Before April 2008 I never had a problem with flying on an airplane. I’ve never loved flying, I mean really who does enjoy the lack of leg room, that smell that only airplanes have (similar to the unique hospital smell), bad airplane food, high pitch baby screams, the constant kicking from the person sitting behind you, and of course motion sickness. To me, flying is necessary to allow me to do what I love and enjoy the most – experiencing new cultures and adventures, eating authentic food, and meeting new people.

What happened back in April 2008 you ask? Well, I went to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a friend’s wedding and the day before we flew back home, we all went snorkeling. The ocean appeared to be angry that day and I should have listened to my inside voice as it asked, “Joanie is this really a good idea?” I squelched that thought even as I was watching the difficulty our skipper (a very nice man named Jorge) was having as he tried to get the boat near shore so we could all hop in. He got the boat as close as he could and one by one we went into the boat. Just as I was about to swing my feet over the edge (you need to know that I’m not a very tall person, 5 feet 1.5 inches when I’m standing up nice and straight) a wave caught and one of the steel poles on the boat hit me in the back of my upper left thigh/bum area with a lot of force. I guess it could have been worse (it could have happened to one of the guys as they were trying to get into the boat and that would not have been pretty), but I did suffer a major gash and it started bleeding. Needless to say we cut the snorkeling trip short as sitting on the boat while you slowly bleed is no one’s idea of fun, and I spent the rest of my day in bed since I was feeling relatively queasy and nauseous. Seeing as it was our last night in Mexico, we all had plans to meet up for dinner at one of the four luxury dining restaurants (they served this amazing lobster soup that, pain or not, I was having one more time before going back home). With the exception of a sore thigh, I felt fine and was happy to put the adventures of the day behind me.

Puerto Vallarta. Image courtesy of Matthew Rutledge

Little did I know, the real adventure started the moment I stepped onto the plane to fly home. Approximately 15 minutes after take off, yes brace yourself please (I know I did), the burger and fries I had from Carl’s Jr. came back up. Not only was it disgusting, but completely unexpected. In all of my life, I had never thrown up on a plane before. Fortunately, the seat in front of me actually had one of the motion sickness bags (without any gum or garbage from the passenger before) and I was able to contain everything in the bag! I thought, thank goodness and handed the bag to Mike (my husband), who was sitting in the seat across the aisle from me, and he discarded it. Grossed out, but relieved and feeling much better, I sat back and closed my eyes to get some rest, hoping that the four and a half hours would go by quickly. Unfortunately, I threw up another two times and because I was so desperate to get off the plane, it was as though time stood still. That was one of the most excruciating flights of my life and Mike had to do the walk of shame another two times. You know it is love when you hand someone a sealed bag of vomit and he just gets up and discards it for you with no questions asked. I was also lucky because my other seatmate was not grossed out in the least and she was trying to calm me down by telling me it is ok. You see, not only did I feel sick and nauseous, but I was also worried about those around me, which just adds to the pressure and stress and that doesn’t help.

Unfortunately, what happened coming back from Puerto Vallarta was not an isolated incident and I’ve suffered from motion sickness ever since. Determined not to let that minor condition keep me from traveling, I’ve had to experiment with all sorts of things. These are the things that work for me when preventing motion sickness:

• Hydrate yourself. Keeping your body well hydrated is always important, but I find it even more so before and while I am flying because the air in the cabin of a plane is usually more dry than normal and it is easy to suffer from dehydration. Also, some of the symptoms of dehydration are dizziness, fatigue, and headaches, which when combined with motion sickness can create a perfect storm and will make you even more sick and uncomfortable.

• Do not eat greasy foods before and during a flight, keep it light and healthy. I made this mistake once, early on before I made it one of my rules, and paid for it dearly. I was coming back from Sydney, Australia, and after a 15-hour flight I was hungry. I was waiting for my connecting flight back to Calgary, so I thought it was a good idea to wolf down a burger and fries. Although the burger tasted good, it most definitely was not a good idea! I regretted this decision as I spent most of the 3-hour flight in the bathroom being sick. Since that incident, I’m all about the smoothies and granola bars.

Grilled Peach Salad. Image Courtesy of Ralph Daily

• Wear acupressure wristbands. Every time I am on a plane I wear acupressure wristbands, which are these knitted bands with plastic studs on the inner surface of the wrists. They apply pressure to the acupressure point that controls nausea and you can wear them for as long as you need. These wristbands are great because you aren’t required to ingest anything and there are no side effects. However, make sure you put them on properly because they need to be placed directly on the pressure point in order to be effective.

You can get the wristbands at any drug store for less than $25 and they are reusable. The bands are small and easily transportable, making it convenient to use when you need them.

• Take motion sickness medication. I don’t like to take medication unless I really have to, but since motion sickness can really affect my trip so I will take Gravol on long flights. I find that Gravol works for me, but there are other brands that you could try and always consult with your medical doctor before doing so. Gravol contains dimenhydrinate, which affects the “vomiting area” of the brain to decrease nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

Keep in mind that Gravol, and most other motion sickness medications, make you sleepy and drowsy so if you are traveling with children then you may have a hard time watching them or be careful of the timing and dosage if you have to drive when you get to your destination. Also, one of the side effects of Gravol is dryness in the mouth and throat which is another reason keeping yourself hydrated is so important!

• Drink ginger tea or eat raw ginger. Several studies have shown that ginger is effective in treating nausea and motion sickness. I find that ginger helps settle my stomach, which is always a good thing when you are trying to prevent motion sickness, so I drink ginger tea and add a couple of slices of fresh ginger. There are other things you can take, such as ginger pills, ginger powder, ginger candy (these are always good and easy to travel with), or even Ginger Ale! If you decide to try ginger tea with slices of raw ginger, bring packets of the tea and slices of the raw ginger with you and make the tea after you go through security, that way you don’t have to throw out your tea!

A word of caution is that ginger can thin the blood, so make sure to speak to your doctor if you are on blood thinning medication.

• Do not read on the plane. This is a hard one for me because I am an avid reader and I find that it makes the time go by faster, especially when there aren’t any movies available on the flight. In the past, I found that whenever I did read on the plane I started to feel dizzy and nauseous. I think it is because I’m so focused on my book and it seems as though I’m not moving, but I really am (and quite fast too), and so my senses are thrown off. I’ve now stopped reading on planes and prefer to look up at something so my eyes see what my inner ears sense.

• Face the direction of travel. This tip may seem trite because the seats on a plane only face one way, but often times we turn our heads to talk to the person beside us because it is considered rude not to look at people when you talk to them. I usually deal with this faux pas directly and tell people why I can’t look at them and trust me, most appreciate it because the last thing they want is for me to get sick right next to them. Also, I usually store everything that I need either in my pockets or in the pocket of the seat in front of me as this keeps me from bending down too much.

After all these steps I really just try and relax, directing my attention on something else rather than the motion sickness. I’ve even asked Mike not to talk about it because the more someone talks about it, the more I think about it and stress about it, and it just becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In dealing with motion sickness, the key for me is prevention, prevention, prevention. I find that once I get sick, there is really nothing that I can do but lay down and sleep it off. Being stuck in bed is the last thing I want to happen when I’m on vacation, so I make sure to always follow these steps. If you suffer from motion sickness like I do, give these tips a try and they may make flying just a bit easier for you!

The post Preventing motion sickness . . . with a vomit bag in hand appeared first on Blaze Your Adventure.

Traveling to new places can be both exhilarating an unbelievably rewarding. Conversely, without proper preparation, traveling to a new country or unfamiliar place can also be a source of great anxiety and in the worst case, dangerous. A tiny incident can easily snowball into a disaster. Preparation and research will make all the difference between a mediocre trip to a great one. As well, as much as we would like to bring with us all the conceivable comforts of home, a great trip is one where you’re not bogged down by over-packing.  Freeing clutter, is freeing your mind. One of the tenets of traveling-pack light!

I’ve compiled a list of resources that we feel will help you pick your next dream destination, mitigate the unforeseen, assist in preparations and planning, find the coolest traveling gear, and most importantly, save money. Travel cheap, travel smart, and travel safe.

Many of these sites, I’ve had phenomenal experiences with. Worthy of mention are the sharing recommendations. Not only do they lessen the financial impact of traveling, they also provides fantastic opportunities to meet like minded adventurers facilitating experiences otherwise not found in guidebooks.

Tech/AppsTraveling GuidesTravel BookingAirfare & Transportation

Travel GearAccommodationsVoluntourismCamping & Backpacking

Pet FriendlyTravel InsuranceGreat Blogs

Travel Gear

Part of the preparation process that I thoroughly enjoy is the gearing up. Being a bit of a gear junkie myself, I’m always in search of the most awesome light-weight gadgets and clothing. What’s needed is always determined by destination, activity and desire. You can find anything you need at these sites:

REI Gear

Brick and mortar stores throughout the US with great membership benefits and points program. Great selection of everything you need, and even their in-house brand is high quality. Awesome return policy.

Backcountry

A huge reputable online emporium of gear. . Decent and reasonable return policy on used and unused equipment. Truly a site for the avid adventurer.

Sierra Trading Post

Tons of products at good prices. They primarily sell sports and outdoor gear, but oddly have a section for home goods as well. I’m not complaining.  After 3 months beating down mountains and eating dry food, returning to a decked out home, sounds pretty good to me.

Sim Cards: Roam for Less

As much as we try, it’s hard to completely disconnect from the grid at times. Roam4less has affordable World SIM Cards, and World phones to keep you connected when traveling the wide wide world. You can monitor usage onsite, as well as recharge when necessary. They aren’t the cheapest, but after traveling through SE Asia and Europe using their service, they are certainly the most dependable.

Accommodations

I love hostels and community sharing services. Both are fantastic opportunities to meet new people, and really be part of the vibe that makes travel so fun. For a fraction of the cost of hotels, hostels now offer clean private rooms, food, and free wifi. Although the price range of hostels have slowly begun to creep north, they are still a fraction of what you would pay at hotels. Here are some of my favorite services:

CouchSurfing

An amazing community of people all over the world willing to open their home’s to like minded travelers. Couchsurfing.com is a great way to travel on the cheap while meeting locals and making new friends. They do take safety seriously, so stay informed, but don’t be afraid to use them.

Wwoof (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

Technically this could be considered more voluntourism then it does accommodations, as you do offer part of your day to help around the farm. In exchange though, you are provided food and accommodations. Experiences do differ depending on the host, but personally I had an amazing host that made my Italian immersion complete.

Hostel bookers

Like the name suggests, you can find customer reviewed quality hostels in thousands of destinations worldwide. A very good resource for anyone looking for budget accommodations. They have no booking fees and they take their “lowest price guarantee” quite seriously. I used them religiously while traveling through SE Asia without any hiccups.

Hotels.com

A very dependable hotel booking site. They don’t offer the cheapest results, but their customer service does make up for the price at times, making quite the difference when traveling overseas or when you’re in a pinch. I use them on occasion to supplement my choices.

Home Exchange

I haven’t used this site personally, but I really like the concept. Basically the company helps facilitate a “home swap” with other travelers. There is a monthly fee to be a member. Again, I’ve never used them personally, so I can’t honestly share any relevant experience.

Hostelling International

A membership based hostelling group with destinations worldwide. Hostels in this group do need to meet minimum standards of safety, quality and location. Not absolutely necessary, but certainly doesn’t hurt to have additional budget options especially when traveling with family.

Airfare/Transportation

This resource is certainly subjective. Wherever you may go, there is no limit on how to travel or how to get from point A to point B. Within each country, options abound. I’ve listed the main resources for macro planning.

Kayak

A meta search engine for flights, cars, hotels and even vacation packages on trips originating from the US. Great service for quick comparison shopping across multiple companies.

Momondo

Another great search engine to include when planning your travels. Use in conjunction with other search engines to increase your choices and chance to find the best price.

Skyscanner

One of the cheaper flight, cars and hotel search engines I’ve used. Results are noticeably cheaper, providing options across major carriers and budget carriers.

Vayama

An international fare specialists. Like all, travel sites, you can search for every facet of travel you need, but Vayama touts themselves as being uniquely focused on international travel. I have seen significantly cheaper fares when compared to other search engines.

Airfare Watchdog

Like the name suggests, this site monitors US airlines for changes in ticket price and deals. Be sure to sign up for their fare alerts and newsletter. You can never get enough information.

Skiplagged

This site has a very interesting business model, and really worth watching. With some clever planning and flexibility you can definitely find significantly cheaper flights. The service takes advantage of “hidden city ticketing” whereby your target destination is enroute to the final destination. Since ticket prices are based on market forces and not necessarily distance traveled, skiplagged takes this under consideration and finds the best prices. There are risks though.  So read through their policies and stay informed.

Rail Europe

Europe is best traveled by train. With tracks crisscrossing all across the continent, you’re almost certainly going to find yourself on a train more than once. With a rail pass, your life not only gets easier, but you’ll save tons of money for your beer budget. On my 4 month trip through Europe, I saved easily hundreds of dollar; and you will too!

Man in seat 61

For those who love traveling via train and ferry, this website by Mark Smith is the definitive site for all things rail. An incredible resource to find routes, ticket prices, times, and status anywhere in the world. A must for the overland traveler.

Travel Insurance

World nomads

Covers probably any destination and activity you can think of. Policies are exceptionally accommodating, allowing claims while still traveling. Company also has worldwide service for emergencies, and also covers your gear! Also did I mention the traveling community loves them? Read the fine print though. No two policies are ever the same.

Traveling Guides

Guidebooks (Lonely Planet)

Personally I use Lonely Planet. However, there are literally hundreds of guide books to choose from, and I can’t honestly say one is better than the other. Preference would be wholly dependent on your style of travel, the writing style of the guide book itself, and cost.

Reason I do like the Lonely Planet series: they have a very casual and easy to follow style of writing; they offer great suggestions for the backpacker; they include cultural expectations such as tipping etiquette; and they have individual destinations or compilations of regions in digital format. Their city guides also have detailed maps, including suggestions on modes of travels to the most far reaching places.

But as with all guidebooks take it merely as a loose framework and find your adventure outside of it.

Vayable

What better way to learn about a destination than from a friendly local? With Vayable you can request a trip from a local “Vayable insider” to cultivate an experience of a lifetime. All guides are non-commercial and range from writers, historians students to farmers, dancers and more. Best of all, you’ll make new friends in the process.

Voluntourism

Wwoof (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

From their website: WWOOF organizations link people who want to volunteer on organic farms or smallholdings with people who are looking for volunteer help. WWOOF aims to provide volunteers with first-hand experience in organic and ecologically sound growing methods, to help the organic movement, and to let volunteers experience life in a rural setting or a different country. WWOOF volunteers (‘WWOOFers’) generally do not receive financial payment. The host provides food, accommodation, and opportunities to learn, in exchange for assistance with farming or gardening activities.

http://grassrootsvolunteering.org/

Vacation Booking companies

Intrepid travels

STA travels

AirTreks

Camping Resources

Finding campgrounds

Unless you’re one of the fortunate few who already have their favorite “secret” campsite hideaway, finding the perfect campsite can be tantamount to mission impossible. Lucky for you, I’ve put together a guide “camping preparedness, along with the below resources:

National Park Service

Great site providing a broad overview of all National Parks managed by the Federal National Park Service. Regular updates on weather and park conditions are also included.

State Park Websites

Each state manages their own parks and accordingly have their own websites and policies. I’ve prepared the page, “state parks” consolidating all their websites by regions. Go here for detailed information on fees and regulations.

Campsitephotos.com

One of the biggest problems of choosing a campsite is trying to pick one based on a campsite number. Campsitephotos.com combats this problem through their huge library of actual campsite photos. Organized by park and site number, you can easily reference the precise site on campsite reservation portals. Public and RV campgrounds also included.

Reservations

Reservations are highly recommended during high season at most National and State parks, and can be made at either of these 2 sites:

Reserve America
Recreation.gov

Hiking Trails

Backpacking is quickly becoming one of the most popular styles of camping. Offering unparalleled scenic vistas and solitude, the journey is sometimes more rewarding than the destinations. Finding the perfect trail that satisfies all your objectives can be very daunting. With hundreds of crisscrossing paths throughout the US, knowing trail information in advance is worth it’s weight in gear.

Everytrail.com

Day hikes and overnight hikes galore! From national parks to city hikes, this site has it all. Great functionality including offline TOPO maps for smartphone users. You can also create and share your own hiking experience with the community.

Videowaypoint.com

This site is an awesome idea that incorporates our love for watching and sharing videos! Videos are of great quality and provide visual answers to the questions we’re all asking. Somewhat limited in their inventory of available trails, what they do offer is still top notch! I’m going to enjoy watching these guys expand their offerings.

Trails.com

A bit more commercial than the previous recommendation, this site is very sleek and provides ample information and detailed guides. You do have to sign up for a free account to view the guides.

14ers.com

Literally a ton of information, with a forum to boot. Site navigation can be a little overwhelming, but information provided is exceptionally valuable. Make sure to add this site as part of your planning repertoire.

Trailjournals.com

I like this site because It’s real people sharing real trips. Although some of the entries are not as detailed as some of the other sites, they offer a practical, and often entertaining overview on what can be expected in the wild. Every experience is beautiful and unique, and it’s spirit is captured in these personal entries.

Americanhiking.org

Dog Friendly destinations/Dog Friendly guides

Some trips by their nature are not conducive to bringing along fido. However, there are times when fido needs a vacation just as much as you do, and bringing them along becomes a requirement, not an option. Here are some links that aggregate dog friendly destinations and facilities:

Dogfriendly.com

Fantastic resource that functions better than it looks. Don’t get thrown off by the “directory” feel of the site as it offers valuable information for dog friendly hotels, dog city guides, parks, attractions and more across the US and the world.

Bringfido.com

Another awesome resource site for all-things-pets incorporated in a familiar interface. Bringfido providers an additional service where you can speak to a Pet expert who will assist in planning Rover’s ultimate getaway. Services are worldwide, with an existing community to bounce questions and ideas off of.

Hikewithyourdog.com

For the wilderness aficionado, hikewithyourdog.com compiles a list of pet friendly trails across the State and National parks in the US. The site is very bare bones, but a good place to start in your research.

Pettravel.com

Need more information? Want to do some comparison shopping? Pettravel.com, providers yet even more info to ensure your pets are happy and well cared for. They also have a Pet travel store to gear out your pup.

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