Air comfort

Traveling can be both an experience as well as a nightmare for some. However a few considerations and planning can make the trip a lot more comfortable & reduce the stress placed on the mind & body for the duration of the flight.

Before the journey Consult your doctor before traveling especially for long-haul journeys that can be 5hours or more. Consider medications and inoculations that may be required for the place where you will be traveling. Eat light and sensibly before the flight as your digestive system slows down during a long flight.

The airport

• Arrive early to allow yourself plenty of time to check-in, shop and reach the gate. A rush to catch the flight can place the body under stress especially when taking a long flight.
• Travel light by carrying only the essentials based on your journey and requirements. Avoid heavy bags that only place your body under stress.

Stay healthy while flying

Aircrafts can act like incubators for germs and their dry & cramped conditions can make flying uncomfortable for a few. Here are some tips on how to maintain your well being while flying. The feeling of headaches, sluggishness, light-headedness, sore throats, coughing, dry lips and dry or watery eyes are in fact due to the elbow-to-elbow seating and lack of fresh air

• Drink plenty of fluids (preferably water) before, during, and after your flight. Staving off dehydration will also decrease your risk of getting jet lag.
• Wear glasses instead of contact lenses as they may dry out and cause eye irritation.
• Some moisturizer & lip balm will help you to combat the dry air in the flight cabin.
• Comfort yourself by loosening your clothing, avoid any anything pressing against your body that may constrict blood circulation.
• Use a lumbar support whenever needed as these are provided on most flights.
• Keep the blood flowing by avoiding sitting idle for long periods of time. Do some light exercises to encourage circulation and help reduce muscle fatigue and swelling in the feet.
• Wear slippers or no shoes at all - not only will freeing your feet increase your comfort, but also circulation in your feet.
• Take frequent walks up and down the aisles & try to keep your legs elevated while sitting.

• Get some fresh air especially if you're on a connecting flight and have sufficient time in between connections.
• A hot shower helps to clear your head after you land.
• Exercise by taking a brisk walk

Jet Lag

Traveling both directions westward or eastward can be problematic. There are ways of minimising the effects of jet lag:

• Adjust your sleeping and eating patterns to the new time zone a couple days before your flight--usually one day per time zone.
• Scheduling overnight stopovers isn't a bad idea when crossing multiple time zones. So breaking up the trip helps the body adjust more readily.
• Drink plenty of fluids, keeping yourself as hydrated as possible. While trying to knock yourself out with a couple glasses of wine or wake yourself up with coffee may seem like good ideas while flying, think again--alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the body, making your even more tired when you arrive at your destination.

Unhealthy to Travel?

Passengers with the following conditions (some of them extreme, mind you) should seriously consider postponing flying or should not fly at all:

• Heart attack patients within the last month, a stroke within last two weeks, severe high blood pressure or any other conditions that weaken the heart, you should seriously consider postponing travel.
• Severe respiratory illnesses in people should keep them on land.
• If you've had abdominal surgery within two weeks of your flight, consider postponing your trip. You should not fly if you have acute diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, acute esophageal viruses, acute gastroenteritis, or an intestinal virus.
• If you have epilepsy you shouldn't fly unless your condition is under sound control or you know that you'll only be flying at altitudes below 8,000 feet.
• Severe anemia or hemophilia patients with active bleeding shouldn't fly.
• Pregnant women - if you're more than eight months (or 240 days) pregnant or if miscarriage is a serious threat, you shouldn't fly.
• Newly born babies (during first few days after birth) shouldn't fly.

Accommodation

The single most important need for all travelers landing into a destination is the need for accommodation that suits their needs and meets the requirements – be it for when on holiday or on business. Here are some important things for you to keep in mind

Information

• Review the hotel description to get an understanding of the place you are intending to stay at. Get a note of their physical location that will help you ascertain the hotel being centrally located, accessible and offers you the minimum of comfort features as desired.
• Put your requests forward when booking the hotel and room selected. Requests like a non-smoking floor room, sea-view rooms and baby-cots are made sometimes made available only if a request is made to the hotel
• Seek for hotel features and amenities as this would highlight what is available and how it can meet your requirements as well as that of your family.

Cash or credit?

The rule of thumb nowadays is carry as little cash as possible. Instead use travelers cheques, ATM cards or credit cards.

• Travelers cheques are still some say wise to carry than ATM or credit cards and are available at your local bank. If they are lost or stolen you can always report them over a toll-free number to inform them of the incident & get your money reimbursed.
• ATM cards and the no. of ATM machines available around the world are growing in high numbers and therefore making access easier for all. Most of the machines are affiliated with the Master Card/Cirrus or Visa/Plus system and you can withdraw money conveniently
• Credit cards offer fairly decent rates of exchange, can be replaced if stolen or lost and are widely accepted as the form of payment by the masses nowadays. Most cards offer their users member benefits when spending so is a good thing to always carry it around