Travelling? Top Tips for Avoiding Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are incredibly common nowadays, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re spending the night in a rundown hostel or  five-star hotel, you may find them. These parasites are found everywhere and they don’t discriminate. If you’re not careful about your bedbug protection, you could find yourself being their next meal. Identifying the bugs is the first step towards prevention, so what do they actually look like? Bed bugs are wingless and feed on the blood of people and animals. Adult bedbugs are a reddish brown colour, and have flat oval bodies. They’re usually only as long as an apple seed, and newly hatched bugs are a tan colour and as small as a poppy see. You can spot the signs of an infestation by the eggs, fecal matter and blood stains on the bed sheets. The first step towards preventing your travel experience being ruined by bed bugs is to read reviews of your hotel to see if other customers have experienced them. Don’t assume that just because you’re choosing a five-star hotel that it will be free of bugs – check the reviews and if customers have woke up covered in bites, avoid!

When you arrive, check the mattress and the bedding for any telltale signs of the bugs. If there are any fecal stains or blood marks, then you’ll know that there is an infestation. You should also check the headboard, under the seams of the springs and under the mattress tag as well. Some good advice is to not place your luggage on the spare bed – move it to a stand away from the wall and only place it on the stand once you’ve checked for the bugs. Don’t put your clothes in drawers or hang them in your wardrobe, and avoid putting your shoes in the wardrobe as well – put them in an open area instead. It’s difficult to distinguish bed bug bites from other insect bites, but they tend to look slightly swollen and include red patches of skin which may itch. They may be scattered or in a linear line. You can treat them with antiseptic cream and an antihistamine to soothe the itching. If you find that you have been bitten, notify the hotel management and ask to be placed in another room at least two floors away – bed bugs have been known to travel up to 100 feet in one night.

According to experts, bed bugs can also be transported from place to place by hiding in the seams of your luggage and latching onto your clothing. You may not even realise that they’re hiding there until you arrive at your next destination and the infestation follows you. A good way to avoid this is to check your luggage before you leave the hotel so you can ensure that it is free of bugs. You should also unpack your luggage as soon as you arrive home, in an un-carpeted room such as the bathroom or garage. You need to inspect your luggage thoroughly with a torch, as bed bugs can latch onto your bags while they’re in the boot of a car or may have come into contact with an infested bag when in the plane’s cargo hold. If you have found an infestation, you should place your suitcase in a sealed bag and place outside in the sun. You then need to wash and dry your infested clothing on the hottest setting that the fabric can cope with, or call a pest control company if you can’t seem to rid your clothes or home of them.

Categories: bed bugs, bedbugs, bugs, check, hotel, infestation, luggage, sleep, star hotel, Travel

How to Maintain a Healthy Weight on a Holiday

Around two-thirds of frequent travellers say that they find exercising and staying healthy when they’re on holiday stressful, which is why it is so difficult to stay trim when you’re not at home. You want to indulge and sip on cocktails by the pool, but by the time you get home you realise you’ve piled on more than a little excess weight. Here are some tips to ensure that on your next getaway you only bring back a glowing tan.

Book accommodation with a kitchen

If you’re constantly eating rich gourmet meals, you’re bound to put on weight. So why not cook your own meals? If you rent a hotel room or a condo with a kitchen, you can stock healthy foods and navigate a healthier holiday. Dining out is part of the fun though, so if you don’t want to be lumbered with cooking all of the meals, why not cook breakfasts and lunches for yourself, then dine out at dinnertime?

Do your research

Preparation is key, so if you know of the healthier places to eat before you leave your hotel room, you won’t be left opting for a greasy fast food joint out of necessity. You can often review the nutritional data of a place before you go, or at least check out the menu, so that you have a list of potential places to eat come dinnertime. There are apps available which will tell you where is good to eat in your local area, to make the decision a little easier. Don’t forget to check airport restaurants too, so you don’t get stuck with the calorie-laden choice while you wait for your flight.

Pack your resistance bands

You can’t very well pack a treadmill and your home gym equipment, but something lightweight and small can do the job in the meantime. Why not pack your resistance bands? They enable you to strengthen muscles and tone up your body, all of which can be done from the convenience of your hotel room. If you don’t know what to do with them, you could check out routines on YouTube and work out while you are on holiday. Couple that with a great workout soundtrack to keep you motivated and you’ll have yourself your very own makeshift hotel gym!

Get up early

Research suggests that people who workout early in the morning are more likely to stick to their fitness routine. You won’t lose any valuable holiday time during the day, you won’t get stuck working around other peoples schedules, and it will be nice and peaceful. Even a ten minute jog along the beach can make all the difference to your potential weight gain. It’s also a great motivator to take in the sights of your chosen destination when it isn’t filled with tourists!

Become an active sight seeker

Don’t think that exercise has to be in the form of a gym session – you can sneak in physical activity into your holiday time as well. If you can’t fit in a proper workout, why not go cycling through the landscape for an hour, go hiking, spend some time swimming in the sea, or take yourself around the towns and villages on foot instead of opting for the sightseeing bus. If you choose a resort that offers watersports and excursions, be sure to make the most of them. They’re great for keeping fitness fun and making sure that you burn off those extra cocktails by the pool.

Categories: fitness, holiday, holiday time, Home, hotel, hotel room, resistance bands, time, Travel, weight

Travel Fitness: How to Incorporate More Active-ities

When you go travelling, on holiday or take a business trip, fitness and wellness are probably the last two things on your mind. However, while travel fitness can feel like a chore, making it part of your trip can help you to feel more vibrant and energetic, and take care of your wellbeing, so that you actually enjoy your travels. Let’s be clear: I’m not saying you need to hit the hotel gym after a long day of seeing the sights; you simply need to follow a few practical, realistic options for taking care of your body when you’re far from home.

 

1. Get out of the car: When you’re in new and unfamiliar territory, it can be tempting to drive everywhere as you don’t know how safe or far away the destination is. However, if you’re searching for a nice place to eat dinner, setting out on foot and wandering around the area – instead of driving – can help you to get a bit of exercise and really experience the place you’re visiting. You can also try parking five minutes further away from places you’re visiting, and this will help you to burn more calories, increase your cardiovascular stamina, and promote relaxation, all without forcing you to break an embarrassing sweat.

 

2. Make time for yourself in the morning: If you’re travelling with friends, colleagues or children, it can be difficult to work in your travel fitness regime. However, you can reap lots of benefits –and have a nice breather from difficult travelling companions – by setting aside even just twenty minutes or half an hour as solo time. In the morning before the day’s activities begin, use the peace and quiet to go for a walk or a run. If you’ve got your own hotel room, lock the door and do some jumping jacks, knee lifts or have a bit of a boogie and shake off that family holiday stress. Starting your day with a quick bout of independent travel fitness enables you to mentally reflect and relax while also giving your energy levels a boost. This can brighten up your whole trip and prepare you for a day spent with other travellers.

 

3. Use the toilet: By the phrase “use the toilet,” I’m not talking about that natural thing that everyone needs to do, I’m talking about making use of those time in which nature calls for travel fitness. Every time you head to use the toilet, take a few minutes and turn the facilities into your temporary personal travel fitness station! Try having a quick burst of fast movement to get your heart rate going a little bit. Even a quick session of jumping up and down can help you to give your metabolism a quick jolt so that you burn more calories throughout the day. This tip is great because it allows you the privacy of getting your travel fitness party on without the embarrassment of other people seeing. Moreover, as you’ll be using the loo a few times a day anyway, so you don’t need to worry about remembering to find the time to fit travel fitness into your schedule.

 

4. Plan activities: Making exercise part of the day’s fun is a great way to trick yourself, and your travelling companions, into getting some extra fitness under your belt. If there’s a natural landmark nearby, check out some hiking trails. If you’re staying in a town or city, there’s always sight-seeing, bowling or miniature golf. Anything that gets you moving counts, so try to incorporate as many active-ities as possible.

Categories: active ities, fitness, Me Time, nbsp, time, toilet, Travel, travel fitness, travelling, travelling companions

Why Are Vaccinations So Important For Your Health?

If you’re travelling to far-flung exotic places, there’s a chance you may need to be vaccinated before you travel. Your GP can advise which vaccines you will need before you go, and you’ll need to see them around six to eight weeks before you depart. However, don’t avoid visiting your doctor if there is less time until your holiday, as you may still be able to get vaccinated at a travel clinic or at the surgery itself. If you’re travelling to the United States, Western Europe, or most of New Zealand and Australia, you probably won’t need vaccinations. However, you should ensure that your booster immunisations for tetanus, diphtheria and polio are up to date.

 

Cholera is an infection commonly spread in places such as Central America, Peru, Africa and Asia. It’s an infection of the small bowel, which is spread through water contaminated by infected faeces. A cholera vaccine is vital if you’re travelling to places which have a cholera epidemic – this is given orally and comes in sachets which dissolve in water. You shouldn’t eat or drink anything for an hour before taking the vaccine, and you’ll need two doses between one and six weeks apart. This vaccination doesn’t provide lifelong immunity, but you’ll only need a booster to keep yourself protected.

 

Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver and is caused by an infection with the hepatitis A virus – generally, people become infected by eating or drinking food or water which is contaminated. The Middle East, Africa, and southern or eastern Europe are places with a high risk of this virus, so if you’re travelling to these areas, you should make sure you get vaccinated. This vaccination consists of two injections – the second is a booster dose given around six to twelve months after the first. Likewise, hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by an infection with the virus – this is spread by having contact with an infected person’s blood or bodily fluid, such as vaginal fluid. This is most commonly spread through unsafe sex, using contaminated needles, or contact sports in high risk areas, if you’re doing relief work. There are several immunisation schedules, but most often it involves three doses – after the first, you will require a second a month afterwards, and then a third five months after that.

 

Rabies is a viral infection that’s spread from animals to people, and is common in developing countries – in particular, Africa, South America and Asia. If you need this vaccination, you’ll need to take three injections – the second will be a week after the first, then the third will be after a further three weeks. If you’re short on time before you travel, you may have to have the third at two weeks after the second dose.

 

Tetanus, diphtheria and polio is generally given in childhood in the UK, but the diseases are common in Asia, Africa and South America. You may need a booster if you’ve not had your vaccination for more than 10 years and are travelling to an area which has a high risk rate. You should book a visit to your GP as part of your travel plans to ensure you have time to book in any vaccinations you may need – you should plan this at least six weeks before you travel. As previously mentioned, you should still book an appointment even if there is less than six weeks, as you may still be able to get a vaccine. They will be able to advise of safe practices to reduce your risk of developing these diseases.

Categories: diseases, Travel, Vaccinations

What Do You Need To Know About Typhoid?

The typhoid disease is spread by food or water which has been contaminated by urine or faeces from a person infected with the bacteria. In areas such as Asia, Latin America and Africa, this disease is particularly widespread. The World Health Organisation suggests that around 33 million people are infected with typhoid every year and it is attributed to more than 200,000 deaths around the world, the majority of which are young adults and children. Most of the cases of people in the UK developing typhoid are from people who have visited infected areas and contracted the disease – in 2010, 569 people were diagnosed in England and Wales. The symptoms of typhoid are usually spotted around seven to 14 days after you’ve become infected, and most people either have no symptoms or very mild signs of the disease. The first symptoms are a persistent fever, loss of appetite and nausea, headaches, constipation or diarrhoea, stomach pains, and a rash or small pink spots on your chest or stomach. If left untreated, these symptoms can develop and lead to serious health problems. For example, you may experience low blood pressure, confusion or delirium, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding, meningitis, and heart, liver or kidney infections.

 

If your GP suspects that you’ve been infected with typhoid, they will take a sample of your blood, faeces or urine which will be sent away for testing – it’s important that you explain to them if you’ve visited areas where typhoid is a problem, as many of the symptoms are attributed to other conditions which may make it difficult to diagnose. This condition can be treated with antibiotics, which are generally prescribed to be taken orally – however, if your symptoms are particularly severe, you may need to take them intravenously, through a drip. The regular antibiotics which are prescribed to treat typhoid are ampicillin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. Research suggests that the S. Typhi bacterium is becoming more and more resistant to standard antibiotics, which means that you may need to take a second course if your symptoms relapse. Studies have shown that after treatment, around three in every 100 people who have been infected with typhoid continue to carry the S.Typhi bacteria in their faeces for over a year. This places these people in the category of carriers of typhoid, which means they can infect other people, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Your GP can determine if you’re a carrier by testing a sample of your faeces after you’ve completed your antibiotics – you may need to have a longer course of treatment if you’re found to be a carrier.

 

There are ways in which you can reduce your risk of developing typhoid when you travel to places where this disease is commonly found. For example, you should wash your hands with soap and water, or an alcohol-based cleaner, before eating, after going to the toilet and when having had contact with young children or animals. Don’t drink tap water, and be sure to check that the cap is sealed on any bottled water that you drink. If you’re drinking tap water, be sure to boil it first to kill any bacteria – only use this water when brushing your teeth, as well. Don’t eat raw vegetables, such as salads, as they may have been cleaned in water which has not been prepared properly – you should also only eat food which is freshly prepared and has been cooked through thoroughly. This means only eating food which is very hot, so that you know the bacteria has been killed off – when eating raw fruit and vegetables, try to only eat those which are fresh and can be peeled before eating.

Categories: infection, Travel, typhoid

Traveling Man: Importance of Staying Connected When Away

If your job causes you to spend a lot of time on the road, it can become difficult to stay in contact with your family. However, there are several different things that you can do to keep your personal relationships strong when you are on the road. Although it might be difficult to find time between all of the traveling and work that you are doing on a daily basis, it is imperative to place your family first by scheduling at least a few minutes for a phone call every day. Tips for Staying Connecting while You are Traveling for Work

1) Skype – Talking on the phone is a good way to stay connected, but using Skype will make it feel more like you are at home. You can schedule Skype dates with your wife or you could even join your family virtually for dinner. This will give everyone in the family a chance to speak to you and see you, and this is important if you want to minimize the emotional damage that can be associated with working on the road. In order to take advantage of Skype’s free video calls, you will need to make sure that you check into a hotel that offers dependable Wi-Fi. One chain of the best hotels in Houston, TX  not only offers Wi-Fi, but also has computers available for use should you not be able to use your work computer for personal activity.

2) Texting – If you have a really long day filled with meetings, you might not be able to spend a lot of time on the phone. However, everyone gets a five-minute break at some point during your day, and you can use this time to send a quick text that lets your significant other know that you are thinking about them.

3) Call before Bedtime – If you have children, it is important to help them feel secure while you are away. Therefore, if you typically read them a bedtime story or tuck them in, you should call or Skype with them before bedtime in order to retain a sense of normalcy.

4) Send Flowers – Many people feel the emotional strain of not being together, and this can make it difficult to keep the romance going. However, you can get around this issue by sending flowers or other surprises throughout the week. This will let your partner know that you have been thinking about them, and it will also give them something nice to look at while you are away.

5) Schedule a Shared Weekend – If you do not have children or you have someone who is willing to watch them for a couple of days, you should invite your significant other to spend a weekend with you at the hotel when you are unable to come home. Even if you will be working for part of the weekend, your spouse can still enjoy the hotel’s amenities and explore the local area.

Staying connected when you are away from home for an extended period of time will require a commitment on both sides. Therefore, make sure that you and your partner speak on a regular basis, and take the time to let them know how much you miss them.

Melanie Fleury stays connected with family around the world through texting and Skype. Hilton Hotels & Resorts, one of the best hotels in Houston, TX, knows how important it is to stay connected, and offers Wi-Fi access to those staying with them. For those that can bring their loved ones down for a visit, the knowledgeable concierge can help find ways to make the visit a fun and memorable one.

Categories: away, connected, Travel