Does your stomach get queasy just at the thought of being at sea? Don’t worry; you don’t need to restrict yourself to land adventures. Read on to learn a number of strategies for tackling seasickness, ranging from home remedies to medications to other stomach-easing activities.

Preventing Seasickness

1. Move to a stable part of the ship. If the cruise ship is experiencing rough seas and you find yourself unsteady on your feet, avoid unnecessary walking and sit and relax in one of the lounges on a lower deck in the middle of the ship. This is the most stable part of the ship in a roll (see my post about the best spot on a cruise ship for seasickness sufferers for more on this). Don’t worry, restrooms will be a short sprint away and the captain will soon steer the ship to calmer waters.

2. Focus your eyes on the right targets. The rocking motion of the ship can throw off your natural balance and visual orientation. Don’t focus on near objects; instead look out at the horizon, across the room or at the end of the hallway to steady your center of gravity. Don’t look at the rolling waves and stay away from the sloshing water in the pool. Reading sometimes exacerbates symptoms as your eyes have to make more frequent adjustments to track horizontally across the page. Sitting on deck in the fresh air is a good idea but don’t try and read. Look out beyond the waves to the horizon.

3. Keep your mind busy and distract yourself. When my son was small he used to get a little queasy on his grandfather’s boat until he was allowed to take the wheel and help steer the boat. The cruise ship captain will not be as accommodating but you could listen to music, watch a movie, do your laundry or better yet, converse with fellow passengers in the lounge or get a spa treatment. The cruise staff will have plenty of activities that you can take part in including games and lectures.

4. Eat with caution. This is not the time to try out the delicacies on the buffet. Eat lightly and choose bland foods. Avoid any food that might upset your stomach including heavy, greasy or spicy foods.

5. Drink liquids to stay hydrated. Sipping peppermint tea can help reduce the stomach tightening associated with nausea. Sport drinks can help replace lost electrolytes. Water, apple juice, decaffeinated tea and flat ginger ale are good choices also. Avoid carbonated drinks as they can contribute to intestinal gas. Clear liquids are best as they are absorbed and pass through the system with ease and don’t leave residue behind in the digestive system the way cloudy liquids can. Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.

Remedies For Motion Sickness

6. Natural remedies such as green apples and ginger tablets work well for some passengers. Green apples will be available at the buffet and ginger tablets in the boutique. Chewing on a piece of ginger root can help. Local markets in port are good places to look for it.

7. Avoid taking antihistamines such as Dramamine or Bonine which can make you drowsy and cause you to sleep away your vacation time. If you must take them, look for non-drowsy formulas.

8. Some passengers report relief through the use of wristbands that exert a type of acupressure on points on the wrist.

9. The medical staff in the onboard clinic will have remedies such as tiny patches that are worn behind the ear along with pills and even shots that can be helpful in minimizing nausea.

10. If you feel hungry and have stopped vomiting for several hours, chose foods that are bland and gentle on the digestive system. Foods that help replace lost nutrients due to vomiting or diarrhea episodes such as bananas, clear soup, oatmeal made with water, saltine crackers and dry cereal are good choices. Chances are they will help provide you with needed nourishment but minimize the risk of coming back up.

11. In all cases, it is best to consult your doctor before sailing if you suspect you may get seasick to prevent conflicts with your other medications or conditions.

As you can see, there are many ways to prevent and minimize seasickness, so don’t let it prevent you from cruising nor ruin your sea days!

Have you even been seasick on a ship? Which remedies have you found to be effective?

Sometimes I have only a day – or even just a few hours – to see a city. Whether I’m passing through town during an overland journey or I have a flight that is transiting in the city, figuring out what to see during that short period can be tough. I mean, when you have a 300-page guidebook dedicated to that one city alone, how do you sort through it to figure out what you can squeeze into your five-hour window?

Obviously, you can’t do everything a city has to offer during a short transit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t hit some of the highlights and get a taste of what the city has to offer. Here are a few ways you can squeeze in some sightseeing and make the most out of your layover.

1. Take the airport tour

A number of major airports around the world offer city tours to travelers who have a transit of at least a couple of hours. Usually, you’re loaded onto a bus which takes you to some of the major tourist attractions in the city where you can hop off and be led by a guide. While that might sound kind of sterile, it’s not necessarily the case – I’ve had the chance to eat street food and go on a boat road during one of the (free) airport tours in Singapore.

A big advantage of tours like is that you can often go on them without having to pass through immigration and customs (there’s usually some paperwork involved but nothing too onerous). You also don’t have to waste precious time trying to figure out where to go and how to get there. Some tours charge a small fee while others are completely free to join. A few cities that offer airport transit tours include Istanbul, Frankfurt, Panama, Seoul, and Singapore.

2. Leave your luggage behind

If you’ve only got a few hours to kill between flights, don’t bother trying to haul any bags with you into town. Most airports have a secure baggage storage facility or lockers of some sort, so ditch the luggage and travel as lightly as possible.

3. Figure out the fastest way into town

You want to spend your transit time sightseeing, not traveling, so it pays to work out the best method of getting downtown. But remember that taxis are not always the quickest option – some cities have excellent public transport connections to the airport so taking the subway might actually be faster than a cab that has to sit in traffic. It all depends on the destination, so read up in advance.

4. Enjoy cocktails with a view

I really think there’s something about finding a great vantage point gives you a sense of having “seen” a city, even if it’s only from afar. If you’re going to do this one, I suggest skipping the overpriced and crowded observation decks and heading to a bar located at the top of a skyscraper. That way you can do double duty and sip a cocktail while taking in fabulous views of the city.

5. Eat street food

A visit to a city isn’t complete if you don’t sample at least some of the local food, but when you’re pressed for time, the last thing you want to do is waste it waiting for table service. Instead, pick up some hot and ready street food and get a real taste of the local cuisine. If you want to learn more about how to spot a good meal, check out this guide to finding great food when traveling.

6. Take a museum tour

Lots of museums and art galleries offer guided tours that last from 30 minutes to an hour. Instead of wandering around the museum and missing the big stuff because you don’t know what to look out for, you’ll be able to see the highlights, learn something about them, and get out of the museum faster. As far as I’m concerned, it’s much better to see a couple of great things thoroughly than blindly breeze through tons of exhibits.

7. Do a double-decker bus tour

This is one of those tours where you sit on a brightly-painted open-air bus, pop on some headphones and listen to commentary as you pass historic sites. If you only have a short transit, they are a good way to quickly get a sense of a city. However, if you have more time, I’d recommend a walking tour (see the next tip) since you are given a bit more time to see each attraction and are often able to go into buildings.

8. Do a walking tour of the city

Most cities offer walking tours, often run by enthusiastic locals and history lovers who work on a donation-only basis. These kinds of tours are perfect for travelers who want to hit up a number of sights in a short space of time and learn something in the process. I’ve done these tours even when I’m not on a short layover just because I find the commentary so insightful and end up visiting buildings or places I wouldn’t have otherwise thought to.

9. See something that’s unmissable for you

Don’t just see the things that a guidebook or your friends tell you are the must-sees – do whatever it is that floats your boat. If you’re an art lover, go see that amazing gallery, and if you’re a foodie, go eat that meal you can’t have anywhere else. If you’ve only got a short time to sight-see, do at least one amazing thing that will make the transit worth writing home about.

Have you had any incredible layovers? What’s your favorite thing to do on a super short trip?

[Photo credit: zoetnet, Flickr]

Where you situate yourself on a cruise ship can make a big difference in your comfort. You could rock & roll on deck 15 at the bow in the roaring 40s or enjoy a relatively calm ride in the middle of the ship. Not sure what any of that means? Read on to learn all about the best locations on a cruise ship for seasickness sufferers, as well as tips on choosing an itinerary that will lower your chances of motion sickness.

If this is your first time on a cruise and you want to test your sea legs, choose a short cruise (up to 7 days). Avoid an ocean crossing where you will be at sea for several days or rounding the south end of New Zealand or South America where you may encounter the roaring 40s. These are strong westerly winds between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees in the southern hemisphere. I suggest choosing an itinerary that hugs a coastline such as around New England and Canada in the fall or Alaska’s Inside Passage in the summer months. If you want warm and exotic, then cruise around islands such as the Hawaiian or the Caribbean Islands.

If you fear seasickness and want to cross the Atlantic or Pacific oceans, then an ocean liner may put your mind and your stomach at ease. Ocean liners such as the Queen Mary 2 are built for luxury transportation and ocean crossings. They have high freeboard (distance from the waterline to the upper deck level), resulting in open air decks high off than water. They are engineered for extra strength and stability for smooth ocean crossings. They have stronger plating and a larger capacity to store fuel and consumables in order to withstand rough seas and long ocean crossings than most cruise ships. An ocean liner is a good bet for a smooth transoceanic crossing.

The lines are blurring between cruise ships and ocean liners, as cruise ships now take on both short and long trips, often navigating oceans and crisscrossing seas. Large cruise ships can be more stable than small ships but both make ocean crossings regularly. Stabilizers are built into all ships large and small to help counteract rolling seas. Captains adjust speed and routes to maximize safety and ensure a smooth ride along the way. I have crossed the oceans and the equator, and experienced the lower roaring 40’s multiple times in large and small cruise ships. I’ve made these journeys in fair and foul weather conditions and never had good reason to fear for my safety. Both types of ships can provide all the fun and luxury you want without compromising your comfort and safety.

What is probably more important than the type or size of ship is where you situate yourself on a ship. Look at deck layouts when choosing your stateroom to maximize your chances of a smooth ride. This is easily done by visiting the cruise line’s website and viewing the diagrams showing the location of available staterooms on the ship you will be sailing on. The center of the ship will be the most stable location in rough sea conditions. Choose a stateroom that is on a lower deck in the middle of the ship. Also, the stern (back of the ship) tends to be more stable than the bow (front of the ship). Don’t go for the stateroom on the uppermost deck at the bow if you fear rocking and rolling at sea.

I suggest letting an interesting itinerary drive your choice of ship, then pick the best possible location on the ship for your stateroom in order to stack the deck in your favor. Then sit back, enjoy, and distract yourself. Don’t let the threat of motion sickness inhibit your travel plans and keep you from a sea adventure.

The front of the ship or bow on a top deck is the least stable part of the ship in rough weather.

The back of the ship or stern is more stable than the bow in rough weather.

Were you ever on a ship in rough weather? What is your favorite spot on a cruise ship?

[Photo credits: Dark Dwarf, garybembridge, JamesZ_Flickr]

If there’s one thing that can zap the fun out of a vacation or drain the productivity from a business trip, it’s jet lag. Feeling hungry in the middle of the night, dosing off during the day, and struggling to sleep after dark are just some of the debilitating symptoms associated with hopping on a plane and crossing time zones.

Thankfully, scientists have made great strides in understanding exactly what causes jet lag, which means they can tell us how to overcome it as well.

In this fascinating TED talk, Professor Russell Foster from the University of Oxford talks about the science behind jet lag.

According to Foster, we all have a number of different body rhythms – things like alertness, digestion, muscle strength, and hormones. When we’re jet lagged, these body rhythms get thrown out of whack, hence that feeling of hunger in the middle of the night and our tendency to fall asleep while sightseeing during the day.

As it turns out, we can adjust our body rhythms to the local time using something we have readily available – our eyes. Foster says our eyes play an important role in regulating our body clocks because they have a special ability to detect brightness. So even if you’re blind or visually impaired, your eyes tell your body when it’s day and when it’s night, consequently telling your body when to go to sleep.

The science of it is all pretty interesting, but if you want to cut to the chase and learn about how you can enhance your ability to get over jetlag, fast forward to about 9 minutes into the talk.

Foster says we need to expose ourselves to light to push our body clock forwards or backwards in order to adapt to local time. The exact time of day that we expose ourselves to light is important because it effects when our bodies feel sleepy.

Here’s the key takeaway:

When you travel west: seek out daytime light.

When you travel east: avoid morning light and seek out afternoon light.

Check out the full talk below.

P.S. Here are a few other ideas about how to combat jet lag.

[Photo credit: original image by MattHurst]

Are you concerned about catching norovirus or other illnesses aboard a cruise ship? Norovirus is almost as widespread as the common cold and has the potential to ruin a few precious travel days if you do not take precautions. I should know – I caught it aboard a cruise ship and was confined to my stateroom which was eventually sanitized by a hazmat team.

I have to admit that I don’t recall ever hearing about norovirus before I started cruising. Even now when it is mentioned in the media it is in the context of an outbreak on a cruise ship. Since stories in the media of norovirus epidemics on cruise ships can be worrisome, it is time to sort out the facts and see how cruise lines stack up on this issue and what they are doing to safeguard your health while you are a guest onboard.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness that affects the stomach and intestines and can result in diarrhea, stomach cramps and/or vomiting. It is transmitted from person to person by touching infected surfaces or objects and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or liquids, in the same way as most viruses. It is not serious and lasts only a day or two, however, this is not what you want to experience while on holiday.

Why does norovirus break out on cruise ships?

Cruise ships don’t have a monopoly on norovirus. Actually, most cases of this gastrointestinal illness occur on land. Nearly two-thirds of norovirus cases that occur in the US are in long-term health care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. Places where people gather and food is prepared such as in restaurants, summer camps and schools outbreaks also occur. Cruise ships fit this profile.

In fact, according to the US Centers for disease control (CDC)  and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) only .027% of cruise passengers (2,791) became in ill in 2012 as opposed to about 21 million norovirus cases typically reported across the US annually.

So, why do we primarily hear about norovirus in the context of cruise ships? Health officials are required to track and report illness on cruise ships. This is not required at hotels, resorts and restaurants. I suspect it is also because passengers pay for a vacation on cruise ships and expect to have lots of great food and a good time; it is where being sick is especially bad news.

What are cruise ships doing to prevent this illness and keep it from spreading?

Cruise lines take sanitation and contagious illness prevention very seriously. Cruise line passengers are required to check in for identification purposes when entering the cruise ship terminal and many cruise lines require the completion of a pre-boarding health questionnaire. The questionnaire attempts to identify and prevent sick passengers from bringing the virus onboard with them. If personnel observe obvious signs of illness or you answer yes to questions such as “have you had an elevated temperature, thrown up or had diarrhea in the last 72 hours”, you may be interviewed by ship medical personnel and not be allowed to check in and board the ship.

Ships are not required to offer refunds at this point, but you may be offered some options. In fact, ships have their behinds well covered for most eventualities. You may find skimming this sample ticket contract for Carnival ships interesting. However, cruise lines aim to please and want your repeat business so they tend to be as accommodating as possible while keeping the welfare and safety of all passengers in mind. If you are ill before your voyage, contact your doctor to see if it is safe for you to sail, then contact the cruise line to discuss your options.

Antibacterial hand cleansing stations are everywhere on cruise ships. As a matter of fact you may be greeted by a crew member eager to squirt antibacterial foam into your hands before you step onto the gangway to board the ship the first time and every time you return from a port adventure.  There are antibacterial stations before entering dining rooms, at the entrance to the buffet lines, near the stairwells and entrances and exits. Housekeeping staff are continuously wiping down handrails, doorknobs and elevator buttons.

Dining staff are constantly trained in food handling techniques to prevent the spread of diseases in the galley and dining areas. If there is a disease outbreak, you are likely to be served on buffet lines rather than helping yourself. Single serving condiments may also replace dispensers such as salt and pepper shakers.

Room stewards tidy up and clean your room twice a day. Unlike what you might experience in a hotel room, all surfaces are regularly sanitized on a cruise ship.

What should I do if there’s an outbreak?

I caught norovirus once during a four year period of nearly continuous cruising and haven’t experienced it since. However, it was enough to teach me some lessons.

If there is an outbreak aboard your ship the best thing you can do is wash your hands thoroughly and use antibacterial soap, wipes, gel or foam. This is especially important after using the toilet and before eating or smoking. Keep your hands away from your eyes and nose to avoid risk of infecting yourself through those avenues. Don’t share food, drink, or utensils with others.

What happens if I catch norovirus during the cruise?

I suggest calling the clinic and following the medical staff’s recommendations. You will be encouraged to drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration, to get extra rest to rebuild your immune system and possibly be provided with medication to minimize your symptoms. I always carry anti-diarrheal medication with me when traveling, just in case.

Ill passengers are voluntarily confined to their staterooms until symptoms have subsided in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading illness. This is important to keep in mind when seeking help from the onboard clinic. Even if you attempt to hide your illness, your room steward is likely to discover it. If you are sharing your stateroom, your roommate will need to be extra cautious.

I once experienced symptoms and visited the clinic where I was given medication and strongly encouraged not to cross the threshold to leave my stateroom until 24 hours after symptoms were gone. My room was quarantined and room service delivered food outside my door. When I was well, a pair of crew members in hazmat suits sanitized my room.

If you are a frequent cruiser, there is a decent chance that there will be an outbreak large or small, on a ship that you are on. But remember that less than 1% of cruise ship passengers catch norovirus and experience its symptoms. You don’t have to be one of them.

Have you ever been screened for illness before boarding an airplane or checking into a hotel? Have you ever fallen ill after taking a flight? Why do you think there is so much media coverage about norovirus on cruise ships?

This is a guest post by Kate Stendahl Meier.

On my travels I often struggle at markets and in shops because I tend to want to bring home “treasures” for myself and for friends and relatives. Maybe your girlfriend asked for French books for her son. Or your mom’s birthday is coming up and you want to get her something exotic. Or the ornaments at the Christmas Market in Brussels are just too good to pass up. Here are some tips for what to avoid, what to purchase and the best ways of getting it home.

1. What NOT to bring home

There is a near-infinite list of things you should not bring home from a journey. Anything violating the customs and border control regulations of your country is a good place to start. In most countries this includes illegal drugs, some antiquities, parts of endangered animals, counterfeits, large amounts of cash, explosives, weapons and more. It also may include fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and live creatures. Use common sense.

It’s tempting to bring a snack from the plane. Keep the chocolate, but either eat or toss the apple before you get to customs and border patrol. Often if food is dried, baked, canned or commercially processed you can more easily bring it across a border. If you aren’t sure, stick to things like tea, candy, jam, cookies and other packaged foods. That Costa Rican pineapple is delicious, but you don’t want to have to pay a fine and watch someone throw it away. Remember there are usually limits on how much alcohol you can bring through as well.

Agricultural and other customs regulations can be frustrating, but they exist for the safety of travelers and to prevent disease in humans, plants and animals. I once brought home an elk antler I found in a bog in Sweden, assuming it would be taken from me. The agriculture officers examined the antler, cleaned off the remaining bits of fur, handed it back to me and said thank you. The important lesson is to declare what you are bringing in to the country, even if you are unsure.  Much better that the customs officials learn about the purchase from you than a sniffer dog.

2. Research big purchases

Don’t make big purchases like diamonds in South Africa, rugs in Istanbul, or antique ceramics in Xian if you don’t know what you are looking at or if the seller is not a reputable dealer. It is easy for tourists to be duped, so don’t become a statistic. If you pay $10 for a vase because you like it, and find out later that it is not antique, you still have a vase that you find attractive. Imagine if you spent $1000. You wouldn’t buy something you hadn’t researched at home, so don’t do it abroad.

Another thing to consider is whether you want to be responsible for carrying around a valuable item for the rest of your voyage. The stress of worrying about the possibility of theft or breakage can affect your enjoyment. Shipping the item can help alleviate this problem, although there are documented cases of travelers’ purchases never arriving. Take the object to the post office or a reputable shipping company yourself, and be sure to get insurance.

3. Don’t buy just to buy

It can be really tempting to buy things when you are traveling. Remember that often your tour guide will get a kickback on purchases. Even if the glassblowing demonstration was amazing, or the blind artists did a great job making the laquerware, think about whether the piece will fit with your other possessions. If you are at a factory that employs the disabled or homeless but you decide you just don’t want to pay to ship a big piece of art, think about giving the organization a donation. As William Morris said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” If you won’t realistically learn to play chess on the hand-carved marble set, leave it at the store for someone else to purchase. The cost of an extra suitcase on the flight home might mean that it isn’t the bargain you think it is.

4. Do the math

When you’re on vacation and relaxed, it is tempting to forget the exchange rates and fees. Coming home to a giant credit card bill will quickly erase your vacation bliss. If you actually figure out what an item might cost, you will at least be able to compare it with similar things you could obtain at home. I once bought a bunch of tea at the original Twinings on the Strand in London, and brought it home only to find that it was less expensive at my local grocery store. The more expensive the purchase, the more you will want to figure out the exact cost.

5. Keep it small

There are few things worse than buying large, unwieldy or breakable items at the beginning of a trip and having to cart them around. Either buy small things, wait until the end of your journey, or mail your souvenirs home. As someone who has traveled to English weddings with a hatbox, and I can tell you that this American girl really thought about leaving that expensive parcel in an airport trash can more than once.

6. Give yourself a “trip present”

A small, hopefully useful, souvenir is a great way to remember a trip. I am not a huge fan of knickknacks, so I usually treat myself to a necklace, a piece of clothing, or a local delicacy. They don’t need to be expensive, but I love wearing and using these “treasures” because they remind me of my adventures. Besides, if a friend asks you where you bought it, you get to casually say, “Oh this old thing? I had it made in the Jade Market in Hong Kong. How nice of you to notice.”

7. Buy regional specialties

One of my favorite things to do when traveling in France is sampling the produits régionaux. In Honfleur, this might be Calvados (apple brandy) with your buckwheat galette. In Marseille, you might use olive oil soap to wash your hands before eating your bouillabaisse. You can’t bring your meals home, but the Calvados and the soap can easily travel with you. Don’t forget a sachet of dried lavender in Provence! Local products often help small family businesses stay alive and make great gifts.

8. Photos

Rather than focusing on shopping on your trip, take some great photos. Posting pictures to Facebook and Instagram is great, but if your friends and family like souvenirs, consider printing and framing a photo once you are home. It will free up time and money while you are traveling, and it’s classier and cheaper than a t-shirt that says “Bangkok” on it anyway.

9. Seasonal household items

Holiday decorations are always fun to bring home. The Swedes have great Easter decorations, and even if you’re not Chinese, it’s fun to celebrate Lunar New Year with a lot of red. A table runner, pillow cover or wall hanging doesn’t take up much space but might be something you’ll enjoy for a long time.

10. Snail mail

Postcards are inexpensive and a great way to remember your travels. Rather than a utility bill, the recipient gets a note from you and the opportunity to learn about an exotic place. People of all ages enjoy postcards, but children and older people are especially appreciative of a handwritten message with pictures and exotic stamps. When traveling abroad I bring a list of addresses in my wallet because often phone and data charges can add up. If you are making a domestic trip you can even take your own postcard stamps so you can avoid the search for a post office. Consider sending yourself a postcard and keeping it as a memento.

11. Recipes

Consider taking a cooking class where you get to shop for ingredients at a market and return to a kitchen to make local food. You can’t always recreate recipes at home, but it is worth a try. You may have to modify the recipe but your guests will still enjoy your pho, tagine, or pavlova. And don’t forget to use the great tea towel or trivet you picked up for yourself!

12. Bring an extra bag

Throughout my travels I have learned to pack a cloth shopping bag in the outside pocket of my suitcase. If it has a zipper top, that is even better. The bag means you are less likely to have to purchase or use plastic shopping bags, and that you have another receptacle for your acquired gems. When you are ready to travel home, decide whether it is best to carry on your fragile items or to pack them amongst laundry. Another option is to fill the cloth bag with clothing, shoes, or other non-breakable items and check the bag as luggage.

What goodies do you bring home from your travels and why?

Kate Stendahl Meier is a freelance writer, legal recruiter and lawyer currently based in Chicago. She writes on traveling, cooking, art, and learning about the world. See more of her work at www.katestendahl.com

[Photo credit: VeZoul]

You have just gotten off a cruise ship in a foreign country. You are exploring a port on your own for the day having decided not to take a ship-sponsored tour. So what happens next? How you choose to get around can make a big difference in your experience. Here are four transportation options when exploring port towns, each with different benefits.

Explore On Foot

This is the easiest and least expensive way to explore town. Ask questions of the crew and have locals point you in the direction of places or activities you are interested in. There is often a colorful public market, beach, museums and plenty of shops within walking distance of the pier. Don’t be afraid to look around the corner and venture down streets that look interesting and reasonably safe.

In Barcelona, Spain there is a wonderful legal graffiti art wall, public market, Gaudi architecture and Las Ramblas (pedestrian walkway lined with stalls and street entertainers) near the pier.

Hire A Private Cab

Taxis and minivans line up at the pier and are readily available in many ports. You can often catch a cab to a popular destination such as a beach with pick up service several hours later. You can also hire a private cab for several hours. This can range from $10 to $30 dollars an hour depending on the location with developing countries offering less expensive fares than European countries.

I often hire cabs so that I can take photographs away from the tourist haunts and stop wherever I want along the way. Several times the driver has taken us to his village where we were able to see the public market, local school and other off the beaten track sights.

Make sure the cab driver speaks more than a little English and don’t wander too far from the cab. More than once, our driver has warned us when it was time to leave and steered us away from trouble spots.

When choosing a taxi, be sure to find a cab that can operate independently and actually take you where you want to go. On the Caribbean island of St. Martin, the cab drivers are very organized and dispatch from a set location near the pier. These drivers have specific routes and stopping points. I thought I made it clear when hiring the cab that I did not want to go to the tourist markets – but that is where I ended up anyway. I later found out that to get an independent cab you need to walk the short distance to town and find one there. To avoid the same scenario, I suggest taking notice of whether cabs are dispatched by a central leader and asking if they have specific routes they follow. It can also be helpful to ask the ship crew about the cab situation ahead of time.

Rent Cars Or Scooters

Renting a vehicle is a great way to explore an island or surrounding countryside of a port town. You can linger in an area, take a break for lunch and stop anywhere that looks interesting at a lower cost than a taxi would be.

Rental agencies are conveniently located near the pier and are aware of ship schedules. There will be rental rates for 4 or 8 hours rather than the traditional 24 hour period. If you own a car back home and your insurance policy includes rental car insurance, then there’s no need to pay the additional fee to insure the rental vehicle. Bring your car insurance ID card in case it is requested.

Consider reserving a car in advance. When I rented a car on Kauai, Hawaii, the person at the reception desk told me that she had just rented the same car to the person in front of me in line for $20 less per day. It was because that traveler had booked their vehicle online using a third party site. You can easily make a booking online by searching Google for “car rental companies in [your destination]”.

Depending on the town, you may have a choice to rent from well known car rental companies or local businesses and individuals. For example, in Moorea, French Polynesia, there are tents with car rental companies located near the pier. Several of the well known companies are represented along with a local car or two. Well known company cars tend to be more expensive so I took a chance renting a vehicle from a local woman and have done so several more times on return trips with good results. Local cars tend to not be as clean and new as the chain rental company cars but have proven reliable, at least in my experience. Regardless of whom you rent from make sure you get a phone number to call in case of a breakdown – you do have to make it back to the ship on time. Also make sure you pick up a local map from the agency so you don’t get lost.

I find that my US driver’s license is normally all I need to rent a car. However, you may be asked for a credit card deposit, so bring one with you. On the Caribbean island of St. Kitts the rental car company took us to the local government office where we had to purchase a temporary driver’s license in order to rent a car. This was expensive and took more time than we liked, however it was worth it to drive around St. Kitts. We would not have discovered the monkeys in the jungle on the south end of the island had we not adventured out on our own by car.

We would not have come across a service station selling 6-packs of pineapples in Moorea if we had not ventured out by car. Driving also allowed us to get to an out of the way snorkeling spot at the far end of Moorea.

Take Buses

I am a fan of taking local buses. Some of my most memorable adventures have been via public buses. They are a great way to cover a distance to another location away from tourist haunts and port towns, as they are an especially great way to mix with the locals.

Once, I took a bus from the port town of Limon, Costa Rica to Chahuita, a small town about an hour south. Chahuita (pronounced Kawheet’a) has a national park with trails along the beach, as well as lots of monkeys. I sat in the back of a rickety old bus with a mother and her son. They were carrying several parakeets and let us hold them. The bus stopped and we were boarded by inspectors. She hid the birds in her blouse and he hid the rest of them in his pants. There were tense moments as the birds squirmed around and they tried to hush them. However, we all made it safely back to Limon with plenty of tales to tell.

If you plan to take the bus, inquire in town for schedules, routes and fares. Find a bus with a circle route that will take you around the island, town or countryside and circles back near the pier if you want to just sit back and relax and enjoy the sites without having to walk. Many places have a sightseeing bus circuit on which you can get on and off as desired. I found this to be the case in many locations including Rome and on the Caribbean island of Aruba.

When deciding whether or not to rely on buses, think about your sightseeing plans and see if the local bus system is frequent and extensive enough to suit your needs. The answer will be different for everyone. For example, a group of my friends recently returned from a Hawaiian cruise for which they landed in Oahu a week ahead of time. They rented a car for the week, but found that they only used it two days. Buses were readily available to take them to popular spots around the island.

On the other hand, I once spent a week on Oahu and I used the public buses extensively – but wished I’d rented a car. The bus system was extensive and it was easy to accomplish sightseeing and shopping tasks armed with a bus schedule. However, given the chance to do it over, I would rent a car for a few days to reach those more remote locations on my own schedule.

What is your preferred mode of transport when exploring local towns and villages? Do you find one method more interesting or efficient than others?

If you’re reading this website, chances are you already agree that travel is a pleasurable experience. It’s something you look forward to and enjoy and probably want to do more of. But since few people can travel all the time, getting the most pleasure possible out of the time we do spend traveling is worth making a priority.

I came across an interesting article that really got me pondering the idea – how can we take an already great vacation and up the ante? The article, which interviewed author Laura Vanderkam, was discussing the link between money and happiness. Among numerous insights on the subject, Vanderkam explained exactly why spending money on travel makes us so happy.

“Travel is almost always worth the splurge. You’ll anticipate the experience beforehand, live through the adventure, and then savor the memory afterwards. So even if travel is expensive, you get a triple happiness whammy for every dollar spent.”

In other words, the fact that we’re able to draw out the experience for so long is what really makes travel trigger those warm and fuzzy feelings.

When it comes to spending money on things that make us happy, Vanderkam says that activities, especially those involving learning and socializing, and are worthy expenses.

“Taking a class in a subject that intrigues you is another good use for cash…In general, people use money best when they spend on experiences, spend to nurture their social networks, and spend to buy time – a more absolutely limited resource than money.”

Now these insights are not necessarily new or revolutionary – in fact, you may have heard them before. But have you ever thought about how you could apply these principles to travel? I think there are lots of little steps we can take to get the most happiness possible from our vacations, and the fun starts months (or even years) before we ever step foot on a plane.

Prolonging the pre-trip pleasure

Since anticipation is a large part of the pleasure of traveling, try and draw this period out as long as possible. Spend a long time planning your trip and a long time doing activities that help you learn about and get psyched up about where you’re going. Here’s how.

1. Get excited about your trip by researching. Guidebooks, travel magazines, and blogs are all great for familiarizing yourself with the destination and planning your travels. There are also lots of virtual tours on the internet that can give you a little taste of what the destination you’re headed to will be like. For example, check out this virtual tour of Rio de Janiero.

2. Consider connecting with other travelers via social media. Many bloggers and travel enthusiasts are only too happy to share their thoughts and tips about the destinations you’re planning on visiting. You might even find other travelers who will be in the same place at the same time as you and are willing to meet up and explore the destination together.

3. Read novels set in the destination. Whether it’s a memoir by a travel writer or an expat, or a fictional account of life in the destination, reading a novel can really transport you to the place and may even give you ideas of activities to do when you get there.

4. Immerse yourself in the culture. Take classes or learn about something that’s an integral part of the culture in the destination you’re headed to. For example, if you’ll be going to France, learn all about cheese. Visit your supermarket and try out different varieties and get excited about experiencing an even more amazing array when you get to the country. If you’ll be visiting India, you might consider taking yoga classes and learning more about the discipline so you can connect with the spiritual side of the country. If you’re going to Napa, study up on wines (a taste test or two might be required!). If you’ll be going to Italy, you might want to take an art history class to learn more about what you’ll be seeing in the many galleries or even try your hand at a painting or pottery class. The list is virtually endless, but the point is to try something new that’ll help enrich your experience of the destination when you finally get there.

5. Learn the language. You don’t have to be fluent in another language to travel, but picking up even a few phrases can certainly enhance your travel experience. Travel can be a great motivation to learn a language and vice versa – in my experience, the more time you spend learning a language, the more driven you are to visit the country and put your skills to the test.

Fully enjoying the destination

6. See the things that are most important to you. Few tourists have the time to do absolutely everything a city or country has to offer, so to get the most out of the experience, you’ll need to prioritize what’s important to you. Do you like art galleries, nightlife, archaeological sites, shopping, or lounging by the beach? Pick the activities that matter most to you and enjoy them without worrying about what other people say are their “must-dos”.

7. That said, push yourself out of your comfort zone. Some of the best experiences in life are the unexpected ones, so don’t be afraid to try something new. Just because you’re not usually drawn to religious sites or street food or museums or whatever it might be, doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy this particular one. Certain experiences can be very different from country to country, so disliking something back home doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll dislike it at your vacation destination. To give you an example, I normally hate camping and it’s not something I would voluntarily do at home. However, when I was in Jordan, I camped in the Wadi Rum Desert with the Bedouins and it was one of the most magical, memorable experiences I’ve had.

8. Socialize. Meeting people – both locals and other travelers – is really one of the best parts of travel. The way I see it, a city is so much more than buildings and monuments – it’s the people that bring it alive. I’ve talked before about how the social aspect of travel is what makes the experience so memorable and you can read some of my tips on how to meet the locals here.

9. Splurge a little if it’ll save you time. If you’re only vacationing for a short period of time, there’s no point wasting those precious days navigating complex transit systems, or staying far from downtown to save money on your hotel, or wasting hours haggling over pennies at markets. Instead, spend a little extra and take a cab, stay in a more costly but centrally-located hotel, and cough up a little extra dough so you can limit the time spent souvenir-shopping.

Savoring your vacation once you’re home

10. Collect your memories. Whether you make a scrapbook, keep a journal, send trip-related emails to friends, or something else, recording memories of your vacation is a great way to extend the pleasure of the travel experience. As an added bonus, jotting down your thoughts will be useful years down the line when you’re struggling to remember the name of the amazing restaurant you ate at or when you forget the funny anecdotes from your vacation.

11. Organize, share, and frame your photos. Going through your travel photos can be a fun way to reminisce about your trip, and organizing them while the vacation details are still fresh in your mind is much easier than after the particulars of your journey become fuzzy memories. Sharing photos on facebook encourages people to ask you about your trip giving you another chance to relive the memories. And finally, by framing your favorite pictures and putting them somewhere prominent, you’ll have a constant reminder of the great trip you took.

What do you think? Do you do any of these things? How do you eke out the maximum pleasure from your travels?

When cruising, your ship will stop at several destinations along the way. While you’re docked, you can choose to go on a ship-sponsored tour of the city, explore on your own, or stay on the ship during these “port days”. Which option is best for you is something to consider before you even set sail.

Pros Of Taking The Ship-Organized Tours

Ship-organized tours offer some advantages to exploring ports on your own. One big benefit is the fact that you will not be left behind in port if you are late returning to the ship.

Cruise ships leave port on a tight schedule due to pier reservations, docking fees, and the sailing time to the next destination. If you lose track of time or have trouble getting back to the ship before it departs, too bad, because it’s not going to wait for you.

The only exception cruise lines make to this rule is for the ship’s medical doctor. During one journey, I was friends with a ship’s doctor and his wife so I explored ports carefree. However, most passengers don’t have this luxury.

Another advantage of ship-organized tours is that many excursions are created for cruise ship passengers only, and may not be available for independent travelers.

Also, remember that you are likely to have less than eight hours in a port. With such a short time in an unfamiliar place, why not relax and be guided through your chosen activities instead of trying to figure it out yourself?

One popular ship offers a tour escorting passengers to a sheep farm and winery in Tasmania. Here you are treated to a demonstration of a sheep being sheared. Afterwards, you enjoy a backyard barbecue served with wine next to the vineyard. Is this possible to arrange on your own? Not likely.

Booking Your Tours

When booking your cruise, many cruise lines give you the opportunity to reserve land or water-based excursions ahead of time. Since some tours sell out even before the ship sails, some careful planning can mean the difference between disappointment and adventure.

Passengers traveling in groups often find it easier to make plans ahead of time so that they can enjoy the same tours together. If you are traveling with a large group, the cruise line’s tour office may be able to make arrangements for an extra bus or slot you in on a selected tour. If you are traveling with another couple or extended family and you are all excited about the same tour experience, then booking the tour in advance ensures you won’t be split up or left out.

Some tours can only handle small groups while others can handle large busloads of passengers. For example, I took a memorable boat trip along a small winding river to a picturesque riverside restaurant in Croatia as part of a ship-organized tour. Two boats of 10 people each were all that were allowed to make the journey. Again, booking early is a good idea.

Another type of tour to consider is a pre or post-cruise excursion. Cruise lines regularly offer multi-night land adventures for passengers to go on before or after their cruise. This is ideal if your trip involves traveling some distance to an interesting place to meet the ship and you want to also explore the surrounding countryside. For example, you can fly to Anchorage, Alaska, and be escorted on a weeklong land based adventure into the wilds of Alaska before or after your Alaskan cruise.

Exploring Ports On Your Own

You can enjoy many experiences on your own with a bit of resourcefulness and a sense of adventure, and the good news is that sightseeing independently can be less expensive than ship-sponsored tours.

Another benefit of exploring ports by yourself is that you can make your own decisions on where you stop and how long you spend there. On a ship’s tour you are likely to be with 10 to 40 other people herded from placed to place via bus.

If you plan to explore on your own, do some planning and research before you leave home or once you are on the ship. You can get information from the tour office and crew onboard as well as at the port piers. They can tell you what to do, where to go, and how to get there. For example, I often walk to the beach when I’m at port, so I always ask, “Do I head to the right or left once I’m off the pier?” This kind of information is important when you are on foot and don’t want to waste hours walking in the wrong direction. The crew has been to the ports many times over a period of several months so why not take advantage of their knowledge?

Enjoying The Best Of Both Worlds

If you like to explore ports on your own but still want the security of a ship-sponsored tour, there is one other option. Some cruise lines offer semi-guided excursions, for example, “Florence On Your Own”.

Typically on this type of tour, you join a group and travel by bus or train to a desirable destination a distance away from the pier. You are dropped off and picked up at a specific location with the day to explore on your own.

For example, during the “Florence On Your Own” tour, the ship docks at Citivecchia, a popular port town for ships sailing around Italy. Citivecchia has its charms but Florence and Rome (which are some distance away) are not to be missed. A semi-guided tour can make these destinations accessible without the hassle. Sure, you could try to figure out bus and train schedules yourself, but with these tours, the worry and work has already been done for you. And, importantly, you are guaranteed that the ship will wait for you at the end of the day.

Florence is a great city to explore on your own. Rome “On Your Own” tours often drop off passengers near the Vatican.

Staying On The Ship During Port Days

This is an option chosen more frequently than you might expect. The ship is quieter on port days as most of your fellow passengers will be off the ship. On a large ship, this is something to savor. The spa often has port day specials and the cruise staff schedules a few activities for those who stay behind.

If you don’t make plans ahead of time, no worries, you will still be able to customize your port days to suit your individual tastes and interests. Once onboard you will have opportunities to study the list of possibilities for off-the-ship adventures and onboard activities and make your choices.

What memorable ship tours have you been on? Have you experienced any independent adventures in port?

When you stay at a hotel – particularly a high end one – the expectation is that it’ll be clean. But no matter how fancy the establishment or how high the price tag, study after study shows that many hotel rooms are seething with germs.

While hotel rooms do get cleaned after each guest checks out, “clean” is something of a relative term. In one article, a housekeeper confesses to cutting corners wherever she could, simply spraying and wiping things down because as long as they “looked” clean, no one could tell the difference. Given that housekeepers have on average 30 minutes to clean each room, it’s not surprising that a lot of trouble spots get overlooked.

Now, you’re probably thinking that the biggest biohazards in your hotel room are the toilet, shower, or bathroom sink – but you’d be wrong. Many of the most bacteria-laden spots in a hotel room are in the last place you’d expect… which is probably why they don’t get cleaned as often as they should (if at all). Read on to learn which items in your hotel room are the dirtiest and what to do about them.

1. The remote control

When was the last time you cleaned your television remote control at home? If the answer is long ago, or never, then don’t be surprised that hotel TV remotes aren’t cleaned either. One study found that TV remote controls were actually the dirtiest thing in a hotel room, so if you plan on watching television, pack some antibacterial wipes so you can disinfect the remote before you use it.

2. Light switches

The same study above found that the second most germ-infested spots in hotel rooms are the light switches on the bedside lamps – although I’m willing to bet the light switches in the bathroom are pretty nasty too. Again, antibacterial wipes are your friend.

3. The decorative bedspread, throws, and cushions

These things don’t get washed every time a traveler checks out of the room. In fact, chances are they rarely ever get washed because they’re not really designed to be laundered all the time. You can’t really sanitize these yourself, so you may just want to put them aside before you sprawl out on the bed.

4. Water glasses and coffee mugs

In some hotels I’ve stayed in, the glasses and mugs have been switched out each day by housekeeping, but in other places, the glasses are rinsed off by staff and replaced. How well they’re washed is anyone’s guess. Some maids just run the drink ware under a bit of water, while others admit to wiping down the glasses using the same cleaning fluid and rag they use to clean the rest of the room (and yes, these chemicals are likely poisonous). If you want to be sure the glasses and mugs are clean, you may want to wash them yourself under piping hot water. An alternative is to carry your own refillable water bottle and a travel thermos or paper cups for coffee.

5. Bathroom faucets

According to a CBC investigation, bathroom taps were one of the top three dirtiest spots in hotel rooms. The study rated germ levels on a numerical scale – anything under 300 was considered acceptable, between 300 and 999 was a “caution zone” and anything that topped 1000 failed the test. Of all the faucets tested in the investigation, 30 percent of them failed, with the dirtiest faucet returning a contamination value of 11,374!

6. Doorknobs

I often see people struggling to open doors to public restrooms without touching the doorknob for fear of the bacteria living on it, but have you ever thought about what might be lurking on the doorknob to your hotel room or hotel bathroom? Take an antibacterial wipe and rub down the knobs, or use a paper towel or a tissue when opening bathroom doors to protect yourself.

7. The telephone

You might not think of the phone as being all that germ-ridden, but one analysis found that the average cell phone had 18 times more bacteria on it than the flush handle on a men’s toilet. So, just imagine what a hotel phone that’s been used by thousands of guests before you has growing on it. To avoid picking up any bugs, be sure to wipe the phone down thoroughly before you call room service or request that early-morning wake up call.

What do you think? Do you clean things in your hotel room before using them? Are you shocked by how dirty some of the items are? 

[Photo credit: go_greener_oz]