We often pack some snacks or prefer to buy them from outside while planning a trip. However, you can always choose to stay healthy and on the right track by following these six tips wherever you go.

Travelling and eating well almost sounds like placing two contradictory opinions together. Many people believe that it’s okay to indulge when they are on vacation or a trip, and thus would stop at the first fast food joint they would come across on the highway.

Even the best-laid plans to eat healthily might be derailed if you eat out frequently. The difficulties exist whether you are starving at the airport or are enticed by quick food restaurants on the motorway.

Additionally, while experimenting with new foods and easing up on your diet is recommended, our healthy eating practices don’t have to be fully abandoned. Here are some suggestions for maintaining a healthy diet when travelling.

1) Always search for something healthy

Even though your favourite fast food joints might be beckoning you to step inside and relish a burger or two, pay a visit to a convenience store instead and look for healthy items such as a granola bar, a packet of yoghurt or a salad box. You might not feel like having it, but trust us, you will thank yourself later for making the right choice.

2) Stick to your routine

Unless absolutely necessary, have your meals in your usual time period. Visiting a different place might entice you to try a variety of food options but you have to be careful of what you are putting on your plate. Be mindful about your portions and make sure to include lots of nutritious items as well.

3) Always carry healthy snacks

If you are going on a long road trip, you will always get a bit hungry at one point in time. Instead of buying packaged items, just carry something healthy, such as fruits, snack bars or yoghurt to satiate your stomach and your taste buds.

4) Keeping yourself hydrated

Always carry lots of refillable bottles with you while planning a trip to avoid dehydration or unnecessary junk cravings you might pick up on the way. If at all you have the urge to step out for something deep-fried or any other instant food items, just take some sips and you will find your cravings slowly melt away.

5) Savour your food

Whenever you are having food, instead of eating it mindlessly, take some time to devour each morsel. Eating slowly can help fill your stomach faster while being mindful of how much you are actually feeding yourself.

6) Keep one day aside for a special meal

Practice eating healthy 6 days a week and indulging in something delicious on the seventh. You can assign a cheat day for yourself and stay true to it to stay healthy and in shape always.

Jet lag can mean it is harder to enjoy your destination on arrival, but there are a number of ways you can lessen its impact.

No matter the flight, jet lag can really make you feel wiped out when you finally arrive at your destination.

Whether you are off on a city break or heading to an exotic locale, travelling long haul is always exciting.

But what can be a lot less thrilling is the inevitable jet lag, which can really make you feel wiped out when you finally arrive at your destination.

While there’s no way to avoid jet lag entirely, ex-airline executive Andrew Hayward, in partnership with SkyParkSecure, shares some small ways you can mitigate the effects.

Type of plane matters

Different planes fly at different altitudes, meaning the cabins are pressurised differently – this can have a huge impact on jet lag.

“Travel on Boeing 787 Dreamliners or Airbus A350s if possible as the cabins are pressurised to a lower altitude (6000 ft as opposed to 8000 ft),” he advises. “This can have a massive impact on how hard jet lag hits you.”

Consider seat choice

Many of us may prefer to sit at the front of the plane for ease of getting on or off or being closer to the toilet – but it could also be beneficial in avoiding the worst effects of jet lag as the freshest air enters at the cabin nose.

“The seat choice can also affect how easy it is to get comfortable and get some sleep – seats at the back can be more uncomfortable due to some longer planes suffering from ‘self-induced oscillation’ – meaning one of the best places to sit is near the wing root for the most stable ride. For larger planes, this tends to be the middle of the aircraft,” Hayward says.

Avoid alcohol and coffee

Whilst it may be tempting to drink coffee to stay awake or treat yourself to a tipple to celebrate your long-awaited trip, caffeine and alcohol can actually make you feel dehydrated.

“Instead – focus on drinking plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and save the drinks for once you land,” the expert explains.

Choose your flight times carefully

Making sure you’re prepared prior to your flight is important too – change your watch before boarding to reflect the time once you land.

“If you’re landing at night, try to avoid sleeping so you can rest once getting to your destination – vice versa if it’s the other way around,” Hayward says.

Pack the essentials

Planes are the best for sleep, so if you are wanting to get some shut-eye on your journey be sure to pack earplugs, travel pillows, eye covers and noise-cancelling headphones in your carry-on bag.

“On the other hand – if you’re planning on staying awake for the entire journey – make sure you bring plenty to keep you entertained,” adds Hayward.

Whether you’re spending the summer in Europe or embracing a South Island ski season, capturing photographs is the ultimate way to create memories and share your travels with loved ones.

Thanks to the ever-improving quality of smartphone cameras, you don’t have to spend thousands on a DSLR camera to take stunningly detailed photos and high-definition videos.

However, there are a few tips and tricks to know if you want your travel snaps to stand out. Herald Travel asks talented photographer and content creator Scott Howes to share his five biggest tips for nailing ‘the shot’ on a smartphone camera.

1. Use grids and guides

I would always recommend people turn on the grids and guides and level on their camera phone, it’s game-changing.

Most phones have the option to add a grid, which basically puts two lines down the middle and two lines across your screen. This helps you follow a popular rule in photography called the ‘rule of thirds’.

I use the grids feature every day on my phone and on my actual cameras and it means you can line up the subject or the frame that you’re trying to shoot, and place them in one of the ‘thirds’, which makes it more aesthetically pleasing.

Most smartphones also have a level in them, to save you from taking wonky photos and videos.

2. Take time and take it right

Travel can be crazy and super fast-paced and it’s easy to get excited and just snap away. It’s only when you get home to edit or review the photos you may realise you’re not happy with them.

So, despite having taken photos professionally for years, I still often take a step back and pause before taking the shot, because if you get it right ‘in camera’ it saves you so much work editing later on.

3. Think differently

I think one of the keys of photography is not to just point and shoot. Maybe research your destination beforehand and find unique places to photograph or a way to capture a popular spot differently. For instance, everyone who goes to Roys Peak takes that same standard shot looking down the viewpoint but there are endless possibilities for different photos; it just takes some time to find them.

4. Don’t forget the light

The time of day is key because the lighting is what makes a photo. For me personally, sunrise and sunset are the best times of day to shoot. The sun isn’t as high in the sky so you don’t get harsh light, it’s softer and creates nicer shadows too.

I’ll admit, getting up at 4am for a sunrise shot isn’t for everybody, some people go on holiday just to chill. Either way, lighting is worth thinking about when you take a photo and going a little earlier or later in the day can help you miss crowds at popular attractions.

5. Try shooting in Raw

Usually, you can let the smartphone choose the camera settings for you. But if you want to take your photos a step further, you can shoot in RAW if your phone camera has a ‘pro mode’. This is how we shoot on a DSLR camera and the image is minimally processed, which gives you more freedom when editing your photos in an app like Lightroom.

Summer is upon us and our travel plans are ready. While everything is ticked off the list and we are ready to go, here’s how we can take care of our personal hygiene when we are on the go.

1. Skin hygiene – Perineal skin and the open area near the groin can get chafed by sweat and give rise to fungal infection. Dusting powder may help to prevent skin infections at a bay.

Facial-Skin can become dry, so it’s good to have skin moisturiser, particularly for facial skin. Using the correct SPF sunscreen will prevent sunburns.

2. Intimate hygiene – The need to use not-so-clean public toilets can make you vulnerable to urine infections. It is important to drink plenty of fluids and avoid holding urine for a very long time. Use anti-bacterial baby wipes to clean toilet seats or use sprays to disinfect seats. Always clean the area before and after urinating. Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes while travelling.

3. Care during menstruation – If it’s planned travel then you can change the timing of periods with the help of your gynaecologist in advance. It’s important to carry menstrual pads or tampons or cups along with waste-disposal bags or zip-lock bags. It may be a good idea to have some painkillers for painful periods.

4. Sexual care – It’s important to continue your regular method of contraception during travel to prevent unplanned pregnancies. It’s essential to have access to the use of the barrier method or condom as well to prevent sexually transmitted infections, particularly with a new partner. Always pass urine immediately after intercourse to prevent urine infections.

5. Mouth and general body Hygiene – Bad breaths can be avoided by using anti-bacterial mouthwash and regular brushing. Body deodorants and anti-perspirants prevent bad body odours.

6. Double facial masking - We aren’t a covid free world as yet. While we do hear of the rising cases, wearing a double cloth or combination of N-95 or surgical masks and cloth mask is the basic requirement to protect from COVID-19 infections while travelling.