Where to Stay When Travelling
Backpackers Hostel Pool
Since starting research for my next trip, I have had enlightenment thrust upon me!
Always the cheapskate, like most people I search for the best bargains that fit within my criteria. Not the least being accommodation costs as all travelers know take a large amount of a planned budget but with some creative scheming and well thought out plans these costs can be trimmed accordingly. Along with accommodation costs though, are incidentals like bags, tours, even toilet stops, particularly in Europe.
Accommodation searches are much helped by reviews on some sites, by people who have been there and actually experienced that establishment. Some people on forums have mentioned that poor reviews are not necessarily shown, thus giving a somewhat biased view of a hotel-hostel- or bed & breakfast businesses. Another way to get the place that suits you and your budget is looking closely at the location. Ask yourself whether you are willing to trade the price for the location? Saving money with a central location that allows you to walk and see the sights without having to pay for taxis or some form of transport. Cheapest is not necessarily the best for cleanliness, comfort or position but if your budget is limited your accomodation choices are reduced, but with flare you can sleep like a king.
We discovered this quite accidentally after booking a hotel in the US, we later found it reviewed as one of the top 10 dirtiest hotels in the country! It had changed hands and we did our best to cancel the booking. Obviously, panic set in so we gritted our teeth and duly arrived to find that the previous owners had asked the current owners to upgrade us. We enjoyed a huge suite for a low price that suited our needs beautifully. It made our stay there a memorable one.
While I am comfortable staying in hostels, many people do not realize most will have rooms that may suit an individual, family or group of people. Be aware that some will have age restrictions whether for children, some will be only for the student traveler, and yet others have an age limit restricting those of us in the upper age bracket. Hostels do save money but you cannot expect grand hotel facilities on a budget. Hostels also have reviews that can be read and applied with some accuracy.
A mistake some travelers make is limiting their accommodation choices to hotels and hostels. Research has shown there are many other choices from couch surfing where you can crash at a reciprocal couch owner’s place, to staying in convents or castles in Europe. Convents in Italy are clean and very popular so booking is necessary. There are private homes where people are made to feel welcome, and experience the hospitality of another culture. These are worthwhile as some include meals along with the addition of local knowledge and advice. This has the advantages of getting to see some off the beaten track sights, which can be the highlight of a journey.
How to Enjoy Air Travel
Love Modern Life!
Before you even reach the boarding stage there are things that you may like to consider to enhance your experience on an aircraft and on your journey. Start with your attitude, when traveling there are sometimes events that are out of your control, take the weather, traffic problems, airport delays, any number of reasons, there are security issues as well as customs to negotiate.
Sometimes you just have to let go and go with the flow. Raising your blood pressure from stress, and taking out frustrations on other people who to all intents and purposes may not be able to change any thing is a pointless and damaging process, mostly to yourself and those around you!
Maintaining some control is achievable by becoming proactive and working out what you can control. Confirming flights both a week before, and twenty-four hours prior to your trip will ease concerns. Staff will give a guide as to check in times, you will need to have all documentation ready with correct dates and times. You will have weighed your luggage and be aware of how much you are allowed to carry on board with you and what needs to be checked into the airline as baggage for the hold. This varies on what airline you are traveling with and in which direction you are traveling.
Medications for you or family members may need a doctor’s certificate. Having been the victim of many DVT’s I cannot travel with out having medication syringes with me at all times. There has not been a problem looking like a junkie as long as the information is available to border officials. Always have medications with you in case your checked baggage goes missing or is sent onto another destination. Yes, it does happen although not as frequently as it seemed to in the past.
As a solo older age traveler, I have learnt to be careful with bags. I travel with a bag that I can manage and lift easily, without having to be dependent on others. In today’s world I doubt there are many travelers who do not have a bag with wheels, they are a godsend. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate help on some occasions! A sore back and muscles make for unpleasant travel companions.
Many people handle their bookings online themselves these days. Prior to making a firm booking with an airline, check their seating and its suitability for your flight. The space between seats, the pitch of the seats, there are many variations some of which will be comfortable and some that may spoil your journey. Length of journey is also important. While you can put up with uncomfortable on short, cheap trips, a long haul flight-sitting bolt upright in small seating is a disaster. I prefer bulkhead seats, as there is generally more room for taller people. Unfortunately, that is where the baby cradles are located, but if there are seats available worth a try. If you do not want to be disturbed, avoid seats at the back of the aircraft close to kitchens and toilets. Despite being close to the kitchens, often serving the meals last to these seats. Avoid a seat with a back that is close to the wall, as you will be unable to lean it into the reclining position.
Do you suffer the likelihood of frequent toilet visits? Choosing an aisle seat is a good choice, for both you and your fellow passengers. Planning to get some shuteye, a window seat may fill the bill allowing you to rest your head against the window. Traveling with children, the central bulkhead seats are probably the best, with room for kids to move and the inability to kick the seats in front can relieve the constant stress of worrying about upsetting others. Although when I have been traveling, it seems some parents really do not care about the comfort of others.
Is it Possible to Avoid Altzheimers?
Dementia
In an effort to delay the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the authorities suggest that a closer look at diets, foods, and lifestyles is worth considering. We accept that as we age we get the occasional loss of memory, take the car keys for example, I think we have all wandered around looking for them! In order to work correctly the brain requires certain foods, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. More attention is paid today into the activity of certain foods providing the research into the dementia diseases. People living longer are facing an increased likelihood of suffering these diseases.
Recent research is shows a diet with certain ingredients assists in the improvement of memory processes.
Omega 3 is a well-known fish ingredient linked to reducing the risks of dementia or at the very least improving brain health. Not only is it useful for brain health it is also beneficial for improving cardiovascular health. Eating more fish or omega 3 capsules ensures a consistent supply of this nutrient is available for the body’s use.
Folates are another major ingredient that should be included in a healthy diet. Memory failing you, suggests that you are likely to be low in folates. Eat asparagus, broccoli, cranberry juice, liver to up your intake of folate. Planning to be a mother, suggests women take folate tablets prior to becoming pregnant, and certainly over the first trimester of pregnancy. Give the foetus brain the best possible start in life and one that will carry over into later life.
Choline in the form of eggs, soybeans and nuts has a marked effect on boosting memory in older people. Tests have shown that ensuring the addition of these to the older person’s diet, minor memory lapses are improved. Fluids like water must be included every day to maintain the hydration of the body. Dehydration affects the overall performance of the brain and the body’s cells.
Anti oxidants and their effects on our bodies is more widely researched today. The capacity of the body to produce antioxidants to reduce the damage of free radicals is a limited one. Foods with antioxidants include blueberries, red bush teas, and cranberries even turmeric, are useful in limiting the damage.
Homocysteine is a natural substance found in our blood. High levels of this may increase the likelihood of Alzheimers, or dementia. B vitamins in a diet particularly B6 and B12 reduce the high levels of homocysteine and may delay the onset of dementia in some cases. A diet consisting of fruit, nuts, vegetables, fish, and chicken is associated with reducing the risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Diets while extremely helpful with Alzheimer’s and dementia diseases, there are physical
means of assisting the protection the foods provide. Keeping your brain busy and interested in life is another means of delaying or avoiding dementia. Brain games using words or Sudoko can challenge the brain and the cells therein. Travel and social interactions are part of most people lives, but pay attention to them as we age. It is easy to slip into a mind numbing routine and lose the ability not to be interested in social activities. With out the constant interaction of our families, our social network buddies the stimulation of the brain cells starts to drop, starting the slow decline in those with a genetic disposition to the dementia diseases.
Achieving Stress free travel
Its all in the Planning
Essential planning out of the way, (I think it is actually half the fun,) preparing to set out and really enjoy yourself does require a little organization.
Stress is already making you short tempered as you sort out work and family commitments that need taking care of while you are away. Make a list of the important items or events that have to be taken care of; by thinking ahead, you will not have cause to worry on your trip. Dealing with an agency? Check your documentation, tickets, flights, and sundry arrangements. Agencies have been known to get it wrong, if you have organized it yourself online, there is only one person to blame!
Exercise and healthy living relieve stress and generally being as healthy as you can make yourself will make it a lot easier traveling. Are you traveling to destinations that may require vaccinations? Your Doctor will be able to advise you, but they do not know everything so check online, within forums, specific country sites with health information of the kind you require. Work out your itinerary so that you can maximize your relaxation and ‘me time’. If you physically want to relax, choosing a tour that is constantly on the move or physical adventures that are not you is not the way to go.
Trying to budget? Cheaper is not always the way to go, research the finer details of the deal and ascertain if it suits your pocket. Stress from cheaper deals may cause sleepless nights if you find yourself in circumstances out of your control. Cheaper airlines for instance, can cancel, suffer delays, and have inferior services, which if you were not aware of could be stressful and upsetting. Are the tickets refundable or suitable for exchanging if something crops up? How much traveling time is it going to eat up of your holiday? What safeguards are there if the company goes bust while you are away, for example? Changing days or times can benefit you on occasion.
Check and check again, ask for written confirmation of all your bookings, flights, and travel insurance. For those of us traveling solo confirm hotel or hostel prices for your accommodation. Solo traveling brings with it single supplements and some discrimination in some cases. Bus drivers have expressed their dislike of single people in tours because they take up a whole seat. Have you noticed that people are unlikely to sit next to you if you are a solitary traveler! Think about the local arrival and departure times of your flights, buses, and tours. Will they suit if you have traveled over night and find yourself arriving at 4am in a strange city, with a foreign language, and no hotel check in times until 2pm! Have you allowed enough time for transfers between stops? It is very stressful depending on trains to make a specified time in order to connect with another.
There is no such thing as a perfect holiday, realistically there will be hiccups along the way, the answer is to relax and just go with the flow, and everything eventually works its way out of a situation!
Traveling on Your Own
Kerikeri Basin, New Zealand
The loneliness if you allow it can become a problem if you do not speak the language of the country you are visiting. I have discovered a smile goes a long way, with ineffective attempts at speaking the language! It helps if you are outgoing and naturally friendly as many people are happy to help if they can. Other solo travelers are glad to meet like-minded individuals and share experiences, sights and advice. Book your first nights accommodation before you arrive in a new city or town so you have somewhere to go and refocus with out panicking!
Backpacking around Australia one expects English to be the main language, but in the hostels I found many French and German speakers. A great conversation starter just asking where they were from, and laughs as I tried to remember languages learnt over 50 years ago A flexibility in your plans can be serendipitous in many ways, from going to sights mentioned by others, new experiences in something you would never have considered.
Traveling solo means, you do not have any one to watch your bags and gear when nature calls, or you want a shower, so make plans to cover this eventuality. Most hostels do have a means to store luggage safely, the train stations have the familiar storage lockers. The trains and bus station lockers are very useful for leaving luggage for the day while sightseeing if you are there for just a day. Should the worst come to the worst; take bags into the toilets, if there is enough room. Vulnerability to the lower elements is a very real threat to the solo traveler. The possibility of pickpockets is real whether you are alone or with a group. Staying in a hotel in Rome, we had one in the hotel lobby! It pays to have a discreet money belt, not one that shouts tourist and a solo one at that!
Simplify security by blending in with the locals and not giving the impression you are a rich tourist. For women it may be not wearing posh jewelry, or for anyone pulling out wads of currency in full view of others. Sleeping overnight on trains or in hostels the safest place for small and or expensive items can be as simple as the bottom of your sleeping bag should you have one?
Treat new acquaintances with a modicum of caution, most people are genuinely nice folks but you can have your trust destroyed in minutes if you make the wrong choice.
It is easy becoming involved in a scam that may hurt you or your wallet.
Keeping in touch with the folks back home on a regular basis goes with out saying, be it by snail mail, email or phone. Even going as far as arranging a check in time/date with them, should you consider it necessary? Never leave home with out leaving a list of where you will be or expect to be on any given date and if possible with contact details. Always keep copies of your travel documents in two places, so if the worst happens you are able to produce evidence of identification, insurances and make your life easier should you have to replace anything.
