My tours to Italy, Spain, and Greece are always in the European summer, so in preparation for my upcoming tours to Italy, here are my top summer travel tips for you.
I love flying and I fly all the time for my food and wine tours. Living in Australia means that the flights to Europe are long, at least 24 hours, and as a tour host, I need to arrive at my destination refreshed and ready to greet my very important guests with warmth and enthusiasm.
Getting the Best from Travel: How the World Sleeps
Traveling may be rewarding, but it comes at a cost. Aside from the money you need to spend, you also incur sleep debt while on the road. In fact, Smarter Travel revealed that taking long-haul flights can make you lose several hours worth of sleep due to jet lag.
This is not even counting the sleep debt you incur when you reach your destination. Aside from the hours that you will spend out and about exploring your surroundings, crossing time zones can also take a toll on your body. WebMD estimates that one day is needed per time zone you cross in order for you to adjust to the new schedule. This means the hours of sleep you can potentially lose will pile up with each passing day, and therefore your body may not be able to adjust fully before you head back home. Upon arrival, your system will once again need to recover from the change in time zones (deep breath).
Unfortunately, not getting enough rest during your holiday can take a toll on your body and your mind, making you more lethargic and susceptible to a variety of illnesses. However, the National Sleep Foundation reckons that it is possible to catch up on sleep. It cited a study by Harvard Medical School that proves that there is no way to take back lost sleep no matter how many hours you rest afterwards. Although, what you can do, is to minimize the impact of what The Blonde Abroad describes as the feeling of having your body in one country but your mind in another. In homage to your love of travel, here are some tips from different parts of the world on how to recover from lost sleep.
How the World Sleeps
Leesa reveals that Germans believe that fresh air is the key to restful sleep. In fact, they even leave their blankets hanging outside their homes during the day, believing that the sheets will be able to absorb the rejuvenating powers of the fresh air so they can sleep better at night.
The British supposedly have a habit of sleeping naked. Studies have shown that low temperatures can help people get better sleep. Not wearing clothes means you can stay cooler, which can make it easier for you to nod off more quickly.
Alternatively, you can take notice of the Spanish as they are renowned for their afternoon naps. Time states that this tradition originated from farmers, who spent afternoons resting after busy mornings. Due to the body’s circadian rhythm naturally fluctuating during mid-afternoon, taking a nap then can also help you re-energize.
Of course, a good night’s rest is not the only thing you will need during your holiday. Eating well is equally important. Check out our ‘Five Healthy Travelling Tips’ article to find out how you can maintain healthy eating habits even while on holiday.
Image credit: Flickr
serves 2
Preparation Time 10 minutes
Cooking time 15 minutes
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ brown onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
Sprig of rosemary or a good pinch of dried
250g beef sausages coarsely chopped ( choose lean sausages)
2 cups of chicken stock
400g tin of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 x 400g tin of diced tomatoes with herbs
150g baby spinach leaves
Heat the oil in a heavy based saucepan and sweat off the onion, rosemary and garlic until softened. Add in the chopped sausages and cook for a further 4 minutes until the sausages start to brown. Pour in the chicken stock, cannellini beans and the diced tomatoes and stir. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add in the baby spinach just before serving.
This season it doesn’t matter if you are going abroad or just cruising around our beautiful country, there is no excuse to let your health slide. Here are some useful travelling tips to stay in top condition and return home feeling revived and full of vitality.
1) Be well prepared so you can go with the flow.
If you are flying, always drink lots of water, take a small atomiser filled with water to refresh your face during flights. Snack on nuts, almonds, seeds and some small amounts of dried fruits. Eating fresh fruit will fill you up and have you less likely reaching for the chips, breads and salty snacks on the plane tray.
If you are travelling in a car or van cut up fresh fruit and drizzle with lemon juice to ensure no browning occurs. Take some whole meal crackers, cut up carrots, celery and or cucumber and a container of hummus or dip. Baked corn chips and healthier snacks like boiled eggs, snow peas or even your own frozen yoghurt will all stay fresh and chilled stored in an esky. Make yourself a container of fantastic salad, bring along shredded roast chicken or make some wraps. If you start strong – then the temptation to snack at the road side service stations is eliminated and you will save money meaning more to spend at your vacation destinations.
2) Don’t be a Spoil Sport….being healthy is not about missing out!
Make sure you take along some of those exciting treats that you love to eat at Christmas to have along the way. Try my gorgeous Chocolate Balls that have no sugar in them – they don’t need refrigeration and with their delicious chocolaty flavour you won’t believe they are good for you.
3) Make sure you have a healthy breakfast or brunch that will sustain you for hours.
If you are travelling by plane, after a meal get up and walk around to help with digestion and get the blood flowing. Remember we generally only eat 4-6 small meals a day so don’t fall into the trap of eating every time the trolly comes around. Ask for fruit and extra bottles of water, and if you feel like a drink, have one but follow it with water. My favourite plane drink is a Virgin Mary – spicy tomato juice, pepper, lots of ice and lemon, I have this when I think I may be hungry as it makes for a reasonably healthy in between snack.
If you are doing an adventure for the day, grab a tub of yogurt, a healthy muesli bar or a pre-made healthy muffin to get you going until lunch, we all know that the fresh sea air makes us hungry.
4) Be restaurant and menu savvy.
If you have to eat out, don’t dive straight into the fast food trap. Try to always choose a healthier option – burgers are fine as long as they are loaded with salad, and ask for what you want, say no butter, whole meal bread for a sandwich, grilled fish, dressing on the side – you’ll feel better for it and your body will thank you too. Did you know that you can eat up to 18 x fresh oysters or grilled prawns instead of just 3 x fried calarmari – and you won’t be denying yourself and again feeling proud of yourself for making the better choices.
