side effects that can worsen other underlying conditions before taking of these any over-the-counter medications.
Diarrhea
Contaminated food or water are two of the most common ways pesky bacteria and parasites enter our bodies. When that happens, uncomfortable abdominal pain and loose, and inconveniently frequent bowel movements follow. But those are not the only triggers, so watch out for tap water, tempting street food delicacies or even uncooked veggies in high-end restaurants. Food intolerances to products with diary, fructose, and artificial sweeteners, as well as reactions to medication can cause them too.
Imodium A-D and K-PekII are two common treatments for diarrhea. Getting adequate rest and keeping hydrated are also recommended. If brands are different overseas, the key scientific ingredient to look for is Loperamide (lo PER a mide) Hydrochloride. Get out your translation app and ask for that at a local pharmacy.
Pain
If you experience headaches or
migraines, a painful period, arthritis symptoms, or minor aches and pains from
a cold, flu or sore throat on the road, chances are you’re going to need a pain
reliever.
If that happens, Advil, Genpril, Midol, and Motrin can be your solution. I’ve read that Motrin is especially suited for reducing swelling and inflammation. If you’d rather not pay the price of the brand name products, get the store label which has Ibuprofen (eye BYOO prue fen)in it.
Allergies
Getting to explore regions and landscapes different from our own is often a blessing, but it can also expose us to foreign substances that trigger allergies. For example, things like pollen from plants we’re not used to being around, as well as mold or dust mites popping up in unexpected places can cause nasal congestion, sneezing, a runny nose, or an itchy rash on your skin (also called hives).
Antihistamines like Claritin, Clear-Atadine, QlearQuil, and Zyrtec help to reduce those allergic symptoms. If none of those are available, look for products with Loratadine {Lor AT a deen) as the active ingredient.
Motion Sickness and Nausea
If long journeys by bus, car or train, or leisurely cruises on yachts and catamarans cause you to become lightheaded or woozy, Bonineand Dramamine are two over-the-counter medications you can usually depend on for relief. They prevent nausea, vomiting, or dizziness caused by motion sickness. Bonine is also used to prevent and treat vertigo (extreme dizziness. or a feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning around). The scientific name is Meclinizine (MEK li zeen) Hydrochloride and it generally causes drowsiness.
Swelling, itching and skin rashes
If you ever run into problems with
rashes, insect bites, dermatitis, poison oak/ivy, eczema and a variety of conditions
that cause itching, you’ll want to have a corticosteroid ointment in your medicine
stash.
Topical creams like Anusol HC, Cortaid, Cortizone, Neosporin and Proctozone are used on the skin to reduce swelling, redness, itching and allergic reactions. This type of over-the-counter medication is for external use only, so be careful not to ingest it by mouth and do not get it in your eyes. Special care may also be needed when applying it to kids or seniors. The scientific name is Hydrocortisone (hye droe KOR ti sone).
Constipation
Let’s face it, going three days or more without a bowel movement is not something anyone would wish on themselves – even at home. So, imagine what that level of discomfort would do to you on a bucket list vacation you planned and saved for, for months. Trips cause changes to your normal eating patterns and disrupt routine daily activities, and those factors, along with others, can lead to constipation. The best way to combat that is to ensure you have enough fiber and water in your diet, and stay active. But if that’s not possible or doesn’t work, mild laxatives can push your bowels along.
I’ve read that stimulant laxatives are the fastest acting, and those include products made from aloe, senna compounds (Ex-Lax, Senokot), bisacodyl (Dulcolax, Correctol), and castor oil.
Other important things to
note:
Before you begin taking anything, please do research to find out which medicines may interact with any other drugs you are taking.
Report any negative side effects to your health care profession or doctor as soon as possible.
Do not take doses higher than those prescribed by your doctor or listed on the label.
Follow the storage instructions and keep containers tightly closed to protect items from moisture and heat.
Check for expiry dates and adhere to them.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of any medicine with children.
Editors Notes:
I’ve had my tummy give me the rumbling sign in many inopportune places. The most embarrassing time was just as I was about to check into a hotel in Medellin, Colombia, and out of nowhere, the tell-tale cramping sign started. In hindsight, it must have been the fruit juice I drank on the flight from Cartagena because I was fine up to that point.
“¿Dónde está el baño, señorita? “ Like a hovering guardian angel, those long lost vocabulary words from my high school Spanish classes rapidly surfaced.
“Al final del pasillo y a la izquierda.” The stunned receptionist responded.
Thankfully, I was able to ask for, and find, a bathroom in a timely manner. Honestly, I was out of commission for so long that my sister almost sent a search party to look for me because she was stuck watching our bags. When I finally got back to the desk to complete my transaction, the pleasant enough front desk employee asked a million questions with her eyes.
As the saying goes: “Once bitten, twice shy.” I now know the benefits of packing over-the-counter meds in my carryon.
Since December 2019, the world has been closely monitoring the respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus, which was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. To date, the number of cases has surpassed those from the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak and uncertainty about safety has started to affect travel. At last count, the virus has infected close to 90.000 people in every continent except Antarctica, with reports of 3,000+ fatalities. The Center for Disease Control keeps tabs on reported cases.
According to my research, viruses generally have the
potential to live on hard, non-porous (water resistant) surfaces such as stainless
steel, metal and plastic longer than they survive on soft surfaces like fabrics
and tissues. But they all prefer to live on humans, so heavily trafficked
spaces like airports and planes are potential hotbeds for infection.
So, what can you do to minimize the risk of contracting a
virus on your next flight?
Be vigilant about good hand hygiene
One of the best ways to protect yourself from getting sick is to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. To combat that, it’s best to wash them with soap and water regularly (and vigorously) for at least 20 seconds. Remember, every public surface you touch like bathroom doors, elevator buttons, escalator handrails or other random surfaces has the potential to harbor germs.
Carry hand sanitizers or wipes with you… and use them
Respiratory illnesses, like the coronavirus, generally spread when we come into contact with an infected persons’ saliva or mucus, which can fall onto nearby surfaces. That’s why it helps to clean your airplane seat, seat belt, touch screens and tray tables with wipes as soon as you enter the aircraft. The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends at least 60 percent alcohol concentration to maximize effectiveness.
Keep the air vents above you open
During flight, the air you’re breathing can be anywhere from two to five rows surrounding your seat, so keep your vents open to create an invisible air barrier around you, even if you angle them slightly away from your face. Many airborne viruses are spread by tiny nuclei that can hang in the air for up to five hours, and your overhead air vent helps push them to the ground.
Sit near a window
A study published in 2018 by The FlyHealthy Research Team across 10 airlines concluded that “there is low probability of direct transmission to passengers not seated in close proximity to an infectious passenger.” That means, unless the infected person is right next to you, the safest place to sit on an airplane in order to avoid contracting a virus is the window seat. Human movement and contact up and down the aisle is more likely to spread germs than recirculated air.
Use a saline nasal spray
Dry air, like the type experienced on airplanes, makes it harder for your mucus membranes to do their job of clearing out irritants and particles. As a result, using a saline nasal spray before and during your flight can help overcome a dry nose and improve your resistance to infection.
Stock up on Vitamin C
Vitamin C boosts your immunity system by helping white blood cells fight illness-causing viruses and bacteria more effectively, supporting your adrenals when you’re feeling stressed, and strengthening your skin’s defense system. So whether you prefer to take it in pill, edible or liquid format, pack some Vitamin C in your purse or hand luggage for use on your next flight.
Bring Your Own Stuff
Thankfully, the days of using blankets provided by airlines are mostly over because you can never quite be sure they are being washed before being repackaged and reused. Just play it safe and take your own. And while we’re on this subject, let’s minimize the germs transmission factor by bringing your own pillows and headphones too, please.
Keep a mask handy
The jury is out on how effective face masks really are at minimizing the risk of contracting a virus, especially if it doesn’t fit you properly, but I always feel better covering my face if I’m sitting next to someone who is coughing and sneezing. While masks may not block airborne germs completely, they can prevent you from transferring germs from your hands to your mouth or nose.
Do you have any other tips on how to minimize the risk of contracting a virus?
This link also has additional suggestions on how to avoid getting sick while on vacation.
You’re dreading Valentine’s Day this year for one or a variety of reasons:
The man you’ve been dating (or your husband) is giving off signals that his interest in waning.
You just got dumped via text by a self-centered loser whom you treated like a king for the past [insert your number] years and that joker didn’t even have the decency to break it off with you in person.
You’ve been in a relationship dry spell and recently decided to take a step back from the frustrating and risky dating pool to regain your inner zen.
Or you enjoy flying solo and can’t be bothered with the February 14th hoopla that comes with dramatic floral arrangement and chocolate deliveries. By that I mean hearing soft gasps of delight from love-struck recipients when the roses arrive, or dealing with the fluttery ooh and ahhs of insincere work colleagues watching with catty eyes from the wings.
Makes you see red everywhere you look, right?
What do you do? Plan your own bangin’ LITuation! As in, a Galentine’s Day treat or weekend event with your best gal pals to commemorate the joys of female friendship. For those of you unfamiliar with this February 13th pre-Valentine’s Day celebration, it seemingly stemmed from a 2010 episode of the television show Parks and Recreation.
https://youtu.be/N1ikySurAP0
So, here are 5 things (other than a spa weekend) you can do to
ring in this year’s Galentine’s Day.
Plan a leisurely lunch
Take the afternoon off and gather all your BFFs together for a beverage-infused lunch filled with food, laughter and fond memories. Bring out the funny stories of silly faux pas, trifling dates, the kids’ noteworthy antics and family drama that will zap all the stress away.
Choose outdoor adventure
Whether your besties are into hiking, biking, boating, paddling, canoeing, camping, white river rafting or something else, find a common theme and book yourselves an action-packed outdoor adventure somewhere. Multiple studies show that spending time in nature is one of the fastest ways to improve your health and happiness.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7BcKFgA7B6/
Attend Oprah’s 2020 Vision Tour
Jumpstart the new decade by attending Oprah’s 2020 Vision
Tour to get your life in focus. It’s an all-day wellness event designed to give
us the mindset we need to thrive in a life that’s more balanced – regardless of
the odds we face. She, along with other celebrity guests, are out to show that
contentment is not about our track record of success, how we look, our public-facing
deeds, socio-economic backgrounds or our political associations. Rather, it involves
learning how to motivate from within and taking care of ourselves. Catch her
this month on Feb 8 at the Barclay’s Center in Brookyln, New York or on Feb 15 at
the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Depending on where you’re from, you can take that to mean a self-indulgent Girls Trip for Galentine’s Day to places like Napa Valley or South Africa, where you can visit wineries and wonderfully, quaint towns. OR you can interpret wine to mean making an appearance at a music concert or marching arm in arm to a non-stop dance party where you can shake your waistline or booty in abandon. If you lean towards the latter, Trinidad’s annual carnival, from February 24 to 25, is one such option.
Whether you do this at home or abroad, taking a fun cooking class is a great way to experience local markets, learn more about cultures and different culinary techniques, and have meaningful interactions. Don’t know where to start looking? This article from Travel Channel will give you some ideas for places that host cooking classes within the US. If you have travel on your mind, foodie destinations like Peru, New Orleans, Italy and Cartagena are great places to consider.
World: “Hey Mac, I’m thinking about planning a luxury vacation. You down?”
Me: “Oh, you know I’m always ready for a quick getaway! But listen, I’ve got bills coming outta my ears, so I can’t be booking anything too expensive right now. We better be ballin’ on a budget or I’m out, ok?”
Sounds familiar? The pressures at home are driving you all kinds of crazy. At work, you find yourself stuck in that tiny cubicle trying to respond to client emails or make sense of the latest monthly report. And through it all, the thought of pampering yourself to a few days off at an upscale beach resort or a cliff-hugging hideaway is all you can think about. But over the tapping sound of the keyboard and the dull hum of the freezing air conditioning unit, your wallet is telepathically reminding you that its buying power is weak. Trust me, I know. That kind of mental torture can be daunting.
Well, what if I said you can take a nice vacation without breaking the bank? Ballin’ on a budget is definitely possible – if you know a few tricks of the trade.
Feel free to use these tips to get a taste of the luxury life without any accompanying slave-to-your-credit-card strife.
Shortlist countries with a favorable currency exchange rate
Other than flight and hotel costs, there are a ton of other expenses
you’ll need to cover in the vacation budget. So, in order to take care of
things like local transportation, food and drinks, attraction entrance fees, souvenir
shopping and entertainment, it helps to select countries with an exchange rate that
allows your dollar to stretch further.
If you live in the US and budget is a consideration, you’ll get more bang for your buck by going to Mexico, Thailand or Jamaica, for example, because in those countries you can buy more with less. In contrast, flying to places like the UK or Cayman Islands where their currencies are stronger than the US dollar would significantly restrict your purchasing power. Don’t get me wrong. They’re both great places to visit; just not on a strict budget.
Useful tool: If you’re unsure where to start, the XE Currency Converter is a great site to check exchange rates before your next trip.
Travel in off-season
After you’ve shortlisted your possible destinations, the next step is comparing rates for airfare and accommodation in each. Time of year will make a difference, and at this point, your purchase decision will be impacted by demand and supply. Rates are always highest during peak season – the months when most people travel to a set location – and when demand falls, hotels and airlines have excess rooms and seats they need to discount to fill. Because of that, you should aim to travel in off-season.
Useful Tool: Peak season and off-season vary by locale, so it can get confusing. However, an interactive map by LastMinute.com makes it easy to see monthly variations at-a-glance. Red indicates peak season, the blue-green color represents off-season, and yellow stands for shoulder season, which is in between. (A snapshot of January is shown below).
There are some things solo trips can do for your psyche, but for everything having to do with finicky finances, there’s the squad. Without a doubt, sharing the costs of accommodation allows you to stay in a higher caliber property than you would be able to book on your own. This travel hack works for luxurious hotel suites that allow triple or quad occupancy, but it is particularly useful in high-end Airbnbs, villa or bungalow situations where you can bring friends or family and spread out comfortably in the space.
Useful tools: If you end up splitting more than the cost of accommodations, there is no need to quibble about who owes who. Splittr and Splitwise are two free apps that help you track and balance trip expenses, and they are available in multiple currencies.
Keep it short and sweet
One of the best ways to curtail costs, is to go all out over a shorter time period. For example, if lodging costs $400-500 per night, a three- or four-day trip works out much cheaper than a week at the same price. You also end up spending less on attractions, taxis, meals and beverages.
Rather than blowing cash at posh boutiques, or on elaborate three-course meals, spa treatments and pretty, umbrella-garnished drinks every minute you are away, choose your splurges carefully. You see, the key to this Ballin’ On A Budget life is being able to travel and have a good time, with limited funds. So, use that kitchen facility at the vacay crib to make daily breakfast, go shopping at the grocery store to have snacks for lunch, and then dress up and go all out on a dinner and/or fancy drinks at a ritzy venue. Sometimes you don’t even have to stay at a five-star to go eat or have drinks at the property. And luvs, when you do, don’t forget to take the all-important fly photo for social proof!
How much do you know about your international phone plan options? If you live in the United States and travel frequently for work or pleasure, it’s highly likely you might have already racked up unusually high charges for calls or data usage while you were overseas. That’s why it’s important to learn all you can about the costs and inclusions of the international phone plans that are available from various US carriers to better protect your pocket.
Based on feedback in online forums and groups among travelers, T-Mobile is, by far, the most US popular carrier for staying connected while abroad. According to the company’s website, their “Magenta®, Simple Choice™, New Classic, and Select Choice plans provide unlimited 2 gigabyte (GB) data, unlimited texting and calling at $0.25 per minute in 210+ countries and destinations.” No international data-roaming charges show up on your bill, and there is no setup fee. All you need to do is land and turn on your phone. They also advertise an Essentials plan that includes unlimited text and calling at the same rate – $0.25 per minute (excluding data) – in the same number of countries. Basic costs start at $35 dollars per line for Magenta, and $43 per line for Magenta plus.
Never heard of Google Fi? Don’t worry. Until I started doing research for this article, I hadn’t either. It’s a relatively new phone service for Android users which Google introduced in 2015. For Google Fi to work, you need a special SIM card and specific software on your phone (if you don’t have a Pixel). With it, you get voice, SMS and mobile broadband services across Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular networks, and Google Fi intelligently switches between the three or to W-FI to make calls (whenever it’s available).
The beauty of this service lies in simple billing. If you sign up, your out-of-pocket expense is $20 per month for unlimited talk and texts and $10 for every 1 GB of data used. If you require a lot of data for social media and operate in the 6 GB realm on a regular basis, that catapults you to Bill Protection status, where your charges are capped at $60 per month.
Verizon’s turn-key international plan, which is usable in over 185 countries, is called TravelPass. For $10 a day, per line, you can call, send or use data. To activate this international phone plan, all you need to do is text the word TRAVEL to 4004 or on My Verizon, and you’ll get a welcome message when you get to your destination. The fee begins when you use the phone. One important thing to note is that minutes, texts and data usage overseas also impacts your regular plan allowance, so if you exceed your limit, you will get pinged with overage charges. If you are going to be away for more than seven days, it makes sense to switch over to Verizon’s $70 monthly plan to save money.
Verizon customers traveling to Canada
and Mexico
need only pay $5 per line if those two countries aren’t already covered in their
domestic plan. What’s more, the company also has pay-as-you-go rates that
charge by the minute for message and data use. This option is available in Cuba
and on more than 400 cruise ships.
AT&T’s phone plan is called International Day Pass and it costs $10 per day to get talk, text and data coverage in 100+ destinations in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. For that daily fee, you get unlimited calls in the countries covered in the plan and unlimited texts to others at no additional charge. However, one thing to note is that you accrue data charges for apps that run in the background, so they advise you to “turn off your messaging apps, disable automatic updates and background refreshes to make your data go further.”
If you need lots of data, you can look at the AT&T Passport 2 GB plan for $70 per month or their AT&T Passport 6GB plan for $140 per month. Both are available for use in more than 200 countries. For persons not keen on buying a package, the company also has a pay-per-use rate of $2.05 per megabyte of data.
The international phone plan from Sprint is called Sprint Global Roaming, and all Sprint users with LTE/GSM capable smartphones have access to it within their regular plans. Customers get text and data included (up to 2G speeds) and calls for $0.25 cents per minute in more than 200 destinations worldwide.
Other options
if none of these plans seem like a good fit, you can always buy an unlocked phone and get a local SIM card with a prepaid plan in the country you’re visiting. Alternatively, you can do what I do and just put your phone in airplane mode then hop onto Wi-Fi and call through the internet using WhatsApp. Facetime audio and Skype work well with as free as possible strategy too.
Do you know of any other plans that help you stay connected abroad? If so, please drop the details below.
Attention all overly needy travelers! Consider this the inflight guide you never knew you needed.
Do you remember the 2014 Korean Air ‘nut rage’ incident that caused international indignation and had us all shaking our heads? It involved over-the-top irrational behavior by the daughter of the airline’s CEO who threw a hissy fit because she was served macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a porcelain bowl.Geez. Even now, all these years later, I still can’t believe something that minor really caused someone to unravel that badly.
But apparently, when people exist in an alternate universe that revolves around an orbit of entitlement, it can. Obnoxious travelers come in all shapes and sizes, and like Ebenezer Scrooge, they tend to show up and show out during the yuletide season.
So, I asked some former flight attendants how we can make the cabin crews’ lives a little easier, especially during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Because let’s be honest, these cringe-worthy meltdowns happen inflight far more frequently than we care to acknowledge.
This is their candid advice on how not to drive the cabin crew (or your fellow passengers) nuts this holiday season.
1. Check your bags, not your brains, at the counter.
Gently translated, that means read the signs and listen to instructions. It’s not rocket science. They’re giving life-saving advice that might just come in handy. So they’re asking us to stop zoning out during their announcements; as in, texting or talking or going to sleep before take-off. Also, if a sign says, “no bags” here, heed it. It is there for good reason. Like leaving the area in front of the emergency exit clear, okay?
And hunnies, try not to squabble over the overhead bins. The seat number is put on the bin to make it easy for us to read and identify our seats quickly. It doesn’t give our bags an iron-clad reservation for that space. Promptly put your bag in any available compartment and for the love of everyone’s sanity, kindly keep things moving.
2. If the airline says one carry-on only, it means ONE carry-on. (Especially during peak travel season)
Crew members want us to remember that other passengers have luggage too, and all travelers want their bags to get to their destination. That’s why we need to quit acting like our packages, and our carry-on items, are the only ones that matter. Airplanes have a weight limit that makes it impractical for everyone to take everything onboard. Can we just ask you to do us all a favor and send the oversize gifts via sled with Santa, or ship them through Amazon or UPS direct?
3. There’s a call button, and a light button. Figure out the difference…quickly.
It’s not like flight attendants don’t have enough to do on a flight. Believe me, they do. That is why they have asked me to remind you they don’t need to waste valuable time coming to your assistance if you really don’t need it. Another passenger may have a legitimate request, so please don’t push the emergency call button when all you want is some company or the reading light. There are many other ways to overcome boredom on a flight. Thank you.
4. As much as it would be a great add-on, your ticket doesn’t come with daycare services included.
Note: Lovely, hands-on and attentive parents, this one isn’t directed at you.
.I am sure you will agree nothing is worse than sitting near to bored children whose parents appear oblivious to their fidgeting, or screaming, or seat-kicking antics. Kids can’t help their short attention spans, so Moms and Dads please take toys, gadgets, snacks, magazines or books to keep your bundles of joy engaged during flights. When you ignore them acting out, other travelers look to the flight crew for solutions. But here’s the key thing we’re all missing: babysitting duties are not in their employment contracts. Yes, there’s not even a hint of it in the fine-print, too.
5. If you have a weak bladder, they understand and sympathize, but ask that you plan your bathroom breaks carefully.
How many times have you seen a passenger get up to go to the bathroom and end up in a mini standoff with a flight attendant pushing a trolley? If that person has been you, they recommend that you schedule a bathroom break before you board, another one before or after the in-flight service, and a final one 20 minutes before landing.
The latter goes for those of you with cute kiddos as well. Take them even if they say they don’t need to go, just to be sure. When the pilot turns on the Fasten Your Seatbelt sign he is not just doing that for his health. No movement means just that – no movement. It is a safety hazard. Failure to comply with the rules endangers you and others.
6. Get to the airport early and be prepared for delays. Like duh… it’s the holidays!
As frustrating as long lines and delays can be, that gives us no excuse to be rude to the crew. Poor weather conditions and/or mechanical faults are outside of their control. Being obnoxious about your discomfort or the inconvenience reflects poorly on you, not them.
Remember, we live in an era where there is zero tolerance for non-compliance with the cabin crew. Disruptive behavior on a flight can land you in jail. For our Monopoly lovin’ friends, that means straight to jail. You don’t get to Pass Go and Collect $200.
7. Give them a few minutes to themselves after they’ve completed the service.
Final words of wisdom. Going into the cramped galley area right after service is completed and the curtains are drawn, is a big no-no. That is the time when the flight attendants get to rest for a bit and consume their meagre crew meal. Don’t forget that their shifts are long and they have to eat too.
Besides, barging in at that time will interrupt a revered cabin crew tradition. In those precious moments of downtime they get to gripe about which passengers are being naughty or nice, and trade stories on hilarious incidents. Like one flight where, amidst all the drama, a 63-year-old woman had to be stripped down because she could not breathe properly. The reason? Her spanx was too tight.
Rant officially over.
Now exit through the front or back exit doors and go have a happy holiday.
Did you know that both Missouri and Kansas have a metropolitan
area called Kansas City? Well, I didn’t realize
that until three years ago. Before then,
the Wizard of Oz was my only visual reference of Kansas, so when I looked
around on my drive from the airport, I expected to see flat plains, large rolls
of hay and an austere, dull landscape – maybe even a random pair of red shoes
and a scarecrow. But nah, it wasn’t even close.
Known for its popular barbecue joints, chic rehabbed districts, growing number of microbreweries, World War 1 Museum, and contributions to the evolution of jazz, Kansas City, Missouri, is trendier and filled with more outlets for arts and culture than you’d think. In fact, in 2012 it was named one of America’s top cities for hipsters by Travel + Leisure.
Venues for art and culture
Art Alley
If you’re into the budding street art scene, head over to 17th and 18th Streets near Locust and Cherry to see wall murals that are big, colorful and bold. Freelance artist Jason Harrington is credited with starting the movement to spruce up the buildings in the area, but paintings are done by people from all over the city. The art changes regularly, so each trip there is likely to unveil new murals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkuflvFA0xB/
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Named in honor of a founder and editor of the Kansas City Evening Star, William Rockhill Nelson, and Mary McAfee Atkins, the Nelson-Atkins Museum houses close to 40,000 works of art from all over the world. In addition, outside there is also a sculpture garden that showcases an amazing collection of 35+ pieces by many of the 20th century’s finest artists. Installations include monumental bronze works by Henry Moore and the Instaworthy shuttlecocks by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Admission is free, but you pay for parking.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkscqxWgITI/
American Jazz Museum
Are there any jazz lovers here? After a day of browsing what I considered to be one of the coolest places in Kansas City, I discovered that the 18th and Vine District – not just New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago – was also the base for many pioneering jazz greats who performed at nightclubs that fueled a creative and vibrant music scene in the 30s and 40s. Yes, maestros like Charlie Parker, Big Joe Turner, Jay McShann, Count Basie, and a ton of other jazz icons added their flava to the town’s musical history in a time when separatism was still the order of the day.
If possible, plan your visit late in the day on a Friday afternoon and stay for the Indigo Hour at the onsite jazz club, Blue Room. It features soul-stirring music from local R&B and Neo-Soul musicians from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm, with no cover charge.
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Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
For a foray into the performing arts, check their calendar of events and schedule a visit to the impressive Kauffman Center. It’s both a cultural and architectural icon in the city, and it attracts a wide variety of entertainers and performances from around the world. Shows range from ballet and contemporary dance, to Broadway plays, music concerts, opera, comedy shows, and more.
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Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
The Kemper Museum features modern and contemporary works by artists who are well-established, mid-way in their journey, and newbies on the up and up. Staying true to its mission of enriching lives through the display of art in a free and welcoming environment, it also offers access to special exhibitions, installations, workshops and lectures. If you get hungry while browsing the venue, no need to worry. Just saunter into their elegant snack bar, Café Sebastienne, where art, culture and cuisine combine to provide you with a multisensory experience.
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And that’s my list! All my favortite places to find art and culture in Kansas City, Missouri, at your fingertips.
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Two months ago, I’d never heard of sand-free towels, let alone know such a product did, in fact, exist. But after getting one and trying it out, I’m all shook up. (Read that in Elvis’ singing voice. Mm mm mm, mm, yay, yay, yay.)
Because, yeah. While I love frolicking with waves that hit my feet and using the sand for my seat, I don’t like leaving the beach covered with a million grainy particles clinging to my ‘eRRything‘. Nor I am a fan of involuntarily carting sand into my car and apartment, which leaves a mess that’s a ton of work to clean up. After a fun beach day, who has time for that?
Nobody.
Exactly! That’s why I find the trendy, sand-free towels from Tesalate so disruptive and revolutionary. They’re made from a groundbreaking fabric called AbsorbLite™ that, unlike regular beach towels, doesn’t have looped microfibers that trap sand. After sitting on the towel or drying off with it, all it takes is a few good shakes to get it joyously grain free.
But don’t go anywhere yet. I’m spilling all the tea. Here are some other reasons why I’m a goner for these crazy-sexy-cool, sand-free towels:
They’re not just functional, they’re pretty, too
If you’ve been scrolling through your Instagram feed lately (as most of us do), you’ll have noticed it’s been declared a hot girl summer. And as any hot girl knows (present company included or excluded…HA HA), a slaying combination of the right beach tote, cover up, hat, shades, swimsuit and towel can have you serving up some fierceLEWKS.
With close to forty bold, colorful prints to choose from, Tesalate has got you covered all day, any day – literally and figurately.
They are lightweight and compact
If space in your beach bag or suitcase is a premium, these towels are perfect because they’re thinner and lighter than conventional terry cloth towels. Plus, they feel cooler on your skin in warm climates, and they fold down and fit into a neat, sleek-looking pouch that makes it easy to carry around.
They are super absorbent and dry quickly
Tesalate’s avant-garde textile technology also prevents its towels from collapsing into a wet, soggy mess at the end of your beach day because it absorbs water quickly. It can comfortably soak up to 33 ounces or 1 liter of good ole H20. So, splash around like crazy and then grab the towel and shoot your best shot. You’ll find you can blot your body dry gently, instead of being forced to do a vigorous wipe down.
Another cool feature is the small loop I noticed sewn into the corner of my towel. It comes in handy if you ever want to hang it up on a tree or shrub to dry in the breeze.
They tend not to get the dreaded mildew smell
Maybe it’s due to the thinness of the fabric, but Tesalate towels
don’t seem to get that musty, mildew smell as quickly as you would get with thicker
brands. If you’re on the road for a long
period of time or can’t get to do laundry right away, that’s a highly valued thing.
They’re versatile
Finally, can I just tell you all that this towel (or snazzy cover up) goodness isn’t confined to the beach? You can use it for yoga, at the pool, to set the scene for a garden picnic, and even as a makeshift blanket on the plane or in your hotel room. The standard size is 60cm x 80cm / 63 x 31 inches, but they also have a larger Towel for Two option (160cm x 160cm / 63 x 63 inches) which makes it easy to get cozy.
Hello, what are you waiting on? Head on over to their site now and check those towels out, grab a drink from a cool beach bar, and then be sure to meet me at the shore.
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Note: This post was written as part of a brand collaboration with Tesalate, but all views are my own.
Just as the flight attendant made the final “please remain
seated with your seat belt fastened until the captain turns off the Fasten Seat
Belt sign” announcement and silence had returned to the cabin, the vile,
can’t-take-them-anywhere gases that had been waging a full-blown war inside of
me for the last fifteen minutes erupted with the staccato sound of
military-grade machine gunfire.
“Oh, noooo!This cannot be happening.” My mind screamed in utter mortification and panic.
I – even more so than my surprised seatmate and the cute
toddler sitting in the aisle across from us who abruptly stopped playing with
his metallic Crayola coloring pad and markers to turn and stare – wanted to
immediately duck and take cover. But sadly, there were zero places to hide. So,
I did what any sane person would do in that moment. I clutched my stomach and
started writhing and groaning as if my entire abdominal section was being ripped
apart with a chain saw. Because, embarrassed as I was, I decided then and there that even if I had to
mosey into The Maldives on a stretcher, there was no way I was standing up and
walking off that plane if I had to look anyone in the eye.
Okay, real talk. I’ve never been to the Maldives so that scenario didn’t really happen, though others have been close. [Ha ha…gotchu!] But now that I have your attention, if you’ve ever found yourself having to unzip your pants, roll down your tights, or struggle not to annihilate your fellow passengers with foul-smelling gas on a flight, this post is for you. Take notes, because I’m about to share some valuable insider tips on how to minimize gas and bloating when you travel.
First…what causes excessive gas and bloating?
According to several medical sites, having gas in your system is a normal part of the digestive process. However, excessive gas can be caused by different reasons. Consuming food and drinks that tend to induce bloating or gassy reactions is the most common, while water retention, sudden changes in your diet, inactivity, inadvertently swallowing air, having anxiety or stress, and getting older are others.
How to avoid gas and bloating
Don’t overeat. Sometimes simply eating too much and
too fast can cause bloating. You can avoid going through the discomfort of that
by chewing more slowly and stopping yourself before you feel full.
Avoid foods that are gas producing. Everyone has a different reaction to the various food groups, and most people already have a good idea of which ones cause them to experience gas or bloating. But just in case you don’t, the common culprits are soy goods, processed carbs (like bread, pasta, biscuits, rice and wheat products), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, collard greens, bok choy, arugula, watercress and radishes), and dairy products (especially if you are lactose intolerant like I am). Lentils and beans are also powerful sources of gas ‘ammunition’ and in addition to milk, they are my personal brand of kryptonite.
Skip soda. When the flight attendant comes down the
aisle with the food trolley, skip the soda and any other carbonated beverages
like champagne, sparkling water, seltzer and beer, please. The bubbles in them
are filled with gas and when you drink those liquids, guess what fills up your
digestive track? Belching helps get rid of some of it, but once the gas lands
inside your intestines, it stays there until it gets out …some other way.
Pack healthy snacks. Portable plant foods that are high in soluble fiber make good snacks because they keep you feeling full and also help you stay hydrated because their water quotient is high. Think strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber and oranges, and the like. You can pair them with hummus or guacamole dips and nuts like sunflower seeds or hazelnuts. Pistachios are some of my faves! Click on the image below to see my go-to brand.
Leave the sugar-free gum and candy at home. Too much sugar can cause you to retain more water
and feel bloated, so to minimize gas and bloating, leave them at home.
Don’t use straws. When we drink with a draw, we also are inadvertently ingesting extra air into our stomachs. With no where to go, that additional gas can cause trouble, so before you board your flight with that cup of juice, leave the straws in trash bins at the gate.
Keep moving. Walking through the aisle periodically can aid with digestion as food moves through our digestive tract in rhythmic contractions and moving about helps that process along by keeping the intestines working more efficiently. An added benefit is that it also reduces the possibility of fluid retention and blood clots from deep vein thrombosis.
Stash anti-inflammatory teas in your bag. Growing up in Jamaica, our home remedies included mint and ginger for almost any ailment. In this instance, they’re useful too. If you’re not a fan of either, other teas like turmeric, green tea and chai also have pain relief properties that can help in these types of situations.
Take probiotic tablets. Probiotics are live microorganisms that you get through fermented foods or supplements. They help balance your “good” and “bad” bacteria to keep your digestive system working the way it should. Note: Always check with your doctor before taking any medication.
And those are my tips! Do you know any other tried and true methods to minimize gas and bloating when you fly? If so, drop them in the comments below.
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The Amazon links included in this post are affiliated, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase them. Err…did I say small? Well, I actually meant TINY. lol.
