Astaxanthin Helps You Avoid Getting Sick When Traveling   Travel can increase the stress on your immune system, even if it's for fun. If you're not careful, you may come home from your trip with an unwelcome memento - like a cold or flu. Some people even expect to get sick during a trip. But it doesn't have to be that way! It's very important to take care of your immune health while traveling, whether it's for business or pleasure. Acupressure is the practice of pressing or massaging certain points on your body, which can stimulate your body's self-curative abilities. CNN Go has collected a list of 8 Acupoints1, which could be useful for travelers. Here are a few: Motion sickness and nausea: Press on the inside of your forearm, two thumbs' width above your wrist crease, between the two tendons. The point is actually located below surface level so pushing deep is more effective. Sore throat and lightheadedness: Loosely interlock your thumbs at the webbing, with both palms facing down. Keep your wrists straight, and extend your index finger to the skinny edge of your wrist. Under the pad of your index finger you'll find a small depression in the prominent bone; that's the point. Rubbing or pressing this point relieves symptoms associated with colds. Insomnia or disturbed dreams: Find the styloid process muscle on the side of your neck, and follow it up to where it meets your skull. The point is at the A-like depression going toward the back of your head. For the complete list, please review the original article.2 Does Flying Increase Your Chances of Getting Sick? Occasional travel exposes you to environmental toxins and pathogens that you aren't routinely exposed to - new people, new places, and toxic airplane cabin air. If you have a strong immune system, your body will be able to handle these insults without much trouble. But if your immune system is compromised, you can end up getting sick. Air travel, with its frequent delays, security hassles, cramped quarters, and jet lag effects, can be stressful, but does it inherently make you more likely to contract an infectious illness? A recent WHO report found there is no evidence that recirculation of cabin air facilitates the transmission of infectious disease agents on board. Additionally, a University of California, San Francisco study found recycled air on short-term flightsis no more likely to cause colds than flights using fresh air. The researchers interviewed 1,100 passengers before and one week after an approximate two-hour flight and reported that the frequency of colds and runny noses were virtually the same between recycled air and fresh air flyers. As that report confirmed, it is the strength of your body's own immune system that determines whether or not you will get sick. The infectious bacteria and viruses that circulate around an airplane cabin are merely triggers for an already weakened immune system. Cold and flu viruses can last up to 72 hours [...]

Nice is one of the surrounding cities on the French Riviera. Many tourists include this city on their bucket lists because of the beautiful sceneries on the Promenade des Anglais and its popular waterfront. This ethnically diverse city has a lot to offer its visitors from all walks of life. Brief History The city’s origin is found among the ruins of Gallo-Roman, perched in the hills of boulevard de Cimiez. Here you could also find some museums and a monastery, but as of today, most of its inhabitants live closer to the sea. Originally, the city was only a portion of the Italian Duchy of Savoy and later on, the Kingdom of Sardinia until its unwilling surrender to France in 1860. The ancient mother tongue is Nissart, but everybody speaks French; not everyone knows how to speak English, so it’s a must to learn the language of La’mour. Sites to See The Colline du Chateau rising above the Bay of Angels and the harbor gives a picturesque viewpoint overlooking the city. There isn’t much left of the ruined castle, but a climb up the stairs gives a better vantage point. If you take a ride on the lift, you would have saved at least 75 percent of the climb. Be careful not to stay after sunset because the park closes around this time and they may have you escorted out. But for the best view of Nice, you don’t want to miss out on the heights of Mont Boron. Your eyes will surely feast on the spectacular views from the old fort, the Villa of Sir Elton John, Cap Ferat and Villefranche. Museums Nice is a city also known for its many museums, most of which has no entrance fee. Here are some of the most popular ones: Museum of Asian Art , 405 Promenade des Anglais: for those people who appreciate world art (No entrance fee) Parc Phoenix, 405 Promenade des Anglais: for those who love plants and animals (€2 Entrance Fee) Musee Chagall: for people fascinated with stained glass (€9.50 Entrance Fee) Muse Matisse, 164 Ave des Arenes de Cimiez: to feast your eyes on a charming collection of drawings, paintings and sculptures in the 17th century (free entrance) Beaches Coming to Nice for sunbathing or lounging out on the beach is not ideal. Its beaches mainly consist of flat stones known as gallets. Although the city has a couple private beaches that have been covered with layers of sand, the public beaches are a callous stony experience. You should bring sandals or slippers for walking, aside from towels and mats. Taking a shower is free and you can enjoy playing beach volleyball in an area filled with white sand. Even if the shoreline is mainly gallets, many visitors still enjoy swimming in the clear blue waters, although you have to be a strong swimmer as the beach floor drops quickly and the tidal pull is strong. Other towns have nicer sandy beaches [...]

Fall has arrived and with winter right round the corner, it is time to think holidays. And what better way holidays can be spent than by travelling to the wonderful destinations that the world has to offer. If you come to think of it, the United Kingdom is filled to the brim with some wonderful holiday destinations that can take your breath away. The countryside, for example, has a lot to offer. Be it the occasional traveller, or the enthusiastic backpacker or a whole family, UK’s countryside is a picturesque treat to everyone. In this article, we will discuss a few exquisite holiday destinations in the beautiful countryside of the UK. Let’s find out more. Rural Lancashire Rural Lancashire in Britain is famous for the Crook O’Lune viewpoint. It offers a remarkable view of the River Lune that makes a great curve. This curve will remind you of the Dordogne’s Cingle de Trémolat. The splendid view stretches to the Yorkshire Dales. The colours that view offer are bright hues of greens, browns and blues and you would find yourself immersed in the calmness and the beauty of it all in seconds. In addition, the bustling farmer’s markets are a great place to find fresh produce. You can also follow the Lancashire cheese Trail or the Ribble Valley Food Trail to satiate your culinary side. The food there is absolutely lip-smacking and is bound to leave a smile on your face. Apart from that, the forest of Bowland is an absolute treat. You must visit that you imbibe in the greenery and the wildlife. Canterbury This partly walled city has a lot offer. Canterbury is quite reputed for its breathtaking cathedral. Apart from that, you can plan a visit to the coastal town of Whistable or a day outing to Calais right from Dover. While you are in Canterbury, you must pay a visit to the City Wall Trail. It goes halfway around the city and takes about a couple of hours to finish this visit. Canterbury is great destination for walking or cycling and could be a bit crowded with tourists in the holiday season. The narrow lanes and the shops are great to walk through. Take a day trip or cycle through the picturesque city. There’s so much to do in this city if you look in the right places. Wistman’s Wood Located in Devon, Wistman’s Wood is an exquisite place to be. It is the burst of fresh greenery that would greet you and beckon you to explore more. You can indulge your senses in the peace and quiet of the woods and give in to nature. The mosses, ferns, lichens and trees will take your breath away. The trees in the Wistman’s Wood are stunted owing to the harsh weather. The oaks do not grow taller than 12 feet. Wistman’s Wood is managed by Natural England. Wistman’s Wood is located right at the centre of Dartmoor National Park, which is situated on [...]

If you have ever wondered what makeup essentials you need to bring with you on a trip, the best cosmetics for travellers and even how to streamline your life and learn how to thrive with less, you are in the right place!  I have spent the last year designing the ultimate Travel Makeup Guide, to travel light while still having the right stuff with you to get dolled up at a moments notice! What if someone handed you a small bag and told you “Okay, you need to fit every single thing you use to get ready, all your makeup, all beauty products, everything, into this”.  Did you just freak out a little bit inside? I feel you, because I did at first too.  When it comes to beauty products, I guess I am like most North American girls…meaning the drawers in my bathroom were overflowing with tons of cosmetics and creams I was NOT using, but just wanted to keep around ‘in case'. As we transition into full time travel, I knew something had to change.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE beauty products, but I just don't love the idea of dragging around ultra heavy luggage because I can't let go of random eyeshadow palettes I hardly wear.   Travel Makeup Guide – Essential Beauty Packing For Girls Who Travel Here is my 3 Part ‘Travel Makeup Guide' to pack like a jet setting pro! First step is getting rid of the excess, second step is finding your key essentials, third step is making it all fit for travel anywhere, anytime! Part ONE - Determine 'Want' vs 'Need' First, I had to get rid of what I didn't use in order to make my ‘ultimate must have' list of what comes with me everywhere!  Determining ‘want' vs ‘need' is easier said than done, but here are some tips. Clean out 2 drawers: Put all your makeup in one drawer.  As you use it, move it to the second drawer.  At the end of 30 days, the items left in the first drawer are likely not something you NEED.  Use this as a template for knowing what your essentials are! The 80/20 Rule: If I had to make a bet, I would say you use 20% of all your products 80% of the time!  Right!?  I saw I had doubles of things, products so similar they could easily be reduced, old things I didn't like anymore, but only kept because I paid a lot for them… etc!  Focus on the 20% of products you can't live without! Plan Ahead: Almost every country in the world will have the same beauty basics readily available, so plan ahead on what you might want to just pick up in your destination.  For example, I don't mess around with cheap face creams, so I make SURE a good face cream that doesn't make me break out is always packed with me, but for something like a shimmer eyeshadow… [...]

It can be simple to book a basic safari when you look at any number of the travel agencies advertising their services online. However, it can be much more difficult to book a safari holiday that offers you luxury without sacrificing the sense of local connections and authenticity that experienced travelers desire. In order to gain this type of experience in the wilds of Africa, one must consult with seasoned experts who have actually spent time traveling in this region. With expertise and genuine love for the safari experience on your side, you can count on wildlife safari holidays that are memorable beyond any other excursion that you have had the pleasure of taking in this region. The first order of business in shaping the ideal safari getaway is to know which agency has the very best to offer to travelers. The most trusted specialists recommend Micato as your liaison for your safari in a number of African regions. They have over 13 different itineraries from which travelers can choose, opening up the wild in Tanzania, Kenya, and many other regions of South Africa. Their expertise also extends beyond the untapped wilderness. They provide travelers with insights into a genuine, local experience by leading the way through the most decadent cities and regions renown for wine. Additionally, the safari lodges they present combine opulence with authentic, African charm. A world-class safari experience is never more rich than when travelers partner with these experts. There are a number of side trips that are available to safari explorers, including ventures to Victoria Falls, safe exploration of Zanzibar, and gorilla tracking through Rwanda. Individual specialists are not the only people to lend credit to Micato safaris. They were given considerable attention for their safari expertise by Travel and Leisure magazine for several years running. Specialist safari holidays such as these have even gained the attention of National Geographic Traveler as well. There are a number of fronts where Micato excels above all other companies dedicated to local safaris. The guides are all local, offering visitors more than just the surface-level experience on every leg of their journey. Travels often become very friendly with these guides, sharing new experiences in addition to their own backgrounds and interests in wildlife and exploration. Because they have been in business for decades, this operation also has the connections and relationships with local destinations needed to give visitors access to amenities and dining that other companies simply cannot offer. The local cuisine and the authenticity of every suggested stop is always high on the list of praise that travelers report. Visitors can also count on convenience and outstanding support for every desire that they have while traveling. All the Micato offices maintain local locations while the equipment, transportation, and services that they provide are privately-owned. There is no possibility of dealing with middlemen or difficulty with communication while traveling. Micato maintains its own fleet of luxury, safari vehicles that are kept in top [...]

The problem with so called eco-tourism is that the carbon emissions of flights kind of negate the point of an eco-holiday. Putting this aside, there are many positive aspects of eco-tourism, such as the preservation of nature. You can always try and find an eco-camp close to home but this article looks at three great camps from around the world. If you’re the sort of person who thinks a holiday lying on a beach towel is boring and you long for the great outdoors, the sounds of the forest and the scent of the campfire, then these 3 back-to-nature style retreats are for you. I’ve tried them all and can personally recommend each one for different reasons. The atmosphere in each forest in unique and surviving in different forests around the world requires totally different skill sets. These eco-friendly camping trips also involve learning about bush craft, wildlife, survival and getting in touch with your hunter-gatherer roots. Bush Craft and Yurts in English woodland Surrey and Sussex are the most heavily wooded counties in Britain and they happen to be right on London’s doorstep. If you are visiting England then it’s worth going off the tourist trail and seeing the real English countryside. There is an eco-camp close to the Surrey/ Sussex border in Shadow Woods near Billingshurst. You can take a train directly to Billingshurst from London if you don’t have access to a car. You can learn bush craft and survival techniques from the Woodland Skills company in this beautiful old forest. They offer yurts for sleeping and run seasonal courses for foraging, coppicing (making fences from living hazel), nature awareness, charcoal burning and making fire by friction. It’s fascinating to learn these ancient skills before they are lost to mankind. The forest is still managed in the traditional way, just as it was by medieval peasants and Anglo-Saxon tribes long before. You are likely to see several species of deer in these woods, as well as a variety of birds. www.woodlandskills.com   Woodland Cabins in Sweden   These traditional charcoal burners’ forest huts are even more rustic and adventurous. I visited in summer so it was hot every day, but it a very different experience during the freezing Swedish winter. You may be surprised to learn that Swedish forests are plagued by huge mosquitoes and other biting insects during the summer months. Fortunately though, Kolarbyn is relatively free from their irritating presence. The Kolarbyn lodge is near a large lake in which you can take a refreshing dip and there are also many pleasant walks in the area. There’s even a floating, wood fire sauna on the lake! There are fresh blueberries growing all over these peaceful woods in which moose, wolves and even bears are said to frequent. The only animals that visit the camp itself are small birds and squirrels but you can pay extra for a safari if you want to see beavers, moose, wolves or bears. It’s a [...]

Planning a Fitness Vacation A vacation is the perfect opportunity to get away from your hectic life, relax and spend time doing the things you love. If you enjoy nothing more than your daily yoga practice, morning run or weekend hike, a fitness vacation may be your perfect escape. However, as many traditional vacations usually involve lounging poolside with a mai tai, knowing how to turn your ideas for an exercise getaway into a reality can be difficult. Here are some tips to help achieve your perfect fitness vacation. Decide How Much Fitness You Want When you begin planning your fitness vacation the first decision to make is how much exercise you want to get. Whether you want to be able to simply take a yoga class every day or go on daily guided bike excursions, or spend a week climbing a mountain, deciding what level of fitness you want from your trip will make planning easier and your trip more enjoyable. No matter what fitness level you choose to tackle on your vacation, make sure you pick lodging that has hot water on demand. You’ll need to soak those sore muscles after adventuring all day long. Pick Your Poison when Planning a Fitness Vacation Once you’ve decided how much exercise you want to get, it’s important to choose what kind of exercise you want. Picking what form of fitness to focus on, or if you want a variety of activities to choose from, or even if you want to try something new will make it easier to choose your travel destination. Know What’s Out There Since fitness vacations have recently grown in popularity, there are several travel groups who have created vacations organized all around exercise that you may not know about, that can help you book your ideal trip. If you’re looking for a group bicycle trip through Vermont, or a hiking trip to Machu Picchu, or a stand-up paddle boarding excursion in Alaska there are websites and travel groups that will help you book the vacation of a lifetime. There are also resorts and yoga centers that offer wellness retreats to truly help you get away and rediscover your center. Gotta Go!: Cycling Vacations in Fantastic Locations Check The Weather As obvious as it sounds, checking the weather for your travel destination is absolutely vital for a perfect fitness trip, especially if your exercise of choice involves the outdoors. Before booking your trip, learn about what the weather will be like at your destination when you plan on visiting. If there’s even a chance that the weather could rain on your parade, getting in the way of your daily ocean swims, be sure that your hotel or resort has fitness amenities and a way for you to get your fitness fix indoors. Book Health-Conscious Lodging If you’re planning a fitness vacation all around exercise, chances are you want to eat healthy too. This makes finding and booking a stay at a place that will [...]

As if you needed another reason to take that trip that’s been on your bucket list for decades… Not many people recognize the true benefits of traveling. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Longevity Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and author of several books on Alzheimer’s prevention, including ‘The Memory Bible’ and more recently, ‘The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program,’ was quoted in the June 2012 issue of Prevention magazine informing us that, “Research shows that travel helps build vital neural pathways.” Prevention goes on to note that, “Navigating unfamiliar places, tasting new foods, or learning even just a few words of another language delivers the brain-building effect.” This is in keeping with the ‘use it or lose it’ that is increasingly accepted among neuroscientists in regards to keeping our brains healthy. Benefits of Traveling for the Brain Travel, of course, provides ample opportunity to use our brains as we expose ourselves and respond to new and interesting stimuli. But if you really want to reap the most benefits of traveling, take the rest of Small’s advice: Take a walk, or better yet a forest bathing nature hike in that new place. Small emphasizes over and over again that physical exercise is the most proven way to lessen one’s risk of cognitive decline. His research has found walking for as little as 15 minutes a day can lower one’s risk. Data also suggests benefits from weight and strength training. Treat yourself to a meal rich in omega-3s (think fish and/or olive oil), fruits and vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Avoid processed foods. Manage stress. Research has shown that an injection of cortisol, a stress hormone, can temporarily impair learning and recall. Stress may also increase chance of death by any given cause by 50%. Before stressing out, try these 3 natural ways to reduce stress. Exercise your brain. Of course, this is the goal of taking that exotic trip, but if it’s not realistic for you to hit the road, armed with an adventurous spirit and maybe a map, do what you can to challenge your brain wherever you are. Eat something, do something, learn something new. Use it or lose it. Small’s guidelines may seem too simple to make a difference, but skeptics take note: In a study of 115 older adults from two retirement communities, a six-week ‘lifestyle training program’ emphasizing memory training, physical activity, stress reduction, and healthy diet led to significant improvement in both encoding and recalling new verbal information, as well as self-perception of memory. The bottom line, Smith has said, is that if everybody in the nation started taking walks and making the right lifestyle choices, there would be one million fewer cases of Alzheimer’s within five years. Wow. Now that’s advice worth remembering. Additional Sources: ScienceDaily  

Trevor and I love to stay in hotel rooms.  We are those people who feel the most at home when we check into a suite and place our luggage at the end of the bed. It's our 'zen', a weight off our shoulders and our guilty pleasure.  But on the subject of frequent travelling, there is one thing we really don't like about hotels- paying to much for them. Over the years we have developed some great strategies for paying the lowest hotel prices possible, so we might as well share the love. Here is our insiders guide: Top 10 Booking Hacks For The Best Hotel Deals!  Listen, this blog is for people who seriously want to save money on hotels.  The tips we give here are literally our secrets for being able to travel as much as we do, seeing as we are not millionaires, but our wanderlust seems to think we are.   p.s. Bookmark this page right now so you can whip it out when it's time to book your next hotel stay! #1- Time Is Money The tortoise wins the race in this game.  Without patience and time to put into booking your hotel suite, ALLLLLL of the following tips we give you will mean diddly squat.  When you invest your time into researching, comparing and booking, that is when you will score the best deal.  In our experience the best deals don't usually just pop out of nowhere, you have to hunt them down and be ready to double check your work.   Think of what the value is for you if you did save a few hundred bucks on a hotel stay. Is it worth spending and hour or two with 10,000 browser tabs open?  For us the answer is YES. #2- Try Off Season or Shoulder Season We do this ALL the time!  If we really want to stay in a specific hotel or visit a certain city that is usually out of budget, we consider their peak season.... and then avoid it like the plague!   It gives me a headache thinking about paying double and being squashed amongst tons of other tourists in the middle of an area's 'busy season'.  Just because it's the 'off' or 'shoulder' season does not mean it's bad.  In some cases the weather might be more tolerable, the attractions easier to see, and just a more relaxed pace of life.   For example, we visited New Orleans in July, dead smack in the middle of their off season. Yes, it was hot, but we like that!  We got a great deal on our suite at the Windsor Court because we didn't try and book it between February and May, which is their busiest time. #3- Compare, Compare, Compare Here is where you invest a little bit of time, and if you are anything like me, you will have multiple taps open and a notebook to jot down price differences.   Hotel [...]