Hot Travel Tips to Beat the Heat
The summer travel season is heating up, and so are the temperatures. While many people take vacations this time of year, this is also a painfully hot season to be outside in certain locales. Here are quick tips for traveling in hot climates.
It’s Cool to Plan Ahead: Start by researching and planning ahead of time for your destination’s weather. Many travel sites, weather forecasting sites, and chambers of commerce offer year-round average temperatures and forecasts for locations around the world. Granted, you can’t predict the weather months or years in advance, but you can get an idea of what to expect. For example, Florida’s summer tourists need to prepare for high heat, humidity, and afternoon rain showers. Once your trip gets closer, check actual weather forecasts and radar websites that now offer quite accurate forecasts weeks in advance. Use this information to pack accordingly and schedule daily plans for your trip, avoiding strenuous activities outdoors during peak temperatures on the highest heat days.
Don’t Go Packing Heat: When headed to a hot climate, you’ll want to pack the coolest clothes and accessories possible. By cool, we mean lightweight fabrics, shorts, dresses, and loose-fitting items that can handle any increased perspiration during humid weather. Quick-drying fabrics like cotton, linen, and moisture-wicking blends are the key to success. Avoid silk, leather, wool, nylon, and other fabrics that can retain heat and moisture. Likewise, avoid dark-colored clothing items that are notorious for absorbing heat. Of course, there is typically sunshine wherever there is heat, which means you’ll want to add sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water to your packing list.
Plan Vacation Transportation: A smart traveler sets a full-scale transportation plan in place before hitting the road or boarding a plane. It doesn’t matter whether you reserve a rental car, learn the trolley schedule, or plan to use Uber when traveling — what matters is that you never find yourself stuck outside for long periods of time in unbearable heat. Walking or exerting yourself in high temperatures can lead to dangerous sun exposure or heat exhaustion in some cases. Weakness, muscle cramping, nausea, and clammy skin are early signs telling you to immediately move to a cooler location to rest and apply cool compresses. A heat-related illness can also lead to serious symptoms like vomiting, heart palpitations, and heat stroke requiring urgent medical attention.
Splurge on Hydration: There are times to be frugal, but never be too cheap to hydrate. Yes, vendors will charge tourists outrageous prices for sports drinks and bottled water, but you must consider this a necessity when traveling in hot climates. Your body could already be exhausted from the changes to your routine, air travel, exercise, and weather conditions. The last thing you need is to become dehydrated. Experts suggest drinking at least 8 oz. of water every hour in hot environments. Smart packers bring water bottles or a water filter to ensure there is easy access to clean water. When necessary, splurge on overpriced water bottles, which we promise is much less expensive than an ER visit for dehydration or heatstroke. In addition to water, we recommend traveling with healthy snacks like fruits, veggies, and nutrition bars. Fast food and junk foods are tempting on trips, but they won’t do much in helping your body battle the heat. With the right planning, you can enjoy a pleasant experience in any climate around the globe.
Tell us on Twitter or Facebook how you beat the heat during travel. Eat well, live long, and travel far!
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