All the Baggage Guidelines You Need

Every so often the airlines change their baggage allowances. This means not all carry-on bags actually qualify as carry-on size, but it generally depends on the airline as to how flexible they are. AirFrance is notoriously strict about bag size and weight. If you want to travel carry-on-only, it can make it a bit of a challenge, but that's okay, because you know I got you covered when it comes to packing light and teaching you how to mix and match. 

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You can always do laundry when you travel, so the less you take, the easier it will be to carry and get around, plus the airlines are never going to be sad that you just have a small bag. Take the minimum you can (I always plan out my travel wardrobe around my schedule and make sure I have incorporated time to do my laundry into my itinerary). It makes traveling a lot more convenient when you have fewer things to worry about and fewer decisions you have to make. 

 Do you travel with just a carry-on? If so, what are some of your best tips for packing light?

Getting Salty Without the Actual Beach

Here in Portland we don’t get a lot of sun, even outside of Winter. Much of the time you go to the beach, you still have to wear long sleeves or a rain jacket. Going to the beach can be super-relaxing and gives your body much-needed vitamins. Mostly I like to go to the beach to walk along the sand and then go shopping, but my husband likes to go and attempt to swim, then run back and lie in whatever sun there might be, which usually isn’t much. So, instead of wasting 3 hours driving to and from the beach, we have found a new way to visit the beach throughout the whole year: salt caves.

Salt caves are rooms that are made of salt from the Dead Sea. The floor is covered in salt and feels like walking on the beach. The salt is a natural ionizer, which pulls impurities out of the air and the minerals permeate the air to help cure ailments like eczema, acne, allergies and respiratory issues like asthma. A regular session is 45-50 minutes and is the equivalent of 3 days at the beach. What a great way to soak up all that goodness in a short amount of time!

You go in and sit in a lounge chair and they turn down the lights for you to relax. Generally, there are only a few people in the room at a time, and in some places, you can have your own cave to yourself. I spend my time blogging on my phone or checking email and, even though I’m technically working, it allows me to concentrate and unwind at the same time. You can sit in the salt if you want or just dig your toes in (as you remove your shoes before entering). Of course, some we've been to require you to wear socks or booties.

They keep the room comfortable, so it’s almost like being at the beach. It is suggested that you wear loose clothing in order to get the full effects of the salty air. This allows you to wear warm weather gear to give you the beachiest experience. After you leave you will feel completely relaxed and after several visits you may start to feel the difference. I have naturally oily skin, but found it evened out after my visits. I also felt like I breathed a bit better – being a lifelong sufferer of allergies. Even if you aren’t trying to relieve any ailments, a salt cave visit can be cheaper than the beach and can also be found in places where there is no beach. It’s like a mini vacation! Look for one in your area.

The one we used to visit in Portland closed and a new one opened, but it is part of a spa and only open for salty goodness Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, making it hard to visit when you have a job. Because of this, we pretty much only visit salt rooms while on vacation and have been toying with the idea of putting in our own salt room in the backyard. It would be like a vacation every time I went inside. 

Have you ever visited a salt cave/room?

5 Ways to Travel Healthy

Do you ever get sick when you travel? This used to happen to me every time I went anywhere. It's a total bummer, but I've finally gotten over that and learned to take care of myself before leaving, while flying and during my trip, so that I can make the most of my time and not be all gross and sickly when I'm away from home. 

If you worry about getting a bug or picking up all those foreign germs everywhere you go, here are some of my top tips to keep healthy so you can enjoy yourself.

Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is one of the first rules of travel. If you are constantly on the go, you are going to get tired and your body won’t have the chance to recharge itself. Want to hate everyone and everything on your trip? Then sleep as little as possible and try pack as much as you can into the time you have. 

Drink more water

Instead of alcohol, carry around a bottle of water and drink as much as possible. A hydrated body is a happy body. At least drink as much as you would if you were at home, if not more. Travel has a way of sucking all the moisture from you, especially on long plane rides, so if you don’t like plain water, do what I do and load up on those ice tea packets from Lipton or Crystal Light.

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Antibacterial wipes, spray or gel

When you travel, I can guarantee you that germs are everywhere! From the escalator handrail to the airplane tray table. You can’t always get to a place to wash your hands, or you may want to wipe something down, so bringing any of these is a good idea. I opt for wipes, because you can use them on anything and they can just go in your carry-on instead of your 3-1-1 bag.

Don't forget to eat

Sometimes you’re having such a great time you just plain forget to eat. Not me. I’m hungry all the time on vacation. But if you’re not like me – like my husband – you will be so engrossed in what you are seeing/doing, you totally don’t eat until you are so hungry you could eat your own foot. Plan meals into your schedule and go even if you don’t feel like eating. A regular schedule is important and even if you don’t eat much, it’s better than skipping a meal altogether. 

It also helps if you don’t overeat, which I am likely to do on vacation. If I know I’m not starving, then I get Eric to split something with me, because we can always grab a nibble later if we get hungry again. 

And don't forget to try to squeeze in some healthy options. I try to get as many veggies in as possible, because surviving on a diet of fried foods and cheese aren't going to make you feel that great at the end of a vacation, or even by the middle. Veggies give you energy and help you from getting sick.

Plan for downtime

A combination of downtime and getting enough sleep will surely keep you on top of your game when traveling. You’ll feel better and you’ll have more energy. I know it’s exciting to do as much as possible. I pack my days full of fun things to do, but I also make sure we have time to relax. Traveling in the fall and winter forces you to slow down, because the hours for shops and attractions are shorter. 

If everything closes at 6pm, you really only have a choice of late-night bars or dinner and laundry before bed. I always opt for going back to my hotel/apartment and chilling for a bit, then changing clothes, going to eat and coming back to do email, read a book or play a game. You will notice how much more rested you feel and when you get up the next morning – NOT at the crack of dawn, because things don’t open until 9 or 10am – you’ll be more ready to start your day.

Comment below and let us know how do you keep healthy when you travel: