Ten best tips for healthy travel

Seana’s Healthy Travel tips

Follow these 10 handy tips to stay healthy while traveling —you’ll feel better and will have more energy to enjoy your holiday!  

by Seana Treavor

Snack Smartly
Bring healthy snacks and avoid the junk. String cheese, fruit, nuts/seeds, veggies and guacamole are all easy to eat and nutritious.  

Hydrate
Take your water bottles with you and refill them often. Avoid sodas which pack unnecessary sugar and can actually be dehydrating.

Stretch
Move frequently (at least a few times a day) and change your seat position. Do some easy stretches for hip flexors, lower back and neck/shoulders. Don’t pass up on those hikes, either!

Protect
Slather on the sunscreen (SPF 30+) at regular intervals to keep skin safe. Wear high quality sunglasses that are rated for UVA, UVB and HEV light. Polarized lenses help cut out glare, also.

Move
Bring sneakers and portables like resistance bands or a yoga mat and load your device with workouts for on-the-go fitness. 

Layer
Get comfy and layer loose, light clothing to avoid chafing and to be prepared for a variety of temperatures.  

Squeeze
Compression socks aren’t just for elite athletes — they’re perfect for travel, and help prevent achy or swollen lower legs.

Eat (mostly) clean
It’s always tempting to indulge when traveling; moderation and portion control is key when yielding to tempting delights.

Sleep
You’ll be more present and will enjoy your time more if you’re rested and fresh for your activities.  Take advantage of the rolling motion of the bus and catch a few naps to supplement your night rest.  

Flex

Having a schedule is a great way to keep your trip organized, but when the timing doesn’t work out, stay flexible and steer clear of the added stress that can come with focusing too much on your trip goals.  Enjoy the journey!

Looking for a unique Valentine's day idea?

I used to dread traveling on buses travel and viewed it as just a mode of transportation until I took a trip that would forever change the way I felt about bus travel. It was on a Green Tortoise "Western Trail" trip that went from San Francisco, down the coast to Los Angeles, over to Las Vegas and back to San Francisco.

The insides of the Tortoise buses have all been custom built and instead of conventional bus seating there are couches, dinettes and even overhead bunks to sleep in. The style of travel is different - it's social, activity oriented, alternative . . .and incredible fun! You share a trip on a bus where you can sit next to and across from other travelers . . .well, that creates a unique group dynamic - in a very short amount of time you feel like you've been hanging out with your new friends for ages.

Since it's not a "point a to b" type of trip you end up in "off the beaten track" areas that you've never heard of. Camping and cooking outdoors are the norm in beautiful settings by the ocean . . . in the mountains . . . in a national park. And when we stop there are choices of optional activities like backpacking, horseback riding, hiking, whitewater rafting, jeep tours, kayaking . . . or just plain ol' relaxing!

On the Western Trail trip we toured the gorgeous coastline of California, got serenaded by the bus driver who sang and played blues guitar by the campfire, kayaked in San Simeon cove, watched the bronzed beach bunnies in Santa Monica, scrambled rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, then hiked in Zion after partying all night in Las Vegas. WOW. My muscles (and liver) still ache from the memory of it all!

The trips are nothing short of amazing - the camaraderie, exotic and stunning scenery, the physical exertion of a hike in a magical setting . . . somehow it all feels like I'm home when I'm on a trip, like I was meant to be there traveling among my new friends. And yes, in a magical moment that was created 7 years ago on a Green Tortoise trip . . . I met the love of my life! (who happens to be snoring right now as I romantically envision our meeting) In the travels I've done on these trips, I've met many people who I now consider to be lifelong friends - and I have met couples who have fallen deeply in love, become engaged, gotten married and some who have had children - all after meeting on a Green Tortoise bus!

Of course there are the spontaneous "vacation romances" that are pretty regular, too. . .

Over the Valentine's day weekend, the budget-priced adventure will be from San Francisco to Death Valley (and back of course!) It's a perfect alternative for single folks and couples alike . . . where else can you be guaranteed to sleep with someone on the first night, after all!

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures/death.valley.national.park.html

The Green Tortoise is based in San Francisco, California and has been in business for over 35 years. They operate 9 full size, customized coaches on budget adventure camping trips to Alaska, all through the United States, in Mexico and Central America.

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html

415 956 7500 ext 1

Call and get on the next adventure!