When taking a trip for pleasure, there’s nothing a traveler likes less than being sidetracked or distracted from their long-awaited and well-deserved vacation by a small nuisance that threatens to swallow a day or more’s relaxation. Here are some frequently encountered travel nuisances, along with some tips on how to avoid them.
Gastric Distress: Let’s get the ugly one out of the way, first. Traveler’s diarrhea can be caused by any number of factors when consuming anything in an unfamiliar local, even if it’s completely uncontaminated, the food simply may not be what your body is acclimated to. While you may not be able to completely forestall an occurrence of this common travelers affliction, you can reduce your chances of developing it, drastically. Taking two tablets of chewable bismuth a day during a trip with unfamiliar food can reduce occurrences by 60%, which combined with eschewing non-bottled water and use of hand sanitizer should get you through your trip discomfort-free.
Blisters: Easily prevented, but not-so-easily dealt with, blisters most frequently occur when bringing new, un-broken-in shoes on a trip for the first time. Don’t make this rookie mistake. If you do find yourself with blisters, a trip to the drugstore for some adhesive moleskin and blister bandages can allay your symptoms to not destroy your trip, but better to prevent before-hand.
Sunburn: For god’s sake, sunscreen. You should be wearing it every day, anyway, unless your name is Batman or Dracula. If there’s going to be sun on your trip, there should be sunscreen, applied frequently.
Eyestrain: Frequently overlooked by people traveling away from their dank offices for the first time in months, the sun can also be a source of great eye discomfort. If you normally spend one or two hours a day outside, and are suddenly backpacking through Manchu Picchu, the sun is going to give you eyestrain-caused headaches and fatigue. Fortunately, people can usually be convinced to pick up a sexy pair of spy sunglasses for a sunny vacation. Don’t skimp on the UV protection (or the sexiness).
Lost items: Don’t carry anything you don’t need, and you don’t need to worry about losing it. Leave E-readers, expensive cameras, and tablets in the hotel safe (or at home). Make do with a paperback. You look at screens enough in your life!
No one can guarantee a nuisance-free vacation, but a little forethought goes a long way in increasing the odds in your favor. Happy traveling!